It’s Halloweek, and of course that means we’ll be doing our share of DJing here in Vancouver. The absolutely horrifying results of our provincial election have naturally put a damper on our ability to enjoy the seasonal celebration like we might otherwise, but as with so many things in recent years, there’s a deep comfort in getting to be with our people and enjoy our music together, one we won’t be taking for granted behind the decks this coming weekend. Maybe we’ll spin a few cuts from this week’s Tracks while we’re at it.

Like father, like son. Duophonic Noise Construction.

Louisahhh & Helsmoortel, “Feel (Wax Wings Hard NRG remix)”
The full Not Fucking Content EP from the almighty Louisahhh and Belgian hellion Helsmoortel doesn’t drop ’til January 2027, but brother you better believe we’ll be playing the hell out of this remix of the lead track “Feel” by London producer Wax Wings. It’s precisely the kind of modern, uptempo crossover cut we’re fond of around these parts; Louisahhhh’s force-of-nature personality, wiry synthprogramming and thumping drums that should set your better dancefloors alight.

Feyleux, “Remote Control”
Midnight Hearts, the first full length from North Carolina’s Feyleux, has stuck with us as one of the strongest (if still charmingly unassuming) goth/darkwave records of the decade, and after a refresher EP earlier this year we’re keen to dig into sophomore LP Shadeweaver in a couple of weeks. Don’t let the easy-going synth programming on lead track “Remote Control” fool you; the heady mix of dream pop and driving goth rock that first won us over is still what’s driving them forward.

Normal Bias, “Soft Power”
It’s tempting to take the title of Normal Bias’ new single as an aesthetic comment on the duo’s read on body music, blending in electropop, mutant EBM, and throwback rave styles, but you don’t need to split genre hairs in order to get pulled in by the lulling undertow of detuned programming and Matt Weiner’s vocals. There’s something just a little bit sinister mixed into the bounce, something the pair honed in on on the darker second half of 2024’s Kingdom Come, though we’ll have to wait until the new year to hear the full reach of second LP Ways Of Keeping Clean

Caustic feat. Mari Kattman, “Big Bad Rising”
Hey, a new Caustic song, we love those! And it features Mari Kattman, always a plus! And she’s doing kind of a 90’s crossover dance vocal a la Crystal Waters?! And the lyrics are Buffy the Vampire Slayer themed?? There’s no getting around this one Sir Edmund. On the real though, this is a very good cut from two acts we enjoy a lot, and the mix of styles is as weird and fun as you’d expect.

Duophonic Noise Construction, “Abbatoir”
Yes, it’s a cover of X Marks the Pedwalk’s all time dark electro classic “Abbatoir”, but by none other than the man Sevren Ni-Arb himself. If you’re wondering who else is involved, why, it’s none other than Sevren’s own son LMX. Modern X Walks has been much more on the considered and melodic synthpop tip, so hearing the father and son duo attack this absolute all-timer with the raw aggression it deserves is a thrill for fans of the style such as ourselves. Maybe some more originals are on the horizon?

Neu-Romancer, “Clover”
We’re not sure that we had a firm idea where Neu-Romancer, the one-woman project of Laura Bailey (who’s had turns with Zanias, Cierń, and VV & The Void), was headed after electopop EP Neue Romantika, but it definitely wasn’t this left field new wave/post-punk instrumental from the forthcoming Nebulove EP. Channelling later era Durutti Column as well as the lusher sides of the likes of Curses and Chromatics, it’s easy to get lost in this deceptively lush and intricate nodder.