Eirene and ParisAlexander reside in the UK, while BruceCourtney is The Stave Church, hailing from Texas, and they have combined their electronic darkwave talents in order to create the single “Inner Sanctum.”
I don’t think the electronics could sound anymore urgent and determined, the synths swelling with dark waves of growing internal power. Eirene is the angelic voice asking for release into the light, a soul stuck in the shadow of an abusive relationship and finding the voice to announce her freedom. Alexander and Courtney have built a sonically pleasing song with great depth that challenges you to not find yourself dancing along. “InnerSanctum” is something a bit different from Eirene and Alexander due to the TheStaveChurch’s influence and really I would love to hear a bit more of this.
In this modern era, have you ever experienced an “Emptiness“? This is the latest single from Amsterdam based group TheDarkWave, who mix gothic rock with a new wave sensibility, on the label Walboomers Music.
Guitar slides, verses that powerup, and launch you into the chorus and jangling guitar tussling for dominance against the vocal harmonisation. All the while there is that 80s post-punk bass guitar rumbling along as the song breaks into an infectious 90s Brit pop bounciness. Who could ask for anything more alive than this?!
It is rather interesting to see the artwork seems to depict the shape of a mobile phone, a powerful mini computer that can let you see and converse with people from around the world, and yet it also makes humans feel more alone that ever before. This is the concept behind “Emptiness” where one can touch multimedia to connect to things you love, while taking us further away from real interactions. “Emptiness” is full of energy, even if you are dancing by yourself.
The label Nerang Records can be found on the Gold Coast in Queensland, with the sub-label, Ronnie’s Records, all run by Christopher Mcivor, who recently debuted under the persona Moody Mcivor. This darkwave project began in 2021 for Mcivor and the end of August saw the release of his second single “Benaiah Fiu.“
The drum machine rattles out it’s constant rhythm, only broken by the wavering and light synths, twinkling just out of reach. Mcivor’s utterances are as controlled as the drum machine, with industrial precision, his vocals a cross between IanCurtis (Warsaw/JoyDivision) and FrankTovey (FadGadget).
One should ask not what is “BenaiahFiu,” but rather who? BenaiahFiu was a friend of Mcivor’s and the soon to be released EP, Shadow Frequencies, is not only an ode to the departed, but also equal parts tribute and expression of loss. And there is a profound sense a grief below the surface, for as mechanical as Mcivor can sound, it is like this is all that is keeping everything together, should the surface tension be broken. There is a none too subtle nod to the early 80s post-punk sound and in all honesty, he pulls it off so well. Fly high “BenaiahFiu.”
Incirrina are a two piece band from Athens, Greece and signed to the label ColdTransmissionMusic. The latest single is called “ΚΡΥΦΟ (Hidden)” by the darkwave duo George Katsanos (synthesizers, drum machines, octapad, bass guitar) and IriniTiniakou (synthesizers, vocals).
The synths ebb and flow with an incantation of gothic sorrow. “ΚΡΥΦΟ(Hidden)” is the embodiment of what should be and yet, still remains obfuscated and incomplete. The vocals of Tiniakou, sung in her native Greek, are so alive and are only matched by the insistent guitar. It builds, a vortex of singing and instruments.
This track just struck me as possibly influenced by 80s Xmal Deutschland, especially with those wonderful yips recalling Anja Huwe’s vocal style. However, this is a far more modern fare with a smooth electronic bearing. Incirrina have brought forth and wonderful darkwave track in “ΚΡΥΦΟ (Hidden).”
Chronotape are a relatively new project, that started in Murmansk in Russia in 2024, and since then have relocated to Batumi in neighbouring Georgia. The darkwave duo of Eve (vocals) and Dee (music) have released the new single “Pale Fire.”
There is a lush, black and white video to go with “Pale Fire” and you can hear the influence of TheCure, circa Disintegration era, with those rivulets of guitar and washing synths, from the beginning of the track by Dee. There is an initial shock when you first hear Eve, as you are expecting the lilting tones of a woodland sprite, yet instead there is a deep feminine spoken word, accentuated by her Russian accent, giving a lament of what is no more or now may never be.
Eve reminds me so much of Nico with her unhurried, mostly spoken lyrics, and you should also lend your ear to the cover of Mike Oldfield’s “Moonlight Shadow,” which is the ‘b-side’. It is really startling to listen to a gothed up version and the vocals actually make this even better, with the popping programmed rhythms. Not going to be for everyone, but if you have loved The Velvet Underground and Nico or Anne Clarke, then Chronotape is going to enthral you.
Most people know of Ultravox, though many think of Midge Ure, but before “Vienna” and “Dancing with Tears In My Eyes,” there was originally Ultravox!, fronted by the utterly English and completely electrifying John Foxx. Beborn Beton’s Stefan Netschio (vocals) and A State of Flux (synths), have covered the track, “Dislocation,” with Kill Shelter’s PeteBurns contributing guitar.
“This cover was my break from synthpop’s familiar comfort zone – an opportunity to embrace something much heavier and darker, more visceral, a side of me that’s rarely heard.” – Stefan Netschio
The guitar is a low growl, in the bleak menace that is heightened by the warbled and warped synths. Netschio brings an animation to the lyrics that speaks of a modern disconnect to society and still stays true to the whole idea that life will continue on, even when you are not plugged into the system. Burns’ turns in some blistering guitar riffs, searing and screaming, like a beacon to drag your attention back, even while conveying a plumenting feeling of implosion.
