In case you missed it, last week we launched a special charity endeavour with our friends over at Second Tooth in celebration of this year’s International EBM Day on 24/2; a new printing of our classic “Death to False EBM” shirts, along with a whole wack of new designs, including the introduction of our new “Defining Industrial is Not a Productive Area of Discussion” shirt. All of our proceeds will be donated to Doctors Without Borders, and will be available for a while, but not indefinitely. So head on over, get yourself a shirt, hat, or some glassware, and know that a portion of your purchase is going towards helping out folks in need, while also making you look like an elitist industrial snob. On to new Tracks!

So Bright, So Strong, so Brighter Than a Thousand Suns

Laibach, “Allgorhythm”
After the brooding density and epic sweep of both Sketches From The Red Districts and Alamut, we were perhaps overdue for some decidedly satirical material from Laibach. Sure, there’ve been some standalone tracks in that vein over the last few years, but at least based upon this overly self-aware disco pisstake in the mode of “Go West”, not to mention track titles like “Keep It Reel”, “Luigi Mangione”, and “Love Machine” (please god let that be a Miracles cover), we’re in for a full-length dose of ironic commentary on the operations of capitalism on pop, art, and politics on Musick, and who better to do that than the original Slovenian shitposters.

Brighter Than a Thousand Suns, “Film Noir”
I guess social media marketing works, since that’s how we came across Carolinian act Brighter Than a Thousand Suns recently. This is that bright, new wave-influenced form of electro-pop that leverages guitars, strong vocals and strong rhythm programming for impact, like a synthier Birthday Massacre or perhaps a slightly more throwback Ashbury Heights. Lots to like hear from a songwriting and performance standpoint, and a healthy dose of

Mesh, “Hey Stranger (Straight Mix)”
We mentioned last month how UK vets Mesh have always been a bit of an awkward fit in the most categorical understandings of synthpop, borrowing so heavily as they do from broader rock. But the second single from the forthcoming The Truth Doesn’t Matter LP serves as a nice riposte to that idea, especially this version of it: lithe but thoughtful, it’s a classic synthpop ballad in the vein of any number of 90s acts (including Mesh themselves), with all of the lush production and arrangement you’d want to ornament a fantastic vocal turn.

Psionic Syndicate, “Alien Strain”
Coming to us via the incredibly consistent folks at X-IMG, Psionic Syndicate’s “Alien Strain” is exactly the kind of modern age instrumental techno EBM material we can still get behind. Lots of vocal samples, a hard, wiry bassline and lots of switchups and hard percussion to keep it moving and interesting, it’s exactly the antidote to the less dynamic and inspired versions of this sound that are still being peddled. No real information on who is behind this act, but we’ll be keeping very close tabs on them going forward.

Kimisma X FITD, “Epidrasi”
When it comes to anything associated with techno-body music, raw industrial powerhouse Phage Tapes isn’t a label that readily comes to mind. Hell, we can’t even figure out the particulars of who the Kimisma and FITD producers involved in this tape are; is the former an erstwhile member of Greek DSBM project Sorry… (possible given the remix from Greece’s Alpha Sect)? Regardless of provenance, what works about pieces like this one is the trading off of the usual bin-rattling kicks for the sake of slimy, oozing charnel atmospheres which have much more in common with classic :wumpscut: records (or perhaps recent Matriarchy Roots fare) than anything going on in Tresor.

Man + Machine, “Tangled Hearts”
Hey, are you into Euro-sounding electropop, with lots of bass and guitar to add a rock angle to the sound? Good news, we’ve got something that fits that bill to a tee from Crave Tapes. Man + Machine is the project of Hungarian producer and DJ Daniel Agoston, emphasizing songwriting alongside production. “Tangled Hearts” is the first track from their forthcoming EP Birthmarks and should work in a club set alongside more explicitly goth or post-punk or synthpop joints; in fact it might serve as an excellent bridge for DJs moving between those genres.