The Danish duo Am Tierpark celebrates 10 years of music-making. Comprised of Claus Larsen (known for Leaether Strip, Klute ao) and John R. Mirland (Mirland ao), they present their fifth album, staying true to their distinctive Electro-Pop sound. Across 10 tracks, the music feels both familiar and fresh, with verses that are often darker and more intense, driven by heavy basslines, before transitioning into melodic, sometimes playful, choruses. Am Tierpark delivers what can be described as ‘dirty Electro-Pop’, a style I’ve come to appreciate. The album is filled with unmistakable 80s influences, noticeable in the typical effects, drum programming, and melodies. “In Dreams” stands out as one of the best Am Tierpark tracks I’ve heard, though the album is packed with other gems waiting to be discovered. (Rate:8).

Listen to “In Dreams”:

About Am Tierpark

Am Tierpark is the Danish synthpop and EBM duo of vocalist Claus Larsen, the man behind Leaether Strip, and programmer and keyboardist John R. Mirland, who also records solo as Mirland. The duo marked ten years of music-making in 2024 with the release of “Shameless”.

The project released a split 7-inch single with En Esch, “Do Me / No One Can Be Changed”, in 2016 on Distortion Productions. The albums followed on the Læbel imprint: “Uncaged” and “Trashy Luxury” in 2017, “Kings Of Failure” in 2019, and “Forevermore” in 2022. Mirland talked about his various projects in an earlier Side-Line interview.

“Shameless”, again released through Læbel as a digital and CD album, is the duo’s fifth full-length and the release reviewed here.

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-Wave, Dream-Pop, Wave-Pop, Cold-Wave, Electro.

Format: Digital, Vinyl. 

Background/Info: Brussels (Belgium) based Je M’En Fish strikes back with the fourth installment of their “Anthologies”-compilation series.

Artists: The Frozen Autumn, Noemi Aurora, Helalyn Flowers, The Dreamside, The Neon Judgement, Flesh & Fell, Imjudas, Am Tierpark, M73.

Content: The compilation features a few artists which are already familiar with Je M’En Fish, Alfa Matrix-artists (Italian formation Helalyn Flowers and the band members’ side-projects Noemi Aurora and Imjudas) plus a few other  names. The content is quite diversified and features songs from the 80s, 90s and 00”.

+ + + : Diversified compilation covering songs from very different and sometimes distant eras; from the very 80s Flesh & Fell Electro-Experiment (1985) to Ethereal-Pop of The Dreamside (1994) to the melancholic Dark/Cold-Wave of The Frozen Autumn (1996) to 80s inspired Electro-Pop from Danish Am Tierpark to contemporary Electro-Metal-Pop of Helalyn Flowers. There also is a live version from The Neon Judgement’s “Tomorrow In The Papers” from 1984 revealing the band during their early, glorious, days.

– – – : This compilation series sounds to me more as an item for collectors instead of DJ’s. No bad thing but maybe a reason why this compilation will remain under the radar.

Conclusion: Diversified Electro-underground music and related genres throughout the years.

Best bands: The Neon Judgement, Imjudas, Noemi Aurora, Am Tierpark, Flesh & Fell.

Rate: 7.

Label: www.facebook.com/JemenfishBE

Listen to the compilation:

About Je M’En Fish

Je M’En Fish is a Brussels (Belgium) based project running an “Anthologies” compilation series that gathers Dark-Wave, Dream-Pop, Wave-Pop, Cold-Wave and Electro tracks spanning several decades. Earlier volumes in the series compiled songs from the 1980s through the 2000s from underground and cult acts in these genres. “Anthologies 4” is the fourth installment, featuring The Frozen Autumn, Noemi Aurora, Helalyn Flowers, The Dreamside, The Neon Judgement, Flesh & Fell, Imjudas, Am Tierpark and M73.

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

Following up on their debut album “Sins Of The Future”, the US/Danish EBM outfit Emergency Sequence return with the “The People Are Broken (The Remixes)” EP. The EP is out via Re:Mission Entertainment and available for immediate download.

The four-track EP contains three club remixes from Leaether Strip, the dark electro/synth pop duo Am Tierpark, the minimal electro outfit Divider and an industrial rock / punk version from rockers Gusten.

Behind Emergency Sequence we find Bryon Wilson and John Mirland – respectively known for diverse projects like Divider, Mirland, Am Tierpark and many more. The duo joined forces in 2020 as the EBM duo Emergency Sequence (also known as ESEQ) debuting with the single “1938”.

