Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Danish SoftWave duo Catrine Christensen – Jerry Olsen, strike back with a new EP featuring five songs. The tracks have their ‘own vulnerable and meaningful struggle story that seeks to inspire and motivate others to reach new heights.’

Content: SoftWave stands for pure Synth-Pop which is once more illustrated by this work. From catchy, happy-like, passages to more melancholic parts with Catrine’s vocals on top.

+ + + : I appreciate an EP featuring 5 different songs. The tracks are well-crafted and reveal a mature approach. SoftWave is a band that considerably evolved throughout the years. “Supernova” sounds to me as the absolute highlight.

– – – : “Supernova” is a real cool track but the EP isn’t featuring an absolute ‘hit’ what this band is maybe missing to become more recognized.

Conclusion: Enjoyable Synth-Pop music with a cool retro-feeling.

Best songs: “Supernova”, “Thanks You For Breaking My Heart”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.softwavemusic.com / www.facebook.com/SoftWaveMusic

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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Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, Wave-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: This is the second full length by German composer Ulf Müller. Three years after the debut album “By Train Through Countries” the artist renewed the collaboration with international guest singers.

Content: The album features an interesting list of singers. Catrine Christensen (SoftWave), Marcus Mokuso (Rename, Mindmodvl), Michael Draw (Otto Dix),  Oleg Degtiarev (Lilith My Mother), René & Susan Mußbach (Analogue-X), Martin Johansson (Electric City Cowboys), David B Roundsley (Munich Syndrome), Magdalena Herfurtner (Madil Hardis), Aidan Casserly (Sebastian And The Dream), Dasha Larks (Pulse Lab), Thierry Noritop (Stereo In Solo), Marcelo Andrea (Expreso Maniquí), Anna (ELL WATERS), Ralf Lorenz (Faltenhall), Richard Pustina and Ade Stocker (Stocksnskins) have been invited to join this new adventure. There were also guest musicians who played saxophone and guitar.

Sound-wise “Freedom For All” is a diversified piece of music -not only for the singers, but also for the varied Electro/Wave-approach. It feels a bit like Müller adapted himself to each singer moving from sweet Electro-Pop to smooth Electro-Wave to a few ‘heavier’ cuts.

+ + + : This album is doing great in Germany and that’s not really a surprise. Projekt Ich has accomplished his work with passion and sensibility while there are numerous talented vocalists. I have a preference for the more 80s-driven songs and more precisely “Sexy Silly Girl” featuring Thierry Noritop (Stereo In Solo) is a cool song. The vocals are sung in French while the chorus is in English. Another attention grabber is “You Can It” which sounds darker and into Electro-Wave.

– – – : The main point -if it’s really one (?) is that you feel like listening to a compilation.

Conclusion: A new sonic travel throughout the wider fields of Electro-Pop music.

Best songs: “Sexy Silly girl – Special Edit” feat. Stereo In Solo, “You Can It”, “We Are The First” feat. Electric City Cowboys.

Rate: 7½ .

Artist: http://projektich-musik.de /  www.facebook.com/ProjektIchMusik

Label: www.echozone.de / www.facebook.com/EchozoneMusic

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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(Photo by Dag Stinus) Out on June 11 via Bandcamp and Beatify Audio (and one week later on all other digital platforms) is the newest single from the Danish synthpop duo SoftWave: “System Failure”. SoftWave consists of the duo Catrine Christensen and Jerry Olsen.

The track is a clear reference to how the Covid19 crisis has affected people mentally around the world. Singer Catrine Christensen explains: “System Failure” describes the duality of being isolated in many months without associating with others, and how much life with a computer can disturb the mind and even provoke frustration, depression and in rare cases – anger.”

The band formed in 2014 and debuted in 2016 with the EP “Together Alone” which was followed by “Together Alone The Remixes” in 2017. Their debut landed in 2019 with “Game On” which also got the remix treatment on “Game On 1Up” (re-released in 2020 with bonus tracks on Electro-Shock-Records).

After touring with OMD on the Scandinavian leg of their “Greatest Hits – Souvenir Tour” (feb, 2020), SoftWave was invited by Erasure’s Andy Bell to produce remixes for his forthcoming Andy Bell is Torsten project “Club Torsten!” among Vince Clarke, Bronski Beat and more.

Below is the band’s “Game On 1Up” release including a live track from their OMD support show at Oslo’s Rockefeller venue.

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.

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Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, Dance-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Danish Electro-Pop duo Softwave has been active since 2014. Catrine Christensen and Jerry Olsen released several singles and the debut album “Game On” in 2019. They also self-released “Game On 1Up” featuring remixes. Electro Shock Records now re-released this remix album, which originally released only in a  digital format. The CD version features twelve songs plus a live bonus track.

