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Label Infacted Recordings, have brought you the latest single “Surrendering“, by United Kingdom artist j:dead. Jay Taylor (j:dead), who also is the live percussionist for Tyske Ludder, Tactical Sekt and Harm Joy, has also included remixes by fellow Brit, MATT HART and Germany’s Faderhead.

When the world goes to hell, perhaps including betrayal, do you give up or fight on? This is the premise behind “Surrendering“, with Taylor’s warm clean vocals in stark comparison to the agonized screams, married to a musical score that is so dynamic. The Faderhead remix is a brilliant dance orientated version, up tempo and with heaps of movement in the chiming electronics. The vocals have been brought to the fore, while the synths wind throughout building the tension. If you know MATT HART, he has brought with him, his cyber industrial style, but this is definitely tempered with his very sympathetic handling of the clean vocals, whilst causing the roared lyrics to be pain ridden.

I don’t think I can pick a favourite version, as they are all so good. Taylor’s vocals and song writing are stellar and really, HART and Faderhead are both masters of their style of industrial music, lending their talents and creating a monster of a track. There is no “Surrendering” for j:dead.

Surrendering (digital single) | j:dead | J:dead (bandcamp.com)

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

Music | MATT HART (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/djmatthartuk/

Music | Faderhead (bandcamp.com)

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

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One of the strong synthwave albums of 2022 was Hatif’s debut, Everything Is Repetition, via Town And Tower Records. The Swedish based duo of Markus Majdalani and Johan Eckerström, began this musical project in 2020, and May 26th saw their new single, “Long Year“, released into the wild.

Photo by Daniel Kwon

I do love that Hatif have this wonderful ability to meld electronic music with that exotic Middle Eastern flare, and ‘Long Year” is yet another beautiful representation of this ability. However, this latest track seems a lot heavier and darker, as the electronics snap and hiss at times. Around this is the succulent vocals of Markus Majdalani and the sinuous weaving of the synths. Maybe this track by Hatif, is about the time of Covid-19, that did indeed seem like a “Long Year“.

Long Year | Hatif (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/hatifband

https://www.instagram.com/hatifband

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Those that are heavily into science fiction/fantasy might recognise the name “Morbus Gravis“. from the comic Druuna, which became a video game in 2001. It is now a single, out on Infacted Recordings, from Greek industrial project TeknoVore, and the guest vocalist/lyricist is Australian, Keeva Leo, whom you might know is from the equally excellent Sirus.

You know, that when any seductive female voice tells you ‘come in, the water’s fine‘, you should probably run… a lot. Big industrial base drops propel the track forward, with Leo’s vocals cajoling, wailing, and seducing your ears, as any good siren should. There is included two mixes by two musicians/producers. Adsol gives you the first remix, which you think is going to be some delicate thing, but the beginning is a ruse, as the music flows between transcendental and thumping rhythms, while the vocals are now murkier, and there is a sense of obfuscation. The remix by Draven is an instrumental headlong rush of techno beats with flourishing synths that occasionally stops to catch its breath and then continues on, overriding your senses.

There is also an instrumental version where you get to experience those great bass drops yet again. George Klontzas is the man behind TeknoVore, and he really has a knack in creating and blending techno/psytrance with industrial, that is seamless and heavily engaging, so his combining forces with Keeva Leo, is a stroke of genius, and “Morbus Gravis” is going to suck you down into its wonderful vortex.

Morbus Gravis | Teknovore | Infacted Recordings (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/TeknoVoreMusic

https://www.instagram.com/tekno_vore/

Music | SIRUS (bandcamp.com)

Sirus | Facebook

Music | Adsol (bandcamp.com)

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

Music | Draven (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/DeamienRaven1980s?mibextid=ZbWKwL

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What is on the slab you might ask? I may reply, well, Melbourne label, Spooky Records, have released the single with video, from Velatine, called “All I Want“. Velatine is a darkwave duo, also based in Melbourne, Australia and this single is off the album I Won’t Be Civilised, that was released in February.

Photo by Jurgis Maleckas

From the beginning, a sense of despondency is within the electronics, before the vocals take you away, dragging you towards a world of solitude. The synths are beautifully layered with the vocals, echoing and giving an air of melancholy mystery.

The band is composed of Maggie Alley and Loki Lockwood, and the video they have created for the track, is full of shadowy Hitchcock noir, as Alley gets Lockwood to drive her around, before making him dig his own grave. “All I Want” is smooth and chic like a rich dark wine from Velatine.

I Won’t Be Civilised | Velatine (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/Velatine-100603324997502/

https://www.spookyrecords.com/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100048668568503&mibextid=ZbWKwL

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Do you chose the red pill or the blue pill? It was a question put to the character Neo, in the movie The Matrix. Now, London’s Alien Creation, also known as Chris Clark, proposes “Red Pill” in the form of a single that was released in April.

The future is here so ‘wise up sucker‘ as the electronics mewl their discontent and the beats fervently follow the vocals of Clark, as he punches through your defences built up up the politicians and media.

It made me giggle a little, as the chorus of ‘wise up sucker‘ reminded me of the Pop Will Eat Itself track of that very name (“Wise Up! Sucker“). What would you chose? Do you chose the truth or to live in a fantasy? It could be an Alien Creation, so take the “Red Pill“.

