EB Video Premiere: Automat – “Mount Tamalpais” feat. Genesis Breyer P-Orridge

Industrial music has gone through multiple incarnations and mutations over the years, but one of the most interesting is its fascination with the winding pathways of occult-flavored psychedelia. Enter Automat and their new self-titled album. Formed at the end of 2011, Automat consists of Jochen Arbeit of Die Haut and Einstürzende Neubauten, Project Pitchfork’s Achim Färber and bassist/radio playwright zeitblom—a pretty heavy duty roster made even more impressive with contributions from Lydia Lunch, Blixa Bargeld and the one and only Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, featured here in the video for “Mount Tamalpais”.

Reminiscent of Psychic TV’s more introspective acid era, the video focuses on a different sort of industrial: the decay of man-made technology, rusted infrastructure, humming and trash-strewn power centers and steel mills with long-cold furnaces. It’s a landscape that summons up melancholia, but also nostalgia for the faded glories of yesterday—particularly since the song’s inspiration comes direct from the master of sleazy yesteryear himself, John Waters. Fans of the immensely vital director may have read the autobiography of Cookie Mueller, actress in (among others) many of Waters’ early films. Therein, she describes the evocation of a demon on the same mountain. Oh, to be young again…

Automat is out April 4th via Bureau B; stream more of the record through Soundcloud, and if you’re in Berlin be sure to attend their record release party on April 18th at Roter Salon. ~

Published March 24, 2014.