STM 045 - Peter Rehberg

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Photo by Magdalena Blaszczuk

An eclectic mix by Peter Rehberg (aka Pita) fusing 16 eccentric records released by Editions Mego and its sublabels.

An eclectic mix by Peter Rehberg (aka Pita) fusing 16 eccentric records released by Editions Mego and its sublabels.

Secret Thirteen Mix 045 is a masterfully curated compilation that intertwines 16 distinctive records from visionary musicians such as Russell Haswell, Kevin Drumm, Florian Hecker, Nick Edwards, Mark Fell, Emeralds, and other innovative creators. Peter Rehberg, the mix’s author, injects it with his deeply perceptive and refined philosophy of musical expression, captivating even the most discerning listeners from the very first jolt of sound.

Peter Rehberg (b. 1968, London), also known as Pita, is a pioneering experimental electronic musician and sound artist based in Vienna, Austria. As a member of influential projects like MIMEO, Fenn O'Berg, and KTL, Rehberg has carved a significant niche in the avant-garde music scene. Since embarking on his musical journey in the early 1990s, Rehberg has released a plethora of records—both solo and collaborative—on prominent labels including Mego, Touch, Staalplaat, Häpna, Fällt, and No Fun Productions. His compositions have scored the evocative performances of French theater-maker Gisèle Vienne (This Is How You Will Disappear, Kindertotenlieder, Last Spring: A Prequel) and have also complemented the work of choreographers like Meg Stuart and Chris Haring. Rehberg is also the driving force behind Editions Mego, the influential label formerly known as Mego, which was instrumental in shaping the ‘Extreme Computer Music’ movement in the early 1990s.

Secret Thirteen Mix 045 stands out as an eclectic collection of eccentric and authentic sonic explorations. What makes this mix particularly compelling is that all the tracks are either recently released or forthcoming on Rehberg’s Editions Mego label and its sublabels—Spectrum Spools, Ideologic Organ, and Sensate Focus. There’s no singular thematic or emotional thread running through Rehberg’s selection; instead, the mix is unified by a commitment to high-quality, rebellious, and original sound. The mix traverses a wide sonic landscape, from emphatic melodies and sharp synthetic rhythms to innovative modulations and surreal atmospheres. Each track contributes a fragment of a larger mosaic that spans genres from experimental and abstract to psychedelic, trance, disco, and hardcore, all the way to more obscure and unique formations. There’s no room for the mundane or the predictable; each record challenges the listener, inviting them into a world where frustration and masterpiece coexist in a delicate balance. Rehberg’s mix is a daring escape into the subconscious, demanding active engagement and leaving a lasting impression on those who dare to listen.

Secret Thirteen Mix 045 can be likened to Kurt Schwitters’ modern art masterpiece Untitled (Oval Construction). Schwitters’ work is a synthesis of disparate elements—a composition that at first glance may seem chaotic, yet reveals a meticulously crafted order upon closer inspection. Similarly, Rehberg’s mix blends seemingly incongruent tracks into a cohesive auditory experience. Just as Schwitters’ abstract architectural forms push the boundaries of conventional art, Rehberg’s mix challenges traditional music structures, presenting a liberating, forward-thinking approach to sound. Both the mix and the painting invite the audience to reconsider their perceptions, urging them to find beauty and structure within the unconventional.

01. Kevin Drumm - Beeswax (from eMEGO 137, Relief LP)
02. Michael Pollard - A pencil rubbing for the album cover (from SP 026, Translations 01 LP)
03. Forma - Off (from SP 024, Off/On LP/CD)
04. Raglani - Trampoline Dream (from eMEGO 159, Real Colours Of The Real World LP+7")
05. Thought Broadcast - Portrait Heads (from eMEGO 147, Emergency Stairway LP)
06. Hecker - شیمرسازی (from eMEGO 155, شیمرسازی LP)
07. Sensate Focus - X (from FOCUS 2.5, Sensate Focus 2.5 12")
08. Bee Mask - Pinq Drinq (from SP 023, When We Ate Unripe Pears LP)
09. Container - Perforarte (from SP 025, LP LP)
10. Russell Haswell - Killer Snakehead (from eMEGO 157, Factual LP)
11. Lorenzo Senni - Make Believe (from eMEGO 152, Quantum Jelly LP)
12. Jessika Kenney & Eyvind Kang - Kidung (from SOMA011, The Face Of The Earth LP)
13. Three Legged Race - Persuasive Barrier (from SP 022, Persuasive Barrier LP)
14. Nick Edwards - (No) Escape From '79 (from eMEGO 145, Plekzationz 2LP/CD)
15. Kassel Jaeger - Deltas (taken from eMEGO 149, Deltas LP)
16. Emeralds - Search For Me In The Wasteland (taken from eMEGO 150, Just To Feel Anything LP/CD)

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An interdisciplinary journal, offering eclectic mixes and smart interviews with original artists and label owners as well as contemporary art reviews.