Brain Damage - Inventory (Switzerland, 1991)

This is one of those special ones… Brain Damage is the musical project of Zürich based director and photographer Ivan Engler, known best for his films Cargo (2009) and Nomina Domini (2000). Engler, who had precious experience as a VJ during his Shoolyears, was studying medicine at the time when he decided to dip his toes into music production. Influenced by the sound of artists like David Sylvian and Holger Czukay, he set out on his own journey with the limited gear he had available. In Englers own words: “I only had a Korg Wavestation and 3 reel-to-reel tape machines (2 Studer/Revox and an ancient one of which i forgot the brand, I believe something Scandinavian), plus a small "Dictaphone" style tape recorder and a piano. I did extensive field recordings, also from AM radio stations, with the small tape recorder, it has this incredible distorted and wobbly sound that i loved. I started out with sound collages that i played backwards and forwards on the reel-to-reel machines, editing via splicing the tape etc., and I used the third reel-to-reel machine as a tape delay. I bounced back and forth between the Studers, adding layers and degrading the sound in a - in my opinion - beautiful analog way.” (Instagram DM, 11.05.2026) Engler home-dubbed 20 copies of his first tape from the reel-to-reel master, all of which were given away to friends and family, non were officially sold. The cover was made using QuarkXPress and printed at a local copy store. After releasing Inventory, Engler went on to release “J.B. is dead” under the monicer of Brain Damage, before switching to “P.L.U.P.” and “JMB sonic soldier” in various other music styles. Engler also produced for the Swiss triphop group SWANDIVE, even making their music videos back in the day. Engler still produces music under his real name nowadays, recently collaborating with artist an-moku on the ambient project “Reverb Mining”. I bought this cassette “blind” (or maybe deaf?) in a lot, not knowing what would eventually await my ears once it arrived at my doorstep. The cover seemed right, but the music is what really kept this one in my heart. When I contacted Engler he was surprised that some rando on the internet had managed to get ahold of one of those 20 copies and genuinely seemed happy about my appreciation for his privately released music from 30 years ago. We both agreed that this is something special that should be shared, so I am grateful to present to thee “Brain Damage - Inventory”. Tracklist: 00:00 Listening 05:18 The Dream 08:52 Strange Ways 11:27 Listening Back 17:11 Falling Asleep 23:15 Idolatry (Fascism Is Raising Again) 29:24 Brain Damage 31:05 Strange Ways (Dub) 33:24 Sorrow I own none of the rights. This was uploaded for entertainment/archival purposes only.