Caroline Blind has a new single release of an old Sunshine Blind song complete with remixes of some of the biggest names in goth. I know getting that “old school” sound is the coveted concept of the day. One great way to insure it, get a who’s who super group of some of the best Old School musicians still in the game. Names like Ben Christo (The Sisters of Mercy, Diamond Black), Mark Gemini Thwaite (Gary Numan, Peter Murphy, The Mission), and Andee Blacksugar (KMFDM, Black Sugar Transmission, Peter Murphy), along with her former Sunshine Blind bandmates. Mastered by the always amazing Gordon Young
A bursting dark driver. It’s full of nostalgia both in the sound as well as the way it makes you think about your connections, your tribe. The song was from 1992 and played often in live sets but never found it’s way onto a Sunshine Blind cd, which is a crime, because it thumps. Caroline’s voice shows her range drifting between the ethereal and the broken glass grit of Johnette Napolitano. It really places you on a rocking ship in a storm of purple/grey skies and lightning flashes. It’s so exciting hearing from voices I grew up enthralled with showing how much they still have to say in the modern climate. The guitar work here is next level, a laser precision of crackling light. This track just makes me sway from the hard steady rhythm and the vocal intensity that only Caroline can deliver.
A perfect nexus for old goth fans and baby bats just finding the scene and wanting to feel connected to where we came from. Shine up your leather and hit the dance floor hard.
Our interview with Caroline !!
For those that want a musical education of people who built this scene featured on this single
The second single from Texas siren Veronica Campbell off her Cold Transmission released album “Chemical”. The video opens with shiny sinister Velvet Underground leather. Burning wire synth beats, and a bright red smile full of danger. The delivery and the distance are aggressive and enticing in a captivating duality. Veronica always brings a very personal and revealing style to her songs. I love that this is not set pieces or background. The video matches the music with it’s close up introspective feel. The shadowy ram horn character is present, but a foil not a focus. This song is tendrils of smoke always creeping around you while you fall deeper into eyes you can’t turn away from. The playfulness lends a strength. A sense of being the one in control. Red leather is the power tie that holds the authority in this room. The end is a twist I won’t spoil. This is another great example of how Death Loves Veronica is showing that strength, control, intelligence are the sexiness that captures the modern imagination.
Kandinsky Noir – Berlin’s speed metal intrustro dance band lead by Anto Rom have released a new video with the vision of Iya Poteshkina. The track is a percussive explosion of high speed organic drums which bleed a cut time metal feel into the gothy tones. The chanting melody paves way for a rough demon growl. The lyrics are full of subtle entertainment themes. I love this chorus ” Two chords to lie, To grip our mind, This bread and circuses, Cuts deep inside.” The ferocious impact probably skates closer to metal than I usually dare venture. I found myself lost in the torrent of blood and emotion. Crushing ballistic guitars and locomotive bass lines. This track comes on you quick, runs you down, and never stops speeding towards the next station.
The video was a simple but powerful expression of DIY effects. That haunting and gorgeous face pressed to cellophane . The cuts, red lighting, ferocious playfulness made it engaging and frightening. Make my pulse quicken and you have my attention.
Anto Rom
Interview:
How did this project start, tell me your history ?
This project started in January, as the new Lockdown in Berlin began and I could no longer rehearse with my just born 3-Pieces Post Punk Band. A bit of experimentation with Ableton and many hours of collective boredom and I was able to release my first track at the end of January, thanks to the mix and master work of Joshua Pfeiffer. I continued exploring different sounds (from EBM to Glam Rock to Industrial) until a determinate equilibrium was reached. My last two tracks Opfera and 2 Chords are two industrial metal songs, with some progressive and goth elements.
What is the theme or feeling of this video you wanted to capture?
Two Chords is a song about the relationship between art and power, trying to enhance the instance that the form is already part of the message. The video was created and based on a performance of the young Russian Artist Iya Poteshkina, where the performer herself immersed in a deep red Lynchian Chamber struggles between a seductive attitude of the partial body object and the unbearable of the wholeness. The continuous presence of the plastic film stands for the thin artificial “patina” splitting the duality between compromise and integrity. The on-screen writings in Cyrillic are quotes by Bertolt Brecht, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Theodor Adorno, Rainer Maria Rilke, Fabrizio De André: all of them tried to analyze the role of art within the capitalist society.
Tell me about the scene in your city?
The scene in Berlin is really various and EBM, Post Punk and Synthpop are loved by huge audiences. I love Detriti Records, Death Disco, The Brutalist, She lost Kontrol, Philipp Strobel und NNHMN
What are you excited for in the future?