Content: The work features 8 songs from the original album. The remixes have been accomplished by Chris Hurts, Antilles, Daysound, Dany Comaro, Till Wild, Ian Burden, Projekt Ich, Circuit3, Reflection, Nature Of Wires, Cosaquitos En Globo and Tri-Mihn. There’s a real diversity, mixing pure Electro-Pop music with a strong 80s touch together with Dance-Pop orientated songs. I also noticed a ballad-inspired track –which is the remix by Ian Burden (previously involved with The Human League), but also a somewhat Trip-Hop driven remix by Tri-Mihn (artist hailing from Vietnam). You’ll also notice the Erasure inspiration of Softwave, which has been kept by some of the remixers.

+ + + : This album is more diversified than the original edit of “Game On”. There are some great contributions like the remix of “No Need To Hide” by Antilles, the classical, but cool Synth-Pop remix of “I Need Love” by Projekt Ich and the somewhat darker remix of “Human Beings” by Nature Of Wires. The album is also an opportunity to discover some less familiar names from the Electronic scene. I already mentioned Tri-Mihn, but Cosaquitos en Globo (Argentina), Till Wild (Germany), Dany Comaro (Denmark) and a few others were totally unknown to me. I was impressed by the great vocal skills of Catrine Christensen who has a powerful but emotional timbre of voice. 

– – – : I’m less convinced by the sometimes too commercial Dance-Pop remixes of a few bands.The live/bonus song doesn’t really add any bonus.

Conclusion: This album reveals more influences than the original work, but that’s part of the game when releasing remixes.

Best songs: “Human Beings – Nature Of Wires Remix”, “No Need To Hide – Antilles Mix”, “
I Need Love – Projekt Ich Remix”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.softwavemusic.com / www.facebook.com/SoftWaveMusic

Label: www.electro-shock-records.mozello.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Electro-Shock-Records/105471026168220

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: Projekt Ich is a German solo-project driven by Ulf Müller. He’s been active for more than ten years and is now unleashing his debut full length. It’s a conceptual work related to the title of the album. Ulf Müller asked guest singers from different countries –but mainly from Germany, to sing his lyrics.

Content: The music sounds in the purest electro-pop style and even has a very vintage-like approach. Most of the sound treatments and the bass lines evoke the spirit of the 80s. Sometimes sweet and dreamy, but also harder and more sterile-like the album has a lot to offer.

Among the singers you’ll hear Marcus Mokuso (ReName), Mick L. Angelo (5Times0), Catrine Christensen (SoftWave), Distain!, Michael Draw (Otto Dix), Rene & Susan Mussbach (Analogue-X) ao. The work features 14 songs with vocals and a final instrumental cut.

+ + + : The concept is not new at all, but remains an interesting challenge for the variety of singers and voice timbres. Sound-wise I like the retro-like sound treatments, but Ulf Müller also reveals to be a talented composer. His songs are well-crafted revealing a mature and professional production process. There also is a nice twist between the different vocalists; different types of voices, male- and female artists. The song “Das Meer” is my personal favorite one, which I like for its minimalism.

– – – : Cool songs, but no real hit!

Conclusion: This album sounds a bit as an invitation to dream away and travel throughout vintage electro-pop fields.

Best songs: “Das Meer”, “The Sleepy Time feat. Caroline McLavy”, “New Dreams For Old feat. Marcus Mokuso”, “The Lightman feat. Oleg Degtiarev”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: http://projektich–musik.de /                 www.facebook.com/ProjektIchMusik

Label: www.echozone.de / www.facebook.com/EchozoneMusic

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.

Background/Info: Softwave is a Danish duo set up in 2014 by Catrine Christensen and Jerry Olsen. They previously released several singles and unleashed their self-released debut album earlier this year.

Content: Softwave brings us back to electro-pop ‘purity’. Inspired by old-school synth-pop formations, they bring a melodic work, which might remind to Yazoo, Erasure and co. There’s a kind of happy melancholia running through their work. “Game On” features 3 previously released singles.

+ + + : Softwave already got a very positive response, mainly in their homeland, but also abroad. The band definitely deserves this enthusiasm as their work is styled and accomplished. The songs are achieved with carrying melodies while the sound treatments reveal this good-old vintage touch from the early synth-pop years. Catrine Christensen injects through her vocals some extra emotions. My favorite cut is “Reflected Memories”, which appears to be a new song on the album. Last, but not least, I also have to say a word about the great artwork of this vinyl, which is very professional.

– – – : The only single, but essential element I’m missing at the album is a real ‘hit’ song.

Conclusion: Softwave is for sure an interesting addition to the world-wide synth-pop roster. This is the kind of production getting people happy.

Best songs: “Reflected Memories”, “I Need Love”, “Something Is Missing”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.softwavemusic.com / www.facebook.com/SoftWaveMusic

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

(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange)
The Kaliningrad based Russian electro pop band WANT/ed have had several collaborations with other Baltic and Scandinavian bands and artists the recent years, more or less becoming their trademark. On their latest EP “Peace” (five remixes of two songs) they collaborated yet again with the Danish singer Catrine Christensen (from SoftWave), and the result can be heard in the player below – another fine mix of Scandinavian vocals with Russian beats!