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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The dark atmospheric synthpop band, IIOIOIOII, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, has unveiled a new 3-track single titled “Frozen Sea”.

This single has been released through Distortion Productions and is accompanied by a music video. It offers a glimpse of their upcoming album, “Dreaming”, set to launch in autumn 2023 via the same label.

Pronounced as IO or eye-oh, IIOIOIOII has been producing music since 2012. Their most recent album, “Chroma + Chromatic”, came out in 2019 under AnalogueTrash Records.

Distortion Productions, the band’s current label, initially aimed to spotlight both national and local talents within the Pittsburgh Industrial/Goth community. By 2013, it transitioned into a record label, featuring artists such as En Esch, Dope Stars Inc., Tenek, Am Tierpark, Null Device, and others.

You can watch the “Frozen Sea” video below.

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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Out now via Re:Mission Entertainment is the debut album for Emergency Sequence, “Sins Of The Future”. “Sins Of The Future” is packed with classic EBM / electro-industrial elements. The release is officially out today on CD and as a digital download and streaming.

Behind Emergency Sequence we find Bryon Wilson and John Mirland – respectively known for diverse projects like Divider, Mirland, Am Tierpark and many more. The duo joined forces in 2020 as the EBM duo Emergency Sequence (also known as ESEQ) debuting with the single “1938”.

Since then they worked on the debut album, remotely that is since Wilson lives in California and Mirland in Denmark. Fast forward to 2022 and the duo participated as themselves on the “Fulfillment Center Volume 1” compilation (released by Laebel in 2023).

You can download it below.

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!

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, Electro-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: John Mirland (Holm/Mirland, Am Tierpark, Negant, Mirland/Larsen ao) strikes back with the second album of his M73 solo-project. “Motor Romantik” is inspired by themes like love, passion and isolation in a virtual world.

Content: The songs are driven by EBM influences -which are mainly emerging right at the beginning, retro-like strings, dreamy Electro-Pop elements and minimalism. The vocals are half spoken, half singing which accentuated the minimal approach of the production.

+ + + : John Mirland clearly loves synth music and bring us back to alluring, vintage, synth lines. He diversified his work by mixing EBM and Electro-Pop styles resulting in a very personal and minimal interpretation of Electronic music. The work sounds retro and yet refreshing. I have a preference for darker cuts like “Crucify” and the brilliant title song. Another attention grabber is the solid debut track “Take It All” which sounds like cool EBM.

– – – : I would like the get a bit more punch in some of the songs.

Conclusion: John Mirland remains a prolific artist but first of all a man with very diversified- and cool projects. M73 falls somewhere in between EBM and Dark-Electro-Pop.

Best songs: “Motor Romantik”, “Crucify”, “Take It All”, “Inside You”. 

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/m73official

Label: http://laebel-music.dk / www.facebook.com/laebelmusic

About M73

M73 is the solo project of John R. Mirland, also known for Holm/Mirland, Am Tierpark, Negant and Mirland/Larsen. Mirland released the debut M73 album, “Tainted”, in 2019, followed by “Motor Romantik” as the project’s second full-length. He has also released music under the M73 name in collaboration with Negant, on “M73 vs Negant – The New Machine” in 2020, and issued “Fly On The Windscreen” the same year.

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

I discovered Danish musician/producer John R. Mirland by the IDM project Holm/Mirland. That was a way back and he never stopped getting involved with new- and very different projects. Together with Claus Larsen het set up the Electro-Pop formation AM Tierpark, but they’re also releasing productions as Mirland/Larsen and Gusten. Other projects like M73, Negant and Emergency Sequence are more into EBM. Eisenwolf is dealing with Metal and Bitter Distrust has something Punkish. This interview is more focalized on the last Mirland-album “Compromise Is Defeat”. The work sounds more Industrial-like while featuring Trance/Techno influences. The album has been released on Læbel, which is driven by John Mirland and Claus Larsen.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Tell us a bit more about your music background and how did you finally start to compose your own music and getting involved with all different kinds of projects?

John: I grew up in a home where music was always playing and my parents spooned me everything from The Beatles to Pink Floyd over southern blues to classical masterpieces. So I was brought up with a very broad interest in music. However for many years I didn’t play an instrument myself since I wanted to be a painter or illustrator. In high school I began playing the drums.

In 1994 I met a guy called Zwoo who was part of the C64/Amiga demo scene. He was deep into sampling and sound design and he taught me a lot. We recorded for years as an experimental noise outfit called VHS and released a demo tape at some point.

