Eighteen years after their last album, singer Sina Hübner and Stefan Böhm (aka Nullvektor) make a long-awaited and unexpected return with this new release. Both artists were also part of the legendary Pzychobitch, but S.I.N.A. has always leaned more towards the Experimental side, particularly within the Industrial genre. This latest work feels more like a mini-album, featuring 5 new tracks and 3 remixes. The influences are diverse, blending hard-hitting Industrial elements with touches of EBM and even venturing into idiosyncratic Ambient territory. Both Sina and Stefan share vocal duties, adding extra layers of diversity and emotion. The remixes, contributed by Monolith (my personal favorite), Ah Cama-Sotz, and Cervello Elettronico, bring additional depth to the album. While not everything sounds as it once did, S.I.N.A.’s return is reassuring in itself. (Rate:7).

Listen to “Nicht Ich”:

About S.I.N.A.

S.I.N.A. is a German project formed around 2000 by Sina Hübner and Stefan Böhm, who also records as Nullvektor. The pair previously worked together in the mid-1990s project PzychoZone alongside Frank Klatt; after Klatt left, Hübner and Böhm continued as Pzychobitch before starting S.I.N.A. with a harder, more experimental industrial direction. “Alte Liebe…”, released via Hands in April 2024, is the project’s first album in eighteen years.

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: Industrial, Industrial-Techno, Rhythmic-Noise, IDM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: “Forms Of Hands” became a familiar compilation from the Dortmunder (Germany) based label Hands. Every year the label organizes a ‘family-festival’ featuring a list of bands from their roster. After the festival we always get a fine selection of bands which played at the festival featuring exclusive tracks for the compilation. Fourteen projects have been selected for 22-edition.

Artists: Strobo Lolita, Shrouds, Cervello Elettronico, MS Gentur, Greyhound, Nullvektor, Orphx, Sans-Fin, Phasenmensch + Antoine Saint-Martin, Monya, 16Pad Noise Terrorist, Maschinenkrieger KR52, Mono No Aware, Ah Cama-Sotz. 

Content: The compilation reveals familiar names featuring renowned projects from the ‘wider Industrial fields’ next to upcoming talents. But the sampler is also an opportunity to discover the sound of Hands; from good-old Rhythmic-Noise and harsh Industrial music mixed with extra influences like D’N’B and techno to more sophisticated compositions touching ground with IDM.

+ + + : Hands remains one of the ‘oldest’ and still leading labels from the Industrial fields. Old servants like Ah Cama-Sotz, Greyhound and Mono No Aware but also Maschinenkrieger KR52, MS Gentur, Nullvektor, 16Pad Noise Terrorist and the intelligent Industrial sound of Cervelllo Elettronico and Orphx will bring you power and joy. My personal favorites are Ah Cama-Sotz for its Technoid orientation revealing an artist who remains in constant progress and Maschinekrieger KR52 for its surprising Minimal/Techno-Industrial cut. Orphx remains another great and visionary formation revealing a Techno/EBM cut with Industrial elements on top. Other attention grabbers are Sans-Fin with a Technoid approach as well but also harsher cuts from Shrouds, Greyhound and the more Techno-Industrial MS Gentur. This compilation remains a must-have for all the exclusive cuts.

– – – : Still a great compilation, but from a very personal point of view not my favorite one from the impressive list which started in 2001.

Conclusion: This label compilation remains a great addition and souvenir to the festival night. Industrial rules!

Best bands: Maschinekrieger KR52, Ah-Cama-Sotz, Orphx, Sans-Fin, Nullvektor, MS Gentur, Greyhound, Cervello Elettronico, Strobo Lolita

Rate: 8.

Label: www.handsproductions.com / www.facebook.com/hands.official

About Hands

Hands is an electronic music and art label founded in 1990. The label organizes an annual Forms Of Hands family festival at which acts from its roster perform, with a compilation released afterward featuring exclusive tracks from the participating projects. The compilation series began in 2001 and is one of the longest-running annual industrial compilation series. The 22nd edition brings together fourteen projects from the label’s roster, including Ah Cama-Sotz, Mono No Aware, Sans-Fin, Shrouds, Orphx, Greyhound and Maschinenkrieger KR52.

