Consumationist

The thing about Electroclash that entices me more than the merge of punk aesthetics and DIY electronics into a dirty blend of caberet and performance art - and the inadvertent questions it raises about the contemporary relationship of consumption and sub-cultural expression - is the predominance of women in the pool of artists that could possibly fall under this moniker. This conflux of opinionated women inverting matters of gender in the areas of sexuality, fashion and politics is quite exciting. Okay… so there is no denying the debate about the intention and sophistication of any such stances, aside from the question regarding style and content in Electroclash… but the fact is, there is still an attempt to contest the space controlled or predominated by men. From the basic perception of male orientation in the realm of technology and music production… to the more elaborate positioning of successful performing women in the music industry. In no way removing any question of agency on behalf of such female performers but there appears to be a predilection on the part of the corporate music industry towards a more sexually orientated presentation of women (Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, Beyonce, Christina Aguillera, Mandy Moore, Shakira, etc). Obviously there are examples that sit outside of this (Tori Amos, KD Lang, Annie DiFranco, Missy Elliot, Jewel , etc); and others that state their own agency and power in utilising their sexuality as a promotional tool (Madonna, Pink, Kelis, Courtney Love, L’il Kim, etc). The female artists implicated in Electroclash extend from the attitudes expressed in Riot Grrrl. These women work in a variety of areas concerning music performance including music production and composition, distribution, marketing and promotion and are worth checking out…

Peaches (Canadian women based in Berlin).
Albums – The Teaches of Peaches (2000); Red Leather EP(2000); Fatherfucker (2003)
Chicks on Speed (3 women from Berlin/New York/Sydney based in Berlin)
Albums – Will Save us All (2000); Chix-52 EP (2000); Kreidler Sessions EP (2001); 99 cents (2003)
Le Tigre (2 women/1 man based in New York – Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill/Riot Grrrl))
Albums – Le Tigre (1999); Feminist Sweepstakes (2000); From the Desk of Mr. Lady (2001)
Ladytron (2 women/2 men from Liverpool, UK)
Albums – 604 (2001), Light & Motion (2002)
Miss Kitten and the Hacker (French woman based in Berlin)
Albums – First Album (2001)
Cobra Killer (2 women Trost & Gina V – based in Berlin)
Albums – Cobra Killer (1999); The Third Armpit (2003)
Kevin bLechdom (1 women based San Francisco)
Albums – Bitches without Britches (2003): I Heart Presets (2002);
Angie Reed (1 woman American based in Berlin – member of Stereo Total)
Albums - Presents the Best of Barbara Brockhaus (2003)
Adult (1 woman 1 man based in New York)
Albums –Anxiety Always (2003)
Tracy and the Plastics (1 woman based in New York)
Albums – Culture for Pidgeon (2004)
W.I.T. (Whatever it takes) (3 woman based in new York)
Albums – Whatever it Takes (2003)
Electrocute (2 woman from Mexico and Austria based in Berlin)
Albums – A Tribute to Your Taste EP (2002)
Stereo Total (1 woman German 1 man French based in Berlin)
Albums – Musique Automatique (2003)
Ellen Alien (woman based in Berlin)
Albums – Berlinette (2003)

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