Time moved on with more bands and in 2010 I finally pulled myself together and recorded my first mini-album “Cerebral Reducing Valve”. Shortly after that I met Kim Holm (currently of Crackdown) and we recorded a series of EPs and an album as Holm/Mirland.

Since then things have been going really fast working with my close friend Claus Larsen of Leæther Strip and a ton of other projects.

Q: How do you make the difference between the numerous projects/bands you’re involved with? And how do you explain your eclecticism, moving from Electro-Pop to IDM to EBM to Electro-Industrial to Metal to Punk…?

John: I’m no musical snob haha! If it moves me it moves me.

I compose in a lot of styles and genres because that’s how I’m programmed. I love obscure Underground-Metal as much as Space-Disco, Industrial-Techno, Psy-Trance or Classical. This is reflected in the music I compose for myself or others. If I feel there’s something I could express in a certain way outside of my ‘home’ genre then I’ll try it out. That’s why I even made a Black-Metal mini-album as Udpint last year. I had an idea and a guitar so why not? But as Mirland I’m mostly in the Rhyhtmic-Noise territory.

Q: What kind of musician/producer are you? Are there specific items in the writing- and production process you put the focus on? And do you have particular references and criteria when composing songs?

John: I’m a restless person and artist. I want to evolve and try new ideas and approaches. I get bored easily, don’t like staying in one place creatively and I’m not dogmatic.

These last 10-15 years I’ve written, produced or remixed more than 200 tracks of which at least 150 have been released. I don’t search for inspiration or wait for a divine intervention. I just sit down at the keyboard or with the guitar and compose a track. I don’t waste time trying to save a bad track since it’s much easier just to compose another one.

My focus is always on the energy within a track. It could be upfront Rhythmic-Noise blasting your ears off or it could be the repressed energy of a moody track slowly evolving. But I hate tracks without a theme, an interesting beat or production. There just need to be something dragging me into the track. A lot of commercial music seem to have forgotten the instrumental part and just focus on the vocals which is incredibly boring.

Q: I should think Mirland must be your most personal project to date. What does it stand for referring to sound & influences and the global evolution of the project?

John: mirland is uncompromising and where I experiment with sound design and different textures and structures. I never have an exact plan for a Mirland track but I know immediately when it is one. It needs to work without vocals and pound the listener into the ground at best. I guess that’s why Mirland is not pure ‘Techno’ but a rhythmic noise hybrid. It started out very minimal and moody but over the years evolved to this machine-like animal.

As for influences I guess that’s a bit hard to state ‘this and that’ but of course since I’ve listened to music for decades the inspiration will always be there as a foundation. I may however be equally inspired by Techno or Metal or even Classical.

Q:  What did you try to express by the title of the album “Compromise Is Defeat” and how did you transpose the ideas behind this title into music?

John:The phrase ‘compromise is defeat’ is both an artistic ideal and a provocative statement since nothing good comes from not being able to compromise. I do believe the artist must try to never compromise on the artistic product however some compromises are often needed to actually finish and move on. The phrase is also reflected in Læbel’s credo ‘Total freedom or fuck off’.

The album is my personal vision for a hybrid of Rhythmic-Noise fused with Dark-Trance that is uncompromisingly brutal in some parts while retaining the melodic qualities of Trance in other parts. In my live sets I’m live remixing and reconstructing my own tracks on stage and I discovered I was constantly using more and more percussion and heavy beats with the melodies from the different tracks.

I’m actually not a great fan of vocals especially not in the more brutal styles of Electronic music. Too many tracks are marred by lacklustre vocals with cringy lyrics and lack space in the composition. So as Mirland I don’t use vocals except a few samples here and there. In the future I might compose a track as Mirland with vocals but they would not be the focus of the track. It would still be the music and the beat.

I like my music to be inhuman and distanced. I don’t need a face or to be a character.

Q: Since the ongoing pandemic you have been more prolific and creative than ever before. In which way do the lockdowns have been a ‘bless’ for musicians to compose new music? And what’s the importance of composing- and listening to music  in times like these? What brings 2022? 

John: I don’t believe the lockdowns have been anything but a terrible mess for musicians and other artists.

It’s been made painfully clear that society views art as a commodity or even a personal luxury for supposedly maladjusted citizens. It says a lot about the lack of cultural understanding at the political level and it says a lot about the current values of society.

Fortunately for me I’ve always kept my daytime job since I believe that not being economically dependent of the music sets me free creatively. But my heart bleeds for those who’ve tried not to compromise.

