11Grams &#8211; SIDE-LINE

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

Dark pop act Psy’Aviah works with finalist of ‘The Voice’ for brand new 11-track EP, ‘Sunbird’ + interview & brand new video

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 12:10:15 +0000

(Photo by Gwenny Coomand of GNY Photography) With “Sunbird”, Belgian artist Psy’Aviah reveals the second single from his forthcoming “Bittersweet” album “that seems to be heading towards intimate pop electronica realms with an up-tempo edge”. We couldn’t have described it better than the band’s label Alfa Matrix did.

For this quite autobiographical song revealing the extreme addictive side of passion and devotion, Yves Schelpe worked together with Oliviya Nicole (professional singer in the Bulgaria and finalist of “The Voice”) to mix her distinctive vocals with Moog bass & synth arrangements. Also invited to offer cello parts was Polina Faustova.

We asked Yves Schelpe how he got in touch with Oliviya Nicole. Yves: “Sunbird’s idea in theme & lyrics demanded for a super naïve voice with a high pitch, but keeping in mind that it had to sound warm as well… It was a long search which ended up trying out various vocalists, who were all great, but not ‘the voice’ of the track.”

And he continues: “I stumbled upon her via her instagram eventually scrolling along through past contenders of ‘The Voice’ in different countries, because I knew voices like these would always hit television screens. At that point I found her, being an established singer/songwriter herself and me explaining what I wanted she perfectly understood what to do and we set on finalizing my vocal demo, writing some additional lyrics. Social media and researching long and hard thus, but I’m happy I found her. Oliviya’s own music & her personality is awesome. Lovely to work with and really understands the value of good production.”

Throughout this 11-track EP, “Sunbird” gets quite a versatile treatment including a ‘stripped edit’ with cello, Wurlitzer piano and Ben Van de Cruys’ guitars next to dancefloor house mixes by James Beachen and 11GRAMS, through a more 80’s synthwave ‘retro club edit’, and other trance versions by Omniks and Restriction 9, or breakbeat dubstep mix by Deckos.

You can check out the full EP below on Bandcamp.

Sunbird EP by PSY'AVIAH

Video shot in Tenerife

The accompanying video features Daniela Diaz dancing in a production by Melani Luis. The video was conceptualized by Yves Schelpe and Jonathan Guttmann, and directed and shot in Tenerife, Canary Islands by Jonathan Guttmann.

We contacted Yves to know some more bout his collaboration with these artists: “I have a long working relationship with Jonathan Guttmann, a director of many of my videos. I sent him a basic script: a person who is walking home, writing in her diary, yet in her mind all kind of things are going on. The constant battle for perfection, the passion, the deep drive. I specifically wrote in the script ‘while she dances, she can’t make progress’, and that is how we ended up with such a complicated dance routine in fact. If you look closely, if she dance, she’ll never ‘move forward’ as she’s stuck, finding perfection, burning herself up.”

Daniela the star of the video is a real talent. Yves acknowledges: “In Daniela Diaz we found and exceptional performer whose moves are just excellent. We casted her because of her flexibility and graceful dance style combinations – she immediately knew the concept and understood what she needed to do. It’s a team effort really that starts with a song, a script and then Jonathan and Melani come in to really shape it further with me, and do casting and location scouting. It’s fun to work that way – shooting clips myself as well, but also working with people remotely to get the best talents from all around the world. Both in Oliviya Nicole the vocalist, Polina Faustova our cellist on the track as well as the film crew & dancer.”

Below is the video.

Belgian electropop act Psy’Aviah launches new single / video ‘City In Flames’ taken from ‘Soul Searching’ album

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 18:28:28 +0000

Out now for immidiate download via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page (and other platforms to follow) is the last single from the Belgian electropop act Psy’Aviah. The track “City In Flames” – taken from the “Soul Searching” album – gets released in various radio & club-friendly versions for the pleasure of DJ’s and fans. On vocals we find Ellia Bisker, female singer of Sweet Soubrette / Charming Disaster.

The remix duties were executed by 11Grams, Mind Divided and Butsenzeller. The main track also has a brand new video which you can view below.

Check out the video below.

And here’s the full EP “City In Flames” to check out.