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: Industrial, Rhythmic-Noise, Power-Noise, Industrial-Techno, Electro-Industrial.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: The legendary “Forms Of Hands” festival got cancelled in 2020 because of the ongoing pandemic. So the 20^th edition took place in 2021 and was accompanied by the good-old compilation. We got fourteen projects and tracks.

Artists: <1979>, ICD-10, Hysteresis, Maschinenkrieger KR52, Heimstatt Yipotash, Mono No Aware, Monolith, Strobo.Lolita, 16Pad Noise Terrorist, Cervello Elettronico, MS Gentur, Greyhound, Nullvektor, Winterkälte.

Content: If you’re familiar with Hands you for sure recognize most of the bands. This new sampler is dominated by merciless Rhythmic/Power-Noise assaults from projects like Winterkälte, MS Gentur, Greyhound, Maschinenkrieger KR52, Mono No Aware and Strobo.Lolita. The Industrial-Techno format has been featured by ICD-10, HysteresisMonolith and Nullvektor. Other formations like <1979>, Heimstatt Yipotash and of course Cervello Elettronico bring a more sophisticated, minimal and intelligent sound. 16 Pad Noise Terrorist stands for the most Experimental touch of the compilation.

+ + + : Hands is a label I deeply respect for numerous reasons; first of all as leading label of qualitative ‘Industrial’ music, next for its longevity, but also for the will to innovate and give a chance to artists with a new and sometimes visionary approach of Industrial music. It has been perfectly represented by this new compilation. It’s interesting getting back to the first issues of this series and comparing it with this 20^th edition. It’s an amazing evolution in sound although the label always remained driven by Industrial music. The evolution of a band like Heimstatt Yipotash perfectly symbolizes the evolution of the label.

– – – : If you’re not into the harder Rhythmic-Noise side of the label, there are for sure better compilations in this series.

Conclusion: A hard, powerful and ultra-danceable vintage of Industrial music and who says Industrial, thinks Hands!

Best bands: Heimstatt Yipotash, Cervello elettronico, ICD-10, Nullvektor, Monolith, Hysteresis, >1979<.

Rate: 8.

Label: www.handsproductions.com / www.facebook.com/hands.official

About Hands

Hands Productions, known as Hands, was founded in 1990 by Udo Wiessmann in Fürth, Germany, as a platform for his own projects Atrum, Severance and Winterkälte. The label later moved to Dortmund and widened its catalogue to full-length artist albums, releasing early work by Orphx, Ah Cama-Sotz and S.K.E.T.

Since 2001 the label has issued an annual “Forms Of Hands” festival compilation gathering one track from each act on its roster. The 2020 edition of the festival was cancelled, so the twentieth edition took place in 2021. “Forms Of Hands 20 – 20th Edition” was released on 10 September 2021 with fourteen artists and fourteen tracks.

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: Industrial, Minimal-Electronics, EBM, Technoid.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Philipp Münch and Tim Kniep are back on track unleashing a new album. The German duo is now active for more than twenty five years and became a true reference at the wider fields of Industrial music.

Content: Synapscape has already experimented with multiple influences. Therefore you can’t say they belong to one specific genre rather than being a sonic hybrid. This new work is the ultimate confirmation; taking off with pure Acid sequences to move on with harsh Electro-Industrial sound treatments to next walk at Experimental paths to some EBM to Techno-driven passages to pure Electronic minimalism and finally getting back to Acid.

The album features 9 songs plus 4 remixes by Cervello Elettronico, Imperial Black Unit, Hypnoskull and Orphx.

+ + + : The previous album “Still” on, which Synapscape reworked earlier songs into a refreshing and modern approach already was a great surprise, revealing the band’s diversity and eclecticism. This totally new work moves a step further, the influences becoming hard to tell, but the result left me breathless. There’s no stop on this project’s creativity. They’re mixing influences together like a master cook preparing a meal with the finest spices. There’s not one single song to throw away, but I’ve a preference for the minimal-sounding “Uprise” and the somewhat EBM-driven “It Ain’t Right”. The songs stand for a great sound production. A great band can be only remixed by great names and the list is impressive! My favorite remix is the one by Cervello Elettronico, which sounds like a sonic climax between Minimalism and Techno.

