Friday, 12 April 2013

Noblesse Oblige - Affair Of The Heart

  Pulsating with raw passion and a desire for anthemic melodies, Berlin based Noblesse Oblige have crafted their most polished and unapologetic work to date. New album release ‘Affair of the Heart’ presents a sophisticated pop opus, destined to unite the ears of dance floor dreamers and bedroom escapists alike.
Powerful male & female harmonies melt over an ocean of warm electronics, voluptuous dance floor beats and euphoric disco arpeggios, as you’re welcomed into a rich fantasy world of exotic spies, demonic preachers and lonely souls lost at sea…


   “Affair Of The Heart is a romantic journey in the classic sense of the term. Our study of human passion from its most uplifting to its gloomiest…”


   Formed after a chance meeting at a masked ball in London, French performer Valerie Renay and German producer Sebastian Lee Philipp have spent the last few years touring the European club circuit, picking up a Russian Music Prize for their chanson pop album ‘In Exile’ along the way…



  However, when it came to working on their latest release, the duo locked themselves away in a live-in factory on the outskirts of Berlin (at studio haven ‘Turmwerk’, founded by Chris Corner of Sneaker Pimps/IAMX.) Undisturbed by the rest of the world, they collaborated for the first time with mixing engineers David Wrench (Caribou, Bat For Lashes) and Harald Blüchel (Cosmic Baby, Energy 52) in order to bring a fresh dimension to their sound.

   The result is an album that defies the isolation it sprung from and instead, shoots straight for the dance flloor and into the soul. Harnessing pop sensibilites and a slick electronic production, ‘Affair of the Heart’ recalls the emotional energy of iconic 80s bands like Eurythmics, Tears for Fears and Depeche Mode, whilst also reaching out to fans of more contemporary favourites like Hurts, The Knife, Austra and Trust. 
 

   It’s a far cry from their arty beginnings in London’s electro-punk scene, but if the album’s chilling and hypnotic cover of an Eagles’ classic demonstrates anything, it’s that not only are Valerie and Sebastian braving new territories; they’re creating their own as well…

  “As an artist, you never know how the music will sound after you leave the dream world of the studio, and how it will translate into the real world of the listeners. 

 The many moments of joy, the countless late nights we spent in the studio, and passionately worked on our music, remain particularly fulfilling moments in our memory. I hope that this energy and emotion are felt by the outsiders, and will entice them into our world…”
In short, Noblesse Oblige welcome you to share the pleasures of their new found pop universe. An invitation no one should refuse.




New Album: AFFAIR OF THE HEART





Release: 24. 5. 2013 (RepoRecords/AL!VE)
Singles: RUNAWAY (Video dir. Chris Corner)
MATA HARI (Video dir. Valquire Veljkovic)

Tuesday, 19 March 2013

IAMX - I Come With Knives



   Chris Corner aka. IAMX just unveiled a video for the song I Come With Knives. After The Unified Field and Quiet The Mind, I Come With Knives is the third output of IAMX‘s upcoming album The Unified Field (out March 22).

  I have waited for this song and video as IAMX announced their new album. THIS is Chris and his magical art, full of intense emotions, seductive noise and exploding energy!  Thanks to IAMX!!
  I'm chilling to these next days to hear whole new fucking good album :))  




