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My Brutal Life 2 – Out Now

Posted on 21st June 2025 in Releases

We continue with the My Brutal Life projects, with a new album of fresh tracks. Our Patreon supporters can download it right now from:
https://www.patreon.com/theblackdogma

You can order direct from us at:
DustStore.com
Bandcamp

Out in the world:
Juno.co.uk
Juno Download
Boomkat
Bleep
Norman Records
Rough Trade
Spotify
Apple Music
Beatport
Deezer
traxsource
Amazon

Further Details:
Full details and previews at Dust Science

Further Vexations (Remastered) – February 2025

Posted on 14th January 2025 in Releases

Our 2009 album “Further Vexations”, has been remastered and recut at Abbey Road Studios, and is available to order now on digital download, CD and a very limited edition 2×12″ coloured vinyl pressing. Shipping on the 14th February 2025.

Order Now:
DustStore.com
Bandcamp

Further Vexations picks up from what was started in Radio Scarecrow, moving beyond the world of open secrets and the bemusing transmissions of number stations, to exploring the dark cynicism of Orwellian practices carried out by our Governments, institutions and corporations.

Martin Dust from tBd explained, “Our main concern was and still is the amount of personal freedoms being surrendered under the banner of “for your own safety” – CCTV, Biometrics and the World Wide Databases being the latest inventions to save us from ourselves. What is it going to take for people to wake up? How much further can the people we’ve put into power go before something finally snaps? We’ve had enough now! We believe that people have become lazy and accepting of “beige” political parties who have realised if they stand for nothing, people will fall for anything.”

10 years on, the references to George Orwell’s 1984 appear to be naive and wholly inadequate. From billion-dollar corporate entities openly mishandling our data for profit to highly targeted and manipulative political propaganda campaigns, the misuse of our data and communications is far more sophisticated and devious than originally envisaged.

The stark omens of Further Vexations are now more prophetic than ever.

Other, Like Me – Arriving June 2024

Posted on 2nd May 2024 in Releases

Intense driving rhythms and eclectic electronics dominate our new album “Other, Like Me”, as we explore the reality of the creative and artistic process. It’ll be available on CD, digital download, streaming services, and limited edition, double 12″ vinyl, including a lovely deluxe version, exclusive to DustStore and our Bandcamp. Shipping on the 7th of June 2024.

Order Now:
DustStore.com
Bandcamp

About The Album
Experience the sonic journey that is The Black Dog’s latest album, “Other, Like Me,” as they delve into the intricacies of the artist’s psyche, questioning the very essence of individuality and creative worth. The album invites listeners to confront darker thoughts about self-identity, imposter syndrome, and the relentless pursuit of creative value, all while celebrating the joy found in the act of artistic creation.

In this introspective exploration, The Black Dog challenge both themselves and their audience, creating a musical experience that is profoundly personal and open to interpretation. The themes woven throughout the album are a poignant counterpoint between the shadows of self-doubt and the exuberance of creative expression. It’s an inward exploration, offering a place of solace for listeners to find comfort amid the chaos of external influences.

The album’s title, “Other, Like Me”, draws inspiration from an interview with Cosey Fanni Tutti in 1999, resonating deeply with The Black Dog’s outsider perspective. The phrase encapsulates the essence of the album, reflecting the band’s unique identity and shared experiences, while respecting each member’s individual passions and interests.

Navigating the waters of cognitive dissonance, The Black Dog bring an authenticity to their music that mirrors the internal and external conflicts of the contemporary music scene. With a commitment to stripping back layers and allowing the heart of each song to shine through, “Other, Like Me” offers a raw and unfiltered musical experience that speaks directly to the soul. It’s an invitation to introspection, a celebration of independence, and a testament to the power of authentic artistic expression.

A Wonky Review For My Brutal Life

Posted on 25th October 2023 in News

A new video review for My Brutal Life is up now on YouTube. It’s always interesting to see how things are received in the wider world.

My Brutal Life – Out Now

Posted on 12th October 2023 in Releases

Our new album, “My Brutal Life”, is a concise slab of brutal ambient work, out now on Limited Edition White Vinyl, an unique USB Memory Card, CD, digital download and all the usual streaming services.

Supporter Downloads
Our amazing supporters on Patreon can get the downloads right now, including the super-hi-res 24bit WAV and FLAC files, along with many other recent releases. You can join too at:
https://www.patreon.com/theblackdogma

Buy Now
https://www.duststore.com/pages/my-brutal-life
https://www.duststoredigital.com/album/my-brutal-life

Out In The Wider World
Kompakt
Boomkat
Juno Download
Bleep
Spotify
Apple Music
TIDAL
Beatport
Deezer
traxsource
Amazon Music

About The Album
My Brutal Life delves into the profound aspects of our artistic endeavours encompassing brutalism, the environment, and humanity. Throughout our ongoing creative journey, we consistently gravitate towards these themes, documenting and exploring the human experience within these environments.

Our unwavering fixation on Symmetry, Synchronisation, and Repetition are the driving force in our artistic expression. Moreover, we strive to peel away superficial layers to expose the underlying emotional strata of the human aspect, unearthing the often overlooked beauty within the ordinary.

Although frequently disregarded, the human aspect resonates with echoes from the past, enlightening and guiding our artistic process. Even the failures encountered serve as poignant reminders of the delicate structures we construct.

