The Spanish Electro-Pop band After The Rain has been active for several years. Although it took them some time to release a new album, they kept their fans engaged with several EPs in the interim. The duo stays true to their familiar sound, blending harder-hitting tracks with sweeter, more melodic pieces. I particularly enjoy the melodic sequences, especially in the heavier songs. However, I feel the vocal production could be improved. Overall, the album is enjoyable, even if it doesn’t revolutionize the genre. (Rate:7).

Listen to “Wearing Like A Clown”:

About After The Rain

After The Rain is a Spanish Electro-Pop duo formed in 2012 by Yun L. Diaz and Jose Icaro. The project draws on 1980s synthpop and futurepop influences and favors live instrumentation over programming in performance. The band has released several EPs alongside its albums. “Darkness & Hope” is the duo’s latest album, issued digitally and on CD.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

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(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange / press release Indie Recordings) ‘Elskhat’, the third single from Seigmen‘s upcoming album, is out on February 28th. It’s the opening track on the album ‘Resonans’, and also the first one written back in the summer of 2015. At that time, their previous album ‘Enola’ had just been released, and touring and big festivals were on the horizon.

The search for that magical riff was a constant pursuit. The guitar riff that forms the foundation of ‘Elskhat’ was revealed outside the rehearsal space, played on a deep red semi-acoustic Gibson. The reception was good, so much so that the band realized this riff was the gateway to Seigmen’s next album. Little did they know it would take nine years before the song could be presented in its entirety.

‘Elskhat’ narrates the constant oscillation between extremes and has its roots in songwriter and lyricist Kim Ljung’s state of constant migraines. The contrast between light and dark is always close, akin to black and white, day and night. ‘Elskhat’ leaves no middle ground.

“If you tremble, then I tremble too.”

Author and screenwriter Harald Rosenløw Eeg (also known from the electro duo SubGud), a close friend of Kim and the band, was working on the script for his second disaster film for Fantefilm at that time. Earthquakes was the theme. Kim suggested ‘Skjelvet’ (‘The Quake’) as the title and expressed interest in writing a song for the film. It remained an attempt. Time and timing had different plans.

The recording process

In 2018, Seigmen borrowed a house near Karlsvik gård, a picturesque gem near the shoreline outside Tønsberg in Norway. Every room in the house was set up for recording and brainstorming ideas for the album.

‘Elskhat’ underwent a significant transformation here, moving from the key of D to G. For the uninitiated, it was quite an un-Seigmen-like move, but it turned out to be a revelation. ‘Elskhat’ gained the lift, the air, and light it needed.

In a pure bootleg style, the intense and creative days in the house were dubbed the ‘Karlsvika Tapes.’ Everything was just sketches, sounding raw and unfinished. Yet, it undoubtedly gave the band a boost, shaping the form of ‘Resonans.’

The band then returned to the rehearsal space, fine-tuning their aim for the final push before recording at Velvet Recording in Spydeberg in Norway. They were back to the familiar setting and the same studio where they recorded ‘Total’ in 1994 — the time many believe Seigmen truly found their identity. However, an unexpected turn of events occurred. The pandemic and illness stood in the way of continuation, putting ‘Resonans’ on hold.

Pandemic challenges

The challenges that followed have added a new dimension to ‘Elskhat,’ with meaning that might not have been there initially but will resonate with those who experienced a difficult time during the pandemic.

Seigmen faced their share of setbacks, but the extended delay also provided extra time to refine the songs that make up ‘Resonans.’ The lyrics of ‘Elskhat’ have proven almost prophetic for Seigmen—after the rain comes sunshine, and after a challenging period, it is an ultra-positive and inspired band getting ready to release their first album in nine years.

‘Elskhat’ is also the first song from ‘Resonans’ mixed by Mike Hartung (Propeller), setting the standard for the rest of the songs and defining the album’s sound. Like the rest of the album, the single was recorded at Velvet Recording with Christer Krogh as the technician. The single cover was designed by Sigurd N. Kristiansen, featuring an alternative prophecy created by Kim’s daughter, Nova.

Listen to ‘Elskhat’ and the other new Seigmen songs right here, or find it at your preferred platform.

Side-Line also covered seigmen’s ‘Resonans’.

