When the guys from the Swiss band, FarAwayFromAllThis, asked if I remembered them…. well, of course! The shoegaze/alt rock stylings of duo VEGA (guitars) and IX (vocals, bass, synthesizer, drums) are highly rememberable. And, too that end, we have the latest single, dropping on the 17th of July, called “ToDreamTheUniverse.”
The bright and upbeat beginning is a front. The glorious guitar laden wall of fuzzy sound, is crowned with the vocals that want to float away to other realms, unbound from this world. Delicate at times, causing shivers down the spine, and melodious shoegaze noise that reminds me ever so much of the late 80s rise of the genre, which then proceeded to mould the alt rock sound of the 90s with grunge. With the return of Scotland’s TeenageFanclub this year with a new album and touring, Far Away From All Of This are just adding to the mounting joy that this style of music brings, as they take you on the epic journey “To Dream The Universe“.
Based in Mexico, EdgeOfDecipher, have a new single out called “YourRealName“. I say single, though to my surprise it looks far more like an EP with the amount of songs you are getting. Definitely bang for your buck on this one with the single out on the machinaadnoctem label!
The single “YourRealName” delicately rolls out with Thai spoken word, gradually adding electronic layers, though the lone piano keys are striking in their loneliness. There is no sense of urgency, but only floating in the now. Next is the realversion of “SolarisReborn“, as the unearthly terrestrial soundscape of synths beautifully blooms, while what could be an alien choir sweetens the starlight. Behold the BladeRunner futuristic dread of “SolitarySkies” where there is foreboding in the intense and glitching electronics, the rhythms unable to settle on a permanent beat, leaving you on edge, whilst hopes and dreams are now but a distant memory.
“TheWaves” was released as a single previously, but here you get to hear the SidekickWaves remix and it still has the cool synth ambiance with a funky kick to it. The next three tracks are the “AngelCode” with it’s erratic bleeps and neuro binding asymmetry, the ascending refinement of “RiseCode” and the foreign and exotic tempo “WavesCode“, that whispers into your ears. The last two tracks are instrumental pieces of “YourRealName“, where that piano is so vividly at the fore, and the stunning “TheWaves (SidekickWaveremix)”, full of future pop mixed with synthwave.
There is always a delicate refinement to all of EdgeOf Decipher’s music, and he seamlessly flows from futuristic star wave, into an alien world, prophetic calamity or pieces of heart felt love, all the while collaborating and bring out the best in those he works with. One does not need to speak “YourRealName” but rather one should listen to EdgeOfDecipher.
Glaswegian band, Hanging Freud have a new single, out on the Belgian Spleen+ label, just before the release of their seventh studio album, titled Worship. The track is called “Falling Tooth,” and the name alone made me feel all creepy. Not sure what Paula Borges and Jonathan Skinner have been up to, but I’m not sure if I’m up to hearing about falling teeth.
The rhythm sounds like a clock, ticking down, while Borges vocals gracefully wander the soundscape like a ghost searching for completion. Electronics whir and drone, building the tension, as time ignores all of it, matching on.
Beautifully avant-garde and engrossing, like a fever dream that takes you down a path of your mind, you never knew existed. Hanging Freud’s first offering off the new album leaves you wondering what is next… though I am rather relieved to say no teeth were hurt nor fell in the creation of “Falling Tooth.”
PTSD and depression are subjects that are often skirted around by both government bodies and medical institutions. Philadelphia band, DieTired, want to drag the spotlight onto the subject, and so the single “BetterOffAlive” addresses what, for some, has become the elephant in the room, mental health and how people can reach out to find help.
“Better Off Alive is about raising awareness of these serious concerns in our society and highlighting the available resources in our communities to those in need,” explains bassist Jim Lee.
“The additional focus on our military service members in the video hits close to home. With one of our band members being a veteran, we found it especially important to shine a light on issues with PTSD, depression, and suicide in our military communities.” – Singer/guitarist Matt DeAngelis
Even when one comes home, sometimes the war continues in our head. It’s a big, rollicking rock track, filled with sonic guitars, thundering drums, and lyrics from the heart, to find something to hold onto when everything is falling away.
DieTired are on the label SODEHRecords and consist of members MatthewDeAngelis (vocals/guitar), SeanBoyle (guitar), Jamieson (Jim) Lee (bass) and BrandonBallantyne (drums).
