The fourth release on Flatlines is ‘A War Of Decibels’, a 43 minute audio essay by Berlin-based artist Nik Nowak. Nowak is most well-known for his large-scale sound installations, especially Panzer (2011) and the Mantis (2019), dramatic and beautifully constructed sound systems installed on tracked vehicles which have hosted a range of DJs over the years such as Dj Rashad & DJ Spinn, Scratcha DVA, Ikonika and Kode9.
The audio essay builds on the themes of his 2020 interdisciplinary installation Schizo Sonics (KINDL–Center for Contemporary Art, Berlin) which explores acoustic proxy wars spanning from Germany through Jamaica to Korea during the (first) Cold War and their contemporary manifestations. The piece is cut on two 180-gram vinyl records—one yellow, one black with an etched side, and delves into the sound of ideological division across four episodes, blending narrative elements with original historical recordings, including those from the so-called Loudspeaker War waged sonically from 1961 to 1965 at the border between East and West Germany, across the Berlin Wall. The work featuring Nowak’s sound design, scripted and narrated by Jessica Edwards (fka Ms.Haptic, backing vocalist on Kode9’s 2006 album ‘ Memories of the Future’ and voice of Audint’s ‘Martial Hauntology’ project) and oblique interventions from artist former Big Dada artist Infinite Livez.
The accompanying 88-page book (in English and German), designed by Verena Gerlach, features 129 images, including installation views, collages, further artwork, and photographs of related live performances staged at Halle am Berghain in 2019 and the KINDL–Center for Contemporary Art, Berlin, in 2021.
© Nik Nowak / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2020, Photo: Jens ZieheThis fantastic bargain CD boxset contains all four of the compilations for Hyperdub's 10th Anniversary, from footwork, to ambient, to R and B and dance music all shot through the lens of Hyperdub's curation.
