The duo of Kasimyn and Ican Harem fuse the challenging sounds of gabber, digital hardcore, punk, and noise with a number of uniquely Indonesian sounds such as jathilan (a trance dance), dangdut koplo (a subgenre of a popular dance and folk music), and funkot (reminiscent of both European happy hardcore as well as dangdut).

Their acclaimed records PUXXXIMAXXX (out via Yes No Wave / Danse Noir) and HOXXXYA (out via SVBKVLT) are chock full of tracks that are now international dancefloor staples. 2021’s »MBELEDOSSS! (EXPLODE!)«, an epic 45 minute-long 3D animation video following a genetically modified humanoid envoy as it begins an exploration of planet Earth by landing at a textile market, resulted from a collaboration with animator Rimbawan Gerilya and choreographer Siko Setyanto. The show has been described as »so eye-popping that even streaming over YouTube gave the same feeling of seeing the crew live.« (CDM)

Be it through solo works and performances, video productions or collaborations, Gabber Modus Operand’s love for energetic, intense sounds forms the foundation of their hyper-active, unprecedented output. With exuberant digital sarcasm, they straddle the line between the sacred and the banal. »With Kas behind the decks cueing up impossibly fast track after impossibly fast track, Ican is given the freedom to inflict a barrage of throat-shredding, screamo wails on unsuspecting audiences,« wrote DJ Mag in their »Getting to Know« feature.

A unique commission by Uganda’s Nyege Nyege Festival and CTM paired Gabber Modus Operandi, DIVISI62's Wahono (also the mind behind Uwalmassa), and Uganda's Nakibembe Xylophone Troupe, one of the few remaining groups that sing and perform on a large ensemble instrument called the embaire; a large wooden xylophone performed by up to a dozen musicians simultaneously, who weave together polyrhythmic short melodic phrases. The celebrated premiere at CTM 2020 filled Berghain with ecstatic coalescing grooves punctuated by ravey eruptions. The collaboration was documented through an album on Nyege Nyege Tapes in Summer 2023.

Most recently, Kasimyn produced several tracks for Björk’s celebrated 2022 release Fossora. Since 2021, Gabber Modus Operandi have also been busy performing within contemporary artist Tianzhuo Chen’s evolving durational performance piece, TRANCE.

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