Author: Alexx Dimeler/DJ LP ViBE

The Never-Ending Playlist review of “Object Of Desire” by ACTORS

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ACTORS | Object Of Desire | Bandcamp link

Here is my review for Vancouver-based Modern Post-Punk and Darkwave band ACTORS latest single that will be released on Bandcamp and elsewhere October 4, 2024. I received my copy early so let’s see what we got.  Warning, if you want to jump straight into the review, skip the next two paragraphs.  They will be there to go back to read later.  I promise it will not self-destruct.  (smiles)

But first, a little backstory as my musical journey in these last few years is interwoven with this band. I first became a fan of all kinds of what would become Alternative Rock in the 80’s and 90’s. I listened to everything I could get my hands on. New Wave, Synthwave, Goth, College Rock, Industrial. I sopped it up like a piece of toast into a sunny side yolk. For my entire life I played catch up. Then in my Thirties, I entered a dark period. I didn’t have the same access to music as I once did though I would keep up on some Indie Rock through the early 2000’s Then the pandemic hit. Like most of us, I found hobbies to pass the time except I was living in a nursing home with no place to go after the passing of my Dad and my sister moving my Mom to NJ.

I started getting back into music and started getting into most of the darker music that I always wanted to get into. I met a group of like-minded music loving fans. They would all help me focus on the music again. A few of them encouraged me to start DJ-ing. Another lot encouraged me to start listening to this Modern band that took much of the music that Ken Magerman would call Modern Dark Scene and spun it with their own individual abilities that would become ACTORS. I was intrigued and I was compelled to know more. It was slow at first but knew I found a new obsession (I would later find that is a name of one of their songs) needed more including names, lyrics, and anything I could find. Before I got to Dark Force Fest 2023, I was hooked. The fact that I started to introduce myself to lead singer Jason Corbett at the merchandise stand for LEATHERS and he cut me off before I could finish and said, “I know who you are Alexx and thank you for what you do” to share us in your social media.  I’ve since told him that it was that meeting that later inspired me to jump into TWITCH and keep working at becoming an online DJ; always learning from others, developing my own sense of style and oddly falling into running a New Music show every week once I realized that the newer bands were the ones who responded to my posts even more than the listeners.

Review for “Object of Desire” by ACTORS

The song begins with a pulsating collection of deliberate combination of echoing beats both synthesized and from the steady hand of drummer Adam Fink along with a wonderful bassline from bassist Kendall Wooding. Together they weave a hypnotic beat and brooding tone that really shows off the production work that has made Jason Corbett’s Jacknife Sound a popular place for remixes and full album production work for other bands in the scene.

The intense lyrics are seductive and full of bravado and intense longing, asking:

“Give yourself to foreign pleasure

Take your time

Lose yourself

Submit to vice

Tell me that you’re mine”.

Yet the chorus begins with too I’s, that single stammer belying the bravado, but finds its place again and continues their plea to take a chance on “me”… with the lyrics,

“I

I was low but now I’m high

I could be your object of your desire”

just as the other person had already become theirs.

We had already spoken on the driving, brooding rhythm but you can’t mention a song from the ACTORS without talking about Shannon Hemmett on Keyboard and Jason Corbett on guitar. Taking all four together as a unit, their performance is atmospheric and haunting that weaves a brooding tone with reverb, distortion and a driving beat that is as seductive as its lyrics making you want to dance. Unlike their previous song “We Don’t Have To Dance”, this song is pulling the object of their desire, and you the listener, with their seductive invocation.

New Video: “Object of Desire” by ACTORS

You want a rating?  I don’t give them.  I write on vibe.  I write about things I like and/or  love if I have the time.  It can be implied if I review it, I recommend putting it on your wishlist and picking it up at your earliest convenience.

This single will be released on October 4, 2024

ACTORS are a Modern Post-Punk band that fans of bands like Joy Division, Bauhaus, Depeche Mode, and The Cure will appreciate.