Jan Ronald Stange

Sometimes – when I’m not cooking, biking, listening to music or attending concerts, I write stuff for Side-Line.com. Mostly about Norwegian bands, but it’s been some Swedish, English, American, Danish, German and others too… 😉

www.facebook.com/jrstange

Ghost Dance belong to the collective memory of Dark-Wave and Post-Punk music. Set up in 1985 by Gary Marx (ex-Sisters Of Mercy) and singer Anne-Marie Hurst (ex-Skeleteal Family) the British formation started to release a few singles and EP’s which were compiled at the legendary “Gathering Dust”-album (1988). The album “Stop The World” got released in 1989 which also was the year Ghost Dance quit. Thirty four years later Anne-Marie without Gary Marx but with a totally new line-up released a new album of Ghost Dance. Released by Voltage Records “The Silent shout” brings the early spirit of the band alive while exploring other influences like Rock and Ballads. The album stands for a new beginning and as Anne-Marie says ‘a second chance’.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Did you ever expect to bring Ghost Dance back alive and how did this ‘resurrection’ finally happened?

AM: I always intended to bring Ghost Dance back at some point but it was a case of finding the right time. When I left Skeletal Family in 2018, it seemed like a good opportunity.

Q: I think it’s much more than simply a come-back but also a new beginning with a new line-up. What happened to Gary Marx and how did you get in touch with the new members?

AM: I got in touch with Gary Marx about a reunion, but although he didn’t want to be involved, he gave me his blessing to go ahead. I’d known all the new guys since the early days of Ghost Dance, as they often supported us in their bands Harlequyn and Original Sin and we stayed friends over the years. Tim had done some bits of engineering on the “Day Of All Days”-album, so I phoned him and said ‘I need a guitarist’. It turned out he’d been talking to the other guys about a new band project anyway, so it all fell into place.

Q: I noticed Gary has written two songs featured at “The Silent Shout”. Can you give us more details about both songs?

AM: They were both old songs that Ghost Dance used to do live, but were never recorded, apart from home demos. We asked fans which unreleased songs they’d like to hear recorded and “A Town Called Sympathy” and “After The Rain” were top of the list, plus we thought they would also fit with the new songs we were writing for the album.

Q: How much of the early Ghost Dance do you still recognize in “The Silent Shout”?

AM: The original Ghost Dance evolved fairly quickly anyway, but we did have our own sound, driven by the two guitars, so we wanted to retain that sound. From there it was a case of updating the sound and bringing it out of the 1980s, without losing the feel of Ghost Dance within the songwriting.

Q: What have been the triggers and inspiration for the album? And what have been the different stages you’d to go through to achieve “The Silent Shout”?

AM: Partially it was Covid lockdowns. We had done just one live show before everything was closed down, so we decided to start writing new material. Everyone in the band is a writer, so it was a case of picking the songs that sounded like Ghost Dance. We rejected a lot of ideas along the way, but eventually we felt we were developing something that sounded new, but stayed true to the original Ghost Dance feel. We were writing and recording in the studio at the same time, rather than rehearsing and trying the songs on the road first. We were fortunate that Tim runs Voltage Studios, so we could take our time getting it right. None of us knew what the songs were really going to sound like until the mixes were finished. It was very exciting as most us hadn’t recorded anything new for quite a long time!

Q: I experienced the songs as quite diversified; from Post-Punk influences to explicit Rock music; from harder songs to nearly ballads. It sounds a bit like the album goes with the flow but what are your feelings about it right now?

AM: We’d not written together before, but it happened quite naturally as we all grew up in the same time period, with Punk, Post-Punk and Rock & Indie music. Rather than try to sound like any specific genre, we just allowed our likes & dislikes to influence us. We did have a list of bands it was OK to sound like – and NOT OK to sound like though!

Q: The album has been released in a period of turmoil; written during Covid-19, Brexit and political instability in the UK, increasing populism and extremism worldwide, the war in Ukraine, social- and ecological issues… What’s your perception about the current situation and did it have an impact to the lyrical content?

AM: To start with, there was a deliberate avoidance of writing anything about Covid! Also we’ve never been a political band and not interested in developing those ideas in music. It’s an album of emotional expression rather than social comment. There are some really personal thoughts in there lyrically and musically. If anything it’s an escape from the current situation, rather than a comment on it.

Q: You’ve been always a great live performer so what does it mean to go on stage again and playing new songs? And what are the further plans?

AM: It’s been refreshing doing something new, with new people. The gigs have been amazing and fans have embraced the new material as much as the old. Live performances are still my favourite part of being in a band and it’s great doing all that with people you really like. More UK dates are coming up and then we’ll have some shows in Europe. Also we’ll keep writing new material and some other unreleased Ghost Dance-songs may finally get recorded.

