Name: Issue 88 with Laibach 88
Brand: Electronic Sound

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

ELECTRONICSOUND88

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Colour

Discs

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format Books GB

Magazine

Format detail

Limited edition

Release date

2022-04-29

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Pam Communications Ltd

Tax rate GB

UPC / Barcode

1 / Extended format: No / Magazine / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Electronic Sound

Genre GB

New Wave / Post Punk

Label GB

 A band? An art project? A shadowy cabal of political provocateurs? Electronic Sound lift the lid on Laibach for this month's cover feature – plus a fantastic transparent red vinyl seven-inch featuring two tracks by the idiosyncratic Slovenian collective to accompany the magazine as well. 

Formed at the start of the 1980s in a mining town in what was then Yugoslavia, Laibach's interest in the culture and national identity of Slovenia frequently upset the authorities during the early days of the band. At one point, they were effectively banned in their home country. But despite dealing with weighty matters and provoking controversies at every turn, they have always tackled issues with such fearless invention, not to mention plenty of good humour, that it's hard not to marvel at their incredible body of work. And if you're wondering why frontman Milan Fras is holding an owl on the opening page of our feature, well, we have no idea. It's Laibach, innit? 

There's a dazzling supporting cast elsewhere in the magazine. Hannah Peel talks about her new project with Paraorchestra and Tears For Fears reflect on their first album in nearly 20 years. Nik Colk Void, Loraine James and Kavinsky are among the other main interviews plus a usy front section too, including Betty Boo and Sonic Boom, plus a great story about a short film inspired by Andrew Weatherall's famous "Fail we may, sail we must" tattoo. 

Everything that Laibach does comes as a surprise and the two tracks on our limited edition seven-inch accompanying this issue prove the point. The A-side, 'Love Is Still Alive (Surfing Through The Universe)', is an edit of a 40-minute suite the group recorded for the soundtrack to 'Iron Sky – The Coming Race' in 2012. It sounds like Suicide meets The Doors in outer space. On the flip side, meanwhile, 'Ordnung Und Disziplin (Müller Versus Brecht)', finds Laibach delving deep into sound art territory, slicing up and fragmenting vocals, strings, ephemeral rhythms and water noises. It all adds up to a brilliant package – and on transparent red vinyl too. <br>

Issue 88 with Laibach 88

Books GB