Ratimis is a future city where a sole broadcast station is the only media that has been left available to the public. A city once so developed by smart technology and mass media was devastated by the lobotronix.eye crash of 2138, in which the primary operational unit R.A.T.I. (Reactive Arbitrating Terminal Intelligence) had developed so much sentience it finally determined that shut down was the ultimate decision. People panicked. Most perished. Only the mysterious cat, Saki, who can be seen lurking near the central transmission hub, knows who or what is behind these broadcasts. Decomposing cables, wires, televisions, VCRs and music equipment have now overrun the landscape and the few remaining are awaiting the next sign. The next directive. The next broadcast.

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An 80’s hip-hop fiend, Brahm (born Chaz Barber) dove fully into producing in 1993 purchasing an ASR-10 sampling keyboard (used by notables including RZA and EL-P among others). Finding his inner voice, Brahm created engaging and head-nodding soundscapes. Utilizing dusty drum samples, warm analog guitar, keys and effects, the result fits snugly in the late 90’s and early 2000’s instrumental area code of artists such as DJ Shadow, Prefuse 73, Buck 65, Fat Jon and RJD2.

After Cinca (who also runs Swedish Columbia) started working with similar-minded blip-hop artist, El Huervo a few years ago, he became excited to release Brahm material. Reaching out, Cinca helped inspire Brahm to pull the ASR-10 out of retirement and start making music again.

This is the result of the Brahm comeback, a concept album about an Artificial Intelligence that commits seppuku and shuts itself down along with all mass media and communication. Only a lone broadcast station sends out broken signals to the surviving elements of a once obsessed mass media society. A poignant statement for these times.

”… BBC Radiophonic workshop collaborating with Mantronix on the score of a cyber-punk film.” - J. Graham

“Brahm (aka Chaz Barber) […] incorporates his passion for cinema into his songs in ways that are both understated and overt, but always unique.” - DailyDead.com

“Brahm, aka Chaz Barber, uses all the best old technology to produce his vision of a future with one city ruled by a dead AI.” - NeonDystopia.com