My Brutal Life constitutes a pivotal component within an enduring exhibition, meticulously crafted to delve into the aesthetic and human facets of brutalism.

The Grey Album – 12th May 2023

Posted on 9th March 2023 in Releases

Our new album, The Grey Album, will land in May on CD, limited edition double vinyl (with special Grey vinyl only direct from us), a super special cassette, plus all of the usual download and streaming services. The previews and pre-orders are online now at DustStore and Bandcamp.

The Story
Sometimes, things “just happen”. For months, we’d been working away on various projects and then, without really thinking about it, The Black EP just happened. It seemingly appeared from nowhere.

We’d been talking about the old days; making music with friends and dodgy kit, renting small practice rooms and using makeshift recording studios. It was such a common thing back then, you could pick a dusty space in a half-derelict building for as little as £25 a month. In those days, the Cabs and Human League had studios with posh-sounding names, but in reality, they were the same old workspaces long abandoned by the industries they were built for. Nevertheless, the grand names made them sound magical.

Sheffield had thousands of these spaces, and some still exist today, but their abundance and low-cost made Sheffield a very active place. Someone was always doing something. They’d exploded onto the scene in a flurry of excitement before disappearing just as quickly.

There’s something about these little mesters (workshops) that we believe lives in the very consciousness of Sheffield. It’s one of the reasons we never really had big scenes like Manchester or Leeds. The Hacienda would’ve never been built here.

We don’t really do big gangs or have that kind of mentality. We tend to exist in little pockets, often leaving each other alone. It would be 30 years before any member of The Black Dog talked to Cabaret Voltaire. Sure, we’d stood outside their practice room as kids, trying to listen in, but never felt any reason to approach. Sheffield is like that.

Once we had the first two tracks of the Black EP, we set off to see Jon at Do It Theesen, where he manually cut the tracks to an extremely limited set of 7″ singles using a vinyl lathe. It just felt right to go back to the old ways; a small gang creating something special in workshops and sheds. There’s something very satisfying about it, a perfect circle, if you will.

We pushed further by adopting old practices, working with one synth per person and limiting the use of our computers. We only stopped short of putting everything on beer crates. It seems like madness these days, but there is raw creativity within these confines. Pretty much every band started this way. Depeche Mode travelled to the studio on the London Underground for their first appearance on Top Of The Pops, all lugging a synth each. That’s how we approached the creation of this album; stripped back, raw and minimal – it just felt so right.

And then there’s the competitive element that was influenced when the original Human League split and became Human League MK II and Heaven 17. Both continued to use the same studio to write what became the albums “Dare” and “Penthouse and Pavement”. There is something about that drive that is very Sheffield, just making stuff and hoping everything falls into place.

In Sheffield, we do things differently, because that’s how we are built.

Music For Airport Lounges – Out Now

Posted on 24th February 2023 in Releases

Our new long-form ambient album, “Music For Airport Lounges”, revisits our Music For Real Airports project, presenting a collection of archive material, unreleased tracks and demos. It’s out now at DustStore.com, Bandcamp and all of your favourite streaming sites.

Supporter Downloads
The free downloads for our supporters at Patreon are now live, including the super-hi-res 24bit WAV and FLAC files. You can join now and access all of the downloads for the price of beer each month:
https://www.patreon.com/theblackdogma

Download Direct
DustStore.com (UHD 24bit 96k WAV & FLAC)
DustStore.com (16bit WAV & MP3)
Bandcamp

Out In The World
Kompakt
Boomkat
Juno Download
Bleep
Spotify
Apple Music
TIDAL
Beatport
Deezer
traxsource
Amazon Music

Brutal Five To One Mix V2 – Out Now

Posted on 4th August 2022 in Releases

As one of our favourites, our recent “Brutal Five To One Mix” has been revisited, updated and remastered for a full release as a compilation.

“This mix was created at Park Hill while photographing the flats for a future project. It draws upon all of the music we’ve been making about Sheffield and Brutalism, along with a few choice selections from our catalogue, all to create a vibration that can never be seen.

The needs and polarization of our society feed heavily into the collective consciousness, often among people who’ve never lived in social housing or on a large estate. Life is complex enough but when it involves negotiations with businesses, committees, funding bodies, and of course, individuals with very subjective opinions, the original vision will always be compromised. This clash of differing ideas and demands can create something new that would have never existed. Unfortunately, that rarely pleases anyone.

This mix and the selected tracks within it were created with these feelings in mind, bringing together conflicting thoughts and ideas to envision a new internal landscape.”

Supporter Downloads
As always, our supporters on Patreon can download this release on the official release date. It costs about the same as a nice beer each month!
https://www.patreon.com/theblackdogma

Buy Direct:
DustStore.com
Bandcamp

Around the World
kompakt.fm
Resonate Co-op
Boomkat
Juno Download
Bleep
Beatport
Spotify
Apple Music
Deezer
traxsource
TIDAL
Amazon UK

AV Collaboration With Amoeba Design

Posted on 11th October 2021 in Releases, Video

We’ve been working with Amoeba Design (http://www.theestateovcreation.co.uk) on some new visuals for upcoming live events and our new album, Music For Photographers. Using Martin’s photography as a start point, the results have created something quite unique that we wouldn’t have come up with by ourselves.

Amoeba Design:
http://www.theestateovcreation.co.uk/