TRACKLIST
1 LAST DANCE FT. NAPPY NINA
2 ANOTHER ONE FT. MOOR MOTHER
3 DIFFIDENCE FT. SENSATIONAL
4 RATCHET FT. VICTORIA SHEN
5 DUE DILIGENCE FT. DÄLEK
6 FULL MANTIS
7 جنگ، خودِ حقیقت است - WAR IS THE UNVEILING OF THE TRUTH FT. ROJIN SHARAFI
8 KALI
9W'RAT'H FT. ELVIN BRANDHI
voice & lyrics - Nappy Nina (1), Moor Mother (2), Sensational (3), Dälek (5),
Guilty Simpson (6), Elvin Brandhi (9)
voice - Rojin Sharafi (7), Otis Lyn Alfreds Koenig (2)
text - Parham Shahrjerdi (7)
translation - Aida Ebrahimi (7)
needle nails/electronics - Victoria Shen (1),(4)
trumpet - Aquiles Navarro (2), Martin Eberle (5)
saxophone - Chris Pitsiokos (5)
electric guitar - Julien Desprez (6)
modular synthesizer - Nik Hummer (1-9)
drums, synthesizers, amplified cymbal, lapsteel, percussions - Lukas König (1-9)
recorded and mixed at MINUSGROUNDZERO Studio by Nik Hummer
mastered by Matija Schellander
produced and arranged by Lukas Koenig
artwork front by GENG PTP
layout by Camp Comfort
photos by Lukas Koenig
digitally released by PTP
vinyl published by Ventil Records (V_031)
©+℗ 2023, all rights reserved
»1 ABOVE MINUS UNDERGROUND« is the latest solo album by Lukas König - drummer, composer, rapper, and multi-instrumentalist - aka KOENIG.
»Solo« is, in fact, a misnomer, as each track features carefully chosen musicians from around the globe (US, UK, Iran, and Austria), and was sparked from a longstanding creative collaboration between König and Nik Hummer. Based on heavy, hip-hop beats, experimental noise and droney synths, König and Hummer set a foundation on which the invited artists could take the work to new heights...and to that, they exceeded all expectations. Drum recordings are ground up and re-dubbed through modular synthesizers.
These 20-minute experiments are also accentuated by Victoria Shen's nail-needle scratch samples, Julien Desprez’ guitar noises, and trumpet & saxophone sounds of Aquiles Navarro, Martin Eberle, and Chris Pitsiokos. The beats drawn from these improvisations serve as the sturdy grounds for vocal pressure by Will Brooks (Dälek), Guilty Simpson, Moor Mother, Sensational, Nappy Nina, Elvin Brandhi, and Rojin Sharafi. The featured artists further drive the focus of the work toward the current - and shared - sociopolitical state of their respective worlds. A soundtrack for the unrest.
LUKAS KÖNIG
→ lukaskoenig.com
supported by
→ SKE
→ MA7
Ventil Records 2024