Valentine’s Day has blasted by again for another year, and for many of us, it is a bah ergh sort of irritation. Finnish dark rock group, Lilith & The Wildflowers, released the single “Tattoo” for this auspicious / suspicious day, but this is no love song.
Distant, echoing guitar beautifully set the stage for the vocals, and her singing sounds effortless tinged in what feels like grief, and hints at just below the surface anger. The drums punctuate the seriousness and everything culminates in a chorus that easily gets under your skin.
A tattoo often acts as a memory and this track is about the recollection of a past relationship, that has left an indelible mark under the skin, that stay with us. “Tattoo” loops and graces us with a story of wanting to get rid of the pain of a previous lover, but are left marked. Lilith & The Wildflowers make a damage heart bleed in the nicest way.
Chiasm’sEmileighRohn is based in the US, and Jean-Marc Lederman of TheWeathermen/GhostandWriter, is from Belgium, and together they form the electronic duo Rohn-Lederman. The latest EP, StealTheLight, is made up of four remixes of the title track “StealTheLight,” as well as two bonus tracks.
There is the StefanNetschio (BebornBeton) mix which is languid and warm in tone, He always seems be bring a delicate simplicity to his remixes. The next version is by NoemiAurora (HelalynFlowers) which starts slow and full of longing, echoing and poignant, but underlying an electronic strength. The looping and bleeping Aiboforcen remix has been given a space like feel with the synths creating a veritable soundscape for Rohn’s singing.
“HearMeFromSpace” is off the March slated new full length album ForbiddenPlanet, but only on the vinyl. It is a magical piece combining breathy vocals with eclectic noises and rhythms, which conveys the emotions of wanting to come home. The fourth version of “StealTheLight” is from SarmenAlmond (ManInMotion), and they have introduced an air of seduction. This could be the combination of the funky nature of the electronic mixed with the whispered lyrics. So, we come to the last track which is the unreleased “Boing Schlepa Schlepa Boing Boing,” and yeah, I’m thinking it doesn’t really mean anything, but rather it is fun to say, and this is a spoken word piece with the synths low in the mix. Would not suggest listening to this track when high, as it might cause a brain aneurysm, otherwise this is a nonsensical fun track.
Rohn-Lederman have gathered a wonderful talent pool to give their take on one track, and as always, it is amazing to hear all the different takes people have when it comes to a remix. Not one sounds the same and each exudes a different atmosphere. This is cool electronic music in Steal The Light.
Danish project M73, said ‘em sieben drei‘, have released a bootlegged remix of MarvinGaye’s 70s track “What’sGoingOn.” It is a song that is now half a century old, but for JohnMirland (M73), the lyrics speak volumes, especially now as the world feels as if it teeters on the edge of an abyss.
Mirland is a master of rhythmic noise but his tastes in music are vast. He has taken Gaye’s famous Motown track and given it a far more electronic feel, though the original funk shines through, and Gaye’s iconic tones are the lynch pin.
Historically, “What’s Going On” was written by Marvin Gaye after the Vietnam war had come to an end, and veterans had come home to find they no longer fit in, traumatised, criticised and unwanted. Those lyrics are pertinent today, as they say open your eyes, so you can see what is happening, and that in the end love is strong when we don’t give into hate. It is perfect and M73 have lovingly modernised the Prince of Motown. It is name your price on Bandcamp.
Dark alternative music doesn’t seem to have any borders as to where it originates in the world and even the language used. Good music transcends all it feels, when everything is conveyed through sheer talent. Label Musica Tenebris are based in Warsaw, and they have released the four way split album Warsaw After Midnight, that features Polish gothic/deathrock bands Marie Laveau, Natures Mortes, Eat My Teeth and Nameless Creations.
The set list is arranged in blocks for each act, and first off the benches is NaturesMortes with four tracks, “Liar’sWeb” is the most recent release for this group, and indicative of their goth rocking style. You will be swept up from the beginning with the swift paced rhythm and ghoulish signature guitars, all the while being serenaded by the tortured sweet vocals that give no quarter and full of conviction.
Screaming fuzzed out guitar is utterly and instantly attention grabbing for the track “SaltInMyEyes,” by EatMyTeeth. The lead singer’s vibrato style is unforgettable, especially when he hits the high notes. as she almost seamlessly melds into the shrieking guitar. Discordant and rousing, all at the same time and a shout out to the drummer massacring the skins.
Natures Mortes (Facebook)Eat My Teeth (photo Sophie Louise)Nameless Creation (photo Lukasz Larakczyk)Marie Laveau (Facebook)
I get a really interesting vibe from NamelessCreations, and their use of electronics gives the track “Pain-Powered Machine” an early 80s feel, almost AlienSexFiend like, and strengthened by vocals. The music is relentless, swamping your senses like a kaleidoscope with the pulsating psychedelic assault, and this is just one of three tracks.