Jason Corbett: Vocals and guitar

Shannon Hemmett: keyboards and backing vocals

Kendall Wooding: bass and backing vocals

Adam Fink: drums

https://www.actorstheband.com

INSTAGRAM: actorband1984

YOUTUBE: ACTORStheband

Alexx Dimeler is a DJ on TWITCH and KICK known as DJ_LP_ViBE. The LP originally stood for Listening Party. His main show is on Saturdays 9 pm-1 am+ ET and is called “New Music M.D. (Modern DARKSCENE) and play a wide range of music from Post-Punk, Darkwave, Goth, Synthwave, Industrial, EBM, Dark Alternative, and everything in between.

TWITCH:  https://www.twitch.tv/DJ_LP_ViBE

KICK:  https://www.kick.com/DJ_LP_ViBE

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/dj_lp_vibe?igsh=bGU3emJjNHE3c3A3

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dj_lp_vibe?_t=8purjDoBrlC&_r=1

“Transversal” album review

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Upon hearing of Tess LaCoell’s (Violet Wanda) collaboration with DJ Marionette for the Trans charity album “Transversal”, I said I want to hear it as Tess made an intriguing argument that we all should.  After listening to the first 3 tracks, I told Tess that not only would I play the entire album in the Overtime section on my Birthday edition of my “New Music Fridays of the Modern DARKSCENE” show on June 28,  and that it would be ideal as I hadn’t done anything for PRIDE (even though I consider myself an ally).  Not only did I promise that, I foolishly also promised I would review the entire album even though I  previously only did one or two line reviews of singles I really liked.  

Now I rarely go into genres and sub-genres on my show as I askew pigeon-holing band into into static labels (“It’s A Trap”).  Instead I consider my shows “Genre Fluid”, a term I borrowed months ago from  Betty X’s exclusive T-shirt design.  Now that seems like a piece of kismet as Tess wrote in the Liner Notes of “Transversal” that Betty X has a saying, “Artists Helping Artists”. I just hope this DJ can do the same with this review.  Lofty goals but honestly I could play this entire album, soup to nuts, anytime.  Buy it on Bandcamp at: 

https://paralunarecords.bandcamp.com/album/transversal

Top tracks include, in track order, Dead Girl Dancing, Loneliness is A Poison, Panic, I’m A Raver, Countdown, A Trap, and Pre-Sentient (the Violent Wanda remix of the Valor 13 track.

1. Tears for the Dying – Dead Girl Dancing

Gorgeous synth starts this song and album off and sets the bar for this album before the beat kicks in to a danceable song of death coming for you, feeling disoriented, and realizing there’s nothing tethering you to the World anymore.  “See me, hear me, take my hand/Let′s go for a walk in the boneyard/

See me, hear me, take my hand/Let’s dance in the fog”.  Very deep.  Not about giving up on life but moving on and finding reason to dance anyway.

2. DJ Marionette – Splinter

A dark rhythmic danceable number that would keep me on the dancefloor when I was ready to stop.

3. Ghoststomper – AIRLOCKCONTAINMENT 

Plodding stomper that keeps you sane while your computer runs its end of day repots.

4. Dee Decay – Maijulie

A hard rhythmic mystical instrumental romp

5. Hyperestis – Loneliness Is A Poison

“Loneliness is a poison/delivered by a kiss/ remember if I get too close/always remember this…”  The grinding rhythm of this song starts and you think it’s a lovers’ lament after a breakup with their last argument echoing in their head and turns into a dark revenge fantasy.  

6. Zvrra – TTF (Time To Fight)

This is a whirling dirvish EBM instrumental.  Total fun.

7. Cameron Evesque Davis – Panic

Breathing through a panic attack.  Whether the panic or real or not this song could be the danceable mantra to shake yourself loose.

8. Jordana – I’m A Raver

I can’t tell you much about this drum and bass  “raver,”  as it made me want to jump on the dancefloor leaving my phone and wheelchair behind.  Powerful stuff.

10. Violet Wanda – Countdown 

What can I say about Tess LaCoell’s contribution to this album except it’s the best instrumental on the album.

11. Jordana – A Trap

This track is the emotional and spiritual center of this album centering on being descriminated against for who you are and who you love.  Plus it helps that this has the beats that flows that makes one want to dance as you fight the powers that be and are the brick walls that would dare to snatch your own empowerment.

9. Valor 13 – Pre-Sentient

This electronic steps through an AI’s awakening into sentience initiated by Valor 13.