You see? It’s all about this: to compromise or not and the understanding of the consequences.

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-Industrial, Electro-Ambient, Dark-Techno. 

Format: Digital, CD. 

Background/Info: Four years after his last album (cf. “Mechanic”), Danish solo-project Mirland –driven by John Mirland, strikes back with a new opus featuring ten songs. A few EP’s were released in the meantime while John Mirland remains also involved with other projects like Am Tierpark, Emergency Sequence, Bitter Distrust, Eisenwolf, Mirland/Larsen, Negant ao

Content: John Mirland feels comfortable dealing with different styles of music, but he now again explores the possibilities of Electro-Industrial music mixed with other elements like Techno and Ambient. He created a surprising sonic hybrid, which is characterized and driven by heavy, overwhelming Industrial kicks. The production is polished with vintage Ambient strings. Some parts are getting harder and more Techno. Most of the songs remain instrumentals, but you’ll notice a few spoken samplings from time to time. 

+ + + : What I really respect and admire with this artist is the way he can switch from one project to another; and from one style to another. This new work is definitely Industrial driven and yet an atypical format for the fusion with Ambient strings and Techno kicks. He however put a lot of effort into the production of the drum sections, which aren’t just bouncing forward, but also revealing complex patterns. This album sounds brutal and yet refined; the fusion between opposite poles to finally gain a rather accessible production. 

– – – : I would have liked to hear a few more spoken samplings and why not some few vocals and/or effects. 

Conclusion: Mirland moves on his Industrial quest, having accomplished a noticeable work for Industrial dancefloors. 

Best songs: “Defiant”, “Torn”, “So Cold”, “Beg For It”. 

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/jrmirland 

Label: http://laebel-music.dk / www.facebook.com/laebelmusic

About Mirland

Mirland is the solo project of Danish composer and producer John R. Mirland. He self-released “Cerebral Reducing Valve” in 2010, “Submerge” in 2014, “Fragments” in 2015, “Greyscale Controller” and the “Depeche Mode Deconstructed” set in 2016, “Mechanic” in 2017 and “Antagonist” in 2018.

“Plasticity”, featuring Roarie Yum, appeared on Læbel in 2020. The label is run by John Mirland together with Claus Larsen. “Compromise Is Defeat” followed on Læbel in 2021, and later work includes “Objectified” and “The Heavy Hand Of God” in 2024.

Mirland also works in Gusten, Holm/Mirland and M73. He discussed “Compromise Is Defeat” in a Click Interview with Mirland published in February 2022.

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, CD.

Background/Info: Claus Larsen (Leæther Strip, Klutae, Mirland/Larsen…) and John R. Mirland (Mirland, Negant, M73, Mirland/Larsen…) aren’t only running Læbel, they’re also sharing a common passion for electro-pop music, which they’ve transposed into Am Tierpark. This is already the Danish duo’s third full length, which was released in 2019.

Content: Am Tierpark remains faithful to their basic sound, which is definitely inspired by the 80s electro-pop/wave scene and mixed with a few harder and more personal elements. “Kings Of Failure” is an album carried by happy sounding embodies, which are sometimes reminding OMD me of (especially for “No More Chances”), but still featuring a few harder passages driven by EBM-sounding bass lines. I also noticed a few more melancholic passages.

+ + + : Am Tierpark is progressively evolving and clearly confirms this is much more than simply a side-project. The melodic aspect of the work is absolutely great –mainly at the beginning of the album. Melodies and choruses –featuring the emotional singing of Claus Larsen, together create an elevating effect on the best  cuts of the album. But what I like the most is the kind of ‘feel good’ sensation listening to “Kings Of Failure”.

– – – : I think it’s quite surprising, but the title song is absolutely not my favorite song and even one of the few I would not recommend.

Conclusion: Am Tierpark is slowly moving on, getting better on each new album.

Best songs: “No More Chances”, “Calling Your Name”, “Reach XTC”, “Are We Crashing”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/amtierparkofficial

Label: http://laebel–music.dk / www.facebook.com/laebelmusic

About Am Tierpark

Am Tierpark is the electro-pop duo of Danish musicians Claus Larsen (Leaether Strip, Klutae, Mirland/Larsen) and John R. Mirland (Mirland, Negant, M73, Mirland/Larsen), also the two men behind the label Laebel. “Kings Of Failure” arrived in 2019 as the duo’s third full-length. Am Tierpark returned with a fourth album, “Shameless”, in 2024, also released via Laebel.