– – – : I can’t say there’s a true minus with this work, but I just will mention the more experimental driven “Confessions”, which is the single track that left me unmoved.

Conclusion: Synapscape moves on exploring new sonic grounds and mixing genres together. This band is constantly reinventing its sound and yet holding on a very proper and easily recognizable sound DNA.

Best songs: “Uprise”, “It Ain’t Right”, “A Crack”, “Dirty Deal”, “Triturate”, “The Claw – Cervello Elettronico Remix”, “Uprising Confessions – Orphx Remix”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.synapscape.org / www.facebook.com/synapscape

Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

About Synapscape

Synapscape is the German duo of Tim Kniep and Philipp Münch, active for more than twenty-five years across the wider fields of industrial and rhythmic noise.

“A Journey Through Concern” was released in September 2020 on Ant-Zen (catalog act387), the follow-up to “Still”, an album on which the band reworked its own earlier material. It includes remixes by Cervello Elettronico, Imperial Black Unit, Hypnoskull and Orphx.

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, Body-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: “Come With Me” is for the comeback of the German EBM formation Digital Factor. The German formation driven by the creative spirit of Mike Langer released a successful album during the 90s and the first decade of the new Millennium. Nine years after the last album “Trialog”, Digital Factor has been reactivated and joined hands together with Alfa Matrix. The band’s eighth album will be released in 2021.

Content: The new EP features the title song plus 8 remixes and 1 B-side track. “Come With Me” is a rather soft, but danceable song mixing elements of EBM with dark Electro-Pop. The remixes by Armageddon Dildos, Heise, Ah Cama Sotz, Margaret Street and Damascus Knives bring some diversity. From the boosted edit by Armageddon Dildos to the minimal driven remix by Damascus Knives, the original song has been seriously revisited while Mike Langer reworked the song into some extra mixes; one into the 80s spirit, another with a wink to the 90s and even an acoustic version. Last, but not least the song “I Am Dangerous” sounds a bit harder. 

+ + + : The comeback of this formation is an interesting fact. The title song is maybe not the hottest dancefloor stumper this band has ever composed, but it rocks. I like the diversity of the remixes and especially seeing Ah Cama Sotz remixing this kind of project is interesting; a crossover between different genres! I have a preference for the totally minimalistic remix of Damascus Knives (a side-project by David Christian from Cervello Elettronico). But there’s also something to say about the 80s- and 90s edits, which are original. I also enjoyed the remix by Margaret Street, which sounds vintage-like. 

– – – : I’ve never been a fan of EP’s with an endless number of remixes. The “Acoustic Version” for example is maybe original, but nothing less than an EP filler. This EP doesn’t say that much about the announced new album so let’s be patient.

Conclusion: Digital Factor is back and that’s what this EP mainly inspires; the title song is cool, but not exactly what I expected from a comeback.

Best songs: “Come With Me – Damascus Knives Remix”, “Come With Me”, “I Am Dangerous”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.digitalfactor.de / www.facebook.com/digitalfactor

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix Read the news on ‘Come With Me’.

About Digital Factor

Digital Factor is a German electronic band from Altenburg built around Mike Langer (synth/vocals). The project released “Suiciety” in 1993, followed by “Join The Evilisation” (1994) on WallCURE, “Relationchips” (1995), “On Demand” (1996), “Countercheck” (1997) and “Over One Million Times” (1999) on Hypnobeat, “One More Piece” (2006), “Dein Herz” (2008, Wannsee Records) and “Look Back To Go Forward” (2009, Lukotyk Records). The album “Trialog” followed in 2011.

Nine years after “Trialog”, Digital Factor signed to Alfa Matrix and released the “Come With Me” EP in 2020, followed by “What?” and “A Chemical Process” in 2021.