RED PILL | Alien Creation (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/Aliencreation1?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://aliencreation.hearnow.com/

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The last time we heard from Athens’ NEXUS, was February 2022, and now Mike Pougounas is back with a new single, named the “Shrinking Man“, which was released May 13. Pougounas plays keyboards, vocals and programming and is joined on this track by Dalai Cellai on cello, whom is part of the German Performance Art ensemble, Cirque Bouffon.

There is such an overwhelming sense of a loss of self in this track between the content of the lyrics, Pougounas‘ vocals and the extraordinary tone of the cello. There is a simplicity in the music that lends itself to the tale of a man that had a wonderful talents, that were powered by love, but without it he withered and has a rather unfortunate ‘accident’. The “Shrinking Man” by NEXUS is wonderfully poignant gothic fare.

Shrinking Man | Nexus (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/Mike-Pougounas-101078638961470

https://www.instagram.com/newzerogod/

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Deep Sleep Atlantic are back with their second single “Blue“, which was released on May the 12th. Travis Marc and Daniel Perez are changing things up with the addition of saxophone by guest musician Dave Mouton.

Photo by Mikey Valencia

There is a plodding nature to the beginning of the track, a kind of going through the moves of daily life, while the vocals reach out, seemingly putting on a happy face. A song about depression, when you can no longer face the day. It really takes off in the chorus, and the culprit of this misery is revealed. The saxophone is absolutely mesmerising.

The music video has its premiere on the 19th of May, but in the meantime, you can enjoy listening to “Blue” or sites like Bandcamp and Spotify. This track is definitely nothing like the first single, “Bipolar Tendencies“, which had a far more darker edge, where as “Blue” has embraced that New Orleans’ grass roots soul and blues, and mixed it with an 80s pop swagger of say Duran Duran or Japan. Touch the “Blue” with Deep Sleep Atlantic.

▶︎ Blue | Deep Sleep Atlantic (bandcamp.com)

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

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Baltimore band, Talking To Shadows, is sceduled to drop a new EP, in June called Lost and May the 12th, saw the release of the single “Soma“, off said EP.

There are periods between that are in hushed reverence for the whispered female vocals, before the drums come crashing through, thunderous when the languid guitar changes mode to join the guitar. All the while, the vocals wave their way between causing goosebumps

Soma is Latin, and its literal meaning is body, and this is an ode to how love eff3ects every fibre. The shoegaze style is reminicent of Lush or Curve, and as you can rightly imagine, is it simply gorgeous. If you are looking for a track that lifts your heart and makes it burst forth with joy, then “Soma” by Talking To Shadows is worth adding to your collection.

Lost | Talking to Shadows (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/TalkingtoShadowsMusic

https://www.instagram.com/talkingtoshadows/

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I have noticed that the Germans are extremely efficient at consistently putting out great music in quick succession. Alexander Leonard Donat is one such German. I still have to bring you the review for his new album from Assassun, but his other project Vlimmer, just brought out a new single called “Fatalideal b/w Race For The Prize“, on the Blackjack Illuminist Records label.

There is an idealistic air of youthful golden delight in “Fatalideal“, with the ringing guitar work that is strikingly joyful. Even Donat’s vocals are light and wonderfully graceful in his native German tongue. The second track is far more electrotonic and slower than the original…yes, this is a cover. The vocals are tinged with a sense of morose as “Race For The Prize” wends its way.

“Fatalideal” definitely holds about it, an taste of The Cure, and their more absurdly happy music. It is coated in a dreamy haze and is genuinely delightful, with the vocals absolutely in perfect form The b-side, “Race For The Prize” was originally released in 1999, as a single by US group, The Flaming Lips and in true Vlimmer style, the lyrics have been transcribed into German. I actually had never heard the original version before, and I have to say i prefer the Vlimmer cover… so there :P. Donat is proving himself more than a capable singer and a composer of enchanting darkwave.

Fatalideal b/w Race For The Prize | Vlimmer | Blackjack Illuminist Records (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blackjack-Illuminist-Records/167423886702866?sk=info

https://www.instagram.com/blackjackilluminist/

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There was a stirring on the winds in New Jersey, and behold, the debut single “April” spang forth from goth rockers, The Antoine Poncelet Band. The band is made up of members, Antoine Poncelet (vocals), Peter Quilla (guitar), Mark McClemens (bass), Santos Menendez (keys), Greg Bullock (keys) and Justin Wright (drums).

There is the wailing and gnashing of teeth in “April“, for there does seem to be a questioning of why one has been left to fend for themselves, when the muses have fled. Is there meaning if you cannot see it? The music is boisterous, and the over all ambiance, reminds me a little of Andy Prieboy. There is also a b-side in the track, “Virginia Plain“, originally released by Roxy Music, back in 1972. They have retained that glam edge with the great keyboard work and lead singer Poncelet, pulls off a rather convincing modern take, of the sneering Bryan Ferry, though this version is more attacking.

Hearing a cover of Roxy Music was rather delightful and a good reminder of what a great songwriter Ferry has been. The single “April” is this interesting dichotomy of 90s goth, grunginess and even honky-tonk blues at times, which is surprisingly enjoyable. It might no longer be “April“, but you can still indulge in The Antoine Poncelet Band.

April | The Antoine Poncelet Band (bandcamp.com)

http://www.facebook.com/theantoineponceletband

http://www.theantoineponceletband.com/

http://www.theantoineponceletband.com/