Unknown Pleasures Records: Iron Court – Mechanisms

Iron Court - Mechanisms

Dark rhythms, overdriven basses and binaural leads melted together: what comes out is an organic mixture ranging from electronic elements to industrial sounds combined with a mechanical techno approach, a running engine.

Iron Court is led by devotion in synthesizers: a continuous study of the instruments, the haunt for new timbral drifts and a computer drives everything in its place.

Siderurgical beats and working class melodies rise from the bunker and merge to build a blend of harshness and smoothness, a no-compromises trademark addressed to the gloomiest dancefloors.

Ears encaged, feelings annihilated. Few lights here, this music is colder than you think.

Listen and order here.

Posted on December 1st, 2015 under Releases, ,

Mannequin Records: Police Des Moeurs – Ceux Qui Restent LP

Police Des Moeurs - Ceux Qui Restent

Montréal synth punk quartet Police Des Moeurs returns on Mannequin Records with a brand new full length entitled “Ceux Qui Restent”, the most dynamic and incendiary record of the group’s career, following the highly-acclaimed self-titled release from 2013.

While the first effort was mostly about how we’re all separate from each others, the second one is all about to getting over it and trying to fight it. As vocalist and synth player Francis Dugas explains: “most of the new LP is about links, love and caring (in PDM style, obviously). The title is «Ceux qui restent», which means «Those who stay» or something like that. Ceux qui vivent la tempête jusqu’au bout.”

Listen and order here.

Posted on November 29th, 2015 under Releases, ,

Beläten: Feuerbahn – Suolo

Feuerbahn - Suolo

Italy’s Feuerbahn return after over two years of silence. Their previous cassette, The Fire Dance released by Aufnahme+Weidergabe was a chaotic affair, an aspect that has been pushed to the side for Suolo (Italian for Soil), focusing instead on the somber, funeral march atmosphere that might just be the core of the band.

It’s difficult to describe the music of Feuerbahn. There are hints of post-punk, but they just as easily fit into the current wave of dark Italian neo-psych. On the one hand it’s quite majestic, but on the other hand the sheer filthiness of it invokes a feeling of utter despair. Like wandering the barren lands of a post-apocalyps Europa.

Listen and order here.

Posted on November 27th, 2015 under Releases, ,

Beläten: L’Avenir – Engineer EP

L'Avenir - Engineer EP

The majestic grandur of L’Avenir is hard to put into words. In one sense, it’s “just” synth pop, but where as that eponym might suggest banal, and vapid qualities, what L’Avenir is doing is conjuring up images of eternalness. There’s a truly ritual sensibility to these slow moving, glacial songs. The hooks are there, one listen and you will find yourself humming them while doing the dishes, but there’s something deeper at work.

L’Avenir offers comfort. An enveloping sense of calm. A focus of will. Let’s call it Hypno-pop.

Listen and order here.

Posted on November 25th, 2015 under Releases, ,

Beläten: Blitzkrieg Baby – Cannibal Commando

Blitzkrieg Baby - Cannibal Commando

Blitzkrieg Baby is back! A year and a half after their Kids’ World EP on Beläten, they have returned with an EP that takes their twisted combination of Industrial and Pop further than ever. Blitzkrieg Baby serves up lyrics from the crème de la crème of the modern condition—cannibalism, war crimes, pre-pubescent murderers, world domination, and the end of civilization—fueled by endless frustration with human existence. The only light in Blitzkrieg Baby’s world-view is the glint in the knife as it cuts through your throat. Blitzkrieg Baby are willing outsiders and uncompromising purveyors of industrial music in the true sense of the word: no barriers, no rules, and never any inkling of hope.

Ultra Negative Industrial Pop!

Listen and order here.

Posted on November 23rd, 2015 under Releases, ,