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.
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.
We have been anticipating a new release from Aotearoa (New Zealand), darkwave/industrial group Robots In Love, and luckily we have not had to wait very long in the form of the single “Crush.”
Gamer one is up and the bouncing guitar riffs breathe life into “Crush” early on. You can taste the conviction in Rayner’s vocals as she builds the anticipation that peaks in the chorus. The chorus soars with unbridled emotion and charged vocals that entwine with each other, breaking free of all expectations, with Robots In Love taking you on a musical high.
“Crush” is a track of boundless optimism, where it doesn’t matter what life throws up, that hope always springs eternal and this is kind of refreshing. It is about crushing the obstacles in your path and creating new opportunities. In the 90s, ElenorRayner was a member of the industrial rock group Soulscraper, and it feels like she is revisiting this era when both Soulscraper and another Australian band, Insurge were changing the industrial scene. She is still breaking and rebuilding genres along with the other Robots In Love members Alex Burchell and Tony Lumsden. “Crush” has already become a favourite track in the live show and it is not hard to see why.
SplatterVHS is Caid, and Caid is SplatterVHS. They are the self professed cryptid of Brisbane, who revels in horror movies, special effects and creating synth based instrumental music. The end of 2024 marked the release of a new album in the form of Blue Haired Anime Girl, which rounds up a rather fruitful year from Splatter VHS.
The world is littered in fairy tales, of souls meeting and being pulled into equal orbits, or set for cataclysmic endings or expressing a love and admiration for someone who makes you feel like the weight of gravity is nothing. Single “TwinStars” burns bright with the electronics bursting forth, tying in the science fiction futurism with looping and weaving synths .
An air of dark excitement pushes through in “Return To The Maze,” and may I just add this labyrinth actually does exist in real life. A basement that is a shared space with history’s ghosts, that is shrouded in comfortable crepuscule that would pulsate with this track. There is no escape from the “Vampires Kiss” and you can revel in the quirky joy contained within ‘Synthmas Kitten“
You can hear Caid’s connection to the cinema through their creations, which is a kin to using music to evoke emotions and paint scenes, just as movies do. One could say that John Carpenter has been a huge influence both theatrically and musically, plus the tracks reflect the 80s explosion of using electronic music to express the modern horror of tales such as Friday the 13th or Halloween, and fantasy love stories like LadyHawke or Legend (1985).. It is a bit retro, a bit sci-fi, a bit jigger-poky with a pointy things, a bit modern and a whole lot of fun. Paint a picture in your head and join the creatures that inhabit Caid’s mind with SplatterVHS. You can’t always run from where you are, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dream yourself free.
The single “Cannibal (Lost Souls),” was dropped back in October, and this dirty experimental electronic track, blended with hip hop deserves your ears. Toronto’s Wrené has joined forces with Caijo to point the bone at modern living and how it is leaving many unhinged.
Your senses are overloaded with compounded voices, buzzing electronics and rattling thuds, gathered in a twisting cacophony, which all drop away to the background in deference to Wrené. Her singing is complimented by the simplistic serpentine like music, that degrades into glitching noise, and then we hear gravelled tones of Caijo, but always is the barbaric and hungry electronics prowling.
For me, “Cannibal (The Lost Souls)” speaks of a lost generation, addicted to social media, which tells people how to look, or change their appearance in order to gain popularity, and consumerism is at an all time high, even though no average Joe can afford it all. The music is viscous and heavy, while the distortion and grittiness are almost making a parody of the sultry singing from Wrené, and Caijo is the voice of those lost souls who just can’t seem to get a break. The coarse versus velvet is utterly delicious, so devour “Cannibal(The Lost Souls)” by Wrené, featuring the rhythmic styling of Caijo.
Berlin based three piece, Dina Summer is made up of vocalist Dina, and DJ’s LocalSuicide and Kalipo. They have dropped their new single “Hypnotized” off the new second album GirlsGang, which out on January 24th on the IptamenosDiscos label.
Clattering rhythms greet you, only to be joined by plectrum driven bass and Dina’s recognisable spoken word, until her dulcet tones graduate into singing in the chorus. The electronics are bright next to the sultry vocals and rumbling bass.
The deep post-punk influenced bass guitar and Dina’s singing are indicative of what you might expect of the new album of the group, as they explore post-punk and synth-pop. “Hypnotized” is a sensual, 80 inspired track which will have Dina summer making you burn on the dance floor.
