Dälek | Artist

Dälek is an American experimental hip hop group formed 1998 in Newark, New Jersey, by Will Brooks aka MC Dälek (vocal, production), Mike Manteca (electronics, production), and Alap Momin aka Oktopus (production). The group started out DJ'ing around the New Jersey DIY scene before signing with Ipecac Recordings. They developed a dark, noisy and atmospheric style which was inspired by industrial bands like Einstürzende Neubauten coupled with the layered noise of My Bloody Valentine and the dense sound collages of Public Enemy. The band has released ten studio albums including 2004's Derbe Respect, Alder, which is a collaboration with Kosmiche band Faust, and the 2010 live album Griots and Gods, a collaboration with The Young Gods. MC Dälek also works with side-project Anguish alongside Hans Jaochim Irmler from Faust, and Mats Gustafsson. Anguish has recorded one self-titled album. Standout Dälek albums include Negro Necro Nekros (1998), From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots (2002), Absence (2005), Abandoned Language (2007), and the live collaboration Griots and Gods (2010). Also recommended is the compilation Deadverse Massive Vol. 1: Dälek Rarities 1999-2006 (2007). The band's earlier works of harsh, blown-out, fringe hip-hop gradually morphed into a cleaner, atmospheric sound, with DJ Oktopus' production starring in every album, getting more focused with each release. The band originated when Will Brooks won an academic scholarship at college, but instead used it to buy an MPC3000 Midi device and dropped out to become a full-time musician and formed Dälek.

Artist Website: dalek.bandcamp.com

Featured Albums: Dälek

Related Artists: Dalek, Faust, The Young Gods, Anguish