The next track, that will be released in June, which is far more experimental, more melodic and will contain a wonderful saxophone solo on a black metal instrumental. The title is “Feeling Nothing (The Privilege of the Rope)
If you were giving a shot that would combine your DNA with an animal giving you it’s traits and powers what animal would it be ?
I love cats, I have a cat named Luzifer and would like to have his coolness and laziness at every moment, even if loud techno bass tones make the floor tremble. This are real scenes from my household
Lyrics:
Two Chords
And in the distance the icons calling, We serve the purpose, master’s alibi The odd and dissonant are overwhelming Obliterated like thieves in the night
One time to sink, Two times to split the circle One time to lead, Two times to mesmerise.
Two chords to die, To soothe our eyes, To solve the conflicts, Make us blind
Two chords to lie, To grip our mind, This bread and circuses Cuts deep inside.
To wish upon a star? Who needs to see these scars?
And in the slaughterhouse of our perception We lose our senses in the masterplan Another hit, another chant to march to, Another lullaby to neutralise.
One time for fame, Two times to meet the abyss One time for crave, Two times to feed the masses.
Two chords to die, To soothe our eyes, To solve the conflicts, Make us blind.
Two chords to lie, To grip our mind, This bread and circuses Cuts deep inside.
To wish upon a star? Who needs to see these scars?
Mono-Maniac Contro-versial Ecstasy and suicide Discipline and call to arms!
A di-lemma Anti-pleasant Ecstasy and suicide Discipline and call to arms!
One million years ago before the internet it was a lot harder to find the greatest new music. We would head down to the record store and buy the latest compilation from our favorite record labels. Cleopatra and Wax Trax were mine. Streaming services made this a bit of a lost art. COP International has started a new series of comps called “Broken Hearts and Robot Parts“. I beam with pride that I got to choose the name. Christian Petke and team have done a smaller more focused spotlight on label bands and future unsigned talent. It’s great to see a label with a storied history and powerhouse producer like John Fryer take an interest in growing new bands for the sake of the scene. This is the future I have longed for where labels fulfil the promise of family and support so many of us dreamed of. Amazing artwork from Greg Rolfes ties together the concept. Let’s dig in to Part I.
The production levels of everything here are outstanding. I love that COP made sure everyone added to this comp where putting their best foot forward and highlighting each band at their best performance. The music has a diverse range but a cohesive idea of guitar focused rock music blended with electronic elements.
Johnny Tupolev – Shot In Black and White – Out the gate with a strong delivery from a COP International artist. The German performer opens with a tension building breathing vocal and then explodes into a crushing crowbar guitar riff. The vocals have expressive Mike Patton flare. I love the hard Alt rock flavor with electronic elements and a introspective message of ego death.
Suicide Queen – Swan – Truly a dripping oily black horror sound held in a white lace glove. The Oakland CA band delivers beautiful New Order keyboard melodies, washed over by Kay Dolores filthy and distinct rasping growl. It creates fierce contrast that leaves you both lulled and unnerved. This track is a rush of wind at your back, pushing your spread wings to a danger you are trying not to face.
Machines With Human Skin – Watch It Burn – The project of our dear friend Adrian Halo of Chicago. A furious cyclone of fire and wind. I love the wispy style vocals and digital drive. Great use of dynamics that cause the chorus to hit hard with fist pump and boot stomp moments. Wicked overlapping guitar solo around the 3 minute mark give an organic blast to the cold electronic swirl.
unitcode:machine – Paper Empires (Regional Adjunct Remix by GW Childs) Dallas Texas cyber wizards set loose this stop and start bleep bloop broken mechanical dance. I love the way Eric is spinning an static buzz story with his voice and the even cadence walk.
The Burying Kind – Falling Over – One thing I will never stop screaming from the rooftops is about the Chicago duo of Dan Milligan (The Joy Thieves) and Scott-David Allen (A Covenant of Thorns) . They both took the leap, trusted in each other and made one of the best Shoegaze albums I have heard in over a decade. This track in particular highlights the romantic gothic beauty of Allen’s vocals and the grey pallet tapestry of Milligan’s production. I love using this as an outro to this emotional journey.
After the tidal wave of new releases from the last few weeks I get to settle down and deep dive some of the amazing things that I didn’t get to. Powerhouse albums from around the globe that are making my heart pitter patter for the exciting future of modern Darkscene. As always comment on the page who you think I need to review next and share these reviews so others can find them.