City In Flames EP by PSY’AVIAH

11Grams – Humanicide (Album – EK Product)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 20:00:14 +0000

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Three years after their great debut album “Panacea” the American – Australian duo featuring Rob Early (Retrogramme) and Simeon Fitzpatrick (Project K11) is back on track unleashing the new opus “Humanicide”. The work features nine new songs plus five remixes. The band again worked with some guest singers. Roy Retrofit (Red This Ever), Alicia May, Rebekah Feng and Sarah Myers (Fake Boyfriend) contributed to this work.

Content: “Humanicide” moved on where “Panacea” stopped; an album featuring intelligent and sophisticated EBM. It clearly reminds me of Frontline Assembly and Skinny Puppy, which I think rather sounds as references to be compared to. The different singers inject their proper touch, intonation and passion to the work.

The remixes were accomplished by Psy’Aviah, Sebastian Komor, C1TZN.X, Leather Strip and Red This Ever.

+ + + : 11Grams doesn’t sound as the most accessible EBM format, but they let us discover a different kind of ‘body music’; music that has been composed with technical knowledge and certain passion to create great sound treatments. The album sounds maybe a bit less powerful than its predecessor, but it has been empowered with poignant atmospheres created by cool synth sounds. Some passages are clearly old-school driven and even space-like. There’s a great diversity and yet still a balance between the different singers. The title song for sure is an attention grabber, but I definitely prefer the “Static Noises 2.0” revealing impressive writing skills of 11Grams. Among the remixes I especially recommend listening to “Ice Man” remixed in a powerful way by Sebastian Komor and “Weaponized”, which is another powerful outburst, remixed by Leather Strip.

– – – : I don’t see real minor points about this new work, 11Grams simply confirming their natural talent to compose futuristic EBM, but I just regret this kind of band never gets the deserved recognition.

Conclusion: “Humanicide” confirms the great work revealed at the “Panacea”-album; this is styled EBM!

Best songs: “Satanic Noises”, “Artificial Lifeforms”, “Humanicide”, “Ice Man”, “”Ice Man – Sebastian Komor RMX”, “Weaponized – Leather strip RMX”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: http://11grams.com / www.facebook.com/11grams

Label: www.ekproduct.com / www.facebook.com/EKProduct Read the news on ‘Humanicide’.

About 11Grams

11Grams is an Australian-American EBM and electro-industrial project pairing Simeon Fitzpatrick (Project K11) with Rob Early (Retrogramme), mixing catchy bass riffs and synthpop melodies with electro-industrial production. The duo’s 2020 album “Humanicide” on EK Product follows the 2017 debut “Panacea” and features guest vocals from Roy Retrofit, Alicia May, Rebekah Feng and Sarah Myers, plus remixes by Psy’Aviah, Sebastian Komor, C1TZN.X, Leather Strip and Red This Ever.

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.

www.side-line.com

Atropine – Human Emulsion (Album – EK Product)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 20:30:22 +0000

Genre/Influences: EBM, Dark-Electro.

Format: Digital, Double CD.

Background/Info: Three years after the astonishing album “Assailant” Norwegian EBM combo Atropine is back on track unleashing this double album featuring twelve new songs and thirteen remixes. Atropine is already active since 1994 and has released several full lengths. After a break the band has been active again since 2014.

Content: Atropine is doing what they do the best; composing a sophisticated EBM format, which rapidly evokes the atmosphere of early Skinny Puppy. But it’s much more than simply a new emulation of an EBM Godfather; it’s a well-crafted composition mixing harsh vocals together with tormented spheres and danceable passages. It also evokes to me the genius of Mortal Constraint. The power is rather emerging from the icy, horror-like atmospheres instead of the BPM’s. There’s also a trace of minimalism running through a few songs.

The second disc brings a nice selection of artists who for sure had some pleasure remixing Atropine. This is an opportunity to discover the remix skills of Miza[r], Kant Kino, Tourde Force, SWG, Amnistia, 11grams, Substaat, SKL, Impulskontroll, Amorphous, How Green Is My Toupee, Hexadiode and Pyrroline.

+ + + : If you think that EBM is easy music, you should listen to Atropine who reveal the most sophisticated and definitely intelligent EBM format. This is an elaborated writing composed with the magic of analogue equipment. Songs like “Missile Missive” and “Mutual Demise” definitely belong to the best exposures of this Norwegian formation. But I also have to mention the minimal sounding “Flesh Wreath” and the tormented “Dub Sermon”. If you pay attention to the explicit and horror-like front cover of the album you’ll get an idea about the universe inspiring this work. Among the remixes I heard excellent tracks, but will especially recommend the work by atropine’s compatriots Kant Kino and Substaat. And one more I’ve to add is the less familiar Norwegian artist SKL.

