Suicide Commando

"Thank you for not breeding!": House producer and religious founder Chris Korda

By Ted Gaier

A church for the decimation of humanity, digitally transmitted criticism of technology, propagated cannibalism from a vegan perspective, cross-dressing and anti-humanism. -- Sure, we all know that the USA is the work of religious fanatics. Religious quirks are met with greater tolerance there than political deviants. But the essence of what Chris Korda portrays as the typical American way of hating civilization is, in all its contradictions, a pretty remarkable matter.

The fact that a species is irretrievably destroyed every 40 minutes led Korda to the conclusion that humanity, especially in the first world, must give up its prominent position on this planet. Consequently, the central demand of the Church of Euthanasia, which he and some of his followers founded in the early 1990s, is "Save the planet, kill yourself". Recommended means of reducing the human race are suicide, sterilization, abortion, euthanasia and all sexual practices performed for pleasure that do not serve the purpose of reproduction.

Wilhelm Reich's sexual-political writings are, alongside the Una Bomber's manifesto, one of the theoretical pillars of the church. Korda also explicitly wants the fact that he appears in public as a woman to be seen as an emancipatory act and a sign against sexual determination. The COE's actions are more reminiscent of fun guerrilla strategies than of serious religious rites: "Eat a queer fetus for Jesus," "Depressed? Commit suicide," or "Sperm-free cunts for the earth" could be read on their posters. The obligatory appearance includes Korda in a neat ladies' outfit, Reverend Kim in priest's garb, and a sex doll nailed to a cross, the "Being."

The Church's actions have repeatedly caught the front line between militant anti-abortionists and moderate supporters. It leaves big question marks on both sides. This was the case with the environmental memorial day "Earth Day", which has long since fallen into the hands of corporations, and on which the COE held a "human meat barbecue".

It is not surprising that techno culture has a certain religious streak, where the spiritual mass experience takes the place of linguistic articulation. In Chris Korda's case, however, the approach is the other way round. With his music, he gains access via the back stairs in order to then agitate for his very different mission in this milieu.

As a trained guitarist, he was socialized in the jazz scene, but it was only through his penchant for temporary gender swapping in the corresponding house clubs that he came into contact with electronic music. These two influences are clearly audible on his deep house album Six billion humans can't be wrong, released last summer on Gigolo Records. His handling of voices is unusual. Most of the time, words and sentences emerge from rhythmic sounds, which then suddenly convey very clear, semantic meanings: Chicken-flesh, human-flesh, pig-flesh what's the difference, pass the ketchup!

Apart from Chris Korda -- in his female stage existence somewhere between Demi Moore, Juliette Greco and a crazy secretary -- other electronic deviants will appear tonight. Another live act is the nervous Hamburg duo Ego Express, who have just taken off with the brilliant, rip-off disco album Bieker, as well as the two DJs Tobias Thomas from the Cologne Kompakt stable and the man for universal cases DJ Koze from HH.

today, Hafenklang, 9 p.m.

Ted Gaier is a musician himself, including a member of the Goldene Zitronen.

The preceding is a translation. The original language is here.