Bah and humbug! Tis Christmas again, where we will be serenaded by carols both new and old, so how about something both new and spooktacular for the holiday season in the form of the single “A Very VampireChristmas” from Who Saw Her Die?
Behold the jingling and what sounds like a drunken version of “Do They Know It’sChristmas?“, and I guess you can look at it as kindly gifting life, so that sneaky vampire is going to enjoy the seasonal cheer and get his fill of Bloody Mary’s… so to speak.
The drawling vocals are paradoxical compared to the chiming electronic music, plus coupled with wonderfully absurd concept that a vampire would like to join in the whole being a part of the Christmas joy, but they are people too….they just happen to be undead. This track was originally released last year on the GothsFor Sanctuaries compilation, which is aa great cause. Grab your favourite child of the night and celebrate “A Very Vampire Christmas” with Who Saw Her DIe?!
Berlin is a hotbed of dark alternative music, especially of the electronic kind and ParadoxObscur are a pulsating beacon in the genre. ToxicRazor and KriistalAnn are the duo behind the project and what makes them a little different to other electronic groups is that they record everything in real time, so what you get is music that is experimental and has a more organic flow. The latest EP is called Attention and it is self released.
“Attention” is a slow burn of a opening track, with it’s gradual build up and it is here to indeed grab your ears. The almost samba rhythms shimmy across the gilt dancefloor, as we are serenaded by the more droned vocals of Razor interspersed by KriistalAnn’s sultry tones. The single “Slap It” is dripping in sexual tension and innuendo. There are moody vocals which are underlined by Euro techno-pop synths and beats, perfect for strutting your stuff
Cannot lie and say I know what is going on in the lyrics of “Sin Barreras” or WithoutBarriers, which are in Spanish. The first verse, that is repeated, translates into ‘We’ve been fed mocha They have replaced it with coca Society is mired in shit‘, but however you read into it, they just work. It is trance like with Kriistal Ann seducing you into her spiralling vocals. The last track is “Escape” and it is a return to that techno dance groove that rolls and bubbles, enticing the listener to lose themselves to the rhythm, which might be the escape.
If you are wondering what Paradox Obscur used in the recording process, they listed Access Virus TI Polar, Roland JD-Xi, Korg Kaossilator Pro, IK Multimedia UNO Synth and DSI Mopho. Definitely check out the video for “SlapIt,” featuring a fabulous 70s inspired disco cross dresser. The EP is also a celebration of a decade of Paradox Obscur and if you have been following their career, you will know they are not interested in doing what is popular, rather creating music that is pleasing to them and in turn given us some brilliant listening material. Attention is another artistic concept with cool synths, evocative vocals and hot rhythms and we love Paradox Obscur for it.
I have it on good authority that the folks behind LunarPaths are preparing for live shows, but in between these machinations, they have released a new single “Seen.”
Background looped guitar riffs set the stage for Dubois‘ strong vocals and lyrics. The drums by Hunter, pick their way through the layers of programming, adding to the extraordinarily full sound. The lyrics speak of seeing the young out at night and wishing they knew how wonderful they look and have the courage to be themselves.
There is drama of the noirish romanticism kind in this style of music that still harks back to the early post-punk era, especially in the delivery of the singing. It is like listening to Anne-Marie Hurst (Skeletal Family/Ghost Dance) or SiouxsieSioux, with that vibrato and it instantly makes you clamour for more. Lunar Paths is spinning and weaving beautiful darkwave creations, just like “Seen.”
In 1979, Gary Numan released The Pleasure Principle, which was his debut solo after two albums with the Tubeway Army. “Metal” is a standout track that is favoured by Numan and has been covered many times…. even by Nine Inch Nails. Rob Hyman (drums, synths, programming, production) and Jax Allos (vocals, bass) are Chicago based [melter], and they have put out their own version of “Metal.”
PHOTO – JASON KRAYNEK
Those flourished synth lines are the staple essence of this track, and they are very much present, but I am also glad that this is not a carbon copy. Having the altered vocals of Allos brings a new element, compared with the memory of Numan’s cleaner singing style. The percussion is just so strong and perfect in propelling “Metal” along.
This is definitely a gritty version that pays homage to a great track, and takes it on a more experimental tangent. A case of sweet and industrial tang that is satisfying to hear if you know the song, and a guarantee that if you haven’t, it is going to pique your interest in following up the original and the back catalogue of [melter]. “Metal” is such a great single and [melter] have polished it up and given it teeth.
Onyx Music Reviews 