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, Technoid.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Damascus Knives is a project driven by David Christian (Cervello Elettronico, owner of Squarewav ao). This is a new EP featuring four songs.

Content: The songs are mainly driven by retro 90s EBM with some extra influences like Acid sequences and Techno arrangements on top. You’ll notice some fragmented kind of vocals. The main source of inspiration is however EBM-like and takes off with 2 danceable cuts. We next get a darker and somewhat tormented like “Why Not Accept Me” while the title cut is the last track of the EP. 

+ + + : The retro EBM elements aren’t new but the originality hides in the mix with Technoid influences. It also is the kind of music that might appeal for Electroclash lovers. I have a preference for the darker minded “Why Not Accept Me”. This project also confirms David Christian is a musician able to transform himself from one band to another. Next to Cervello Elettronico, Damascus Knives is for sure my favorite project this artist is involved with.

– – – : There’s no real song to throw away, but I have to admit the title track is not my favorite.

Conclusion: Damascus Knives is a cool project revealing a more retro-EBM direction by the Cervello Elettronico instigator.

 Best songs: “Why Not Accept Me”, “What’s Your Poison”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/DamascusKnivesCutDeep

Label: https://squarewav.com /  www.facebook.com/Squarewav

About Damascus Knives

Damascus Knives is a solo project of David Christian, an artist based in Los Angeles better known for his long-running act Cervello Elettronico. Christian released his debut Cervello Elettronico album “Negate The Instigator” in 2007 on Crunch Pod, and followed it with further releases on Rustblade and HANDS, including “Anima Meccanica”, “Logical Fears” and “TOP DED CTR”. He also hosts “Distorted Disco”, a monthly industrial-techno night in Los Angeles, and runs the Squarewav label through which “Would You Feel Safer If You Carried A Gun” is released.

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.

Background/Info: Body Divide is a new name active at the EBM fields. It’s an American duo featuring Cervello elettronico mastermind David Christian (music) and Shay C (vocals). “Pleasure From Pain” features five tracks.

Content: I didn’t know what to expect however the name of the project sounds a bit EBM-like. “Pleasure From Pain” is pure old-school EBM orientated with a real strong 90s taste. The bass lines and kicks are reminding me of the great days of 90s EBM. The songs are typical body-driven cuts, which will push you to dance. On top of it all you’ll notice icy synth lines. Nitzer Ebb might be a potential source of inspiration when listening to “How To Suffer”. The faster bass line and metal percussion both sound pretty familiar. The last song, which is a kind of bonus, is a “Club Version” of “How To Suffer”.

+ + + : This project deals with alluring, retro-minded EBM with a strong 90s taste. The songs are quite ‘classical’, but really well-crafted. The power emerges from the solid bass lines, danceable kick, but still the cold sound treatments. I really enjoyed these icy sound treatments. “How To Suffer” is for sure the most ‘cliché’-song from the tracklist, but still the best one! This is total energy!

– – – : The music sounds predictable and some vocal parts could be a little bit more powerful, but when you like good-old EBM, you simply don’t care!

Conclusion: Body Divide is a cool discovery in EBM land! This is good-old body stuff to make you move!

Best songs: “How To Suffer”, “How To Suffer – Club Version”, “No Turning Back”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/BODYDIVIDE

Label: www.squarewav.com / www.facebook.com/Squarewav

About Body Divide

Body Divide pairs Los Angeles-based producer David Christian, known for his Cervello Elettronico project, with vocalist Shay C. Christian launched Cervello Elettronico with the album “Negate The Instigator” on Crunch Pod in 2007, later releasing through Rustblade and HANDS, including the minimal-techno and rhythmic-noise-leaning “TOP DED CTR”. Body Divide’s debut EP “Pleasure From Pain”, five tracks of retro-minded 90s-style EBM, was released through Squarewav.

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: Industrial, rhythmic-noise.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Terrorfakt was set up after 9.11 and rapidly became a hot and successful project dealing with electro-industrial & rhythmic-noise stuff. Several successful productions have been released on different labels. The last work brings us back to 2009! “Achtung! 2020 Remixes” is not exactly a ‘new’ work, but remixes from a song originally released on the great album “Cold Steel World” (2004) by Metropolis.