– – – : This is a great album so no real minus points. It remains a pity this band doesn’t get more recognition!

Conclusion: If you’re waiting for a new Skinny Puppy work in the good-old vein of the early years, you better listen to Atropine’s “Human Emulsion”. I promise you’ll not be disappointed!

Best songs: “Missile Missive”, “Mutual Demise”, “Flesh Wreath”, “Dub Sermon”, “Bulwark”, “Knife Vision” + “Missile Missive – Monotow Mix by Substaat”, “Knife Vision – SWG Remix”, “Bulwark – Kant Kino Disco”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/AtropineEBM

Label: www.ekproduct.com / www.facebook.com/EKProduct

About Atropine

Atropine is a Norwegian EBM and industrial-experimental band active since 1994, releasing several full-length albums before going on hiatus and returning to activity in 2014. The 2020 double album “Human Emulsion” follows the band’s prior release “Assailant” and pairs twelve new songs with thirteen remixes from artists including Kant Kino, Substaat, SKL, Amnistia, Hexadiode, Pyrroline, Amorphous and 11grams, released via EK Product.

www.side-line.com

11Grams to release new ‘Humanicide’ album on EK Product label – first video available now

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 16:35:10 +0000

Out on September 25 is the second album by the collaboration project between the Australian Simeon Fitzpatrick (Project K11) and American ‘Retrogramme’-mastermind Rob Early. The partnership between the two artists – baptized 11Grams – debuted in 2017 with the previous full length “Panacea”.

Here’s what the band says about their new album: “On our new album “Humanicide” the listener will be wrapped by a wide variety of avveniristic modulations, sometimes threatening or full of suggestive mystery and drama. Expect midtempo dancing drumming mechanically squared by the drum-machine, sequenced symmetries, powerful bass lines and solemn synths harmonies spread an alienating musicality, while the chant adds further catchy charm to the structures.”

You’ll have both male (including Roy Retrofit) and female vocals (including Alicia May and Rebekah Feng) on the 14 track album which offers a blend of electro, endustrial, EBM and synthpop. Included as well are remixes by for instance Psy’Aviah, Sebastian Komor, C1TZN.X and Leæther Strip.

Check out the Video for “Ice Man”. Read the review of ‘Humanicide’.

‘Click Interview’ with 11Grams: ‘A Futuristic Album About Transhumanism’

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 18:00:58 +0000

11Grams saw the daylight thanks to the internet. This project is the meeting between American Rob Early (Retrogramme) and Australian Simeon Fitzpatrick (Project K11). After a few self-released digital EP’s they got in touch with the Italian label EK Product, which appears to be a comfortable home for their sophisticated and intelligent EBM format. I got in touch with Simeon and Rob to get a bit more about their common project.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: How did you guys met and what incited you to set up 11Grams? Does it mean you’re now longer involved with your previous bands/projects?

Simeon: Rob and I met through DJ Wolf, a good mutual friend, He’s an Australian remixer known as Digital Anodyne. Rob and Wolf were chatting on social media about a certain defunct record label and I chimed in with a comment which Wolf replied, then introduced me to Rob. I think we started talking about music software, etc. About a year later we decided to write a song together through the net, called “Immortal” which evolved into 11grams. We both still write for our own band projects.

Q: What’s the explanation behind the band name and what’s hiding behind the album title “Panacea” expect a link with the Goddess of medicines?

Simeon: Rob actually came up with the acronym combining both our band names Project K11 and Retrogramme making 11Grams. I was writing lyrics for the album, I have a dictionary at hand and just opened it to the word Panacea, the universal remedy. It seemed quite suitable for a futuristic album about transhumanism, Rob loved it.

Q: What kind of album and sound did you’d in mind when starting the writing of “Panacea” and how did the composition finally happen?

Rob: I am a big fan of late 80’s to mid 90’s industrial music and EBM. In my teens, I always wanted to make this music, but didn’t have the resources. As time went by, I started Retrogramme with my close friend Nikk and I started producing others as well. I decided to go back to my roots and create something from the ideas I originally had. Simeon responded to my Facebook post looking for a like-minded musician and I primarily loved his basslines so we decided to give it a go. We are both easygoing people with a crude sense of humor so we got along great and decided to make a full album.

