T. Raumschmiere

by Charles SpanoAnti-hero refusenik Marco Haas adopted his surreal moniker, lifted from the William S. Burroughs story The Dreamcops, in 1997. T. Raumschmiere's cranky electro-punk combines everything from rock to hip-hop into one fuzzed-out, danceable post-apocalyptic assault on the cortex. Haas (Raumschmiere) began releasing brash and damaged music under this name on his own Shitkatapult label as well as on Kompakt and Hefty Records while maintaining a side gig in his metal/punk band Crack Whore Society. In 2002, T. Raumschmiere nearly simultaneously released the brutal and experimental The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle on Shitkatapult, and the rusty and abrasive manifesto Anti on Hefty. Radio Blackout, T. Raumschmiere's most accessible album to date, was put out by Novamute in September 2003. With guests like Miss Kittin and seductive female MC Soom T., the nervy record scrapes its way through destructive and metallic Euro-dance gravel and slinky virtual-sex-soundtracks-gone-haywire. The singles, like the minimalist but menacing Monstertruckdriver and the wailing and anarchic Rabaukendisko, feature remixes by such luminaries as Dabrye and the Bug. Blitzkrieg Pop (2005) and Random Noize Sessions, Vol. 1 (2006) followed.