STM 236 - Beta Evers

Beta Evers is one of the many creative endeavors of German producer Brigitte Enzler. Under this particular moniker, she crafts electrified darkwave tracks that emanate elegant noirishness, melancholy, and drifting dark emotionalism. Sharp synth lines and refined analog rhythms are paired with her charmingly detached cold vocals and minimal melodic lines. Her EP “Eruption,” recently repressed on Sonic Groove Experiments, is a great starting point for exploring her work.

Beta Evers’ creative background is vast, spanning several genres. Black Spider Clan (her collaboration with Dystronic) is a dance-floor friendly amalgamation of angst pop, electroclash, and darkwave dynamics, while Black Pond (a duo with Jeff Gallea of the legendary new wavers Eleven Pond) leans more toward the darker side of new wave, with evident 80s influences. Her strong affinity for Drexciyan electro and the heritage of Detroit is most clearly manifested in Zwischenwelt, a project also involving Gerald Donald. This haunted electro sound recalls classic Detroit vibes filtered through a spectral lens. Brigitte also explores her interest in EBM with the Radikale Analog Fraktion project, among others. Beyond her many musical activities, Brigitte is also known for establishing the Kommando 6 label and more recently, launching the Bodyvolt and Venus Noir labels.

Secret Thirteen Mix 236 subtly captures many of Brigitte’s diverse sonic sensibilities, blending harsher synth sounds with softer melancholic undertones. Throughout its hour-long duration, the mix maintains consistent buildups and releases, while never losing its grip on expressive and heavy rhythmic patterns. A significant portion of the mix features tracks from her own projects, including a few unreleased ones. It begins with a studio outtake and transitions into a majestic electro track by Flying Bodies, Brigitte’s project with Charly Kent. Some classics are included as well, with two tracks from the heavy industrialized EBM legends The Klinik. Towards the end, the mix takes on a more contemplative tone with the dramatic, slow-paced synth piece "Veins" by Naive. The cherry on top is a gorgeous rendition of Velvet Underground’s "Venus in Furs" by Black Pond. The slow synthetic ballad style suits this track well, offering a fresh perspective on Lou Reed’s songwriting. The mix concludes on a refined note with an almost ambient piece by Beta Evers herself and Heinrich Muller. Vladimir Bocanic’s still from the light installation PLN 5 provides a fitting visual accompaniment to the mix. The movement of its dim lights across the dark surface mirrors the dynamic of the mix perfectly and serves as a superb example of 60s cyber art.