Endless House

A few weeks ago, an anonymous looking package came through the ClashMusic letter box.

Announcing itself to be an album of rare electronics, 'Endless House' was apparently all that survived of a grandiose disco built in Czechoslovakia. The country was then under Communist rule, but by using loopholes in the laws granted to them after the Prague Spring the dreamers behind Endless House were able to start something special.

Hopelessly futuristic, Endless House was a collage of avant garde art, proto-Techno electronics and plenty of hedonism. Like a bizarre Studio 54 for the Communist era, it lasted a matter of weeks before the banks, the authorities and the police combined to send Endless House into the history books.

Issued on the new London based imprint Dramatic Records, 'Endless House' is by turns fascinating and bizarre, outlandish and understated.

ClashMusic tracked down those behind the release, who included a little surprise from the Endless House founder.

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The story of 'Endless House' by Jack Dramatic (Dramatic Records)

"The beguiling tale of Jiri Kantor's Endless House came into our world 3 years ago, and we've been working on capturing its weird and wonderful existence ever since. We are fascinated by musical worlds, by the way that specific times, environments and personalities interact with audio – so Endless House (together with the work of Hans Tanza) struck us as a vivid way of announcing the ethos behind all things Dramatic Records.

Over time, we've found the spirits of its coterie of electronic supertars/supernerds - from the Viennese 'bon viveur' Rasmus Folk to the earnest audio-architect Walter Schnaffs - creeping further and further into our hearts. Indeed, if it were possible, I could think of no more apt "Creative Director" for Dramatic Records than Jiri Kantor himself. He is, in a way, everything we're interested in: crazily imaginative, driven by drama/narrative, confusingly self-ironic and, most of all, not bothered about losing loads of money pursuing a dream!

Tom Dramatic and I are based in London and Trieste, and we're always on the look out for new (or old) content that matches this vision. Alas, Hans Tanza hasn't yet developed a black box that can identify a 'Dramatic' record from a non-dramatic record, but we think we know one when we see
one. In fact, we have a whiteboard in our office where each of us can post records they've seen around that struck them in this way...Amongst those most recently added are: Omar Souleyman's "Jazeera Nights", Popul Vuh's "Aguirre", Hype William's "Find Out What Happens..", Devo's "Oh no it's Devo", Broadcast's collaboration with the Focus Group (R.I.P Trish Keenan), and Oneohtrix Point Never's "Rifts"...

So, yes, if any of those would like to sign for us, that would be nice. Daniel Lopatin, in particular, please contact Info@DramaticRecords.com, or call the Endless House reception on 07794435595."

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An open letter from Endless House founder Jiri Kantor

"Dear readers, writers, listeners and dreamers,

It is both a pleasurable and a curious sensation, I must confess, to witness my long-forgotten Endless House project (finally!) capture the public's imagination after all these years. A spectre even its own time, my dream has now grown a new flesh, a new lucidty, amidst the words of those who flood cyberspace with tales of its tallness and other tall tales.

It has not escaped my attention that today's critics, just like those at the time, rather harangue the Endless House's lofty intentions. The truth is I never knew any different. Nor would I want to. For six short, glorious weeks we created a very special stage, featuring some very special actors...Regret does not come into it.

So, to the new fans of Endless House, please continue to make myths and magic of the worlds of Rasmus Folk, Walter Schnaffs, Johannus Arpensium and the mighty Felix Uran. For this is the true spirit of the enterprise...

...Just make it last a little bit longer this time..."

Jiri Kantor
Endless House Founder and Creative Director
Now 71 years old