Listen & buy at BandCamp, Amazon and Spotify:

jrstange

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… 😉

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

Background/Info: Russian electro-pop formation WANT/ed returns with their fourth full length album. The band actually consisting of Yury Aryasov and Sergey Surkov unleashed an album featuring 10 songs plus 2 remixes. Some of the cuts have been already released on previous EP’s.

Content: The band invited numerous guest singers to achieve this work. Tomas Gustafsson (known from Erotic Elk) is not only singing, but also playing guitar on a few cuts. I also have to mention Patrik Hansson (Vanguard) and Miranda Cartel while names like Catrine Christensen, Holger Muller, Evgenly Rodionov and Teemu Salo (Fadeout)       are maybe less familiar names.

Because of the different vocalists this album also sounds pretty diversified. The tracks however moves in between electro-pop and harder body-pop cuts. Some of the female singers cover the work with a breeze of sensuality while the male singers mainly sing on the ‘harder’ cuts. From danceable tracks to melancholic passages, WANT/ed clearly sounds clearly inspired by Depeche Mode.

The bonus remixes have been done by Uncarnate and Erotic Elk.

+ + + : I’m often a skeptical about a band working with multiple singers, but I’ve to admit WANT/ed did a real great selection. The diversity of the work is interesting as you might be seduced by the sensuality of the songs featuring Miranda Cartel and Catrine Christensen at one side and Patrik Hansson (often linked to Mesh) at the other side. The songs are sometimes evoking Depeche Mode, but the most important thing is that they’re well-crafted and revealing all the experience of this Russian duo. Among the harder cuts I’ve to mention the pretty cool “Future Rhythm 2017” with guitar playing by Tomas Gustafsson.

– – – : This is album sounds cool, diversified and enjoyable from start till finish, but I’m just missing a potential hit!

Conclusion: WANT/ed simply confirms great electro-pop is not only and most of the times made in Germany or Sweden, but also in Russia. ScentAir has a nose for national talents and WANT/ed definitely is a band to discover and keep an eye on.

Best songs: “Future Rhythm 2017”, “Fall”, “Nothing To Fear”, “My Pride”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/wantedelectronicsounds

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

(by our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange)

The Russian band WANT/ed, with Sergey Surkov (music, sampling, production) and Yury Aryasov (music) from Kaliningrad, just released their fourth album “Unthinkable” this week. As they yet again have increased their guest vocals we had to ask Sergey about this quite international release.

Side-Line: It’s noticeable that you’re expanding the use of different people on vocals, more for each album, and lots of foreigners. Can you tell us about the process of finding all these people and where they come from?

Sergey: As you know, for the first two albums we had a permanent singer, Evgeny Rodionov. After his departure, of course the question arose, “what to do?”

On the horizon was Holger Müller from Germany, he sang a couple of songs. As other songs for the album “Fringe” were created, the idea came to involve other singers in this process. He became a transition period in the sound and approach to music.

And now we’re at the fourth album; “Unthinkable”. We wanted to change something in ourselves, our personal attitude to music and its creation. In 2016, about four compositions were prepared. The question “who will sing?” constantly arose – we wanted something new…
We started with involving Holger Müller again, along with Patrik Hansson and Tomas Gustafsson from Sweden. On the Internet I found a girl named Miranda Cartel from Poland, real name Emmanuella Robak. While she sang, Tomas made an arrangement on the guitar for a song that has become «My Pride». I liked the result, later we made it a single. The real guitar was new to us.
Then Tomas recorded the vocals for the song “Nothing To Fear”, and again I asked him to play something on the guitar. And for this single we made two acoustic versions.

Then I saw an ad on the Internet from the group “SoftWave” from Denmark … They were looking for remixers, I made two remixes for them, later they were published on their CD “Together Alone – the remixes”. After that I suggested to their vocalist Catrine Christensen to contribute on a song. It became “A World Within A World”, and the result really encouraged us!
Her voice was a real discovery for us and I invited her to sing another song, which became “When Nightmares Bleed” – the most dynamic song on this album.

Another new and interesting voice for us this time was Teemu Salo from Finland, who did the vocal on “World Empty of Stars”.
This time Patrik Hansson only sang one song; “Fall”, and Holger sang three songs – excellent vocals!

In this album we also included a new version of the 2014 track “Future Rhythm”, with vocals by Tomas, and we also recorded extra guitar distortion to the chorus.

The guys and girls gave all 100%, and maybe more. As you said Jan Ronald, the whole album turned out around the Baltic Sea. We like that our geography is expanding and the music gives us so many different emotions. It should have been called “BALTIC” – maybe next time!

Preorder the album: http://www.poponaut.de/wanted-unthinkable-p-17015.html

Listen & buy: https://wanted.bandcamp.com/album/unthinkable

jrstange

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