From the crypt comes MarieLaveau with four treats, and they are going to cast a spell on you with “AreYouBlind?“. These guys ooze European gothic cool and this latest single harkens back to stylings of France’s CorpusDelicti. The lead has a lovely dark quality to her voice and everything about this song is alluring from the classic goth rock guitars through to tight rhythm section.
Personally, I have always had a soft spot for sampler albums, and I have put that down to getting a taste of different styles and band, which opens up new musicians to further investigate. This is a great compilation from a scene that is obviously burgeoning with talent. Yes, I have picked one track from each band, but these are just the ones that first off caught my attention and in all honesty, the whole album is chock full of deathrock goodness. It is a delight to listen to these brilliant gothic aficionados from Poland and now, after falling deathly in love with Natures Mortes, Eat My Teeth, NamelessCreations and Marie Laveau, I want to visit Warsaw After Midnight.
IngaHabiba and PeterGuellard are DeathByLove. Signed to label DistortionProductions, these Polish veterans of the gothic-industrial scene, released their debut single on January the 31st, called “StrongInside.” Habiba has been involved in music since she was sixteen, with her long term project being Lorien, while Guellard has been involved with bands such as TheElectricHellfireClub, Venus In Furs, Mace, and Dichro, as well as a producer and lead in his own band Blitzkrieg.
The Middle Eastern influence is undeniable, exotic and alluring, a nod to Habiba’s ethnic roots, their tendrils wrapping themselves around the electronics. They are not a constant companion, rather gently tantalising you and more so, it is Habiba’s vocals that will hold your attention. From breathy spoken word, to brash and throaty singing, she is the focal point with synths her supporting undercurrent.
The lyrics are extremely relatable, because it is about how leaving yourself open to others can lead to trauma, yet if you close yourself away, you will possibly miss out and suffer loneliness. So, in the end, finding the strength within, often means you are growing as a human. The music traverses cultures, and delves into inner working of the human psyche, mixing trip hop with industrial, tinged with darkwave. DeathByLove are going to make waves with the highly danceable “StrongInside,” and the added bonus is two extra remixes included.
MetropolisRecords dropped the single “Sharing Skin,” by NightRitualz on January 31st. Vincent Guerrero IV is Texas based NightRitualz and in March, his self titled debut album will be released. Interestingly he has coined the term ‘fuckwave‘ to describe his cauldron of mixed styles such as goth, electronic and EBM.
‘Fuck Wave’ is anything horny, erotic and sensual that just makes people feel good,” he explains. “I feel like my music puts people in that mood and allows them to just be themselves without judgement of any kind. Another reason is because, at the end of the day, ‘Fuck’ what everyone thinks. We only have one life, so spend it doing stuff you like and that makes you happy. I see it as an empowering term.‘ – Vincent Guerrero IV
A simple guitar and echoing fuzzed vocals greet you, haunting with the slow drawl, telling of a longing of the heart for another. Like a call to arms, the rhythm kicks in, speeding up the world around this track, and you can hear the delicate synths in the background twinkling. ‘Sharing skin and secrets‘ is cherishing those intimate moments whether that is sex or telling secrets they would never share with anyone else. NightRitualz understands that most people long for that attachment but also the fact that humans motivation comes from that which brings joy. I think the description fuck wave is very apt, for it is a dark and sexy serenade in the form of “Sharing Skin.”
And so there was a convergence of two talents. JemaurTayle (Shelleyan Orphan) and Boris Williams (The Cure) are friends who were brought together by their love of music, which spawned the project Vamberator. Originally, Tayle had been working on a solo album, but had to endure the passing of long time Shelleyan Orphan bandmate CarolineCrawely, then found he had lost focus. Over the years, Tayle had toured with TheCure, and developed camaraderie with Williams. He helped fan the flame of the muse called music, and together brough to fruition, the debut album called “Age of Loneliness.”
The intro track is also a previous single, called “I used to be Lou Reed,” and like the namesake, it has a huge personality, with a complimentary brass section heralding in your immersive baptism for the slightly off the wall Vamberator. Tayle’s vocals are far more smooth than anything Reed ever laid done, but the elements of funk and experimentation are all there, with the idea that we have to find our own place in the universe and our own groove.
Title track, “Age of Loneliness,” is a wonderful mixture of soul sister groove and 60s Haight-Ashbury flower power, tinged with childish wonder. An amalgamation of classical and counter-culture rock, and it just works. At the other end of the scale is “I Need Contact,” and it is a slow piece, crisp and clear, that drags you to your knees with the sheer weight of the bleak sentiment. Another single is the delightful “Creature in my House,” that see-saws with that guitar riff, and lurches with the rolling drums from Williams. So one has to ask, is the creature a real creature, or is it staring out through the eyes of Tayle?