Sounds Like Winter – Fight The Stairs – I have been a fan of the Australia based traditional goth band for a while now. With their third album they have struck an amazing new chord that is the most impressive to date. One of the flavors I have always loved in SLW was the rough edges and old school feel. I never needed crystal clear production work to feel the passion driven low fi power of the songs. In an unexpected turn they have somehow unearthed the unorthodox blending genius of Martin Hannett to create the lost progression of Joy Division and A Certain Ratio. The drums are a crisp sizzle, the guitars a stabbing fencer in constant assault. Sian Williams walks up the down staircase with synergists motion and lead guitar bass. Finally Ant Banister has captured the soulful baritone resonance of Ian Curtis that so many in the current scene have tried to grasp. The entire effect is lightning in a bottle which is holding place between two times. I’m on my third playthrough and still find myself searching for details in a seamless delivery.
I would be remiss to not address the lyrics. This album has a crystal clear delivery with poetic flare for dark themes that keep bringing me back to Unknown Pleasures and Still. The wonderful lighting/Thunder offset of Andi Lennon‘s vocals add just the right amount of spice to this complex stew. My arms sway with reckless abandon and my mind swirls with the bleak and heady themes. People often talk about how much this scene leans on the past, but not enough on the ground left to go. This feels new.
Favorite Track: Fight The Stairs – The title track is the perfect blend of both tempo and Andi/Ant’s vocal style. A guitar riff is everywhere at once like a live wire catch the dragon by the tail. It’s a story you can follow and a sound to get lost in.
Overall: This is the new standard for a band hitting on all cylinders
Dogtablet – Pearldrop Blue – A lot to unpack here. So many amazing elements in one place that connect all the tiny synapses in my mind and unleash a flood of dopamine right in the brainstem. Scene legends Martin King, Roberto Soave, and Jared Louche, have teamed up once again to bring out all the best in each other and we are reaping the sonic benefits. I’ve had a hole in my heart as Jared has been quiet lately. Hearing his mad prophet poet spinning spiderweb dreams again takes me on a fantastical journey. The album features a plethora of amazing guest vocals from S & S favorites Cat Hall, Coral Scene, Sapphiria Vee/MelodyWhore, and Groovie Mann. Another amazing addition was mastering by sonic wizard Pete Burn. How they take all these elements and make the chaotic fever dream sound so clean and cohesive is beyond me, but I suppose that is why they are legends. The entire album builds like a cinematic human drama touching gentle notes like taste buds on the tongue.
Favorite Track: Impossible to choose from this ensemble cast of talent. Every Little Lie – Featuring frequent collaborators Sapphiria and Melodywhore is crystal cocktail party of balance and trip hop fantasy. Star – Is a deep and introspective prayer to the connection of spirit. Silver strands winding through the universe while light bounces off at a million sparkling moments. Heavy Gravity has a more traditional Dogtablet feel, with Louche in full moonbeam madness and William Borough’s cosmic streams of conciseness.
Overall: Another smash hit with the complexity of craft you would expect from veteran masters, and the dangerous psychedelia artistic courage of people beyond the game. You will be changed by this.
Aesthetic Perfection – Gravity – Houston we have lift off. The newest single from Daniel Graves featuring Swedish death metal axe master Sebastian Svalland holds the speed and power to break the atmosphere. I almost had a dance related injury the first time I spun it. Graves touches on an emo punk lilt to the vocals that gives an original modern bite to the Pop-Industrial equation. Get strapped in, and peer out the window as the pinpricks of light race by at blazing speed. I know I was late to the game for Aesthetic Perfection, the more I hear, the more I love.
Sega Lugosi – Un-Undead EP – Wow, the ultimate goth diss album from the hidden part of The Gothsicles. If you ever wanted in on the inside joke of modern EDM, now is your chance. Epic in scope chocked full of nerd culture reference. Everything you love about Klack/Caustic/The Gothsicles put in a blender on frape and poured on a Genesis consul until it sparks and burns. Jumping Jesus on a pogo stick Taco Tuesday is a jam. It really isn’t the humor, because the songs are funny. It’s how good the songs are in spite of the humor. “Sunday ain’t my day to pray, It’s Tuesday that makes me sashay.”
Curse Mackey – Submerge Remix – How do you find new space in my favorite track of 2019 breakout album Instant Exorcism? Have sound engineer extraordinaire and close friend Chase Dobson do a remix, and give him a new guitar line from Ronny Moorings of Clan of Xymox. Where the original track was a slow and crushing descent. Here you are in open water, looking at the expanse of nothing but dark blue for miles. Gorgeous lapping waves of delayed guitar the only sensation tying you to life and you sing down in ice waters. I love feeling something I am already in love with deeper. Discover it again.
