Borghesia – Rugged City / Ogolelo Mesto LP (Limited Edition 500 Clear Vinyl / 180g)

Matrix Musik – MMA02 (2023)

Borghesia is a legendary Slovenian multimedia / electronic act, created in Ljubljana (at the time in Yugoslavia) 1982. The band was formed by members of underground theatre group called FV-112/15 who also ran one of the first alternative clubs in Eastern Europe called FV Klub. Borghesia created its aesthetics using the imagery of what was prohibited, tabooed and re-pressed. Their sound is often compared to that of other groups in the period such as Nitzer Ebb and Front 242, whom many cite as the chief instigators of Electronic Body Music.

The band was a product of the 80s punk/new wave movement in what was then Yugoslavia.
The punk scene has left strong marks on their overall image, not only in ideology but also in
their iconography. However, they were among the first local alternative musicians who started using electronic instruments, mainly under the influence of pioneers of electronic music such as Kraftwerk, D.A.F and Cabaret Voltaire. Their first recordings were released only locally on cassette tapes – ‘Borghesia’ in 1983 and ‘Clones’ in 1984. 1985 saw the release of their first album ‘Love Is Colder Than Death’ on their own label ‘FV’ which was quickly followed by video release called ‘So Young’ – collecting 7 video-clips from their early years – on VHS format. Video was always an important channel of Borghesia’s creativity. The early videos were pro-vocative and visually gripping. In 1989 they released another videotape called ‘Triumph of
the Will’. Both VHS tapes are now collector’s items Their sound has quickly evolved, and so did the technical quality of both their video and audio work. In 1986 they released a mini LP ‘Their Laws, Our Lives’, featuring lead track ‘133’, their reaction against the ‘freedom of speech’ law which was still in force in what was then still Yugoslavia. This record, as well as their underground ‘hit’ No Hope No Fear brought them the contract with important Belgian label PIAS [Play it Again, Sam], who released their future albums. In the US, the records were released by WAX TRAX, and several tracks and videos have been licensed for worldwide release. The band played around Europe extensively, touring with Nitzer Ebb, labelmates Cassandra Complex as well as other EBM bands from the period. They were extremely well received by important music media of the time.

The album ‘Rugged City/Ogolelo Mesto’ has been originally released in 1988, in Yugoslavia
only. It’s a compilation of the very best tracks from the ‘No Hope No Fear’ mini LP and the
‘Escorts and Models’ Album, released by PIAS. The band went on to record 6 more albums
and is still active…

The band halted in 1995 but was reformed in 2009.

Borghesia implant electrodes into your temples and bark out grim Orwellian prophecy. (NME, UK)

Frankly, leaving a Borghesia gig in a fit state is quite probably unheard of. Tonight… is a celebration of a crippled thunder. (SOUNDS, UK)

Borghesia have always been more effective than their saber rattling compatriots in Western
Europe, and infinitely more so than their American counterparts, especially Ministry.
(VINYL PROPAGANDA, USA)

The Yugoslavian act manages to set an interesting tone throughout and should carve a niche
for themselves alongside other temperamental techno outfits as Front 242 and Skinny Puppy,and that ain’t bad company at all. (ROCKPOOL, USA)

Bandcamp 試聴
https://matrixmusicarhiv.bandcamp.com/album/rugged-city-ogolelo-mesto