Side-Line reviews feed

Rotersand - Random Is Resistance (CD Trisol)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:07:19 GMT

The "War On Error"-EP preceding the 4th full length of Rotersand was a real promising piece of music featuring a terrific title song and the even better "Bastards Screaming". Like with the previous albums of Rotersand my expectations were quite high! Well, maybe a bit too high as Rotersand shows an album with two faces. The first and most powerful side sounds in a similar vein as the EP including the 2 aforementioned songs. "War On Error" and...

Access To Arasaka - Oppidan (CD Spectraliquid/Tympanik)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:04:28 GMT

I discovered Access To Arasaka through several remixes they made for bands like Zentriert Ins Antlitz, Aphorism and Totakeke. This project operating from New York has now launched its official debut on Spectraliquid (Greece) and Tympanik Audio (USA). Both labels definitely belong to the most refreshing and progressive electro-ambient labels from the scene, which only reinforced my curiosity to discover "Oppidan". After a few minutes I was totally convinced and seduced by...

The Dielectric - Rapid Eye - Volume 3 (MCD Urbcom)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:03:36 GMT

The Dielectric strikes back with the last chapter of their "Rapid-Eye Assemblage"-trilogy. This English project features J. Hookens better known as Jerico One (but we now have to say ex-Jerico One)! According to me Jerico One remains one of the refreshing and efficient progressive electronic projects I heard in years. This "Rapid Eye"-maxi from The Dielectric brings us a bit back into the genius arrangements and electro-atmospheres of Jerico One. J. Hookens got some...

Assemblage 23 - Compass (CD Accession Records)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:03:04 GMT

While this reviewer found 2007's "Meta" to be Tom Shear's most charming release in years, the benchmark's been raised once again with "Compass". Perfectly balancing balladry with beats, it retains A23's distinct pensive sound while adding newfound tinges of electroclash and touches of Depeche Mode-styled synthpop. With a crisp snare kick, buzzing reverse synths, and a fuzzy analog mumble, "Impermanence" captures the best of the former descriptor's qualities,...

Phosgore - Domination (CD ProNoize)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:02:44 GMT

Phosgore is Florian Dietz. After having been active as a DJ, Florian decided to compose his own music. This is not the first DJ making a successful reconversion as a musician (think to Rudy Ratzinger) and the less I can say is that "Domination" is an astonishing production. Phosgore already got some fame before the release of this debut-cd. Being featured on some noticeable samplers ("Endzeit Bunkertracks [Act4]" being the most famous one) this project already found the...

Marsheaux - Lumineux Noir (CD Out Of Line)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:02:08 GMT

Since their very first album "E-Bay Queen" the female duo of Marsheaux earned a serious reputation in the synth-pop world. "Peek A Boo" released in 2007 only confirmed the talent of Marianthi and Sophie. Two years later they strike back with their 3rd opus "Lumineux Noir" and once more they surprised with a stylish and catchy synth-pop music reminiscent of the 80s. The influences from Marsheaux are clearly evoking the early years of the sytnh-pop music. Built...

Schwester Seziert - Annexe (CD Mass Control Records)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:59:02 GMT

Schwester Seziert is the solo project of French musician Jonathan Piat. This artist has already been involved in a few project and did some noticeable live performances with the project Arsch Dolls. With Schwester Seziert J. Piat explores the boundaries of industrial music and the least I can say is that "Annexe" is an astonishing release! The basis of his work can be found in 'old' electro-industrial projects like Dive and the more noise-like Sonar. This basis has been...

Suicide Commando - Die Motherfucker Die (CDS Out Of Line Records)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:58:57 GMT

Johan Von Roy seems to still have serial killers on the mind when he penned this teaser for his upcoming album, "Implements Of Torture". Though reawakening a macabre synth from his Klinik-steeped past, "Die Motherfucker Die" soon reveals its true nature as a no-nonsense harsh EBM attack as it explodes into a bounding tangle of explosive bass pads, buzzing synth textures, and distorted growls. Though it will certainly leave his fans sated, Von Roy treats us also to a pair...

Velvet Acid Christ - The Art Of Breaking Apart (CD Dependent Records)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:58:28 GMT

"Breaking Apart" is a very bipolar album for VAC, with its content bisected between the shoe-gazing ennui studied throughout 2006's "Lust For Blood", and the movie sampling, sci-fi horror EBM romps that peppered his earlier releases. Loaded with samples from "Se7en", "Phucked Up Phreak" is like a mutant descendant to his 1998 "Calling Ov The Dead"-era "Phucking Phreak", though its eerie spidering synths and crawling percussion...

Xotox / Detune-X - We Are Deaf (CD Rustblade)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:57:52 GMT

"We Are Deaf" is an album featuring two bands active in the electro-industrial scene. We first have the famous Xotox project set up by Andreas Davids and signed on ProNoize. Next comes Stefano Rossello and his Detune-X project. We are all reminded of the excellent "Purevil"-album that he released together with Eric Van Wonterghem (Monolith, Sonar ao), but Stefano now went on as a solo-project (again). Each project composed two songs for this album plus two remixes from...