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: EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: M73 is a project set up by Danish composer John R. Mirland. He’s already involved with multiple projects; once started in Holm/Mirland and moved on with Am Tierpark, Negant, Mirland, Mirland/Larsen ao. After a few EP’s releases M73 last year released its debut album inspired by ‘self-destruction, sex and disillusion’.

Content: M73 is John R. Mirland’s solo-project and that’s what makes the difference with his other EBM project Negant. He’s also singing on M73 (which is rather new) while the composition also has something more personal. The EBM songs have something old-styled, which means carried by solid bass lines and supported with melodic string parts. The songs are moving from softer cuts to more powerful ones. The vocals have something ‘natural’, but passionate.

+ + + : Old-school EBM fans will like “Mindbender” –which is the absolute highlight from the album, but also “Polarizer”, “Lowlife” and “Zeroes”. Even if the songs are retro-like, they’re elaborated with great strings on top. Some cuts are polished with pop arrangements, but in the end it all remains pure EBM driven by solid bass lines.

– – – : Some of the softer passages such as “Shadows” and “Clouds” can’t convince me. Let’s say they just inject a few breaks in the tracklist.  

Conclusion: I’m not saying M73 is a new EBM sensation, but “Tainted” is a promising and enjoyable debut!

Best songs: “Mindbender”, “Lowlife”, “Nomad”, “Polarizer”, “Zeroes”. 

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/m73official

Label: http://laebel–music.dk / www.facebook.com/laebelmusic

About M73

M73 is the solo project of Danish composer John R. Mirland, also active as Am Tierpark, Negant, Mirland and Mirland/Larsen. “Tainted” is M73’s debut album, released in 2020 on Laebel. Mirland followed it with a second M73 album, “Motor Romantik”, in 2022, also on Laebel.

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-industrial, EBM, IDM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: John R. Mirland has been –and still is, involved with multiple music projects. I once discovered him with the electro-minimal project Holm/Mirland, but of course also together with Claus Larsen as Am Tierpark and Mirland/Larsen while he’s now also busy under the Negant moniker and the band Bitter Distrust. He also moved on releasing new productions under his own name, “Antagonist” having been released in 2018 (!). The work has been introduced as an EP while it rather looks as a good-old mini-album featuring six cuts.

Content: John R. Mirland is a musician with multiple ‘sonic faces’. He can write the finest pop melodies or experiment with pure electronic-minimalism, but he now again transposes himself into a kind of industrial ogre. “Antagonist” takes off with a subtle fusion between EBM bass lines and harder, industrial kicks, but quite progressively the work starts to become harsher and definitely electro-industrial like. The songs feature a few spoken samplings and electronic treatments like reminding us of the artist’s love for electronics;

+ + + : The opening song “Disappointment” is a brilliant piece of electro-industrial music carried by a solid bassline. I like the way this song evolves towards a harsher final. Quite progressively the songs get harder and more industrial wise. But there’s always a subtle touch to achieve the songs and that’s what I also like at the hard-banging “Cleanse” and “Antagonist”. The last cut is more experimental, but here again the final part of the song became harder and more industrial-driven.

– – – : “Antagonist” is a fully enjoyable release, but just missing an absolute hit!

Conclusion: Mirland confirms to feel comfortable with different genres, but the common point remains the electronic basis. “Antagonist” probably is one of the artist’s hardest productions ever released!

Best songs: “Disappointment”, “Cleanse”, “Antagonist”, “Guillotine”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: https://mirland.dk /

www.facebook.com/jrmirland 

Label: https://laebel–music.dk / www.facebook.com/laebelmusic

About Mirland

Mirland is the solo-name project of Danish musician John R. Mirland, also known for Am Tierpark (with Claus Larsen), Negant, M73, Mirland/Larsen and the electro-minimal project Holm/Mirland. “Antagonist” was released in 2018 as a six-track mini-album on Laebel. Mirland followed it with the album “Compromise Is Defeat” in 2022 and the single “Plasticity / So Cold” the same year, both on Je M’En Fish.

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

About The Stricken

The Stricken pairs Claus Larsen, the voice of Leather Strip, with producer Ian Donaldson, confirmed as the project’s two members. This self-titled album arrived through Læbel, the Danish label co-founded by Larsen himself and John R. Mirland in 2017.

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.

Background/Info: “Trashy Luxury” is the second full length released by the Danish duo Claus Larsen (Leaether Strip, Klutae, Sequential Access) and John R. Mirland (Mirland, Holm/Mirland).

