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When the guys from the Swiss band, Far Away From All This, 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 “To Dream The Universe.”

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 Teenage Fanclub 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“.

To Dream The Universe | Far Away From All Of This (bandcamp.com)

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Based in Mexico, Edge Of Decipher, have a new single out called “Your Real Name“. 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 machina ad noctem label!

The single “Your Real Name” 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 real version of “Solaris Reborn“, as the unearthly terrestrial soundscape of synths beautifully blooms, while what could be an alien choir sweetens the starlight. Behold the Blade Runner futuristic dread of “Solitary Skies” 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.

“The Waves” was released as a single previously, but here you get to hear the Sidekick Waves remix and it still has the cool synth ambiance with a funky kick to it. The next three tracks are the “Angel Code” with it’s erratic bleeps and neuro binding asymmetry, the ascending refinement of “Rise Code” and the foreign and exotic tempo “Waves Code“, that whispers into your ears. The last two tracks are instrumental pieces of “Your Real Name“, where that piano is so vividly at the fore, and the stunning “The Waves (Sidekick Wave remix)”, full of future pop mixed with synthwave.

There is always a delicate refinement to all of Edge Of 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 “Your Real Name” but rather one should listen to Edge Of Decipher.

Your Real Name | Edge of Decipher | machina ad noctem (bandcamp.com)

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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.”

https://hangingfreud.bandcamp.com/track/falling-tooth

https://www.facebook.com/hanginfreudmusic?mibextid=ZbWKwL

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PTSD and depression are subjects that are often skirted around by both government bodies and medical institutions. Philadelphia band, Die Tired, want to drag the spotlight onto the subject, and so the single “Better Off Alive” 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.

Die Tired are on the label SODEH Records and consist of members Matthew DeAngelis (vocals/guitar), Sean Boyle (guitar), Jamieson (Jim) Lee (bass) and Brandon Ballantyne (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.

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https://dietiredband.com/

https://www.instagram.com/die.tired/

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Kicking off July with a bang. We are talking the new industrial single “ROTATIONS” from UK artist MATT HART, with the added extra bonus of a remix by SERAPHIM SYSTEM, aka Jon Stancil, 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 SWAGGROTATIONS REMIX 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.

MATT HART’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 SERAPHIM SYSTEM 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“.

Music | MATT HART (bandcamp.com)

ROTATIONS (SERAPHIM SYSTEM SWAGGROTATIONS REMIX) | MATT HART (bandcamp.com)

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Music | Seraphim System (bandcamp.com)

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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 Scorpion Tea out on the label GIVE/TAKE. “Scarlet Misquote” is the deathrock track in question and the band is made up of Christian Cruz (guitars), Anthony Diaz (spoken elegance, ghost whispers, haunted keys), Edley ODowd (drums, percussion, backing vocals, samples, electronic manipulations) and Fern Puma (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 DEATHDANCE Drag 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 Psychic TV, you might recognise the name Edley ODowd, who was their drummer from 2003 and a close friend to Genesis P.Orridge for even longer. “Scarlet Misquote” is a gem of a deathrock track, a little quirky and completely alt rock heaven from Scorpion Tea.

Scarlet Misquote | Scorpion Tea (bandcamp.com)

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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 Voodoo Drummer is back with the single and video called “The Afro-Dionysian“, and he is joined on cello/percussion by Stavros Parginos.

There is a mixture of African inspired percussion, with the cello sailing over the top, bringing with it the Greek influence. The Voodoo Drummer 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!

Music | Voodoo Drummer (bandcamp.com)

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When you know singer/songwriter, Madil Hardis has a new single, then there is only one thing to do… tell everyone. The German with the exquisite vocals, living in London, is about to release a new album called Natural Darkness, and the track, “My Jolly Sailor Bold” is our first glimpse of what is come. This piece is originally a sea shanty sung somewhere between the 17 and 1800s by sailors, and if it sounds familiar to ye, well, you might not be wrong. It also featured on the movie Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides.

There is such a warmth and sensuality dripping in sadness from her vocals alone, and then there are the added delicate gossamer synths that rise and fall gently, like the waves lapping onto the sand. Also, there is also a second version, a capella, which means for those unfamiliar with the term, sung without any instrumental accompaniment.

Even now, this is like an echo through time of great love followed by even greater, gut-wrenching loss. Whether you listen to either version, you can’t help be struck by both the divine beauty and terrible heartache invoked by the sentiment of the track and Hardis‘ poignant singing. Madil Hardis is a land bound siren calling for “My Jolly Sailor Boy”.

My Jolly Sailor Bold | Madil Hardis (bandcamp.com)

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July 13th marks the fourth single, called “Well Of Wishes” from Naarm (Melbourne) based band Society Of Beggars, which is off the very soon to be released debut album Levitator. Members Yianni Michalopoulos (vocals), Dimitrios Michalopoulos (guitar), Tom ‘Dibi’ Di Biase (drums) with Zoë Alexa (bass) make up the band that has been playing and touring since 2016..

The bass and drums are the driving force, giving the track a heavy rock focus, while the guitars waver between galvanic and sinuous. The vocals both melodic and gravelly, tell the story of how you can’t spend your life wishing, otherwise you never act to create reality. The lyrics in particular, are beautifully crafted jewels.

There is a sweeping graceful vastness in what I would describe at a touch of 70s Black Sabbath, mixed with something that is so tangibly Australian rock. “Well Of Wishes” is a precautionary tale of living for the moment instead inside one’s head, and giving one’s self to the darkness of the well. This latest single sees Society Of Beggars definitely rocking in style.

Well of Wishes | Society of Beggars (bandcamp.com)

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We are delighted to bring you a nice slice of post-punk gothy goodness in the form of a new single from New York’s’ Black Rose Burning. George Grant (bass/vocals/keys), Luis Infantas (drums) and Frank Morin (guitars), are on the verge of dropping their brand new album Ad Astra, and “Sing To Me (E.L.E.)” is the first single, released on the 23rd of June.

There is such a burst of overwhelming joy from the first strains of music. Ringing guitar with not quite chip tune synth, court your ears. Grant’s vocals come across between an ode to that which is lost and the sadness of being emotionally tortured by said loss. It is a rollicking track, foot tappingly quirky and yet it still pulls at your heart strings.

For those that do not know what an E.L.E is, the clue is in the song itself, that it means Extinction Level Event, say like a meteor hitting the Earth. Black Rose Burning are staying true to the mission statement, with their love of science fiction (as well as science fact!), fuelling the rocket engines of creativity and shooting them out into the stars, giving us aliens music to marvel at and enjoy… even if there ever is an E.LE., I would want Black Rose Burning to “Sing To Me (E.L.E.)“.

Sing To Me (E.L.E.) | Black Rose Burning (bandcamp.com)

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http://www.blackroseburning.com/