Reviews
Distorted Memory, “Temple of the Black Star”
The new remix single by Winnipeg’s Distorted Memory inverts expectations, providing a document of an emerging aesthetic as it does so.
Gatekeeper, “Exo”
Buoyed by an immersive video game-style environment, the long-awaited debut from the dark electronic duo leaves behind the dark ambiance of their initial work, and crafts a heady and disorienting suite of sound design which baffles as it draws you in with its inscrutable charms.
The Loyal Opposition, “Under the State”
The side-project of SMP and Doll Factory touches on the various tropes associated with its parent groups to occasionally good effect.
Nightmare Fortress, “Until The Air Runs Out”
This debut EP quickly undercuts assumptions about its place within modern factions of dark dance music, opting for a more nuanced approach.
V▲LH▲LL + M‡яc▲ll▲, “Għøsŧs of Λnŧįquįŧұ”
One of the best cases yet for post-witch house is made on this split EP, available as a name-your-price download from Bandcamp.
End To End: Haujobb, “Let’s Drop Bombs”
This collection of mixes based on one of our favourite albums from last year takes sharp turns the whole way into the varied territory occupied by its remixers.
Sonar, “Cut Us Up”
The latest from Dirk Ivens’ trad power noise project stays the course, for better or worse.
Weep, “Alate”
The third album from Doc Hammer’s new wave influenced project is a confident and affecting affair, upping the drama the band has been quietly gathering to itself.
Restricted Area, “Wear & Tear EP”
On the follow-up EP to 2011’s “Core Excess/Underdog” the Berlin-based EBM project show a more holistic view of many of their influences.
A.E.C., “Hate Life”
Shelved for a decade, this lost record by Tyler Newman (Battery Cage, Informatik) does a solid job of representing its time and and place, and is well deserving of some long overdue listening.
Espermachine, “This Dying Life”
The debut for Tom Shear’s 23db Records takes a while to catch on, but has charms beyond its more apparent influences.
The Pain Machinery, “Restart”
The Swedish duo find a way to carry the sea change of their last release forward, offering a richer iteration of their blunt, acid-touched EBM.