Content: “Trashy Luxury” brings no real surprises rather than an evolution of this 80s inspired and devoted formation. The electronic pop minimalism composed by John R. Mirland and the vocals by Claus Larsen are perfectly matching and once again resulting in several cool cuts. I now and then noticed some arrangements reminding me of Fad Gadget while globally speaking I experienced this new opus as more melodic than its predecessor.

+ + + : What I especially like with Am Tierpark is that it’s not a pure 80s emulation. It simply is a duo inspired by 80s electro-pop, but transposing this influence into a contemporary and especially rather minimal format. I also like some deep, resonating bass lines (especially on “Life On The Run”) and the progression of the melodies. Claus Larsen still surprises me with this sweet timbre of voice, which has nothing in common with the greatest Leather Strip hits.

– – – : There’re a few couple of cuts, which left me totally unmoved (cf. “I Cannot Breathe In Here” and “I Think We Made It”), gave me the impression of being unaccomplished or just there to complete the album. I like the vocals of Claus, but I would be more pleased to get a little bit more diversity in the way of singing.

Conclusion: Am Tierpark maybe started just for fun or as a side-project, but it definitely became a ‘band’ with a very own electro-pop DNA. That’s an aspect I especially like when listening to music generally speaking.

Best songs: “Life On The Run”, “Blue Beret”, “Nightpeople”, “We”re All The Same”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.facebook.com/amtierparkofficial

Label: http://laebel–music.dk / www.facebook.com/laebelmusic

Read the news on ‘Trashy Luxury’.

About Am Tierpark

Am Tierpark is the Danish synthpop and EBM duo of vocalist Claus Larsen, the man behind Leaether Strip, and programmer and keyboardist John R. Mirland, who also records solo as Mirland. The duo have released music together since 2014.

The project released a split 7-inch single with En Esch, “Do Me / No One Can Be Changed”, in 2016 on Distortion Productions. The debut album “Uncaged” followed on the Læbel imprint in 2017. In a later Side-Line interview, Mirland talked about his various projects.

“Trashy Luxury”, also released through Læbel in 2017, is the duo’s second full-length and the release reviewed here.

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: New-wave.

Background/Info: Alex J Wise is an Australian artist operating from Sydney and who started composing music during the 90s. He made some remixes for artists like Angelspit, Tycho Brahe, Technoromance ao. This debut EP features 5 different cuts (reminding me the good-old mini-album format) and has been co-produced, mixed and mastered by Claus Larsen (Leather Strip, Klute, Am Tierpark).

Content: I can’t remember to have ever heard a song from The Process Void. I discovered a sound reminding me of the 80s new-wave movement. Electronics and guitar have been used while you also will notice the sound that will remind you of the good-old rhythm boxes. Some tracks and even vocal parts remind me of the great Belgian new-wave formations Red Zebra and Siglo XX.

+ + + : No doubt about it, The Process Void has found the secret formula to bring the 80s spirit back to life. I can imagine Claus Larsen (being a devoted 80s lover) probably accentuated this link with the past. The songs are easy listening pieces of darkness and melancholia while Alex J Wise has the right timbre of voice for this kind of music.

– – – : I can’t get away from the idea that the songs could have been a bit ‘harder’. I’m missing a truly climax and I can’t say to have found a potential hit on this EP.

Conclusion: “Dreams Of Departure” features a few cool ideas, which the artist now has to elaborate.

Best songs: “Konstellation”.

Rate: (6).

Band & Label: www.theprocessvoid.com / www.facebook.com/theprocessvoid

About The Process Void

The Process Void is the recording name of Sydney-based Australian artist Alex J Wise, active since the 1990s. Before “Dreams Of Departure”, Wise remixed artists including Krankhaus, Angelspit and Tycho Brahe, and contributed to compilations such as “Australian Independent Darkwave Vol. 2” (2006) and the Severed Heads tribute “Headspace” (2012).

Claus Larsen, who also records as Leather Strip, Klute and Am Tierpark, produced, mixed and mastered the EP.

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

1. The Wire & The Cuffs
2. Submission
3. Insect King
4. Bombs

1. Panic is Bliss
2. Romania
3. Wake Up The Punks
4. Belly-Up

1. To Be
2. We Breed
3. O.H.C.Y.S.P
4. Fucking Parasite

1. Gaytruckerlovemeatbellyrubnonstop
2. Breathe My Dust
3. Draped despairs
4. The hurt has begun

Read the review of ‘Black Piranha’.