Personally, I don’t have any connection to the military, but in saying that, I have lost a fair few friends due to mental health and suicide. In Australia, we have R U OK Day, which asks Aussies to check in with each other and simply ask if ‘are you okay’? Three simple words can mean a lot to another, and you can do it all year round. Die Tired are trying to normalise the conversations we should be having.
Today, we explore the album Lesser Gods by the Los Angeles project BARA HARI, which was released at the end of May, and the limited edition vinyl on the label Re:Mission Entertainment, The exotic BARAHARI is musician and producer SamFranco, whom is also known for her darkwave and industrial collaborations.
Your ears are greeted by the sublime “SirenSong“. Delicate and short lived, a beautiful warning of the dire events to come. For her name is “Tempest“, she who will bring the ensuing storm to clear away the lies and deceit. Such foreboding in a pop like song, as BARAHARI casts her gaze over those that cause consternation, stalking them down. The guitar is heavy, matched by the thudding drums, for we are given the story of sexual double standards and moral gatekeeping in “ImmoralTales“.
The synths bring in “ViolenceRising” and it is indeed about the abhorrent acceptance that it is alright to be brutal to one another. There are wonderful rounds of vocals joined by trumpet. Lust, love and “LookingForOblivion” is an electronic buzzing gem, that settles in your brain. The buzzing is palpable but wait hold that thought. The next track, “HouseOfTheDevil” is simply huge between the falling vocals and melancholic piano, as Franco gives us the modern version of “IWillSurvive“.
Does going outside make you nervous or dealing with crowds bring on anxiety attacks? Maybe you are “Agoraphobic” and as this number plods along, almost unwilling to leave, while the first affirming lines, ‘Started off as a joke Now I can’t walk out my own front door’, fulfil the prophesy. The rock is fused with electronics and “DelusionsOfGrandeur” is both angelic and full of angst, while “EasyTarget” is a sassy and alluring track. The final track is the superbly dark and disturbing “Immortal” with the chiming keyboards and up beat rhythm, whilst the lyrics tell of the fact that as we age, what made us beautiful fades and many see our worth is only wrapped up with youth.
Fairy tales and fables were often stories to teach people wise lessons, and when I listen to BARAHARI’sLesserGods. this album is very much in this vein. Modern fables of not judging others, through to when good people do nothing to prevent evil. Colourful and descriptive language within the lyrics are carried by the melodious electro/indie pop, topped off with the gorgeous vocals of Franco. LesserGods indeed when it comes a goddess like BARAHARI.
Kicking off July with a bang. We are talking the new industrial single “ROTATIONS” from UK artist MATTHART, with the added extra bonus of a remix by SERAPHIMSYSTEM, aka JonStancil, from the USA. This is the ongoing human versus machine, cyber saga of epic proportions.
“8 HOURS AWAKE. 8 HOURS ASLEEP.THIS IS THE WAY OF THE TIME MILL.” This is the mantra here, for there is not time for anything, except digging into the ground beneath, for the humans to escape their electronic assassins. The synths are ripe and juicy, while the beats are rampaging, forcing you to move that body. HART’s vocals broker no argument for this is how thing must be, as the shifts rotate through continuously, like a colony of ants, slaves to the rhythm for survival.
The SWAGGROTATIONSREMIX has the massive slamming beats and screaming electronics. It summons a feeling of utter panic, suddenly dropping into drum and bass, before whirling off, pounding your skull into a pulpy mess.
MATTHART’s original version is chock full of scintillating synths, club floor filling rhythms and rounding vocals, building the air of a will so stubborn, one shall do whatever to avoid elimination. With the SERAPHIMSYSTEM mix, we definitely find ourselves with a different beast. Harsher electronics, mixed with dub and dropping bass, combined with the crushing beats. All of this is a reflection of the desperation and even loss of humanity by the survivors…. ah well, at least they are doing it in style, while carrying out “ROTATIONS“.
June the 16th probably seemed like an ordinary day… but was it? From under your bohemian Aunt’s best velvet rug comes the debut single from ScorpionTea out on the label GIVE/TAKE. “ScarletMisquote” is the deathrock track in question and the band is made up of ChristianCruz (guitars), AnthonyDiaz (spoken elegance, ghost whispers, haunted keys), EdleyODowd (drums, percussion, backing vocals, samples, electronic manipulations) and FernPuma (bass).