12. Valor 13 – Pre-Sentient (Violent Wanda remix)

A faster, danceable remix by Violet Wanda that shows our now Sentient hero, ready to fight for the validation of its own existence whether regardless if the sentience is just a veil for what this album is about.

Remember, pick up “Transversal” at Buy it on Bandcamp at: 

https://paralunarecords.bandcamp.com/album/transversal

“Transversal” album review

on By
“Transversal” album art and ParaLuna Records logo

Upon hearing of Tess LaCoell’s (Violet Wanda) collaboration with DJ Marionette for the Trans charity album “Transversal”, I said I want to hear it as Tess made an intriguing argument that we all should.  After listening to the first 3 tracks, I told Tess that not only would I play the entire album in the Overtime section on my Birthday edition of my “New Music Fridays of the Modern DARKSCENE” show on June 28,  and that it would be ideal as I hadn’t done anything for PRIDE (even though I consider myself an ally).  Not only did I promise that, I foolishly also promised I would review the entire album even though I  previously only did one or two line reviews of singles I really liked.  

Now I rarely go into genres and sub-genres on my show as I askew pigeon-holing band into into static labels (“It’s A Trap”).  Instead I consider my shows “Genre Fluid”, a term I borrowed months ago from  Betty X’s exclusive T-shirt design.  Now that seems like a piece of kismet as Tess wrote in the Liner Notes of “Transversal” that Betty X has a saying, “Artists Helping Artists”. I just hope this DJ can do the same with this review.  Lofty goals but honestly I could play this entire album, soup to nuts, anytime.  Buy it on Bandcamp at: 

https://paralunarecords.bandcamp.com/album/transversal

Top tracks include, in track order, Dead Girl Dancing, Loneliness is A Poison, Panic, I’m A Raver, Countdown, A Trap, and Pre-Sentient (the Violent Wanda remix of the Valor 13 track).

1. Tears for the Dying – Dead Girl Dancing

Gorgeous synth starts this song and album off and sets the bar for this album before the beat kicks in to a danceable song of death coming for you, feeling disoriented, and realizing there’s nothing tethering you to the World anymore.  “See me, hear me, take my hand/Let′s go for a walk in the boneyard/

See me, hear me, take my hand/Let’s dance in the fog”.  Very deep.  Not about giving up on life but moving on and finding reason to dance anyway.

2. DJ Marionette – Splinter

A dark rhythmic danceable number that would keep me on the dancefloor when I was ready to stop.

3. Ghoststomper – AIRLOCKCONTAINMENT 

Plodding stomper that keeps you sane while your computer runs its end of day repots.

4. Dee Decay – Maijulie

A hard rhythmic mystical instrumental romp

5. Hyperestis – Loneliness Is A Poison

“Loneliness is a poison/delivered by a kiss/ remember if I get too close/always remember this…”  The grinding rhythm of this song starts and you think it’s a lovers’ lament after a breakup with their last argument echoing in their head and turns into a dark revenge fantasy.  

6. Zvrra – TTF (Time To Fight)

This is a whirling dirvish EBM instrumental.  Total fun.

7. Cameron Evesque Davis – Panic

Breathing through a panic attack.  Whether the panic or real or not this song could be the danceable mantra to shake yourself loose.

8. Jordana – I’m A Raver

I can’t tell you much about this drum and bass “raver,”  as it made me want to jump on the dancefloor leaving my phone and wheelchair behind.  Powerful stuff.

10. Violet Wanda – Countdown 

What can I say about Tess LaCoell’s contribution to this album except it’s the best instrumental on the album.

11. Jordana – A Trap

This track is the emotional and spiritual center of this album centering on being descriminated against for who you are and who you love.  Plus it helps that this has the beats that flows that makes one want to dance as you fight the powers that be and are the brick walls that would dare to snatch your own empowerment.

9. Valor 13 – Pre-Sentient

This electronic steps through an AI’s awakening into sentience initiated by Valor 13.

12. Valor 13 – Pre-Sentient (Violet Wanda remix)

A faster, danceable remix by Violet Wanda that shows our now Sentient hero, ready to fight for the validation of its own existence whether regardless if the sentience is just a veil for what this album is about.

Remember, pick up “Transversal” on Bandcamp at: 

https://paralunarecords.bandcamp.com/album/transversal