by on

Jelmer Luimstra is an Amsterdam based musician/producer, and in 2023, he created the post-punk project April Afternoon. The latest single is called “Modern Lovers” is their fourth release.

The electronics are light and breezy, accompanied by the drum machine and the vocals that are easy to listen to. The lyrics are testament to a romance timeless and idealised, from a bygone era…. or are they???! It reminds me a lot of The Bolshoi, who were wonderfully whimsical and dark.

New wave is alive and dancing away in “Modern Lovers.” It really harkens back to the early 80s, where you can imagine a noir style video in the style of Ultravox’s “Vienna,” draped in shadows, smoke and silk. April Afternoon will be dropping the EP I’m Coming Home in June, which will feature “Modern Lovers.”

Modern Lovers | April Afternoon (bandcamp.com)

by on

Shall we travel into the “BLACK ABYSS” where humanity eeks out their days? This is the latest single from Brit MATT HART, and there probably isn’t a better group of acts to remix this single than Opal Dusk, Modulate, Teknovore and SPANKTHENUN,

The original track is an interesting mixture of light synths against the bleak vocals of HART and the plunging rhythms, probing the darkest depths that the humans have had to dig themselves into for mere survival. The Opal Dusk remix is a highlight of the bright synths with MATT HART’s angst, while the Modulate version is like a slow burn, making you wait on the edge for it to climax, and just when you think it never will, the track picks you up in a swirling maelstrom. The prowess of Teknovore is going to hit you with a dance floor killer, that is constantly on the move and emphasising the desperation of the vocals, while the SPANKTHENUN BOOTLEG MIX has the vocals at the fore, echoing and malevolent, as if there has been that loss of humanity, perhaps devoid of their own souls.

The ongoing tale of flesh versus machine is MATT HART’s opus. A story against all odds and it isn’t over yet as alien machines terraform a planet into a cold wasteland, whilst attempting to exterminate the human pests who must burrow into the soil, towards the warmth and safety of the core. As always, it is so interesting to hear the different takes on “BLACK ABYSS” and what each musician takes from the track. From the original version through to the remixes, they all have that wonderful synergy and all belong in the clubs.

BLACK ABYSS EP | MATT HART (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/djmatthartuk

https://www.instagram.com/matthart3808

Music | Opal Dusk (bandcamp.com)

Music | Modulate (bandcamp.com)

Music | TeknoVore (bandcamp.com)

Music | spankthenun (bandcamp.com)

by on

The Greek god of industrial beats has to be George Klontzas of Teknovore, and he is back with a new single “Citadel,” featuring British industrial aggrotech group Biomechanimal. Out on Infacted Recordings, this single is from the up and coming album Caerdroi and coupled with a second track “Oubliette.”

Matthew L. Simpson’s vocals rasp out the lyrics he has penned, grating along the raw nerves that are vibrating with the super crushing bass and beats. There is a air of heaviness and impending doom should one re-enter the “Citadel” with spiralling electronics booming into the darkness.

“Oubliette” is more a thumping race against time with the female vocals repeating Is this a dream?, as if the question will snap them out of the techno terror. The synths are scintillating, pushing your muscles to move with a mind of their own.

Both tracks are dance floor killers, and I have to say we are spoilt for choice with two very different industrial pieces. As a forerunner to the album, a Caerdroia is a Welsh term for a maze, with the single being called “Citadel” which is of course a fortified city and “Oubliette” being a type of dungeon with one small opening….. is this all to do with the legend of Theseus, the Minotaur and the Labyrinth? Time only will tell but in the meantime get lost in the “Citadel.”

Citadel (Feat. Biomechanimal) | Teknovore | Infacted Recordings (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/TeknoVoreMusic

teknovore | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

Music | Biomechanimal (bandcamp.com)

http://www.facebook.com/BiomechanimalMain

https://linktr.ee/Biomechanimal

https://www.instagram.com/biomechanimal

by on

The new album Glimmer came out in April, but right now I am going to drag your attention to Lunar Paths’ single release “A Star At Dawn.” It dropped in March for the duo of Diane Dubois and Kevin Hunter, and I think it deserves its own time in the moonlight.

A depth to the electronics, an undercurrent of something ancient in the Middle Eastern lilt of the vocals and instrumentation, while the drums pick their way on the odyssey. Like Venus at the end of night, Dubois‘ vocals light the way and are a bridge between the past and present.

Lunar Paths are masters of intertwining darkwave with world music. Entrancing and exotic, they pour themselves into these tracks because they see the beauty in how an instrument sounds or can influence the overall ambience. I love the ability to express themselves in such an alluring manner and “A Star At Dawn” might my favourite to this date while following the Lunar Paths.

A Star at Dawn | Lunar Paths (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/LunarPathsMusic

https://www.lunarpaths.com

https://www.instagram.com/lunar.paths

by on

Arguably, Robots In Love is one of the best dark electronic rock bands in New Zealand right now, lead by front woman Elenor Rayner (vocals, synths, programming), with Alex Burchell (drums), Tony Lumsden (bass) and Brett Lemmon (guitar). These very experienced musicians have dropped the new single “Unbreakable” with two bonus remixes.

A slow and purpose filled build up from the start, with the rumbling affirmation of the title, wrapped up in tendrils of a classical edge, enticingly liquid next to the unwavering, steeled vocals of Rayner. Of the two remixes, the first is the EBM remix by Rayner, which has adopted a faster pace, and has a really tribal ambiance with enhanced electronics, while the second, Magnetique remix, happens to be bandmate Burchell behind the desk, creating a second dance track that again exudes an indomitable spirit.