Ambassador 21 - Power Rage / Face Your Future Killers (CD Invasion)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:57:19 GMT

When listening to the newest album of this Belarus duo (Natasha & Alexey) I really started to be convinced that they're quite rock'n'roll-like! So I wasn't surprised at all to find on the back of the front cover they refer to rock'n'roll! But Ambassador 21 is of course much more than this! Real rock'n'roll fans would be exposed to a high risk of heart attack when listening to Ambassador 21! It's just that I get the impression they're like transposing some heavy rock music into...

Arktau Eos - Ai Ma Ra (DCD Aural Hypnox)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:56:52 GMT

Arktau Eos is a Finish ambient-ritual project set up by Antti Haapapuro (AIH) and Antti Litmanen (AIL).Notice by the way that Antti Haapapuro is also the label manager of Aural Hypnox. This 3rd opus from Arktau Eos is for sure their most accomplished release to date. Just imagine a double cd covering more than 2 hours of ambient music. The basis of the music has been composed with acoustic instruments exposed to studio treatments and effects. It results in a quite diversified dark ambient...

ASP - Wer Sonst? (MCD EP Trisol)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:56:28 GMT

Asp was quite prolific the last year. After fan-collectors like the "Akoasma"-dcd and the very artistic "Von Zaubererbrudern"-dvd they now strike back with this new EP. Two cover versions are featured here. First there's quite an original cover version of The Cult's "Rain" that was transposed into a more German gothic approach familiar to ASP. Next comes the cover version of Trio's "Kummer". Next to the 'original' cover version we also get a...

Black Tape For A Blue Girl - 10 Neurotics (Cd Projekt)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:55:33 GMT

This new album from the American act is without any doubt a stand out piece of work from their whole discography. We're miles away from their intimate and atmospheric debut though there are some remaining fragments of that era here and there. Sam Rosenthal probably ingested a lot of influences, sounds and ideas from the various bands of his Projekt-label so that he manages here to totally redefine his sound and grow from a shy and introverted musical project towards a totally matured and...

Audra - Everything Changes (CD Audra Music)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:55:17 GMT

Audra comes back with a 3rd full length and this after a break of several years. The fans of the Projekt label will for sure remember their debut-cd "Audra" that was released in 2000 plus "Going To The Theatre" released in 2002. After 2 albums Audra left Projekt. "Everything Changes" sounds like a statement. Time went on and things are changing. The sound of Audra evolves as well and will surprise many people with some delicate wave-pop inspired pieces. Bret...

Candiria - Toying With The Insanities Volume One (CD Rising Pulse Records)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:54:10 GMT

The American project Candiria can be easily defined as a pure crossover between different styles. Moving in between experimental, metal and industrial together with their label they've now started with a kind of concept featuring 4 releases. We here get the 1st volume on cd format delivering 8 remixes. The tracks were taken from their first three albums and have been remixed by very diversified projects from the underground scene. Edgey will be for sire the most familiar ones for the...

Cities Last Broadcast - The Cancelled Earth (CD Cyclic Law)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:53:44 GMT

Cities Last Broadcast is a project set up by Pär Boström. If the man's name doesn't directly ring a bell, his main project Kammarheit will for sure evoke some real good souvenirs to the lovers of dark ambient music. Kammarheit indeed has some noticeable releases (on Cyclic Law as well), but now strikes back with a more (I dare to say) intimate project. The main concept of this project is based on field recordings P. Boström realized using very different places...

Collapsar - Beyond The Event Horizon (CD Malignant Records)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:53:22 GMT

I consider Malignant Records as a real reference in dark ambient music. The debut album of this French project is nothing but a confirmation of this statement. Collapsar like no other knows how good dark ambient stuff has to be composed. "Beyond The Event Horizon" will take you in its grip 6 tracks long. "An Introduction To Black Holes" starts the hostilities with a sonic frightening humming sound. This cut also reveals the deeper sense of the album dealing with an...

Carol Blaze - Carol Blaze (CD Carol Blaze)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:53:10 GMT

Carol Blaze is the solo-project of A.T. Vish who has been involved in different bands (mainly as drummer). He's actually involved in Una De Luna. A solo-project brings often a more personal and intimate sound. The least I can say is that this album covers different grounds moving from raw pop and vague new-wave elements to some triphop rhythmic parts. Some of the guitar parts remind me of Echo & The Bunnymen while the rhythmic grooves can be here and there be linked to the famous...

Crisis - Reactor 4 (CD Syndrom Records)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:52:55 GMT

Crisis is a project operating from the UK and which has just launched their debut-cd on a brand-new label. "Reactor 4" refers to the nuclear disaster that happened in Chernobyl. It's a subject that has already inspired many artists from different musical horizons and that reminds us of the nuclear danger. The horror vision of this tragedy has been transposed in a real great way by Crisis. This band moves in between dark ambient atmospheres and industrial components. "Reactor 4...