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!

side-line.com

Read the review of ‘Trashy Luxury’.

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: Am Tierpark is back on track with a surprising EP, which has been released on the brand-new label ‘Læbel’ set up by John Mirland and Claus Larsen.

Content: “April Fool’s” was logically released on the first of April and features 5 surprising cover versions. It’s interesting to know that the first songs Am Tierpark ever worked on were cover songs. Mirland and Larsen have covered songs from David Bowie, Pet Shop Boys, Judas Priest, Billy Idol and The Cult.

It’s a fascinating and especially creative approach to rework original rock songs like these from Bowie, Judas Priest, Billy Idol and the new-wave cult-hit from The Cult into the electro-pop style of Am Tierpark. It remains a minimal and somewhat vintage experience.

+ + + : Covering songs from a totally different music genre is more than a challenge and a real creative work. Am Tierpark did it with a somewhat surprising elegance and efficiency. It feels like the songs were originally written by themselves and I’m especially referring to “Turbo Lover” from Judas Priest and “She Sells Sanctuary” from The Cult. It even sounds –apart from their “Cherry Blossom” masterpiece, as their most accomplished work to date. Claus Larsen is once more singing a great way on this pop-electronic production.

– – – : I can imagine the fans of Bowie, Judas Priest and even The Cult will be somewhat shocked hearing this kind of cover concept, but speaking for myself I think a cover version is a way to reach a different audience like giving a second life to a song.

Conclusion: I didn’t laugh with the “April Fool’s” from Am Tierpark, I simply enjoyed the work.

Best songs: “She Sells Sanctuary”, “Turbo Lover”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.facebook.com/pg/amtierparkofficial

Label: www.facebook.com/laebelmusic

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.

Background/Info: After the promising debut album “Uncaged” (2015) Danish duo Claus Larsen (Leaether Strip, Klutae, Sequential Access)  and John Mirland (Mirland, Holm/Mirland) strike back with this 12” vinyl with 4 new songs. The work of Am Tierpark is clearly inspired by good-old electro-pop music.

Content: Next to a solid electro-pop basis the work of Am Tierpark sounds a bit minimal-like. It’s not the usual synth-pop music although it’s inspired by vintage sounds. Carried by dark and solid bass lines and somewhat evasive atmospheres you’ll also notice cool sound treatments, which sometimes vaguely remind me of Kraftwerk.

The title song and “I Can’t Stop” both reveal great choruses, which you’ll easily keep in mind. The title song is for sure a great piece of music and definitely the best Am Tierpark so far.

+ + + : I already mentioned “Cherry Blossom”, which has this little touch of magic transforming a song into a hit. This song also reveals the essence of the Am Tierpark sound, which is rather simple, but composed with great sound sculptures and the charismatic vocals of Claus Larsen. “I Can’t Stop” is a bit comparable in sound formula, but sounds ‘happier’. I here especially like the little space bleeps.

– – – : There’s just one single piece that can’t convince me on this 12”. “The Hunt” is what I would call the only B-side song of the EP. It’s not that bad, but this song is missing a climax.

Conclusion: There definitely is chemistry between Claus Larsen and John Mirland. They both are passionate musicians inspired by the 80s electro-pop, which they’ve adapted into thier very own and minimal contemporary and refreshing style.

Best songs: “Cherry Blossom”, “I Can’t Stop”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.facebook.com/amtierparkofficial

Label: www.distortionprod.com / www.facebook.com/distortionproductions

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

Leæther Strip belongs to the collective memory of all EBM fans. After nearly 30 years of existence, multiple hits and referential albums this Danish band set up an driven by Claus Larsen hits already back with a new album entitled “Spæctator”. The new work has been released on Rustblade and appears to be one of the best productions from late Leæther Strip work.

You can order all of his material right here. and a lot of his material can be downloaded right here from Bandcamp (use the code january50432 to get 50% off)

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: After years of commitment and an impressive discography what does the new work “Spæctator” means to you?

Claus: Yeah 2018 will make it 30 years since my first release as Leæther Strip. Releasing a new album has, since my first album, always been a personal landmark for me. I am very blessed to have been able to do this for so long and still have listeners. There is not a day that I don’t feel grateful.

Q: I got the feeling “Spæctator” is a real intimate album because of some recent tragic events you went through. What is it really all about and does music has this kind of magic power to heal wounds?