Content: “Achtung” has been remixed by Veldt, Spheric, Fluxion A/D, Sleep Clinic and Cervello Elettronico. We get a rather varied, but hard cocktail of remixes, which remained rather faithful to the original style of the song and Terrorfakt’s sound. By the exception of Cervello Elettronico (David Christian has been involved with Terrorfakt in the early beginning) the other remixers are not directly making ring a bell. But I discovered impressive, blasting songs with a hostile atmosphere on top.

+ + + : Sixteen years after the release of the original “Achtung!”-edit this song still sounds as a real smack in your face. It inspired the different featured artists to accomplish real interesting remixes. From the heavy and raw opening remix by Veldt to the dark and  aggressive remix by Spheric this EP takes off a furious way. Cervello elettronico also did a great job with a somewhat linear remix featuring a truly sonic apotheosis in the end. Does this EP announce the return of Terrorfakt? I hope we’ll get more –and hopefully, good news soon. 

– – – : I of course would have liked to hear a new- or previously unreleased Terrorfakt song instead of remixes.

Conclusion: This EP brings Terrorfakt back alive reminding us this project was a powerful and merciless sonic assault; call it great rhythmic-noise!

Best songs: “Achtung! – Remixed by Cervello Elettronico”, “Achtung! – Remixed by Spheric”, “Achtung! – Remixed by Veldt”. 

Rate: (8).

Label: www.squarewav.com / www.facebook.com/Squarewav

About Terrorfakt

Terrorfakt is an American industrial and rhythmic noise project formed in New York in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Early releases including “Kalte Stahl Herz” and “We Know Pain!” appeared on H.P.A. Records in 2002, followed by the album “Cold Steel World” on Metropolis Records in 2004, the source of the original “Achtung!” track. Founding contributor David Christian, later known for Cervello Elettronico, was involved with Terrorfakt in its early years; the project has continued since as the solo work of Benjamin Dewalt. “Achtung! 2020 Remixes” revisits the 2004 track sixteen years on via SquareWav.

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 David Christian aka Cervello Elettronico by his official debut-album “Negate The Instigator” released in 2007 on Crunch Pod. The debut of the American producer based in Los Angeles (USA) revealed a visionary approach mixing industrial- together with techno music. Throughout the years the different albums of Cervello Elettronico released on Crunch Pod, Rustblade and HANDS only confirmed the growing talent of this artist. His newest opus “TOP DED CTR” again reveals an industrial-techno fusion, which will made you dance.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: What do you keep in mind from the writing, sources of inspiration and global production process from your new album “TOP DED CTR”?

David: My third full length album on HANDS (“TOP DED CTR”) continues Cervello Elettronico’s minimal-techno path, but progresses with more rhythmic-noise and dark-ambient sounds. I’m very much inspired by primal drums and restrained composition aimed to provoke a dance floor. There are themes, samples, and sound designs that tie “Anima Meccanica”, “Logical Fears”, and “TOP DED CTR” together. The core process has been the same for all of them. I imagine the tracks as a whole in my mind before anything is programed or recorded. They are realized through using software, field and media samples, and some hardware toys I have acquired through the years creating multiple versions until I’m happy with a cohesive concept. Percussion is usually first and the rest follows. I am part of a monthly industrial techno party in Los Angeles called “Distorted Disco” and DJ. This has heavily influenced the sound and purpose of the project in its current state.

Q: After your previous album “Logical Fears” you said it was your best album. So what about “TOP DED CTR” and are there some aspects you tried to improve and maybe others you tried to innovate?

David: Looking back at all three HANDS releases I think I am happy with them each in a different way. I’ve found a comfortable skin since “Anima Meccanica” and have the support of a wonderful label with amazing talent to inspire me. Cervello Elettronico began with progressive compositions, but now minimalism intrigues me. Sound design is vital and this kind of sound requires the producer to immerse themselves in feeling every beat. Technical aspects can always be improved, but I think I have tried to innovate sampling and experimentation in Cervello Elettronico’s sound.

