Linda Records: SARIN & Xarah Dion – Collision

SARIN & Xarah Dion - Collision

Linda Records offers its 2nd special edition 12″ of 2018. Following on from Ancient Methods remixes of Luster ft. Beta Evers – Eternal, this next record is a spectacular collaboration EP from two friends SARIN & Xarah Dion. On the Collision EP both provide an original track and also rework/ cover of one of their fellow talents song pieces. It makes an interesting rare collection of Electro infused EBM, and when we say songs we mean it, infectious journey tracks. SARIN remains more on the apocalyptic side with his cuts of devastating impact on the vinyl. Whilst Xarah carries a momentous stance with her vocals over nostalgic synthesis.

EP / Digital Album

Posted on October 30th, 2018 under Releases, , ,

AVANT! Records: HØRD – Parallels

HØRD - Parallels

HøRD is the solo project of Bordeaux-based synthwave producer Sebastien Carl. Started in 2014, Sebastien has proven himself to be able to gather a cult fan-base around his creation in a short time, collaborating with artists as Hante, Winter Severity Index and Black Bug and performing live in most European countries.

After a first album on Antoni Maiovvi and Vercetti Technicolor’s Giallo Disco and an EP on SNTS’ own label Sacred Court, his second full-length record came out on September 14 on Avant! Records. Parallels features eight new compositions that further focus HøRD’s distinguishing features: abstract almost liquid synth passages, deep analogue beats, veiled vocals. Uptempo or slow, instrumental or sung, danceable or rarefied it doesn’t really matter as the album as a whole ends up resulting in a strong cinematic appeal.

A soundtrack for a journey away from the present time and into an intimate, maybe even nostalgic dimension.

LP / Digital Album

Posted on October 28th, 2018 under Releases, ,

Gertrud Stein – Moonlandings

Gertrud Stein - Moonlandings

8 years after the first album, two 7″ from Kernkrach and a CDr self-released in 2016 with singles and tracks previously featured on compilations, Moonlandings is the latest long awaited album from Gertrud Stein, a solo act from London who’s striking again with a self-released 4 tracks EP.

It kicks off with 2m2, a killer track rhythmed by synthetized percussions evoking whiplash sounds over a gritty bassline and a pulse that could drive people berserk on the dance floors. Monotonie carries on with the drive of tight analogue drums and a raw bass that is typical of her sound. On the B side, Sad Song is a throbbing slow track with more robotic rhythms and melancholic lyrics with spacey effects reminiscent of laments from beyond. Then Wires and Lights ends in beauty with another generous dose of lovely synth tunes and dissonant percussions. In its whole, the minimal groove and trippy synths that were assembled here should satisfy the cravings of any minimal electronics junkie.

The dark energy emerging from Moonlandings definitely seems to come from outer space. I was glad to find back the trademark sound of Gertrud Stein, but more importantly, I was very excited to find the same drive and madness that was pushed even further.

EP / Digital Album

Posted on October 26th, 2018 under Releases, Reviews,

Peripheral Minimal: Slovenska Televiza – Documento

Slovenska Televiza - Documento

Slovenska Televiza is a minimal electronics duo based in Valladolid and Barcelona. Wladyslaw Trejo and Lunademayo stays close to coldwave then expands to avant-garde and experimental approaches, reaching a proposal as strange as it is fascinating.

It must be said that Slovenska Televiza is not only limited to the musical arena, its commitment extends to other artistic facets as already shown with their very special debut, a performative action implemented in Latvia, where they traveled to leave behind the entire output in several locations.

12″ / Digital Album

Posted on October 22nd, 2018 under Releases, ,

Gertrud Stein Interview

From what kind of musical background are you coming from and how did you land into this scene?Gertrud Stein

By mistake? Out of protest? I used to do techno music up until 2008. At one point, I just got bored with the scene, for many reasons, but one being that I found it’s really depressing, because it’s all about party, party, party. It got a bit uninteresting, is that normal?

So after one particular night I just got an old tape, I can’t remember if it was The Joy Division or The Sisters of Mercy on a cassette and I listened to that and I was like wow this is great!

Then we had a band called “Fleisch am Frühstück” (Meat for Breakfast), which was kind of a punk band and when this band ended I was left with lots of unfinished tracks, which then started turning into new wave things after I did an anti Nouvelle Vague cover version of Tanze Samba Mit Mir, as a protest against Nouvelle Vague, that is an awful French band which is destroying New Wave who used to turn them into elevator music.

Back then I think you were still living in Switzerland up until around 2007 I believe?

Up until 2011.

Were you pretty much alone to play this type of music on the local scene?

Ha ha, it’s about the same now isn’t? Yeah, completely!

There was another guy that had a night that was called Disorder, who was occasionally playing New Wave kind of stuff but it was more mainstream things but I didn’t even know there was a scene for that kind of music when I started.

It’s a MySpace thing. It’s completely a MySpace thing. I just did that track, this anti Nouvelle Vague track, then I did a few others and I just threw them on MySpace out of fun, and I started adding people as friends, who’s hairstyles and haircuts were like ha ha ha ha, then suddenly one guy contacted me and was like “hey, I really like your music do you want to play at my festival?”, and this was my first gig, and it turned out I played with, I remember, I was opening up for Neon and Absolute Body Control. This was this other band called Velvet Condom and may be something else that I forgot but yeah it was quite a start…

Read more…

Posted on October 22nd, 2018 under Interviews,