created some of the most musically diverse works of the 1990s, recording both as himself and with the trio
.
productions -- lo-fi breakbeats played at the speed of thrash that simultaneously embraced the energy of punk, the uncompromising ferocity of industrial music, and the futurism of techno. On his solo albums, however,
ranged through isolationist ambient, electro, breakbeat, hard techno, even twisted lounge music. As such, he gained fans in several fields while recording for the German experimental/electronic label Mille Plateaux. Still, his first American exposure came when
Born on May 2, 1972, in West Berlin,
Alec Empire was early influenced by rap and the breakdancing scene. Later he began listening to early punk and played in several bands during the late '80s. By the turn of the decade,
Empire became fascinated by the sound of acid and techno, though he detested the drug culture inherent at raves. He began recording EPs for Force Inc -- as well as their subsidiary, Mille Plateaux -- and formed
Atari Teenage Riot in 1992, with
Carl Crack and
Hanin Elias. A slightly more rock-oriented project,
ATR nevertheless focused on the extreme: their political themes and screamed vocals were inspired by punk, but the music concentrated on acid synth and distorted breakbeats. After an
Atari Teenage Riot deal with British Phonogram collapsed,
Empire used the cash in hand from the Phonogram contract to found Digital Hardcore Recordings in 1994, releasing EPs that year by himself as well as
EC8OR,
DJ Bleed, and
Sonic Subjunkies.
In 1995, Mille Plateax released three
Alec Empire albums: the compilation
Limited Editions 1990-94; his proper debut album,
Generation Star Wars; and
Low on Ice (The Iceland Sessions). That same year,
Atari Teenage Riot recorded 1995, the first album to be released on Digital Hardcore. After two 1996 LPs,
Hypermodern Jazz 2000.5 and
Les Etoiles des Filles Mortes,
Empire issued his first album for Digital Hardcore,
The Destroyer. Soon after, the DHR collective -- including
ATR and
EC8OR -- toured the States at the invitation of Grand Royal Records, the label operated by
the Beastie Boys. Grand Royal began releasing 7" singles by
Empire,
ATR, and
EC8OR at the end of 1996. Early the following year, many of
Empire's albums were given U.S. releases by his self-formed Geist Records, and
Atari Teenage Riot released their American debut,
Burn, Berlin, Burn. The double album
Intelligence & Sacrifice appeared in 2002 and was followed by a series of live albums before
Futurist appeared in 2006.
–
John Bush, Rovi