Saturday, 2 March 2013

Ballerina Black



  Driving Mope-Rock could be one way to describe their sound, Grave-Wave might be another. Regardless of the sonic hemispheres, the paradoxes that exist in the Los Angeles based quartet Ballerina Black are startling. Singer-songwriter Moynahan seems to be incapable of answering band and music related inquiries without delivering a hyper-metaphoric, stream of conscious response.. that’s ironically focused and congruent. This is ever-present lyrically as well. “Tears and fury are not that distant of relatives,.. and sometimes funerals are fun to dance at”. Joined by bassist Sugich in 2007, a telepathy was forged; completing their first full length (Cattle Arithmetic) in 2010 and opening for the likes of Silversun Pickups and Interpol at LA Greek Theater. The two embelished on their uniqueness with drummer Anthos and extra guitars and keys provided by Eton, after which, releasing the first of a series of EPs in late 2012 under the division titled Injureless. “Maybe if Nirvana had decided to do covers of the Cure?,.. might come close to hitting some planet of reference in the Black universe surrounding these guys sound”. What is apparent though, is the refreshingly austere catchy-ness of Ballerina Blacks message. But the biggest mystery still remains… how long is it going to take the rest of the world to start freaking out about this band?!

 “Elegantly juxtaposing melancholy, with beauty and euphoria; a kind of melan-phoria if you will. Dance with all the desire of a first time pill-popper while fat tears of grief roll down your face.” -Repeat Button

Enjoy!!

Saturday, 22 December 2012

Lebanon Hanover - Gallowdance

  Founded in July 2010 in Sunderland, UK, Lebanon Hanover a Duo influenced by 80s Cold-Wave decided to stand up and disapprove with the high pitched overproduced music that peaks in your ears.
  Their recordings are rather minimal. A sore distorted guitar, leading post-punk basslines, and their female/male vocals are depressive and full of world weariness. Hardly suprising they call themselves «New Misanthropics.»
  After some of their tracks have been featured on compilations like „Darkness before Dawn“ “ The Almighty Wire“ „Monosynth“ and „Death Disco“ they have released their first 12“ vinyl on Fabrika Records (Greece) in February 2012.   
  Since moving to Berlin in spring 2011 Lebanon Hanover were irritated by too many humans and moved back to the seaside of North-East England and are recording and mixing on their new stuff. 

http://lebanonhanover.bandcamp.com/ 

 Listen to their new single, for the dark nights!!

 

                                      

  discography:     

                                               

 

- Why not just be solo


The world is getting colder-

 











Thursday, 6 December 2012

Pegasvs



   Pegasvs are Sergio Pérez García and Luciana della Villa from Barcelona, ES, both members from Thelematicos.

   Pegasvs was born in Asturias, Spain in 2010, with the recording of ‘La melodia del afilador’ Atlantico’, their second effort recorded in Barcelona, grabbed the attention of label
Canada who offered them an album deal.

   Their eponymous long player debut ‘Pegasvs’ was released in March 2012, preceded by two other cuts from the album ‘El Final De La Noche’ and ‘
Brillar’.


https://soundcloud.com/pegasvs
 
DOWNLOAD:


Saturday, 1 December 2012

IAMX - The Unified Field


  On February 1, 2012, it was announced via IAMX's Facebook and Twitter pages that work has officially begun on the fifth studio album, which had the working title of IAMX5. 
  On May 13, Chris announced that there will be a vlog posted on the official IAMX YouTube channel every two weeks, which would allow the fans to view the recording process of the new album. 
  On July 6, 2012 via his online blog, Chris revealed the name of a track from the forthcoming album. The song is titled "Come Home" and will most likely become a single. 
  On October 1, a new fundraising project was launched via the PledgeMusic website, which will allow fans to bid on items such as tour setlists and CDs, including the new album. 
  On October 19, it was announced that the album will officially be named  "The Unified Field"  and will be preceeded by the first single, a double A side, to be released in December.

Here It Is... Take A Listen!!! 

  Sincerely I do hope that this single is just an intro to his masterpiece which we all expect impatiently.
  This song is not alike Chris we use to hear an album ago, but as his fan, I do believe that it will develope a truly symphony with the further songs and whole album :)




  "Schizophrenic modesty incarnate” is the description IAMX’s Chris Corner gives to THE UNIFIED FIELD, the follow-up to the universally lauded album Volatile Times. For those who are familiar with the music of IAMX, this description fits like a velvet-lined black glove. “I want it to move you, to f*** you and to dictate the psychology of your offspring.” In advance of the release of their fifth album in early 2013, the double A-Sided single for the title track “The Unified Field” will be released, worldwide on December 3, 2012 via 61seconds.

