by on

This May saw the release of Manchester’s, Rhys Bloodjoy‘s album, Human. Pattern. Repeat. In hiatus, ensconced in Spain during the height of COVID-19, Rhys found himself in a position to find inspiration to create.

Bloodjoy’s style is described as shoegaze, sophisticated electro loops with melody. With that in mind, let’s delve into this noise monster.

Instantly you are taken by the electro beat and the almost Joy Division guitar with “Death By Succubus“. The vocals are distorted and the guitar starts to wail as the song picks up speed, becoming more frenetic. And then nothing…….

“Suck” has a middle eastern feel, threading it’s way though this rhythm driven piece. Like a psychedelic trip in a demented hippie van of free love and sexually driven tension.

Single, “Run From The Hunter“, draws on an almost American native rhythm and texture. Feed back upon feed back, as the guitar fuels the claustrophobic feel that you can’t get away from.

An interesting title in “Birth Canal Contemplations Blues” and like a Jim Morrison messiah from under the sheets, Bloodjoy wants to make love with that waggling tongue.

“Celebration” is down and dirty rock and roll that is relentless and pulsating. Not everything is worth celebrating because life can be difficult and painful without being constantly reminded as well that you can do better.

An intense build up to “Infernal Regions” that winds around your senses. Reminiscent of The Cramps‘, Lux Interior, both vocally and suggestively in a lurid wanton manner. This lascivious and dark.

RHYS BLOODJOY

Final number is the title track, “Human. Pattern. Repeat.” It is a short explosion of screaming noise and reverb that rings out, then suddenly fades to nothing.

Death and sex are often thought of as two sides of the same coin, just like genius and madness. Bloodjoy likes to use the references of one for another or double entendre to evoke those feelings and ideas through both the lyrics and the tone of the music.

It is a clever use of off kilter psychedelic with raw guitar mixed with that industrial sensibility, which makes it a tad unusual and extremely interesting.

It’s got a little bit of everything for those that love experimental, noise and shoegaze styles. Check out Rhys Bloodjoy’s album as it is name your price for the download or you can buy the vinyl LP and remember Human.Pattern.Repeat.

https://bloodjoy.bandcamp.com/album/human-pattern-repeat-vinyl-lp-digital

http://www.facebook.com/RhysBloodjoy

http://www.bloodjoymusic.com/

by on

From Wroclaw, Poland comes the band xDZVØNx with their album Everything We Dreamt About, released April 3rd.

Welcome to the sweet insanity that is Børa on main vocals, synths plus mandolin and Snufkin on backing vocals, synths and programming.

They describe their style as noisepop, mixed with brutalistic architecture and glitch art, and originally were associated more with the witch house scene in Europe.

XDZVØNX

Intro piece to the album is “Why I Called You“. Just by listening to the lilting short number, you can tell that this is going to be a highly electronic album.

Current truth is “Face By Face” right now is my favourite track off the album. The vocals are wonderful and just something about this is almost soul deep.

“The Final Boss” really feels like a cheesy platform game tune gone cyberpunk. It’s fast and fun, brilliantly light yet bassy massive beats in this short piece.

Rolling seamlessly straight into “Panic“, the vocals puncture your ear membranes as they shred straight ahead, frantic with a reprieve at the end.

The dulcet and seductive tones of Børa in “Pray” lead into fast paced beat, that spirals and twists in an almost out of control fashion.

“Bubbles” actually does sound like foamy spheres floating and eventually popping. A low electronic buzz in the bass ties down those light bubbles of sound.

The somewhat dirge start of “You Have To Be Alone” is a bit confusing until the cacophony of noise breaks through. And so we have lulls and crescendos of screaming synths as well as the human machine.

You might find “I Want To Find This Girl“, sweet and understated, almost ballad like. It is pieces like this that show a lot of depth.

Like a bad trip, the single, “Litzmannstadt” featuring Belmondo, wavers, like you are in and out of consciousness and there hints of Die Antwood. Belmondo is the rapper that embellishes this with his deep vocals and polish lyrics.

Imagine an 80’s electronic wonderland mixed with Ladytron and you have “Playground“. This is nearly hypnotic in the way it is written.

“I Will Vomit Glitter” is a get your punk/industrial on extravaganza of a single. A fun upbeat track about literally vomiting glitter.

The song, “No Eyes” just explodes in a glorious wave of sound. It will suck you in with the tune and make you want to bounce.

Angelic vocals over soaring synths and hard bass is the style of “Stupid Smile“. Booming and echo filled visions of a smile that is left in the mind. You might think for a moment that something is wrong as the sound skips and wobbles like a tape being eaten by the deck but this is part of the experience.

Not sure if the vocals are Børa or Snufkin on “I Am Saint“, as they have been slowed right down to a deep rumble of a voice. And this is also the last number for xDZVONx and it leaves you wondering who that was.

There is nothing boring about this album. This is avant-garde, experimental expressionism in electronic art form. We hear Børa both sweet and harsh and Snufkin helps push the boundaries of electronic music as an extension of themselves. Every time I listen, I hear something new. This is Everything We Dreamt About from cool tunes to dance beats from xDZVØNx.

https://xdzvonx.bandcamp.com/album/everything-we-dreamt-about

https://m.facebook.com/xdzvonx