Q: Next to Ghost Dance you’ll always be connected to Skeletal Family. Even after the split you worked again with Roger Nowell and Stan Greenwood releasing the album “Day Of All Days” (2011) and even reformed the band a few years ago till you quit. How important has been Skeletal Family in your career and are you still in touch today?

AM: That was the band that started everything off for me, so it was very important. It was great to be able to express myself and be a trailblazer in new music & fashion at that time. It was a very exciting period and just browsing charity shops for stage clothes was a thrill. I don’t have any contact with Skeletal Family at the moment but I wish them all the best.

Q: Evoking your career, you’re now into music business for more than 40 years, right? What comes directly into mind evoking this career? What makes you proud and what makes you angry?

AM: Being fortunate enough to do it in the first place, but also again now being given a second chance. I’m really proud of previous achievements but also of the new album and how the new album has been accepted by the fans. What makes me angry is not being able to do this full time. I’d like it to be a job, not a hobby.

Q: What would you say today to the young Anne-Marie making her first steps in music business around 1980?

AM: Be yourself and follow your heart.

Q: The 80s have been exceptional years when it comes to music and still today remain a source of inspiration for young artists. Back then did you realize something special was happening and how do you look back at this legendary decade?

AM: I think we were lucky to live through that time. You could express yourself without having much money. That meant you had to be inventive. Britain has been at the forefront of so many music explosions – especially Leeds & Bradford, where we came from. It was wonderful to be a part of it all and still be influenced by it today and still see its impact around the world.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

Genre/Influences: Dark-Rock, Dark-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: “The Silent Shout” stands for the return of legendary 80s Dark-Wave / post-Punk formation Ghost Dance. Originally set up by Gary Marx (ex-Sisters Of Mercy) and Anne-Marie Hurst (ex-Skeletal Family) the band unleashed the album “Stop The World” in 1989 on Chrysalis. The band’s split came after this album while thirty years later (2019) Anne-Marie Hurst reactivated the band with new members Tim Walker (guitar), Stephen Derrig (guitar), Phil Noble (bass), and Dave Wood (drums). Four years later we got the long-awaited second full length of Ghost Dance featuring ten songs. The work features eight new songs and two previously unreleased cuts written by Gary Marx. 

Content: Ghost Dance sounds different than 30 years ago and that’s easily understandable. Anne-Marie’s voice is more mature although holding on this raw expression she’d in the 80s. Different musicians are logically transposing the band into a different sound and dimension although still connected with the early stuff. It all becomes more Dark-Rock driven  while there’re also a few ballads featured.

+ + + : It’s good to see Ghost Dance back on track which are also performing live again. I’ve always been a huge lover of The Skeletal Family and that was partly because of Hurst’s raw timbre of voice. Her timbre of voice is still recognizable. She still has this charisma but she sounds more mature and comfortable in her way of singing, it became more ‘natural’. Sound-wise the work brings a connection between the early years and contemporary Dark-Rock/Wave music. Both songs originally penned by Gary Marx still feature the good-old 80s spirit although it’s also true for “Jessamine”. The last part of the opus definitely sounds as the best part while featuring the best cut entitled “Falling Dawn”. This is a great and carrying piece of music showing the band at its best.

– – – : I can’t say the debut part is disappointing but just less persuasive. It took me a few songs before I got really convinced by some cool songs.

Conclusion: It’s just great to see this legendary formation back on track. Ghost Dance definitely belongs to the history of Dark-Wave and Post-Punk music.

Best songs: “Falling Dawn”, “After The Rain”, “It Rains”, “Jessamine”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100037905976036

Label: www.voltagerecords.com / www.facebook.com/voltagerecords1 Read the news on ‘The Silent Shout’.

About Ghost Dance

Ghost Dance is a British Dark-Wave and post-punk band set up in 1985 by Gary Marx, formerly of Sisters Of Mercy, and singer Anne-Marie Hurst, formerly of Skeletal Family. Early singles and EPs were compiled on the album “Gathering Dust” (1988), followed by “Stop The World” (1989, Chrysalis), after which the band split. Anne-Marie Hurst reactivated Ghost Dance in 2019, without Gary Marx but with his blessing, alongside new members Tim Walker, Stephen Derrig, Phil Noble and Dave Wood. “The Silent Shout”, released on Voltage Records, is the band’s second studio album and includes two previously unreleased songs written by Marx during the band’s original run.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Hailing from Madrid (Spain) After The Rain strikes back with new work. The last production I heard was the double album “Kings Without A Crown + The Other Side Of The Crown” (2017) released on Scentair Records. This production was a re-release of the band’s debut album and former EP’s. We now get four new songs plus one remix.