   At the same time primal, sensual, dangerous while also philosophical, intelligent and profound,  Corner embodies a realm that connects head, heart and heavens while still being very conscious of innate rhythms and melody. The song, “The Unified Field” is a perfect example of that. “The song is based on a scientific theory rooted in quantum physics, that intends to bring together all other scientific theories and to bridge the gaps between consciousness, spirituality and science… a theory of everything so to speak,” he explains without condescension or aloofness. 
  
“I find this idea extremely powerful and exciting. It has been floating around for millennia from Taoism to Einstein but there is more science emerging recently to back it up.
  
” While the background of the song is heady and steeped in concepts that would make Mensa blush, the song itself is an epic and expansively atmospheric track awash in echoes and space propelled by a midnight electro beat that’s equally built for a misty forest as it is for a danceclub. “This stuff keeps me awake at night with a racing heart and fired up imagination,” he continues about the song. “Some branches of quantum theory dig into the idea that consciousness pervades and creates all matter, that at the core it is what connects everything and everyone. I know all humans have this underlying nagging feeling that we are just wrapped up in a web of stuff, that particles inside us are just rearranged stardust billions of years old.”


Also included alongside remixes by Swiss electro artists We Love Machines who serve up a swirling, twitchy deep house track, and Faux Tales who rebuilds the song into a propulsive club remix, is the lilting ballad “Quiet The Mind” that highlights Chris’ trademark vocals. “I would say the production on this track 'Quiet The Mind' shows the acoustic extreme of the album,” Chris explains. “As with all IAMX records, there is a dominant electronic sound but this time more subtly intertwined with human performance. And of course the raw emotion is still a huge part of the album. It is just who I am and what I do, I can't get by without letting that stuff out.” Each of the two tracks will have accompanying videos on the single as well.

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

Trust - Trst


  Trust is Robert Alfons and Maya Postepski (Austra). Formed in 2009, the Toronto-based duo released its first singles, "Candy Walls" and "Bulbform" in 2011 before signing with Arts & Crafts for the 2012 release of their forthcoming debut full length, TRST.

  In the last year they've performed with DFA1979, Crystal Castles, Balam Acab, Glass Candy, and Hercules and Love Affair.


  Tales of lust, wax, and erotomania that carry along on a dense black vapor of speed, space and tears.


 Enjoy in dark dancing...




Check out TRST in its entirety on Soundcloud.

Sunday, 18 November 2012

Sixth June




  Sixth June is the electro pop duo of Lidija Andonov and Laslo Antal. The group formed during 2008 in  Belgrade and are currently based in Berlin. Their first official release “everytime” came out in March 2010 for the German label Genetic Music/No Emb Blanc. Since then, the band has been playing gigs in Germany, Belgium, Croatia, Serbia. The duo have also performed at B.I.M. fest in Antwerp, and Exit festival Novi Sad.

You can let your heart listen their deep influence for everything that has a synthesizer sound and found its origin in the Eighties; the duo represents perfectly the two sides of the same coin, in fact while Laslo is producing obscure but expressive, powerful and danceable textures, on the back side the voice of Lidija is living the shape to a wobbling atmosphere you won’t escape from. 

http://www.sixthjunemusic.com/ 

     Enjoy... 





Saturday, 10 November 2012

SOROR DOLOROSA


  Formerly from Toulouse (southern France), SOROR DOLOROSA was originally founded in 2001, with Andy (Nuit Noire, Mutiilation, Peste Noire, Celestia, Darvulia, Fornication) on drums, Franck (ex Funeraell) on guitar, Herve (ex Funeraell) on bass, and Christophe Guenot (ex Funeraell) on vocals.