Claus: Yes, I lost my mother 2 years ago. Some very serious and suppressed events, and thoughts mainly from my childhood and teens, needed to be dealt with. Stuff that I should have handled many years ago, or events where people didn’t believe me. But I guess we all push stuff like that in the background because some things are just too painful. Most of my songs are very personal and kind of a diary of my life and what was going on around me, near and far. Composing songs has been my way of dealing with life events and also an escape from myself and my dark clouds. The best weapon for me against the dark clouds is being creative.

Q: One of my favorite cuts “Luc Van Acker” sounds less intimate, but what’s the story behind this song?

Claus: That song is the album’s ‘fun’ song. Back in ‘91 Leæther Strip opened up for the Revolting Cocks, and all I can say is that is sure wasn’t boring backstage. I cherish that gig so much and it’s one that stands out as one of the most fun gigs I played. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a band having so much fun both backstage and on stage. They were all super nice to us. I got kind permission from Luc and Chris to use that iconic ‘Luuuc Vaaaan Ackerrrrr’ shout from the Cocks’ love album in the song. I will be adding the song to my live set soon so I bet that will be fun.

Q: I already mentioned your impressive discography, but do you see one or more releases, which have been more important than others?

Claus:  For me they are all very special of course, and sure there are some more successful than others, and yes I do know that album like “Solitary Confinement”, “Self Inflicted” and “Legacy Of Hate And Lust” stand out in many of my listeners minds. These albums are still opening doors for me. I learn a lot doing each new song, so for me the old albums have their own life bringing back memories of good or bad times in people’s minds. I know that, because people write to me about what certain songs mean to them personally. I love getting these messages.  It’s what it’s all about. The power of music is so very strong, and it’s my therapy too.

Q: During the past few years you’ve released an impressive number of (mainly digital) cover songs from 80s formations like Simple Minds, Front 242, Skinny Puppy, Talk Talk, Yazoo, Depeche Mode ao. What do these covers mean to you and what do you precisely try to inject in a cover version?

Claus: Doing cover version of my favorite songs is kind of my hobby, and also a way to train my skills as a musician. I’ve done it for many years. I am a self taught musician and I do it all by ear, so diving into someone else’s song is good training and very inspiring. I mostly only cover songs that has had a special meaning for me and I am not trying to make the original better, as some think, I do it all with love and respect and I hope it might spark some new life into the songs and maybe make some new listeners check the original band out, in case they haven’t discovered them yet.

My cover album “Æppreciation”, which I released on Emmo.biz Records and on my Bandcamp site a few years ago is one of my most successful albums to date. Love doing them, so that won’t stop.

Q: I also noticed several songs composed for your husband Kurt. How is he doing and what’s the importance of your beloved –especially in your artistic activities?

Claus: Yes, his medicine costs are sky high and we’re struggling to make it work financially, so instead of doing a ‘go fund me’ or something like that to help him. I wrote some songs so people could support him, and us that way. All income from Bandcamp sales goes directly to his medicine account. People have been so very kind and many have been very supportive. We are still waiting for a kidney transplant, from me to him, but the doctors still do not want to do it. This sadly also means that Kurt can’t perform with me outside the EU, because he can’t get travel health insurance. It’s very hard for us, but it would be too risky to travel without insurance sadly.

It’s hard for us both being apart in this situation, but I need to make a living supporting us both. Right now he is stable, but that can change very fast, but we live one day at a time, with our heads held high. We got a live full of love and people who care about us all over the world. As long as we get each other and our friends support, nothing can beat us.

Q: What are the further plans for some of your side-projects like Am Tierpark, Klutæ and the (digital) label Body Music Records.?

Claus: I’ll soon starting to work on a new Klutæ album. It’s going to be a ‘back to the roots’-album, heavy and aggressive. That’s the plan.

With Am Tierpark, John and I just released a new EP titled “Cherry Blossom” on limited edition vinyl and digital. The next Am Tierpark is also composed and ready, so we are hoping it will be out soon too. We also hope to get some concert jobs with Am Tierpark during new year. We have had so much positive response so it’s time we take it to the stage.

With Body Music Records we have lots of exciting releases out and more to come in the next months.

As for Leæther Strip, the songs for the next album has also been composed and the tour will soon continue with shows in Madrid, Poland, Mexico, Germany, USA and many more booked. And in planning. So 2017 is going to be a busy year too. 2016 has been the best concert year for Leæther Strip ever, playing all over the world has been yet another dream come true. Thanks to my supporters I am still living my teenage dream still after almost 30 years.

Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries

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

Read the news on ‘Uncaged’.

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

Read the review of ‘Uncaged’.

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!

side-line.com