808 Dot Pop featuring Noemi Aurora – Blackbodies (Pulsation) (EP – Alfa Matrix)
Genre/Influences: Electro-pop.
Format: Digital.
Background/Info: The name of this project clearly refers to the legendary rhythm box TR 808 from Roland. This project set up by Metroland’s ‘Passenger S (aka Sven Lauwers) assisted on the title track by Helalyn Flowers’ singer Noemi Aurora, resulted from the artist’s passion for electronic-pop music. “Blackbodies” is the first take from the announced debut album “The Colour Temperature”. It has been released in two different versions, the “Pulsation”-edit is more a single revealing two songs.
Content: The title track has this typical ‘Kraftwerk-ian’ touch, but the song also comes close to Metroland, but with an extra poppy touch on top and featuring the vocals of Noemi. She sings a less powerful way than what we’re used to hearing from Helalyn Flowers.
The B-side cut sounds a bit harder, but still into the retro electro-pop vein. This song is an instrumental edit.
+ + + : “Blackbodies” is a cool song and the right title-track for an EP or single. I like the vintage format of the song, which will clearly appeal to lovers of80s electro-pop. “Cie 1960 (Color Space)” is much more than simply a B-side track; it’s an efficient piece confirming there’s a real potential hiding behind 808 Dot Pop.
– – – : Even if it’s retro-like and for this reason totally matching with the approach of this project, I don’t like fade outs! 808 Dot Pop sounds a bit different from Metroland, but there are much more links than only the presence of ‘Passenger S’. I personally prefer the B-side song instead of the title track.
Conclusion: This is an honest debut for a new project, which doesn’t sound that new at all…
Best songs: “Cie 1960 – Color Space”, “Blackbodies – Pulsation”.
Rate: (7).
Artist: www.facebook.com/808dotpop
Label: www.alfa–matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix
About 808 Dot Pop
808 Dot Pop is the solo project of Sven Lauwers, known as ‘Passenger S’ from Metroland and formerly of Ionic Vision, released via Alfa Matrix.
Noemi Aurora, who sings on the title track, is otherwise known for her work in Helalyn Flowers.
808 Dot Pop’s discography began with “Jingle Pop” in 2019, followed by the “Blackbodies” EP editions, the debut album “The Colour Temperature” and “Kelvin (4200)” in 2020, “Ultraviolet (Pentatonic)” and “The Cubic Temperature” in 2021, “Suncatcher” in 2022, an eight-part “AM”/“FM”/“MW” single series in 2023, and the twin albums “Minimalism” and “Maximalism,” announced for 2026.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
