Luftwaffe (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Luftwaffe


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Background = group_or_band
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Origin = USA
Genre = Experimental
Folk
Martial
Neofolk
Post-industrial
Years_active = 1997–present
Label = Various
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Current_members = b9 InViD
j1 StatiK
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Luftwaffe is a martial, neofolk and post-industrial music group from Chicago, USA.

History

The group was conceived of in 1997 by founding members b9 InViD and j1 StatiK, as they were introduced by a mutual friend and quickly became friends due to a common interest in the music of Boyd Rice and other similar Industrial artists. After attending a performance by Death in June, Strength Through Joy and NON in 1997, they decided to formulate a one-time performance for the Disassembly Avant Garde Art Forum in the spring of 1998, under the moniker of "Luftwaffe". The 5-minute performance, featuring found-percussion, analog synthesis and the “immortal words of the all too mortal Aleister Crowley” was well received.Fact|date=February 2007 It was decided that Luftwaffe would become a full time musical endeavor.

Themes

Thematically, Luftwaffe’s music and "oratorical demagoguery" is derived from several different schools of thought. Their primary cosmology is rooted in Solipsism, with overwhelming Nihilistic overtones and themes of Time as Sentience, Adam Qadmon, the number 36 as derived from Lamedvavnik/Solipsistical Oligarchism (Tzadikim Nistarim) and the Kalki Avatar of Hindu mythos.

Much of the lyrical content comes from the writings (and recordings) of mid twentieth century writer and philosopher N1 XianFact|date=February 2007:

"When perceived correctly, the world is a mirror which, disinterestedly, maintains a current record of our nature and constitution. Within this vast parabolic mirror, we should be able to see clearly the forms our faults have taken--which daily stand in our way. Yet, for the sake of allotting our inadequacies a wide berth and so as to avoid running into them head-on, we have learned to artfully avoid our own reflections. Our most regrettable qualities have successfully overwhelmed our nobility and now the image of a man has become indistinguishable from the form of his fault. Of a man, it can no longer be said that he is as a monkey aping the behavior of angels. For in our avoidance of ourselves, we have given up even on strife. The purpose of this critique is not to aide in the composition of an epic satire; rather, I would that this knowledge serve as a launching pad. We can correct the human model--there is a method." - N1. Xian Fact|date=February 2007

The group uses imagery surrounding Trepanation (or the boring of a hole in the skull) and the symbolism thereof, based primarily in the modern movement directed toward the obtaining of higher consciousness through the method. The writings of Bart Huges, Joe Mellen and 20th century horologist John (J1) Constance, heavily influence their direction.

Live

Luftwaffe's current live performance personnel line-up features vocals and instrumentation from N2 Itiniti and Sasha Feline both of the Neofolk group Valence. In performance and on recordings, Luftwaffe and collaborateurs incorporate a variety of instrumentation including: Acoustic 12 and 6 string guitar, bass, flute, melodica, strum stick, trumpet, bugle, analog synthesizers, live percussion, dulcimer, bowed psaltery, sampling and tape manipulation.

Releases

In the over eight years since their inception, Luftwaffe has had 10 official releases and has appeared on several compilations. They have collaborated with a number of artists, including Valence, Death In June, Boyd Rice, State Research Bureau, Ostara, Survival Unit, Nookleptia, Jason Hyde, Pyrrhic Victory, AIT! and Panicsville.

Discography

*"International Condemnation" (CD, Kalki’s Army 1999)
*"The World That is Lost" (CD Single, Limited Edition of 25, Kalki’s Army 2001)
*"Live in Feraland" (CD of live concert performance in 2000, limited to 50, 2000)
*"Horologia Ferrea" (CD, Limited Edition of 100, Kalki’s Army)
*"The Trepan of the Clock" (CD/Magazine, Limited Edition of 100, Kalki’s Army 2002)
*"Hot Snake at the Back" (7 inch split with Nookleptia, Limited to 100 Kalki’s Army/NSL)
*"Solipsistica Nihilisti" (10 inch LP, Limited to 333 copies Punch Records 2004)
*"Trephanus Uhr" (CD 2004, Kalki’s Army)
*"Event Nihility" (CD 2006, Punch Records)
*"Lamed Vav" (7 inch split with Valence, 2006)

Compilations

*"The OSS: First Transmission" (Feraland, 2001)
*Boyd Rice: "The Way I Feel" (CD, Mute)
*"Wigs on Fire: A Tribute to the B-52s"' (Double CD set, Nihilist Records)
*"Security of Ignorance" (10 LP Box Set, Thaglasz, 2002)
*"Tempus Knoll" (CD, Available only at live performances, Feraland 2002)
*"Der Waldgänger: a tribute to Ernst Junger" (LP compilation, Thaglasz)

Video

*"Luftwaffe and Valence: Live at Off Broadway" (DVD 2006, to be released with Lamed Vav 7 inch, Kalki’s Army)
*"“Flicker”" (Music Video, 2002. Directed by b9 InViD)

Outside appearances

*"Are You Going to Leave Me?" (7 inch Panicsville plays Shirley Collins, b9 InViD guitar, 2005)
*"Ostara: Ultima Thule" (b9 InViD, sampling, 2003)

Gigography

*April 17, 1998 @ Disassembly Avant Garde Art Forum--Columbia, Missouri USA
*January 30, 1999 with Lucinati @ The Downunder--Columbia Missouri USA.
*April 12th, 1999 with LUXT @ Davey’s Uptown--Kansas City, Missouri USA.
*May 14th, 1999 with St. Groovus @ Shattered--Columbia, Missouri USA.
*January 21st, 2000 with Terminal Bliss @ Morseland--Chicago, Illinois USA.
*June 2nd, 2000 with SCSI and Digital Hitmen @ The Firehouse--St. Louis, Missouri USA. (Recordation of the Live in Feraland CD)
*August 26th, 2000 with NON/Boyd Rice and cJ Idea Thief @ The Firehouse--St. Louis, Missouri USA.
*January 18th, 2001 with Panicsville @ Günther Murphy's Public House--Chicago, Illinois USA.
*July 14th, 2002 with Nookleptia and Spires That in The Sunset Rise @ The Empty Bottle--Chicago, Illinois USA.
*October 20th, 2002 with Death in June and NON @ The Congress Theatre--Chicago, Illinois USA.
*November 8th, 2002 with Ostara DJK/Phosgen and Operation Cleansweep @ The Red Rose--London UK.
*April 3rd, 2005 with Death in June and 15 Degrees Below Zero @ The Glas Kat-San Francisco, CA USA.
*April 9th, 2005 with Novy Svet and AIT! @ Super Deluxe--Tokyo, Japan.
*November 18th, 2005 with Valence and Thanatos Eternal @ Off Broadway St. Louis, USA

External links

* [http://www.kalkisarmy.com Official Luftwaffe site]

Interviews

* [http://www.heathenharvest.com/article.php?story=20050126104015305/ Exclusive Luftwaffe Interview at Heathen Harvest]