Content: Yun L. Díaz and Jose Ícaro move one composing pure Electro-Pop with some extra guitar playing on a few cuts. The EP features 4 different songs, which are driven by danceable kicks and melodic sequences. “Fight” sounds a bit harder while “Somewhere Only With You” is the most emotional and soft piece of the work. Both songs left are somewhere in between also revealing some minimalism on “Foreigner”. Last, but not least there also is a remix of the song “Tired Hands” by Cyborgdrive. 

+ + + : The sound production of the opening song “Game Over” is top-notch. It’s not the best song from the EP and yet technically fully accomplished. I’m more into the harder, beating –but still Pop driven, “Fight”. The main evolution of this band is that their sound became more personal, clearly taking some distance with Depeche Mode and Erasure, which were like their main sources of inspiration.

– – – : Five different songs here, but not one absolute hit. This is what this EP is missing.

Conclusion: After The Rain remains pure Electro-Pop, but the sound is now a bit more personal.

Best songs: “Fight”, “Tired Hands – Cyborgdrive Remix”, “Game Over”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/aftertherainsynthband

About After The Rain

After The Rain is an electro-pop duo from Madrid, Spain, formed by Yun L. Diaz and Jose Icaro. The band’s earlier work, the debut album and former EPs, was gathered on the double re-release “Kings Without A Crown + The Other Side Of The Crown” in 2017 via Scentair Records. This EP marks the project’s return with new material, moving away from the Depeche Mode and Erasure influences of its earlier releases toward a more personal electro-pop sound.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

Celluloide will release a super-limited 7″ EP, 4-track 33rpm signed clear vinyl edition in September 2020: Translucide”. You can order your copies here.

The EP will feature the single/video edit of the singles “La Cité Des Aveugles” and “Si Tu Renonces” (to be released on september 25), plus additional b-sides: “Air Conditionné” and “L’Europe Après La Pluie”.

“L’Europe Après La Pluie” is a cover of John Foxx’s 1981 single “Europe After The Rain” for which a video has been released as you can see below.

Each copy of the EP will be signed by Celluloide. A four-track digital download will be available with a code on the single.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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!

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Genre/Influences: Electro-pop.

Background/Info: After The Rain is a Spanish electro-pop trio hailing from Madrid. I discovered the band by the album “Kings without A Crown” originally released in their homeland on Amuza. They now have joined hands with Russian label Scentair Records releasing this opus, which features the already familiar album (here released on the second disc), and the album “The Other Side Of The Crown”, and which also includes the 3 digital EP’s released by the band plus some new remixes and rarities.

Content: If you don’t know After The Rain, you maybe better can start listening the 2^nd disc. You’ll discover electro-pop music, which sounds pretty ‘classical’, driven by catchy electronics, fine tunes, cool effects, refreshing bleeps and empowering guitar. The vocals have been sung in English. The work clearly sounds inspired by bands like Depeche Mode and Erause while there also is a little wink to the legendary “Da Da Da”-hit from Trio.

The 2^nd disc takes off with a cool cover version of David Bowie’s “Heroes”. Among the other ‘new’ cuts I especially noticed a great and somewhat technoid and into breakbeats cut entitled “Nancy In Hell”. I have to admit I never heard the content of the EP’s which were self-released by the band. It brings an interesting diversity to the work, sometimes more club-orientated. Remixes were made by artists like Cyborgdrive, Insight, Conmutadores, Nature Of Wires.

+ + + : If you’re not that familiar with After The Rain, this album will definitely appeal to all electro-pop lovers. This band reveals a great maturity and this little genius to compose alluring electro-pop music. Even if they’re inspired and driven by some old pioneers, the work also features a personal touch. From calmer and evasive cuts to more danceable clubs, this work has a lot to offer. After The Rain has a nose to write great melody lines and carrying choruses.

– – – : It maybe is a pity why so many bands always go back to pioneers like Depeche Mode, Erasure and co. I’m sure this band has enough potential to create their own electro-pop DNA!