   Herve came up with the name of SOROR DOLOROSA because of a novel titled "Bruges-la-morte" by Georges Rodenbach, a Flemish symbolist writer from the late 19th century. A novel marked by symbolism of nostalgia and mourning. SOROR DOLOROSA means "Sister Pain" in Latin, one could almost translate it as "lovers of pain" in a more Baudelaire way...

   The band recorded an unpublished demo, then the line-up changed in 2003 with the arrival of Emey (ex Contrast, Unscarred ...), who replaced Franck on guitar. Subsequently they recorded a second unpublished demo and did some gigs until they split in 2005.

   In August 2007 they reformed with the present line up. A month later , based on songs written by bassist Carles Hervé, the band recorded a third unpublished demo whose content sounds definitely Gothic Rock and Death Rock, influenced by groups such as Christian Death , Bauhaus , and The Sisters of Mercy



   From that time, Soror Dolorosa ' s style became more personal and they found an own identity as a band. The songs were now written by the four members together, though still mostly based on the bass guitar. They took on a Cold Wave colouring, more in line with bands such as The Cure or Human League , but also with hints of 70's rock like Deep Purple or Black Sabbath and retaining the Sisters of Mercy- like Gothic Rock influence .
Soror Dolorosa made their first record appearance with "American Chronicle" in March 2008, on the free compilation 
"Poisoned Dead Frogs" (Manic Depression): http://www.manicdepressionrecords.com/frogs.php
  
  When the third demo was out on myspace, the group was contacted to release an EP through the British label Todestrieb Records. This 6 track EP, entitled " Severance", wasn't released until August 2009 due to production delays and is being distributed through underground ways, while the band promoted it with successful live performances all over France. 



 Tracklist:
01. Beau Suicide 5:38
02. 43° 5:50
03. Dare Me 5:44
04. Trembling Androgyneous 5:50
05. Thousand Clouds 3:10
06. American Chronicle 11:40 




  Some time in 2009, through the help of Neige (Amesoeurs, Alcest), the band came in contact with Northern Silence Productions, who offered to release their upcoming albums on their newly founded sublabel Beneath Grey Skies, and subsequently produced the debut full length " Blind Scenes " , recorded in August 2010 at Drudenhaus Studio. 


 BLIND SCENES

01. Crystal Lane
02. Autumn Wounds
03. Damaged Dreamer
04. Low End
05. Soror Dolorosa
06. Scars Of Crusade
07. In A Glance
08. Broken Wings




   To use the band's own words : " The album is quite cold, with misty blue moods. 'Blind Scenes' would rather be perceived as scenes unseen, that is to say, out of time and out of the real world. As a state of grace overshadowed by the inevitability of everyday life. The lyrics are heartfelt and talk about regrets, coldness, alcohol abuse, as well as forfeiture, but mostly nostalgia, hence the blue color of the music."

 

 

RELEASES :
- “Severance” Mcd, Todestrieb records (UK) 2009
- “Blind Scenes” cd, lp Northerne Silence - Beneath grey skies (Germany) Out on 25th february 2011


 

Saturday, 20 October 2012

Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper

  Paul Julian Banks is an English American musician, best known as the lead singer, lyricist and guitarist of the rock band Interpol. He is also a solo artist under the name Julian Plenti. As a singer, Banks' voice lies in the baritone range. 
  Banks released a solo album under the name Julian Plenti on 4 August 2009 entitled Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper. Banks claims to have multiple solo projects and monikers in mind. He released a five song EP entitled Julian Plenti Lives... on 26 June 2012. His second full-length studio album, Banks was announced on 6 August 2012 and will be released on 22 October 2012.
  As of August 15th, 2012, it would appear that Banks laid to rest the use of the alter-ego, "Julian Plenti" as on the official site of InterpolNYC, the name is referred to as "ditched". 
  Also, the domain URL for the Julian Plenti website is as of this time deactivated and all mentions of the character removed from Banks' official Twitter account.

   Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper (2009) 
  Julian Plenti Lives... (2012) 
  Banks (2012)