Q: I experienced “Panacea” as a sophisticated composition, which sounds as an antidote to all ‘average’ electro releases sounding pretty similar and without real sound DNA! Do you recognize 11Grams in this ‘statement’ and what’s your perception on contemporary electronic music?

Rob: As we set off to make an industrial/EBM album, we accepted that we were more diverse than just that style, so we decided to allow some of our other influences in while trying to maintain commonalities (complex and dense sound structures, melodies, powerful drums, etc)

As far as current music, there is so much out there that it can sometimes be hard to sift through it all because there isn’t a lot of free time. I depend on friends to introduce me to new stuff, and I also stumble upon it through Soundcloud or Facebook, so I am sure I don’t know all the different genres out there now. But I know there will always be great music regardless of genre and I am just happy when I can stumble upon something that I love.

Q: You invited multiple guest singers and also musicians to accomplish this album. Why did you ask several guest singers, which according to me is much more difficult to realize and especially if you’ve plans to play live?

Simeon: Rob and I are very pedantic about our music, so after I sang on “Machine Malfunction”, “Feel It Like A Drug”, and others that suited my vocal tone, we needed other singers to complement the diversity of the remaining tracks. Roy, Lisa, Chad, Woj all did amazing vocals. Playing live was always going to be a challenge for us, Rob being in Washington DC and me in Australia, but we figured out a set list and in February 2017 I flew over to DC, we practiced for 4 days and did our first show together. Rob previously played a DJ set on New Years 2015 and in November 2017 Roy Retrofit filled in for me on vocals and they played two more shows for 11Grams. Rob is planning to join me in Australia this year for a couple more shows.

Rob: I always find collaboration fun and inspiring. I will always collaborate. I find that collaboration helps build personal friendships and expand creativity, and that to me is very fulfilling.

Q: Daniel Myer seemed to have been really inspired, realizing a great remix of “The Stalker”. How did you get in touch with him and can you analyze his version of “The Stalker”?

Rob: Through label mate Niko Kötzsch of Leipzig-based electronic band Gimme Shelter, I established contact with Daniel Myer and asked if he’d be interested in remixing a song for our album. We were super happy when he said he liked the original and would love to remix it. I’ve been a fan of his music since the early 90’s so I was thrilled when he said yes. We have since become friends through the internet and have met in the U.S.

I love his version. To me, it encapsulates what I love about his music. Very precise programming, powerful drums, interesting vocal effects, and fluid but dark synth sounds. Pure Daniel Myer.

www.side-line.com

11Grams – Panacea (CD Album – EK Product)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 20:30:27 +0000

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Background/Info: 11Grams is the meeting between American Rob Early (Retrogramme) and Australian Simeon Fitzpatrick (Project K11). They released a few digital EP’s, but the consecration at the end of 2017 has been this official debut album released on EK Product.

Content: 11Grams deals with a sophisticated and diversified format of EBM. It’s not the typical old-school hard-core body music, but a mix of dynamic rhythms, intelligent sound sculptures, bombastic passages and darker atmospheres.

Daniel Myer (Haujobb, Architect) contributed to this album by a superb version of “The Stalker” while there also is a noticeable remix by Atropine and Xavier Swafford (3Teeth, Impulse Control). Notice by the way several guest singers and musicians have been invited to achieve this work.

+ + + : I like the intelligence of this work revealing a more sophisticated EBM format. The diversity is quite exciting and probably due to the different guest artists. Daniel Myer’s version of “Stalker” is an amazing piece of astral body music. But I also have to mention the elaborated “Synthetic 3.5” revealing an interesting contrast between the sexy, female vocals by Lisa P. Duse and the bombastic arrangements. Atropine also made a great remix of “Machine Malfunction”, which reminds me of the obscurity of Vomito Negro.

– – – : “Panacea” is not the most accessible work in EBM land. It’s ‘difficult’ music, which I’m afraid will not appeal to the hard-core lovers, but probably would be enjoyable to music lovers in search of something more personal and unique.

Conclusion: “Panacea” has accomplished a rather atypical EBM format revealing the band’s creativity, but still great writing skills (with the help of some guests).

Best songs: “The Stalker – Daniel Myer Version”, “Synthetic 3.5”, “Cutaneous”, “Machine Mazlfunction”, “Machine Malfunction – Atropine Version”.

Rate: (8).

Band: http ://11 grams .com / www .facebook .com /11 grams

Label: www .ekproduct .com / www .facebook .com /EKProduct