Q: “Logical Fears” was your ‘political’ album so what is “TOP DED CTR” all about and what’s the significance of the cryptic title?

David: “Logical Fears” was politically influenced, but was merely a reflection and not a platform. “TOP DED CTR” is similar, but more indicative of humanity’s current state of peril. It feels like as a whole the world is on a superficial upswing of propelled activity and we are inevitably going to free fall back to bottom dead center. There are so many possible catastrophes that can happen, but I’ve highlighted a few through abstract interpretations. Personally my biggest fear is nuclear fallout from war or negligence.

Q: In which way do the title and eventually concept/main themes of an album influence the writing (considering aspects like sound creation & -treatments, kicks, samplings etc)?

David: Since day one Cervello Elettronico releases started first on paper and then in the studio. I find it easier to write that way instead of free form jam sessions.

Most of the field sampling I layer is relevant to the theme of the song and is mainly just entertaining to me as a composer, but there are times a sound really fits with everything and is completely unrelated. The same with kicks and other percussion. It’s no different from paint choices on a canvas.

Q: As a composer what are your references (considering other artists) and eventually criteria in the writing process to consider your songs/music as accomplished?

David: It’s difficult to completely explain, but there’s a feeling when you know something is complete during the writing stage. On the other hand the technical aspects can be a never ending battle even after the music is released. My references are all the tracks I spin as a DJ or listen to during my free time which I examine in an analytical way (you can’t help not to after being a composer). You never want to outright copy other work, but learn from it and apply techniques to your own sound.

Q: Cervello Elettronico is active for nearly 20 years (!) now so how do you see yourself evolving? Are there some ‘big dreams’ you still want to accomplish and what brings the future?

David: I have lots of plans for the future of this project. This period just happens to coincide with a techno renaissance which hasn’t really gone away, but collided with experimental music in a major way the last decade or so. No sound or style is completely ruled out for the future. My biggest dream is to inspire other artists which will have the most impact on Cervello Elettronico’s relevance. Working in today’s scene I’ve absorbed so much energy in recent years from brilliant local and international artists who in the past might have been dismissed or neglected because of their race, sexual identity, or sexual orientation. This is where industrial music is at today. Where better to hear subversive music than from individuals who’s people have had a history of cultural oppression. I hope someday I can redistribute that energy out to others. That is my dream and what I am trying to do with my music.

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: Industrial-techno, IDM. 

Background/Info: David Christian set up Cervello Elettronico in 2001. The American sonic project rapidly became one of the most visionary and innovative ones from the industrial scene. The enigmatic entitled “Top Ded Ctr” is the sixth official solo-work of Cervello Elettronico. 

Content: “Top Ded Ctr” is a work that has been seriously contaminated by the techno virus while holding on the industrial roots of the artist. But it’s not just an industrial-techno fusion, but also a work featuring transcendental passages, icy sound treatments and a real raw production. The work features 14 cuts and especially the last one (cf. “Nowhere Fast”) is really surprising. This is a mix between subtle IDM, dark tones and a real sexy sphere plus cadence. 

+ + + : The visionary side of the artist has no longer the same magic, but it remains a great, danceable experience. This is a judicious fusion between intelligent industrial, icy sound treatments and hypnotic techno beats. Cervello Elettronico is one of the few artists to deal with such a subtle merge between both music styles. And here again David Christian takes his fans by surprise, having accomplished little sonic jewels as “Mind Mechanism” and “Controlling Systems”. I already mentioned the astounding “Nowhere Fast”, which tends to prove that industrial music can be sensual as well. 

– – – : I can’t say that this work has minus points or forgettable songs; it’s just that Cervello Elettronico’s sound formula became quite familiar after all these years and that the original magic is a bit gone. 

Conclusion: This is for sure one of the albums to look for this year. Cervello Elettronico can be easily considered as one of the Godfathers of the post-industrial times. 

Best songs: “Mind Mechanism”, “Controlling Systems”, “Nowhere Fast”, “Resist”, “The Report”, “Drop Off”. 