Conclusion: After The Rain is definitely a band deserving a wider recognition in the electro-pop universe. I’m really looking forward to hear new stuff.

Best songs: “Future Will Be fine – ITCN Mix”, “Cosmic Mission – Electric Bass Single Version”, “Insane feat. Indight”, “Invincible (You Are The One)”, “Lost Without You – Nature Of Wires Remix” + “Invincible”, “Future Will Be Fine”, “Wir Sind After The Rain – Cyborgdrive Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.facebook.com/aftertherainsynthband

Label: www.scent–air.com / www.facebook.com/ScentairRecords

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

Genre/Influences: Electro, pop, electro-rock, dance-pop.

Background/Info: Amuza Producciones is a small label hailing from Spain, which has released a few productions. You maybe have discovered bands such After The Rain, Cyborgdrive ao. This compilation features 15 songs (and 13 bands) as a tribute to one of the Spanish pioneers of techno-pop music Azul Y Negro. This formation has been active since the early 80s and got some national fame during the 80s and 90s.

Bands: Cyborgdrive, The New Technocratz, The Unknown, Kill Bill 6, Ibes Magora, Dieddro, Furtiva, Opium Den Electronic Music ao.

Content: It’s not an easy thing commenting this compilation. Azul Y Negro might be a pioneer of Spanish techno-pop and a kind of national pride, when you aren’t familiar with the band and you don’t know that much about the bands contributing to this sampler, it’s damned difficult to give an ‘objective’ point of view.

All I can say is that this sampler features a wide variety of influences, which are often electro-pop driven and mainly mixed with dance elements. A few other bands experiment with other elements such as electro-rock or electro-wave.

Notice by the way that Cyborgdrive has been featured with 3 songs.

+ + + : I can imagine this is the kind of ‘tribute’ that will get some interest in Spain while this kind of sampler also has to be seen as an ultimate consecration and recognition for a band. I especially like the somewhat old-school driven cuts and I want to recommend Los Pasajeros as most noticeable formation of the list.

– – – : I’m afraid this is the kind of sampler that will not make it in the ‘international’ underground scene. I compare it a bit to a compilation from Boredom Product released last year as a tribute to Etienne Daho. But on the other side it also is an opportunity to discover new formations, but unfortunately I can’t say to have been totally convinced.

Conclusion: This is a very special and intimate tribute, which I’m sure, must get Azul Y Negro proud, but at the other side it mainly sounds like a national (Spanish) affair instead of a compilation meant to reach an international audience.

Best bands: Opium Den Electronic Music, Los Pasajeros, Mist3rFly feat. Dieddro, Neosynth feat. Sister.

Rate: (5½).

Label: www.amuzaproducciones.com / www.facebook.com/amuzaproducciones

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

Genre/Influences: Synth-pop, body-pop.

Background/Info: This band is based in Madrid and was set up as a duo in 2012. They already self-released two previous productions, but this new work can be seen as an official debut album. The album is also available in a ‘deluxe’ edition which includes a T-shirt and sun glasses along with the CD.

Content: I discovered a real mature and elaborate song writing, which is carried by solid bass lines, cool sound treatments, a catchy, poppy touch and a few guitar passages. Most of the songs are pretty danceable and feature nice melodic leads.

After The Rain clearly sounds inspired by some famous bands in the genre and there clearly is a Depeche Mode flavor hanging over some songs while Erasure is another band that comes to mind. There also is a song taking off with the “Da Da Da” gimmick of Trio, which is another wink to the 80s electro-pop music.

Some songs are a not as hard and are inspired by some body-pop elements while other passages are a little bit into technoid ideas.

The songs were sung in English, which seems to be one of the main evolutions compared to the earlier work.

+ + + : After The Rain stands for cool and achieved electro-pop music, which is based upon a real solid sound production.

– – – : One of the main elements –and yet that important when it comes to make synth-pop music, which can’t totally convince me is the vocals. The singer’s voice is missing some conviction and passion although some songs at the end of the album are more convincing.

Conclusion: After The Rain is not adding anything new to synth-pop music, but the music is well-crafted and showing a strong potential. I think they really have to focus on the vocal production for the next work.

Best songs: “Invincible – You Are The One”, “Mirrored Eyes”, “Wir Sind After The Rain”

Rate: (7).

Band: www.aftertherain.es / www.facebook.com/aftertherainsynthband

Label: www.amuzaproducciones.com / www.facebook.com/amuzaproducciones

Inferno Sound Diaries

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