“Imps” is the latest single, and, oddly enough, the last track on the album. It reminds me of the 90s, when bands like Primal Scream and The Stone Roses were hitting their straps, but also paying homage to 60s/70s soul, and artists like The Rolling Stones and Kinks. Maybe this is the true meaning of the album. The loneliness we feel stems from a yearning for something more.. something tangible that is comfortable, which could be places, objects, sounds and people. We delve into our library of memories to find that comfort and Vamberator have set “Age of Loneliness” as a touchstone of influences and what drives them to embark forth, adding their own spin on what they love. It is an album that can be enjoyed by the musician’s musician, and, yet, it is full of soul, brilliant chorus’ and a quirkiness that can capture the average music lover’s imagination. A beautiful friendship between Tayle and Williams has borne a bounty in the form of “Age of Loneliness.”
Dresscode’sDavidBrichard (vocals) and FredHyat (guitars), have started off the new year with the single “FollowMe.” The Belgium duo are wooing you with their take of dark electro-rock.
The melding of electronics with guitar roll seamlessly, the synths brightness reflect the techno style, meant to encourage you towards the dancefloor. Brichard’s emotionally exhausted vocals are crooner smooth and heart felt, while the guitar in Hyat’s hands, tell part of this story going from simple trickling, and then gushing in the chorus. The theme of the track might be about disappointment and an illusionary relationship, where only one person was invested. The music video features the guys on stage, as well as their live drummer FlorianGilot, which might just encourage you to try and get to see them play in real life. The play of sadness against the sparkling rhythms and synths works so very well for “FollowMe,” so check out Dresscode.
We are going back to February of 2024, when the album If Blood Comes First was released by Dallas based Happy Phantom. This five piece is made up of songwriter JackieLegos (vocals, guitars), ZackBigalow (drums), ColbySias (percussion), JoshPrater (keyboards, synth), PhillipSozansky (bass guitar) and BrendanLadan (guitars).
It is important that the first track off an album grabs your attention, and “A StrangerWalking Shadows Through the Dark” has this in spades, from the sparkling intro, which continues through, and emotion filled jangling guitars, that harkens back to TheCure. Even Lego’s vocals remind one of RobertSmith, lending it to the feel of the legendary album Pornography, which will continue throughout. The title track is a swirling and echoing piece with the synths at the front in a winding classical soundscape domination, only broken by the vocals and occasional guitar. The lyrics in “If First Comes Blood” are beautifully poetic, and where does a relationship go to after we pass this mortal coil?
‘Waiting for the night and captured by the moon saving our goodbyes it’s over much too soon there’s nowhere left to hide when she comes to my bed with nothing but a lie dancing in my head…‘ – If First Comes Blood
“No Illusions” has great bass lines and the mood of the whole track is almost joyful, yet the lyrics tell of a loss where one cannot stay as the situation is eating them up, but they want to because of unreasonable hope. Let me guide you to track six, “I Dare To Love You,” with its booming drums rolling and subtle guitar. The conjoined voices could be a coven’s chant and the wonderful imagery of dancing on graves in a passionate tryst with a ghostly lover. The rangy guitar work is a throwback to early Cult in the track “Lust,” which is about the lack of emotion compared to love that requires as much give as take.
If you haven’t guessed, If Blood Comes First is about finding another dark soul that completes yours, bring the ultimate overwhelming gothic romance and the devastation of being bereft of that person, which leaves you a husk of your former self that yearns for what was lost. I think this album is heavily inspired by real life and also The Crow, which is about devotion, but on a deeper level, trying to be worthy enough to embrace love in death or knowing when you have to let go of those feelings that drag you under the waves of grief. Legos has professed that this is his favourite album so far, and we can hear why. If Blood Comes First is a brooding and heart wrenching ode to love, in the ideal sanctuary of a forever romance, set to a gothic serenade by Happy Phantom.
As I write, California is on fire, and Vince Grant, the man behind LA project The Sea At Midnight, sent me an email about his new single, “Our Beautiful Destruction,” and all proceeds from the song will be donated to victims.
Was this track written before the fires? The vocals wrench at my insides with the lyrics about the world being consumed in flames and Grant’s voice is truly gorgeous and swept up in the whirling guitar and synths in the chorus.
‘burning so brightly against the night sky the ashes are raining sparks and ashes are all that’s left the smoke hides the pain of all that remains of our brilliant destruction our brilliant destruction smoke hides the pain‘
My heart aches listening to this track. I live in a country where every Summer is a terrifying wait to see if bush fires will take hold…. the last huge infernos being in 2019. Lost lives, lost property, watching both wildlife and domestic animals perishing. “Our BrilliantDestruction” sadly seems to encapsulate this situation perfectly. If it were released without the LA fires, it would be considered a evocative song, but currently it means everything. It is name your price on The Sea At Midnight’s Bandcamp, so I encouraged you to give a little to help in “Our Brilliant Destruction.”
Onyx Music Reviews 