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.cervelloelettronico.com / www.facebook.com/cervelloelettronicomusic 

Label: www.handsproductions.com / www.facebook.com/hands.official

About Cervello Elettronico

Cervello Elettronico is the solo project of Los Angeles-based producer David Christian, who debuted in 2007 with “Negate The Instigator” on CrunchPod before moving to HANDS for “Anima Meccanica”, “Logical Fears” and “Top Ded Ctr”, reviewed here. In a Click Interview published weeks after this review, Christian described the album as a continuation of “Cervello Elettronico’s minimal-techno path”, adding: “I’m very much inspired by primal drums and restrained composition aimed to provoke a dance floor.”

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

Cervello Elettronico is the sonic brainchild of David Christian. This solo-project started to get recognized right after the official debut-album “Negate The Instigator” released in 2007 on CrunchPod. This work revealed a fresh and progressive electro-industrial-trance sound, which got progressively improved all over the years. Cervello Elettronico is now mainly active on HANDS, which released the newest opus “Logical Fears”. I asked David a few questions about the past and the present.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: You next year will ‘celebrate’ the 10th anniversary of your official debut-album “Negate The Instigator” released on CrunchPod! What did this album evoke to you and what has been the importance of this work on your career? 

David: I have not listened to “Negate The Iinstigator” since about 3 or 4 years ago when I got back the licensing and put it up on Bandcamp. I’m proud of the ideas, but not the production on that album. Maybe one day I can go back and rework things, but that won’t be for a while. I prefer to move forward.

It was an important album to me in the learning process of song writing. Before “Negate The Iinstigator” I would just mess around for hours and edited whatever worthwhile material came out of it to make songs. The finished product was nothing like I originally imagined, which can be a good or bad thing.

When I wrote “Negate The Iinstigator” I started to hear music in my head and then try to replicate it with samples and synths. This is mainly how I work today. The end result is usually half way accurate, but It’s gotten more spot on over time. Feedback from the release was also very helpful. It held a mirror up to my project and helped me realize what aspects people liked, where I was, and how to grow and be where I wanted to be. The label had a following so exposure is always good.

Q: So is the production process the main change/evolution from “Negate The Instigator” towards your newest album “Logical Fears”? 

David: Recording “Negate The Iinstigator” was like driving with a blindfold on, but now I know exactly where to go with this project. It all had to do with being truthful to myself as an artist and defining my path. There were just so many influences during the first two albums pulling in different directions and you can hear the chaos. Rhythmic-noise, EBM, electro, electronica, trance. It probably had to do with lack of confidence. I’m more confident about writing now.

I think a lot of newer artists in the mid to late 2000’s had this same problem. They tried to mimic successful artists in the scene and don’t have an identity. A world full of Combichrist- and Suicide Commando clones made music very boring. With my last few releases I’ve committed to one direction and it feels comfortable in my skin. I feel like Logical Fears is my best released album to date because of this. The next one will be honest as well and sound even harder.

Q: What kind of album did you had in mind when starting the writing of “Logical Fears”? 

David: I wanted to make a political album without pushing an agenda. It’s difficult to avoid the topic of politics this year especially if you live in America. It’s an ultra provocative topic. Tension was high because of the election. Families and friends were torn apart. I just wanted to put up a mirror against all that was going on and show distortion. People are afraid of fear right now and the anxiety is piling up. But I feel it’s out of place for this particular project to take any political stance (with exception against racism or for human rights). Free will and not my songs or words will decide our fate. I am not turning Cervello Elettronico exclusively into a political act. There are enough artists that do that already.

I also wanted the hardest most abrasive sounding album I’ve ever recorded. I started out with the noisy rhythms and distorted percussions and worked my way backwards from there. I’ve also learned that there is  gravity and sort of centrifugal force to sounds. That helps keep music balanced. I think it’s a good idea to keep an open mind about the process and not be afraid to try new things. Since joining the HANDS label I have so many impressive peers I feel like I need to push my limits to keep up.