Oh yes, that heavy bass brings the funk, and the drumming is harsh and ferocious. When the guitar kicks in…. it sounds slightly off kilter, definitely setting you at unease, before we get to hear Diaz courting your ears. There is a primal glam element, with a playfulness throughout.
Also, there is also the DEATHDANCEDrag On The Night mix, with it’s wonderfully heavier electronic feel, that borders on claustrophobic and ensuring you might not be sleeping tonight. If you are a fan of PsychicTV, you might recognise the name EdleyODowd, who was their drummer from 2003 and a close friend to GenesisP.Orridge for even longer. “ScarletMisquote” is a gem of a deathrock track, a little quirky and completely alt rock heaven from ScorpionTea.
Long, slow and hot days in the Aegean, where Dionysius is still recognised as the god of wine and a good time. Speaking of a good time, Greek project VoodooDrummer is back with the single and video called “TheAfro-Dionysian“, and he is joined on cello/percussion by StavrosParginos.
There is a mixture of African inspired percussion, with the cello sailing over the top, bringing with it the Greek influence. The VoodooDrummer rolls with the rhythms and the video shows the depth of the players talents, with a montage of the last few singles wrapped into the mix…. and they never miss a beat. Between legendary frogs, drunken gods and journeys to the centre of the sun, the Grecian storytellers have their ancestors love of theatre, The drama of the comedy and the tragedy. Parakalo!
Many Australian musicians are amazingly talented, and Melbourne’s Body Maintenance, saw in April, the release of their debut album Beside You, with the vinyl LP out on DrunkenSailorRecords and cassette on UnwoundRecords. Now I am going to tell you that if you love post-punk music, and if you haven’t listened to BodyMaintenance, then maybe you aren’t as cool as you think you are.
The tendrils of “SilverYarns” wind around you and unleash the gorgeous guitars, that run and take flight. The vocals are within the mix and yet still ring clear, and you know that any song that mentions sinners and martyrs has got to be good. In fact it is an amazing start. It is a gothic gun duel at high noon in “Circles“, or at least the dark spaghetti western guitars say be there or be square. The synths swirl between and you wonder where the rattle snakes are hiding.
“TheSpiral” feels like the most glorious vortex, berating your ears with tribal beats, and that is at complete odds with the far more reticent and thoughtful “TimeEnough” that curls within your chest, like a hand gripping your heart. The bass guitar steadily pushes forward in “It’sTheatre“, and again those synths soar in your ears, which has a beautiful chorus and the guitar playing that could take your breath away.
The title track is the heavenly forlorn “BesideYou“, which is about dedication no matter where it leads, and it has the air of freefalling. “TheFools, TheFrauds” is verbose and has tinges of VirginPrunes. The rhythm section pulls this track tightly in, while the guitars fight to contain themselves, all the while caressed by the vocals. The vocals in “Ends” catches your ears as does the big guitar sound and before we know it, there is the last track, “ACompliment“, which wanders in the ether of ghost like memories, gently roaming the shadowy paths.
Damn… how do I summarise this album. It is like chills down the spine due to the familiarity of the style, as it reminds me of British post-punk bands from another era, especially PlayDead, DanseSociety, RedLorryYellowLorry and closer to home Ikon and TheChurch. Probably because it is very much guitar driven, with the use of reverb and pedals, and yet for me, it is the fact there is an air of magic in BodyMaintenance’s sound, so richly dark and so invitingly warm at the same time. I am sure their influences are far more modern, but my hot take is BesideYou is a brilliant post-punk album by BodyMaintenance and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
Should you go into the woods, you might not come out the same….or then again, maybe not at all. Californian deathrockers, BlackHeroinGallery have just released a promo video for the track “TakeThisRose“, which is off the album AFeastOfBats, that was unleashed in 2022.
“Death is seeking out her mark, trying to trick the carefree artist into taking her gift: a rose. She uses a surrogate in place of herself, who stalks the artist through the forest, trying to get him to take the rose, even using spells to will his compliance, or trick him with the poisoned rose in a gift box. Ultimately, she will take him to meet the ferryman.” – Eyajo Joseph
And indeed, the music video is like watching the black and white silent movies, with a goth rock soundtrack. There is also an air of the German Expressionist movement, which would eventually lend itself to the progression of American noir cinematography. The track, “TakeThisRose” is atmospheric and spiritually charged, as if the ghosts of the past are watching on, waiting for the inevitable fall of the unsuspecting soul, by the cold hand of Death herself.
Onyx Music Reviews 