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LMX has released his third album, Habits & Addictions, on the Meshwork Music label, as of October the 28th. Keep in mind that this German electro-pop musician isn’t even twenty yet…….

There is occasionally, a harder edge to this music than you think. “Addiction” has elements of industrial experimentation, while the circling fragile sadness of “Not Made For This” is in the morose synths even with the constant paced rhythm.

There are beautiful synth lines in the spiralling “More Time” with almost an 80s feel to it, then you have a kind of ambient euro dance thing going on with “That Summer“. The heart rending “Stay” is yet another facet of the performer and writer, with such a simple track that bares his soul. In all, there are ten tracks, all flourishing these incredible electronics and lyrics.

I know that it is the current rage to use those vocal modulation thingies to give the singing that echoing tone but I’m not a great fan of it, especially when you can hear the fact they can sing. I really wanted to hear LMX without it, however I’m sure maybe it’s just one of my foibles and I am fairly certain there is a multitude out there that absolutely love it. Other than that little quibble, it’s a really excellent dark pop album and some tracks did become embedded into the old brain box, refusing to leave.

LMX is going to have a long future in the music scene, if this is to go by and he does have a great pedigree, being the son of X Marks The Pedwalk’s ESTEFANÍA and SEVREN NI-ARB, who also helped produce this album. Habits & Addictions is emotion filled, raw and yet, in the end, looking for the light, LMX might become your addiction.

https://lmxmusic.bandcamp.com/album/habits-addictions

https://www.facebook.com/meshwork.music?mibextid=ZbWKwL

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If someone was to ask me if we need a deep fake song with 80s electronic musician Thomas Dolby, the unequivocal answer would be yes. J.G. And The Robots released the single “I’m Thomas Dolby (featuring Thomas Dolby)”, in July on the label eMERGENCYheARTS.

The electronic mind behind this project is J.G. or Jay Gillian, who, before he became a Robosapien cyborg, was an early proponent of electronic music in Austin, Texas, with the synthpop group T-4-2, in the 80s.

The computer generated voice of Dolby goes between sounding highly electronic and human. In the electronic vein of Daft Punk, J.G. And The Robots have picked up the mantel with not only their sound but also the incredible visuals that accompany the singles, especially with the beautiful deep fake Dolby. This is such a likeable track, very easy on the ears and worth having a small chuckle at the fate of computer generated Mr Dolby.

https://emergencyhearts.bandcamp.com/track/im-thomas-dolby-feat-thomas-dolby

https://www.facebook.com/JgAndTheRobots/

https://www.emergencyhearts.com/

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The single, “Just Like Rain” was released in April by Fargo native, Todd C Ruzicka under the moniker Immune System. Ruzicka is also known for his other, main project, Seven Federations.

TODD C RUZICKA

This is a bright and synth bubbling piece, reminiscent of the early 80s electronic era mixed with a Euro/italo dance appeal. If this is a love song, it seems a little on the dangerous side. The beats drop and swell, building and swirling with the end containing the surprise strings.

Retro synth-pop is the order of the day and this is a busy little number. Not breaking any new ground but “Just Like The Rain” is rather enjoyable and if electronic music is your thing then go check out Immune System.

https://immunesystem.bandcamp.com/track/just-like-the-rain

https://www.facebook.com/todd.c.ruzicka

IMMUNE SYSTEM | ReverbNation

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From Wroclaw, Poland comes the band xDZVØNx with their album Everything We Dreamt About, released April 3rd.

Welcome to the sweet insanity that is Børa on main vocals, synths plus mandolin and Snufkin on backing vocals, synths and programming.

They describe their style as noisepop, mixed with brutalistic architecture and glitch art, and originally were associated more with the witch house scene in Europe.

XDZVØNX

Intro piece to the album is “Why I Called You“. Just by listening to the lilting short number, you can tell that this is going to be a highly electronic album.

Current truth is “Face By Face” right now is my favourite track off the album. The vocals are wonderful and just something about this is almost soul deep.

“The Final Boss” really feels like a cheesy platform game tune gone cyberpunk. It’s fast and fun, brilliantly light yet bassy massive beats in this short piece.

Rolling seamlessly straight into “Panic“, the vocals puncture your ear membranes as they shred straight ahead, frantic with a reprieve at the end.

The dulcet and seductive tones of Børa in “Pray” lead into fast paced beat, that spirals and twists in an almost out of control fashion.

“Bubbles” actually does sound like foamy spheres floating and eventually popping. A low electronic buzz in the bass ties down those light bubbles of sound.

The somewhat dirge start of “You Have To Be Alone” is a bit confusing until the cacophony of noise breaks through. And so we have lulls and crescendos of screaming synths as well as the human machine.

You might find “I Want To Find This Girl“, sweet and understated, almost ballad like. It is pieces like this that show a lot of depth.

Like a bad trip, the single, “Litzmannstadt” featuring Belmondo, wavers, like you are in and out of consciousness and there hints of Die Antwood. Belmondo is the rapper that embellishes this with his deep vocals and polish lyrics.

Imagine an 80’s electronic wonderland mixed with Ladytron and you have “Playground“. This is nearly hypnotic in the way it is written.

“I Will Vomit Glitter” is a get your punk/industrial on extravaganza of a single. A fun upbeat track about literally vomiting glitter.

The song, “No Eyes” just explodes in a glorious wave of sound. It will suck you in with the tune and make you want to bounce.

Angelic vocals over soaring synths and hard bass is the style of “Stupid Smile“. Booming and echo filled visions of a smile that is left in the mind. You might think for a moment that something is wrong as the sound skips and wobbles like a tape being eaten by the deck but this is part of the experience.

Not sure if the vocals are Børa or Snufkin on “I Am Saint“, as they have been slowed right down to a deep rumble of a voice. And this is also the last number for xDZVONx and it leaves you wondering who that was.

There is nothing boring about this album. This is avant-garde, experimental expressionism in electronic art form. We hear Børa both sweet and harsh and Snufkin helps push the boundaries of electronic music as an extension of themselves. Every time I listen, I hear something new. This is Everything We Dreamt About from cool tunes to dance beats from xDZVØNx.

https://xdzvonx.bandcamp.com/album/everything-we-dreamt-about

https://m.facebook.com/xdzvonx