Dutch noise/dark-jazz auteur Bong-Ra (a.k.a. Jason Köhnen) is as prolific as his many projects are bonkers i.e. extremely. For 25 years, the multi-instrumentalist has been involved in some of the most intense, original and unearthly recordings this side of The Void, including bass duties with The Kilimanjaro Dark Jazz Ensemble, programming with Hammer Horror-influenced gabber project Servants Of The Apocalyptic Goat Rave and chainsaws with extreme grindcore duo, Deathstorm.
To celebrate his 42nd birthday and the 25 years since his first official release with ex-school band Bluuurgh, Kohnen has rounded up a compilation of his selected works, which, iin Kohnen’s words, “have been a direct part of the chronology of my life”.
He adds: “Each album is part of an era…relationships, deaths, births, sorrow and joy. My discography is somewhat of a life’s journal, each period represented by music”.
Kohnen says he has been addicted to music since 1986, after his mum bought him his first bass guitar. Iron Maiden took his heavy-metal virginity at the tender age of 12, while The Prodigy opened his eyes to breakbeats in 1992. It wasn’t long before he started his first death-metal band Bluuurgh with school-friends.
“Since then i’ve had the opportunity to work with and alongside many great musicians, the freedom to create and express sounds and melodies in a host of bands and solo projects”.
Kohen’s Selected Works 1989-2014 features music from the likes of The Thing With 5 Eyes, The Giants Of Husavik, Wormskull, White Darkness, The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation and many more.
Step inside Kohnen’s dark world here. For more info on these projects and more music visit his bandcamp.
