Genre/Influences: Electro-pop.

Background/Info: Echostep has been introduced as ‘the alternative music adventure of Cleveland, Ohio based songwriter James Patrick Young’. I never heard of this band before, which unleashed this self-released EP featuring 4 songs plus 2 remixes of the title track.

Content: The title song deals with electro-pop music. The slow cadence matches with the somewhat whispering way of singing and cold, melancholic-like melody line. The other songs left confirm the dark and somewhat fragile-like electro sound. You’ll hear some piano arrangements and cool female backings on one of the tracks.

The remixes of “Pictures In The Sky” was accomplished by Interface and Coldlink.

+ + + : The title song is not setting the world of electro-pop on fire, but it’s a song with a cool melody line. I also like the global atmosphere hanging over this song. Among the other cuts left there’s the noticeable “Just The Same”, which is quite comparable in style and approach to “Pictures In The Sky”. Among the remixes I especially like the more clubby-minded one from Interface, but Coldlink is a nice addition as well.

– – – : The softer cuts from the EP aren’t my favorite ones. It’s a different approach and missing some passion. Both songs are a bit soundtrack-like, but less convincing.

Conclusion: This EP reveals a fresh title song and cool remixes, but I think we’ll have to wait for more work from Echostep to get a real idea about the band’s potential.

Best songs: “Pictures In The Sky – Interface Remix”, “Pictures In The Sky”.

Rate: (6).

Band: www.echostep.net / www.facebook.com/echostepmusic

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: EBM, dark-body music.

Background/Info: Coldlink is a new EBM project set up by ex-Filament 38 singer Rob Armstrong and keyboardist Shawn McNoldy. “Ghosts I’ve Known” is the official debut work from this duo. It’s a more a kind of mini-album featuring 6 songs plus 3 remixes.

Content: the band claims to be inspired by bands like Nitzer Ebb and NIN. The EBM inspiration is rapidly noticeable and sounds rather dark and cold. The rough vocals accentuate the dark side of the work.

There’s some diversity between the 6 songs accomplished by Coldlink. The sound is not only into an EBM-driven approach, but also features wafting synth passages getting the work a bit softer.

Remixes have been accomplished by Textbeak, Digital Geist and label mate Diverje.

+ + + : Coldlink clearly doesn’t reinvent EBM standards, but this EP is a successful debut. Next to the alluring title song, which is a perfect way to start off, I also like “W1tchvnt” for its great and menacing bass line plus “Disappear Tomorrow” for the cool sound treatments. Coldlink is not a new ‘copyist’, but a formation inspired by EBM and trying to create a unique sound in the genre.

The remixes are cool although I have a little preference for the “Shelter Remix” of the title song by Textbeak.

– – – : I’m less convinced by the ‘softer’ parts on this EP. They inject some variation in the tracklist, but Coldlink clearly has a stronger ‘hard EBM’ potential.

Conclusion: Coldlink clearly has not the pretension to reinvent EBM. It’s just an honest debut production from a band with an interesting approach. So let’s keep an eye on this band.

Best songs: “W1tchvnt”, “Ghosts I’ve Known”, “Disappear Tomorrow.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.coldlinkmusic.com / www.facebook.com/coldlinkband

Label: www.dsbp.cx / www.facebook.com/dsbprecords

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

Those who downloaded our free “Face The Beat: Session 3” compilation since it was launched last year will surely know Coldlink who was featured on this mega-compilation with the track “Ghosts I’ve Known”, which now turns out to be also the title track for the album the band has released on DSBP Records.

The 9-track album is the band’s debut and you can order it via the DSBP label store.

Coldlink is the new all-electronic project from Filament 38’s singer/writer Rob Armstrong & keyboardist/writer Shawn McNoldy. Drawing from legends like Nitzer Ebb and NIN, their influences also include dark electro, coldwave and old school industrial.

Check the album preview 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.

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Track 13 on our free download compilation “Face The Beat: Session 3” is Coldlink. On “Ghosts I’ve Known” the band is presenting its first ever output, and you’ll have to agree with us that this is quite an excellent first offering. While the rhythms have some old school feeling to it (Nitzer Ebb is not far away), the song itself goes more into a melodic electro direction with strong harsh vocals.

You can listen to the track below:

Coldlink is the new EBM project from Filament 38’s singer/writer Rob Armstrong and keyboardist Shawn McNoldy. The duo combines mood with machine, built on top of driving synths and danceable beats. Influences include dark ambient, post witch house, dark electro and classic industrial. In Spring 2016 the band will see its debut “Ghosts I’ve Known” EP released along with a video of the title track.

You can keep up to date with the band on their homepage.

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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