Finally freeing up some time to start up interviews again. Which means it is also time to start working through my catalog of new darkscene releases you need to know about. I have a lot to cover so time to put the proverbial needle to the metaphoric record and share my thoughts on what the cool kids are listening to.
Bombay Gasoline – I’m Clean – New single out of Asheville, North Carolina. I’m not sure how it found it’s way on my radar, I think it was a post in the group. Elements of 90’s alt rock with a POWERFUL vocal delivery by Madison Maxwell. Absolute sky splitter of a voice. The structure is complete chaos in the best way, shifting time, tone, and instrumentation with a jazz tornado in a bottle abandon. Sizzling guitar leads makes it feel like the roller coaster car is always only half on the tracks. I’ll definitely be looking for more from this band.
Madison Maxwell – vocals, keys, lyrics, music
Gregg Webber – backing vocals
Joel Shuman – guitars
Grant Yost – bass
Eliza Hill – drums
NOIR – The Best of the Remixes – Athan Maroulis (Spahn Ranch, Black Tape for a Blue Girl) is New York City darkwave royalty. He has one of those beautiful and distinctive voices that makes every project he is involved with shine. Featuring Kai Irina Hahn and Jamie Parganos on live keyboards, NØIR debuted with ‘Darkly Near,’ (2013). ‘The Burning Bridge‘ (2016) added guitarist/producer Erik Gustafson. When it comes to remixing there is nothing more satisfying than pulling out a 10/10 vocal melody and swirling it with your own sauce. It’s no wonder Athan was able to pull in some of the top talents in electronica willing to place his voice against another canvas. This compilation of remixes pulls tracks from Noirs catalog and fires them back into the world through a fresh lens. I got to listen to the live bandcamp streaming premier and take the journey with Athan and some of the remixers.
I will give some quick hit impressions of some of my favorite tracks.
1) My Dear (Assemblage 23) Tom Shear the master of futurepop absolutely crushed this. This melody is infectious and it soars on translucent angel wings. You always want an opener that cooks. This one is scorching holy fire.
2) Timephase (Die Sektor) – Slowing things down a bit to a filthy slither is Atlanta GA based Die Sektor featuring the electro psychedelic mind of Vlad McNeally. A band that is always coloring outside the lines they took this mix true to the title with a staggering lilt that phases across the dancefloor. You really feel the density of the drum strikes while being pulled towards the apex of a black hole.
4) A Pleasure To Burn (FIRES) – I’m a huge FIRES fan and here she really turns the sensual David Gahan aspect of Athan’s voice up to 11. A spinning vortex of light. Wicked modular solo into a Tangerine Dream breakdown with ethereal backup vocals. Gorgeous, sexy, and weird. Three of my favorite things.
8) Fallen (Silverwalks) – Daniel McCullough is a synth texture gourmet. Building layer upon layer with sonic flavors into a shadow disco jam that makes it impossible to remain stationary.
I merely scratched the surface. If you haven’t dug into NOIR’s catalog before now you are in for a treat. This compilation is a great way to get a taste.
The Best of the Remixes | NOIR
NORMORIA – Paralyzed (Feat. MATT HART) – Brand new single from Sweden to California transplants featuring British Industrial Pop star Matt Hart. A stomping blend of hard progressive rock and Industrial mayhem. Angel belts out operatic pleas over Matt’s sinister snarls to simulate the horror of sleep paralysis. The crunch of these guitar riffs really make the walls close in. I think we are all relating to this image of crippling anxiety right now.
Paralyzed (Feat. MATT HART) | NORMORIA
EN ESCH – Dance Hall Putsch – I recently had the opportunity to interview the Industrial legend about this new solo album which I think is his most cohesive razor crisp offering to date. I’ll be releasing that soon as well as seeing him play with longtime collaborator Raymond Watts on Saturday at Smalls in Detroit. This is another stellar release by up-and-coming indie label GIVE/TAKE. Lot’s of amazing contributors on this album, to me it was the most En Esch focused of his solo albums. Always one to push artist boundaries over continuity “Dance Hall Putsch” holds more focused cohesion. It started at the beginning of the pandemic and continued to take shape as Russia invaded the Ukraine just 500 miles from Berlin. As an American I sometimes forget how much closer that felt to home for Europeans as a world power moved the machinery of war to their doorstep. You can hear the tonal shift from hopeful dance bangers towards fear and despair. The album also reminds me that En Esch is originally a percussionist. These songs start with a beat in their core and expand outward. That central circulatory pulse is the binding force through each rise and fall.
Favorite Tracks:
2) I’m So Sick feat. Mea Fisher aka DJ Mea (Lords of Acid) – A big weaving organ synth sound crashing into a throbbing club beat and crystal specter vocals. En Esch echos back with snarling poetry. A whirling dervish of energy to establish a sharp and reckless tone.
4) Eden feat. Gabriel Lennox – This is a Mona Mur song that I love, feat Gabriel Lennox of Seraph Sin who appears a few times on the record. Mona’s original version has a sorrowful space opera delivery. The En Esch version while stalking and wild feels brighter and more hopeful. It’s a beautiful homage of respect. I’m a sucker for an artist covering the song of someone you can tell they really respect as an artist.
Photo by Chris Cardi Photography
7) Wumms feat. Raymond Watts (PIG) – This track is just immensely fun. I think the German roughly translates to bang or an onomatopoeia. The intro is a swirling whip that sounds like two friends playing a theremin in call and answer. It’s strange, electric, and feels like a percussion conversation.
10) Epic feat. Mea Fisher aka DJ Mea (Lords of Acid) – I had to include this for the sheer absurdity. The best covers are always ones where you make the song your own. En Esch told a story of KMFDM pulling into a festival and while setting up hearing Faith No More and being taken by this banger track. All these year later we get this reimagining with Mea Fisher. I feel like I was listening to Mike Patton fall backwards into a K hole.
If you are a long time En Esch fan like me I highly recommend grabbing the coke bottle limited edition vinyl. The whole album is fun, reckless, and deep. Tackling an uncertain future with bravado and spirit.
Die Robot – Vampire Vs Zombie (Double Feature) – Die Robot the pacific northwest duo Barbie Saint & Vince Christian with this sizzling monster themed minimalist electronic shadoweave. They have really honed this Electropunk meets retro rockabilly feel into something dangerous. I love how both tracks feel connected but with such contrasting styles. A modern day monster mash up.
Vampire Vs Zombie (Double Feature) | Die Robot