“Unbreakable is about how we feel the minute we walk on stage. It’s about being in the place where you feel at your strongest, and connecting with other people to increase that strength.” – Elenor Rayner

Oh my, for me Rayner exudes feminine power, not to mention wearing that lovely corset, made me think of that other female warrior, Xena, in the video, which makes my heart melt a little more for Robots In Love. This is a boot stomping affair, which I associate with epic anthems such as Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” with its positive declaration that doing something you love with like-minded people can make you “Unbreakable.”

Unbreakable | Robots In Love (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/robotsinlovemusic

https://www.instagram.com/robotsinlove

by on

It feels like there is so much going on in the world currently and the rest of the planet are watching in horror as wars are popping up like spreading fires. Irish project OWLS was created by Emy Collum back in 2021, where he went from drumming with indie bands to going solo so he could dive into his passion for post-punk and electronic music, and March has seen the release of the new single “Body Bags.”

The style is energetic analogue, like a mash up of Cabaret Voltaire and Fad Gadget. The vocals range from darkwave whispers to barked out cries. The music is punchy and definitely has a punk based approach.

“All of my songwriting up until now has been dealing with internal conflicts and self assessment. It feels selfish looking inwards when being faced with genocide daily. I teach History. I had a Palestinian student join one of my classes recently. They presented a project on the ancient buildings of Gaza City only to highlight the fact that they’re no longer there. That hit hard”  – Emmett Collum

“Body Bags” is an enjoyable track, but at just over two minutes long, it vibes along quite nicely, when it stops. Ah well, this is the punk way and the absurdity of the whole thing is that we shouldn’t have to be talking about bagging and tagging men, women and children that should have lived long and wonderful lives. The OWLS are watching in judgement.

https://owls-emee.bandcamp.com/track/body-bags

O￦LS (@owls_emee) • Instagram photos and videos

by on

One of our favourite songbirds is back. The heavenly voiced, singer/songwriter Madil Hardis has released the latest track called “Melancholia” in March.

The synths are like rays of sunshine, reaching out into the darkness, soft and gently probing, with Hardis‘ vocals tracking along side, a literal angelic sigh almost imperceptible next to the electronics. Even with all that airiness, there is a weight of uncertainty, and maybe this is where the melancholy lays.

The singing is so delicate and yet if it was not there, this track would not even have half the impact. “Melancholia” is a sweet vignette that goes for under two minutes and teases you. Is there something else to come? Wallow in the “Melancholia” with Madil Hardis.

Melancholia | Madil Hardis (bandcamp.com)

https://facebook.com/madilhardis

http://madilhardis.com/

https://www.instagram.com/madilhardis

by on

US industrial rock band, Warm Gadget have signed to the label Re:Mission Entertainment and soon will be dropping their new album Sorrows, but for now you can get a taste with the second single “Annoyed,” with a b-side remix by Dread Risks.

The drums of discontent lumber forth, herald in the the heavy bass that blasts your senses, while the vocals are violent, directing you to the maelstrom, coated in bombastic floods of tarred frustration. The Dread Risks remix pulsates with an electronic smirk, pulling off a perfect balance of dance and crushing noise.

Tim Vester (vocals, lyrics, samples) and Colten Tyler Williams (guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, programming, production, additional vocals) are bringing on the heavy in a throwback to the late 80s, when industrial metal was taking off and the choice of having Dread Risks doing the remix is the icing on the cake. We are not “Annoyed.”

Annoyed | Warm Gadget | Re:Mission Entertainment (bandcamp.com)

Facebook

Music | Dread Risks (bandcamp.com

Facebook

http://facebook.com/remissionentertainment

http://instagram.com/remissionentertainment

http://remissionentertainment.bigcartel.com/

by on

The album Crystalline was released in 2023 and spawned the intensely rich single “Bleached,” via the Norwegian and British collaboration of Antipole & Paris Alexander. US based musician, Mareux has taken “Bleached” and given it a 2024 remix treatment.

MAREUX AND ANTIPOLE

The low rumble of electronics perfectly showcases Alexander’s ghost in the machine style whispered vocals. The synths and programmed rhythms, sinuous in their way above the oppressive fuzzed undertones.

There is an unease created with the mechanised mix by Aryan Ashtiani (Mareux), that slowly ignites and bristles with smouldering intent, building on a track that already dripped in sensual tension. “Bleached” remixed by Mareux just proves what great songsmiths Antipole & Paris Alexander are.

Music | Antipole (bandcamp.com)

http://www.facebook.com/antipoleband

Music | Paris Alexander (bandcamp.com)

https://m.facebook.com/parisalexandermusic

Music | Mareux (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/mareux

by on

If you had a friend such as Irish actor and wordsmith, Ben Keaton, it would be a no brainer to collaborate on a track, and this is exactly what Lunar Paths have done with the latest single, “New.”

Keaton has written the spoken word poem that tells a story about a relationship where one promised change that could lead to a better life, yet they failed,  falling back into bad habits and violence. The rhythm laid down by Hunter lends itself to a trap feel, while Dubois had looped and extruded shoegaze guitars and clever synths.

The track slow burns, doused in regrets of a life waiting with disappointment over and over again, just like echoes within the music, heightened by the Julie Cruize (Twin Peaks) inspired floating vocals of Dubois. This is in juxtaposition with the very matter-of-fact style of Keaton where there is no candy coating. A reflection of a tale as old as when humans formed relationships,  beautifully executed while picking at your heart strings,  and as they say,  something olde, something “New.”

▶︎ New (feat. Ben Keaton) | Lunar Paths (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/LunarPathsMusic

https://www.lunarpaths.com

https://www.instagram.com/lunar.paths