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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)

https://www.facebook.com/voodoodrummer

voodoo drummer (@voodoo_drummer) • Instagram photos and videos

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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)

https://facebook.com/madilhardis

https://www.instagram.com/madilhardis/

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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)

https://www.facebook.com/societyofbeggars

Society of Beggars – Official Website

https://www.instagram.com/societyofbeggars

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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)

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

http://www.blackroseburning.com/

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Have you ever sat, watching the sky in the dark, taking in the celestial bodies, through the substratosphere? Los Angeles darkwave band, The Sea At Midnight, have released the single, “Atmosphere“.

The vocals are tantalising, peaking your interest with the delicate bass, reined in drums and tinkling guitar. There are swells where the music lets loose, floating in the confines of a vehicle, no longer under control, but rather left to the whim of chance.

The production and mixing is by Chris King, the mastering was done by Patrick Hills at Earthtone Recording Company, while lilting saxophone was provided by Tony Bevilacqua. When you hear such tracks, you can’t help but be taken back to the original spaceman, Bowie’s “Major Tom“. A tale of leaving the Earth and floating in the unknown and boundless expanse of the heavens. “Atmosphere” is a tasty post-punk treat from The Sea At Midnight.

https://theseaatmidnight.bandcamp.com/track/atmosphere-2

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

https://linktr.ee/theseaatmidnight

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The lads from the Gold Coast hinterland are back with a new single. Which lads do we speak about? Why the Aussie duo, Atticus Chimps, and the track “Eyes Speak“.

Grungy, and almost Black Sabbath inspired riffs, the rock and roll is laid down nice and tasty. Have you had fun with me?, is the chorus that plays through your head, in a not so playful jibe at the powers that be.

“Eyes Speak” is this really nice thumping, meaty chunk of heavier boogie rock’n’roll, nice and tasty, proving that Atticus Chimps have the ability and talent, when it comes to changing up their sound.

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

http://www.atticuschimps.com/

Space Exploitation | Atticus Chimps (bandcamp.com)

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German industrial project Neon Insect has released another single as of May, with the title “Implant“. Nils Sinatsch is Neon Insect, whose forte is delving into a cyber-punk future of apocalyptic proportions.

The flesh screams in defiance as the cybernetic additions consume the body, taking away pain and everything else that makes a human feel. Nils‘ gruff vocals are the programmes and nano bots seeking to assume control, as they pulsate through their victim,

It starts with a few changes of enhancement, until the machines decides mankind is frail and prone to breaking. The road to human race’s doom seems to be paved in the industrial dance rhythms of Neon Insect and his “Implant“.

IMPLANT | Neon Insect (bandcamp.com)

https://www.neon-insect.de/

https://facebook.com/neoninsect

https://www.instagram.com/neoninsect/

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Back in 2020, we covered the release of the album Prepare For A Nightmare by Norwegian post-punk band Mayflower Madame, They have now re-released their second full length album as a deluxe version, on Only Lovers Records, with five new tracks included. In celebration, Mayflower Madame have dropped the single “Dresden“.

Photo by Tim Harris

The wandering guitars echo and plunge, for going out on this night might change your life forever, whether that is for your betterment or walking into disaster. The vocals are lethargic and almost unenthusiastic, like the singer knows the future, like a fortune teller, and there is a portent of gloom, especially if you take into account, Dresden burnt to the ground in WW2..

The accompanying video for “Dresden“, is a collection of noir, mostly silent films, cut together in a lovely montage of breathtakingly porcelain females. The signature psychedelic guitars are present and the synths have created an eerie background, held together with the drums and bass. Post-punk from Norway is alive and kicking with Mayflower Madame at the fore.

Prepared for a Nightmare (Deluxe Version) | Mayflower Madame (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/mayflowermadame

https://www.instagram.com/mayflowermadame/

http://www.onlyloversrecords.com/

https://www.facebook.com/onlyloversrecords/

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Some music projects go on hiatus, but they never truly go away. After twenty years, DC Astro and Martha A. Hoffmann, have breathed new life into their electronic/darkwave band Deep Red, and what better way to celebrate this than with the release of a new single, “Battle Lines” which features Element 104.

The low tones are heavy and bass driven, giving the track a voluminous depth, and a long with the rhythm hurtle this track forward. Hoffmann’s vocals range from whispered to clear and true, just as the synths chime out and spin about a relationship gone sour, and the fight to be able to walk away from other person.

In 2002, the album Chimera was released, which has the original version of “Battle Lines” on it. I can hear why they wanted to, in a way, resurrect this track and give it another run, modernising it. A note of interest is that the mastering was done by Doruk Öztürkcan of She Past Away fame. The over all feel of “Battle Lines” is a big break through track bound for the dance floor, which will ensure we will be hearing more from Deep Red.

Battle Lines | Deep Red featuring Element 104 | Deep Red (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/TheRealDeepRed

https://www.instagram.com/therealdeepred/

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From sun drenched Florida, Violet Silhouette are back with a new single, titled “Strange Wind“. This single is off the soon to be released EP Feverblue, which is the follow-up to the 2021 EP, SEMI-PERMANENTDEREALIZATION.

The metronome drum beats are twinned with the extruded electronics reverberating, which are joined by a classic post-punk heavy bass. The clean guitar breaks through, which heralds a burst of joyous, danceable sound. The vocals complete the booming shivers down the spine, as the music runs circles around your pleasure centres.

Longing and need are palpable in this track, along with the cascading layers of instrumentation. Violet Silhouette has mixed post-punk with both industrial dance and dark pop to give us the sublime “Strange Wind“.

https://violetsilhouette.bandcamp.com/track/strange-wind

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

https://www.violetsilhouette.com/

https://www.instagram.com/violetsilhouetteofficial/