Asbest (the German term of Asbestos) is a fibre that is part of the structure and yet its existence is undesired. As soon as an attempt is made to remove Asbest, it becomes harmful. Asbest is the systems own inherent contradiction.
Asbest use different musical styles which share a certain aggressiveness. Post punk, noise rock and shoegaze are the cornerstones. This melange is an angry to desperate reaction to the general events of our time, but it also reflects Trachsel‘s personal experiences as a trans-woman in a cis- and heteronormative society. Accordingly, Asbest display an urgency and ennui that is omnipresent.
The trio from Basel, Switzerland was founded in November 2016 by singer and guitarist Robyn Trachsel, bassist Judith Breitinger and drummer Jan Häfele. In January 2018 Jonas Häne (Heavy Harvest) took the position behind the drums.
In April Asbest visited the Malthouse Studios in Bristol, where Dominic Mitchison (Spectres, Velcro Hooks, LICE) produced their debut „Driven“.
The complexity of thoughts driving Trachsel is also reflected in the music. Asbest neither stop at the styles mentioned above, nor do they shy away from jazz elements like the 13 bar walking bass in „Means Of Reproduction“, or the atmospheric „I Need A Spacesuit To Leave Home“ which could serve as the second part of „Message To Harry Manback“ never written by Tool.
Their self-distributed EP „Interstates“ already attracted attention and called press and promoters onto the scene. Linus Volkmann (Intro Magazin): „Mechanical, cold, aggressive, repetitive. […] Asbest mix hardness and hypnosis with empathy and indie. The result is really unique […]“, the Artnoir Blog says: „The trio from Basel […] shows that noise, extreme energy and raw music are just beautiful“.
Next to the regular version the LP will be released in a limited edition of one hundred white and black marbled vinyl copies, together with an equally limited tote bag.
LineUp:
Robyn Trachsel (voc/guitar)
Judith Breitinger (bass)
Jan Häfele (drums)
1. Driven
2. Deceit
3. Means Of Reproduction
4. I Need A Spacesuite To Leave My Home
5. Chain Reaction
6. Pillar
7. They Kill
8. Persona Non Grata
Irascible (CH), Broken Silence (DE), L Autre (FR), Sonic Rendezvous, Goodfellas (ITA),
Hoanzl (AUT), Gusstaff Records (PL), Border Music (Scandinavia), Shellshock (UK)