Bleiburg — Till The Last Night

Founded in 20002, Bleiburg is the solo project of Thaglasz record label founder Stefan Rukavina.  To begin to even describe Bleiburgs sound is a task within itself.  Never to be one to stick to one style, Rukavina incorporates electronic, martial, dark wave and industrial into a sound collage. 

Bleiburgs latest release Till The Last Night was based on the Israeli wars for independence and freedom.  Rukavina concept was inspired by the history of the state of Israel.  Throughout the cd are historical photographs and archival speeches describing the conflicts that enveloped Israel.

To reiterate the statement above, Bleiburg is fairly indescribable.  The first song, “An Mahrizim Ba’zot” may be a short electro-industrial piece, but “For A Change” pounds into a heavy drum, Middle Eastern folkish trance-like sound.  From there on pretty much every song after falls into a pattern of, well no pattern at all.  EBM combines with 80’s dance club (aurally having a New Order influence), tribal percussion and loops of speeches, especially on “La Brigada Majal” float into industrial inspired music with a narrative of Winston Churchills’ speech on “Never Surrender”.    Add a little techno to the mix and you have “Six Days”.  Feeling your missing a dramatic martial sound?  You’ll find it on “The Bar Lev Line”.

Is it a mixed bag?  Yes, definitely; but oddly enough it all works.  Musically Rukavina has used expressive styles of music to narrate the story of Israels’ struggles.  Through that he illustrates the history of Israels conflicts and the impact it has had on its history and future of the region.  The one thought that is most pervasive is this; how long can a person, group of people or country be oppressed before action is taken?  Easy listening music it is not, but it is a compelling work that unites history and modern music.