Q: I’ve been always fascinated by your sound creation, which has a kind of very personal sound-DNA. How do you proceed to create your sounds and do you’ve some references? 

David: I like to sample sounds that are relevant to the topic of the song and twist them. For “Logical Fears” I lifted sound bites from the media of American presidential candidates and attributed them to certain political issues or publicity tactics. For “Tone Deaf” I heard Ted Cruz (failed presidential nominee) singing really poorly for votes and thought that was a perfect example of shameless publicity. The next best thing to kissing a baby (which you can’t really sample). I had to include that in “Logical Fears”.

I also work at an airport and like to sample my work environment. There’s lots of mechanical inspiration around me there. Then of course if there’s an idea in my head for a sound I just build it from scratch. I think like most designers I make sound in layers. There’s a superficial sound and it’s processed and paired with another meaty sound or eq’d to fit a piece of the puzzle. It’s all boring technical stuff, but fun to certain people like me.

Q: I noticed more and more ‘industrial’ bands are experimenting with ‘techno’ music, the bridge between both styles becoming sometimes pretty close! How do you explain this evolution and what has been the impact of techno music on your sound? 

David: It’s less of an evolution and more like a renaissance. I think Industrial music had lost its way becoming what it was meant to counter, but now it’s returning full circle. Besides the techno influence it’s gotten more experimental and provocative again. Techno has been a huge influence on my recent style and I have old friends like Adam X to thank for that. Also living in Los Angeles changed my sound. Just like Berlin, L.A is a hot spot for this kind of music. “Droid Behavior”-parties are where to go if you want to hear Orphx, Perc, or Rrose. This is the real industrial music right now to me.

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

Genre/Influences: Electro-industrial, IDM.

Background/Info: No doubt about it, David Christian became one of the most praised sound makers when it came to speak about progressive industrial music. The American artist can look back to numerous great productions, which most of the people discovered on the now gone Crunch Pod label and the album “Negate The Instigator” (2007). This is the 2^nd album of Cervello Elettronico released on Hands and the first one in 3 years.

Content: David Christian moves on mixing intelligent electronic treatments, which we can define as the offspring between industrial music and IDM. You’ll notice a few more elements like technoid influences, haunting ambient atmospheres, trance-minded arrangements and even more electro driven sequences reminding me of Mentallo & The Fixer, but the main sources of inspiration always bring back to an electro-industrial basis.

The second half of the album is definitely more exciting revealing a few outstanding cuts.

+ + + : Cervello Elettronico remains an original sound creation and a guarantee for some new outstanding tracks like “Spacial Differences”, “Stand Your Ground” and “Memory Loss”. There’s a great diversity in the writing and a fascination for raw sound sculptures. I especially like the kind of groovy industrial side accentuated on some cuts. “Logical Fears” is a sophisticated production with a great finale.

– – – : Some of the opening cuts are quite entertaining although missing the familiar magical touch this band has used to demonstrate. It rather sounds as a teaser for the great final section. “Logical Fears” remains a great piece of work, but not the best album of David Christian.

Conclusion: The debut part is just cool, but not that special while the second part reveals the real power and sound elegance of Cervello Elettronico’s new album.

Best songs: “Spacial Differences”, “Stand Your Ground”, “Memory Loss”, “Logical Fears”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.cervelloelettronico.com / www.facebook.com/cervelloelettronicomusic

Label: www.handsproductions.com / www.facebook.com/hands.official

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

Out by mid-June is the 30th Anniversary Edition and definitive release of the iconic horror film soundtrack “Demons” composed by Claudio Simonetti for Dario Argento and Lamberto Bava’s 1980’s gore classic “Demons” in a 2CD box (you can order your copy now). The release comes in a limited Tin Box (299 Copies) and contains the soundtrack CD plus an exclusive bonus-CD entitled “Soundtrack Remixed” with remixes by Ohgr, Bahntier, Leather Strip, Cervello Elettronico, Needle Sharing and many others + a transparent postcard + a Metropol ticket + a litte bag + silver pin.

Also available is the release on blue vinyl (buy here) and the 1CD version (buy here).

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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