“Inspired by the hugely influential work of John Foxx and Conny Plank, we layered analogue synths with studio-driven detail to echo the pioneering spirit of the Systems of Romance period.” – Arc, A State of Flux
“After discussing the approach, I leaned heavily into my Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew influences from that era, using abstract, angular processed guitar riffs as soaring sonic textures to reflect the song’s fractured core.” – Pete Burns, Kill Shelter
“Dislocation” was originally off the third Ultravox album, Systems of Romance, that came out in 1978, and was co-produced with the German legend Conny Plank. It was to be Foxx’s last outing with the band as he forged a solo career, inspiring other synth based new wave artists such as Gary Numan. This new version is far weightier, the music thicker and a much harder edge than the original, This is a song for the modern era, written forty-seven years ago, and lovingly darkened for a new audience. I love JohnFoxx and I think this is a brilliant cover of “Dislocation” by StefanNetschio and A State of Flux.
Portland…..tis the area rich in musicians, and I am starting to think they need to put up a warning sign, ‘Beware of Darkwave Hazards and Dancing‘. And so, we have relatively new group HumanHollow, made up of members AustinMcKee and LuciaLuna since 2024. The independent duo have a new single called “PlayingDead.”
Called by the siren Luna, lured into the danse macabre, towards the tale of an abusive relationship, where the other person is living rent free and she is unable to break free. The multitrack layering gives you the illusion of multiple angels in unison and there is this harsh edge to the track, that could almost cut the skin. McKee can be heard near the end, like a final toll to the inevitable end of a survivor.
Human Hollow are leaning into a more industrial sound. They use a lot of old tech analogue synths in the form of MiniMoog Voyager and Korg MiniKorg, while their drum machine in an Akai SR19. This lends itself to a meatier sound and the fact they have said they a sampling noises like bashing metal things makes this all so much more cooler. HumanHollow might be singing about “Playing Dead,” but they are absolutely electric.
Last year we were introduced to the young talented guitarist called Ja’kob, from Norway. Some of this talent comes from his equally skilled father, Karl Morten Dahl, otherwise known as Antipole. July saw the new single “Echoes,” featuring the vocals and lyrics of Portuguese darkwaver, Pedro Code of IAMTHESHADOW fame.
There is a delicate dance of the guitars as they interplay, reverberating and bouncing to the electronic beats, graceful in tone. Speaking of tone, the shivers are multiplied by hearing Code’s deep baritone, almost sliding in under the guitars, and they are deliciously sonorous.
“Echoes” speaks of things that happened in the past, like spectres of past regrets and choices made, that are still felt to this day. I don’t think I have heard anything put out by Antipole that I didn’t like, and “Echoes” is no different. The care and time put into this track can be sensed in your bones. Also there is something timeless about “Echoes” which translate well onto the dancefloor for this vast track from Antipole, Ja’kob and PedroCode.
One of the true joys about the dark alternative scene is the enormous amounts of creativity many artists have and how they use both music and video to express themselves. Maryland’s Marie Ann Hedonia is soon to drop her latest album Eclipse on the label Paul and Marie’s Country Kitchen, but from it has come forth the single “EveHad the Metallic Shine of Summer,” which features the talents of fellow electronic artists BlackKite.
Ah, within the opening seconds, the electronics are almost forbidding, and the use of harsh noise eludes so something almost brutal. The nearly spoke words could be mistaken for sexual utterances, but if you listen carefully, Hedonia sounds defeated and lyrics lean into this as the synths slowly lurch forward. There is a chorus of…. what….. angels?… that are the hope and light, compared the Hedonia’s singing, which is smooth, but bleak and dark.
The track is inspired by the classic movie Persona, starring Ingmar Bergman, and is about giving everything to another and for them to take it all, never reciprocating. The music video sees Hedonia pouring all she has emotionally into a mannequin, yet it stays cold and aloof, though at the end we see our heroine finally break free, under stormy skies. There is tragedy and loss of self, however there is power in discovering you are on a downward spiral. Marie Ann Hedonia has immersed herself in “Eve Had the MetallicShine of Summer” with Black Kite, and produced something beautifully sombre.
PrimitiveRomance rose from the ashes of Florida punk outfit TheStraitJackets in 1981, based around the brothers Allen and LesterEsser, with RandallBarnwell, who would move to Massachusetts to continue the path of post-punk music. In 1987 the band folded, but it seems was never truly forgotten about by fans. 2025 has seen the release of the compilation album, The Spirit’s Still There: 1981 – 1986, and this is also a tribute from Allen to his brother Lester, vocalist/guitarist, who passed away in 2024.
Within this album, there are no less that sixteen tracks, and the initial song is also the title track, “The Spirit’s Still Here,” full of that raw, under produced guitar that is part of the ‘sound’ of the post punk era. You can hear the Bauhaus influence, a hint of “Bella Lugosi’s Dead,” and it is a wonderful reminder of a simpler time. “Motions and Pictures” had me at the unique drumming signature at the beginning, and the kind of flare in the guitar that reminds me of The Jam. The English influence is easy to hear.
The energy rippling off “Bound To Happen” is really a joy to behold. The guitar is reminiscent of Hüsker Dü and with that attacking technique, like a finger poking you in the chest, as the track rolls along, never waiting for you to catch up as it on a mission. “Every House Still Standing,” might be a very early track, as it bridges the 70s punk with mod music and interestingly, Lester utters the words ‘the spirit’s still there,’ so I am wondering if this song was inspiration for the title track, or is it a term that kind held a lot of meaning.
This compilation for PrimitiveRomance, just highlights how much excellent music came out in the 1980s, and though there are fans of the group that would remember seeing them play live or hearing them on college radio, having this music re-released allows people like myself the opportunity to experience their songs, unless going deep diving on YouTube. On The Spirit’s Still There: 1981-1987 they are immortalised as passionate, angry young men, the music ringing in a time of sonic upheaval and Lester’s vocals forever serenading us, even from the other side….. and there it not anything more goth than that.
Onyx Music Reviews 