Nymphomatriarch
Encyclopedia
Nymphomatriarch is a 2003 breakcore
album, resulting from a collaboration between Venetian Snares
and his then-girlfriend
Hecate
(credited as Aaron Funk and Rachael Kozak on the release). The two breakcore artists sampled various sexual activities performed with one another while they were touring Europe, and only these samples were used to construct the album. The actual sequencing of each track took only thirteen days from May 1 to May 13, 2002, and was done (along with more sample-acquisition) in Venetian Snares' hometown of Winnipeg
.
For musicians who traditionally work with samples of breaks
and synthesisers, the self-imposed technical constraint of only using samples of oral sex
, anal sex
, vaginal sex (recorded internally via microphone insertion as well as externally) and S&M forced novel improvisations in the construction of melodies and percussion. An infamous example is the spank
sample used as percussion on the track Blood on the Rope.
Nymphomatriarchs novelty as a musical composition, as well as the universal commercial appeal of anything involving sex
, resulted in what would have been an underground breakcore album (had it been the product of a more orthodox collaboration) being referenced in mainstream media during the months prior to its release. Two press releases were published by Hymen to promote the album, the second of which includes an excerpt from an article in Playboy magazine in which Venetian Snares comments on the album. The second press release also claimed the album had been mentioned on television
by Jay Leno
and Craig Kilborn
, and on Virgin Radio
. Hecate stated before the album was recorded that it would be a result of "shared passion for some of [her and Venetian Snares'] favorite things, beats and sex", the implication being that both artists were making the record out of personal artistic and sexual desire, not because of the unique marketing opportunity which would inevitably present itself upon the album's completion. However, as demonstrated by the mere presence of two press releases and particularly the content and wording of the second, Hymen obviously made the most of this opportunity regardless. "I don't care how or what people think of the album, we made it for ourselves really, a kind of personal investigation" was Hecate's response to the media attention.
Breakcore
Breakcore is a style of electronic music largely influenced by hardcore techno, drum and bass and Intelligent dance music. Its sound is largely characterized by a high-tempo, well-timed mingling of distorted kick drums , break beats arranged from samples of the Amen break, and audio samples from a...
album, resulting from a collaboration between Venetian Snares
Venetian Snares
Venetian Snares is the main performing alias of Canadian electronic musician Aaron Funk .From Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Funk is known for making electronic music often in odd numbered time signatures...
and his then-girlfriend
Girlfriend
Girlfriend is a term that can refer to either a female partner in a non-marital romantic relationship or a female non-romantic friend that is closer than other friends....
Hecate
Hecate (artist)
Hecate is an American/Austrian experimental industrial and breakcore musician who lives in Berlin, Germany. She takes her name from the Greek goddess of sorcery Hecate. She uses sex as a major topic in her music, such as in the tracks "Hecate Jacks Off The Jackal" and "The Magick Of Female...
(credited as Aaron Funk and Rachael Kozak on the release). The two breakcore artists sampled various sexual activities performed with one another while they were touring Europe, and only these samples were used to construct the album. The actual sequencing of each track took only thirteen days from May 1 to May 13, 2002, and was done (along with more sample-acquisition) in Venetian Snares' hometown of Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
.
For musicians who traditionally work with samples of breaks
Break (music)
In popular music, a break is an instrumental or percussion section or interlude during a song derived from or related to stop-time – being a "break" from the main parts of the song or piece....
and synthesisers, the self-imposed technical constraint of only using samples of oral sex
Oral sex
Oral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a sex partner by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Anilingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus...
, anal sex
Anal sex
Anal sex is the sex act in which the penis is inserted into the anus of a sexual partner. The term can also include other sexual acts involving the anus, including pegging, anilingus , fingering, and object insertion.Common misconception describes anal sex as practiced almost exclusively by gay men...
, vaginal sex (recorded internally via microphone insertion as well as externally) and S&M forced novel improvisations in the construction of melodies and percussion. An infamous example is the spank
Erotic spanking
Erotic spanking is the act of spanking another person for the sexual arousal or gratification of either or both parties...
sample used as percussion on the track Blood on the Rope.
Nymphomatriarchs novelty as a musical composition, as well as the universal commercial appeal of anything involving sex
Sex
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms into a male or female variety . Sexual reproduction involves combining specialized cells to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents...
, resulted in what would have been an underground breakcore album (had it been the product of a more orthodox collaboration) being referenced in mainstream media during the months prior to its release. Two press releases were published by Hymen to promote the album, the second of which includes an excerpt from an article in Playboy magazine in which Venetian Snares comments on the album. The second press release also claimed the album had been mentioned on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
by Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
and Craig Kilborn
Craig Kilborn
Craig Kilborn is an American actor and talk show host. He was the original host of The Daily Show, a former anchor on ESPN's SportsCenter, and Tom Snyder's successor on CBS' The Late Late Show. On June 28, 2010, he launched The Kilborn File after a six-year absence from television...
, and on Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
. Hecate stated before the album was recorded that it would be a result of "shared passion for some of [her and Venetian Snares'] favorite things, beats and sex", the implication being that both artists were making the record out of personal artistic and sexual desire, not because of the unique marketing opportunity which would inevitably present itself upon the album's completion. However, as demonstrated by the mere presence of two press releases and particularly the content and wording of the second, Hymen obviously made the most of this opportunity regardless. "I don't care how or what people think of the album, we made it for ourselves really, a kind of personal investigation" was Hecate's response to the media attention.
Track listing
- "Input" – 2:48
- "Blood on the Rope" – 6:13
- "Amaurophilia" – 5:51
- "Hymen Tramp Choir" – 14:02
- "Pervs" – 5:27
- "Outlet" – 1:16