Belgian electronic project Cubic returns to the “Back to 808” material with the twin digital releases “CB-708” and “CB-128”, issued via Alfa Matrix. Both EPs are built around the same three tracks from the “Back to 808” album, with the “CB-708” EP focusing on compact 7-inch edits and the “CB-128” EP offering extended 12-inch versions for club use.

Both EPs are released as digital-only titles via Alfa Matrix’s Bandcamp page.

The two EPs grow directly out of the 2025 album “Back to 808”, which reworked Cubic’s 2024 full-length “Back to Basic”. On that album, Passenger S of 808 DOT POP used Cubic’s original stems and newly recorded parts to rebuild the material within his 808-centric aesthetic. “Back to 808” itself reversed an earlier collaboration, where producer Franky Deblomme had reinterpreted 808 DOT POP material for the album “The Cubic Temperature”.

About Cubic

Cubic is the Belgian electronic project of producer Franky Deblomme after his earlier involvement in the EBM outfit Darkmen. Working with hardware synths and drum machines, the project is clearly influenced by the Düsseldorf electro tradition with Kraftwerk being its best known ambassador.

Deblomme’s collaboration with Alfa Matrix started in early 2021, when Deblomme joined the label roster and issued the debut EP “Alphabet Hymn”. Shortly afterwards, Deblomme reworked material by Passenger S (808 DOT POP and Metroland) on the cross-project album “The Cubic Temperature”.

The first full-length, “The Cubic Alphabet”, followed in mid-2021. Later that year, we saw the release of the EP “Phonic Lessons part 3“. In 2022, the project released a series of location-based EPs, starting with “Exit: Frankfurt”, followed by “Exit: Ghent” and “Exit: Manchester”. In the same year Deblomme also remixed the Side-Line charity single “Ukraina“.

Ahead of the 2024 album “Back To Basic”, the digital EPs “c64” and “c128” were released.

Deblomme later on released the 808 Dot Pop rework album “Back To 808” on which he handed the “Back to Basic” stems to Passenger S of 808 DOT POP and Metroland for a full-album reinterpretation. It was followed by the EP “EFM02”.

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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One of our favourite minimal electro acts, the Belgian electronic project Cubic of Franky Deblomme, has just released the album “Back To 808” via Alfa Matrix. The 11-track release reshapes Cubic’s 2024 album “Back To Basic” through 808 Dot Pop’s Passenger S. The album is out as a download and on CD, plus of course as streaming on all platforms.

Note that Passenger S returns the favour here to his fellow label mate. In March 2021, shortly after releasing his debut EP on Alfa Matrix, Deblomme collaborated with Passenger S by reshaping 808 Dot Pop material into the album “The Cubic Temperature,” also positioned as a cross-project reinterpretation rather than a standard remix package.

A few weeks ago, Deblomme already released the “EFM02” EP – a digital follow-up to the sold-out vinyl release “EFM01”. Issued first on Bandcamp, this seven-track collection connects directly to the aesthetic introduced on the recently released album “Back to Basic“, which today is out as a reworked version.

The band’s sound sits in the Düsseldorf electro tradition we know best from Kraftwerk, built around rigid 4/4 pulse, sequenced patterns, and machine-timed percussion. We have in the past described it as “hardware synths, drum machines, and fx paired with relentless basslines, vocoder voices, and 4/4 kicks.” It’s no surprise that there are explicit references to 808 drums and “Kraftwerk percussions.”

The sound of the project clearly leans into early home-computer culture through titles and sound design choices, including a Speak & Spell vocal part on “Computer Alphabet.”

On “Back To Basic,” there was a clear link to the early electro and techno lineage of Anthony Rother, Dopplereffect, and Cybotron as touchstones for the album’s classic electro sound. Our very own reviewer, Inferno Sound Diaries, called the porject’s approach a “signature ‘robotic’ music concept” and wrote that “Kraftwerk’s influence is omnipresent,” while noting harder EBM traces that tied to Deblomme’s earlier project Darkmen. He also flagged dance and techno ingredients, including “flat basslines” compared to Mr. Oizo and “sampling typical of the ’90s.”

About Cubic (and 808 Dot Pop)

Cubic is the Belgian electronic project of Franky Deblomme. He previously worked in the Belgian EBM project Darkmen. Deblomme began working with Alfa Matrix in 2021, starting with the EP “Alphabet Hymn” released in March 2021. Later the same month, Deblomme collaborated with Passenger S by reshaping 808 Dot Pop material into the album “The Cubic Temperature.”

The debut album “The Cubic Alphabet” followed in June 2021 via Alfa Matrix, then continued that release cycle with the EP “Phonic Lessons Part 3” in December 2021. In 2022, Deblomme expanded into a location-themed series with “Exit: Frankfurt” (April 2022), “Exit: Ghent” (June 2022), and “Exit: Manchester” (September 2022). In December 2022, we also saw Deblomme as a remixer on the charity single “Ukraina,” alongside other acts.

Ahead of the later album phase, the project returned with the EP “c64” in September 2023 and followed with “c128” later in 2023, as teasers toward a full-length album. That album, “Back To Basic,” arrived in May 2024 via Alfa Matrix in digital and CD editions. The 2025 release “Back To 808” connects directly to that album by handing the source material to Passenger S of 808 Dot Pop for a full rework concept. Passenger S is also one half of the duo in the vintage synthpop project Metroland.

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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Earlier this year, Cubic released the EP “EFM01”—also available on vinyl. Now, the project returns with a long-awaited album featuring seven tracks. The release includes alternative edits as well as a few additional pieces.

Cubic remains faithful to its signature ‘robotic’ music concept. Kraftwerk’s influence is omnipresent, but traces of harder EBM sounds—echoing operator Franky Deblomme’s previous project, Darkmen—also shine through. While the result may not sound particularly innovative and at times even somewhat predictable, it remains undeniably effective. There are countless Kraftwerk imitators—many of whom, I’m convinced, should never have attempted such an endeavor—but few manage to infuse genuine individuality. Cubic succeeds in doing so, not only by blending in EBM, but also by weaving in Dance and Techno elements: flat basslines reminiscent of Mr. Oizo’s global hit, and the kind of sampling typical of the ’90s. The result is a fusion of styles that ultimately forms a coherent and satisfying whole. (Rating:8).

Listen to “Binary Code – EFM02 Edit”:

https://alfamatrix.bandcamp.com/track/binary-code-efm02-edit

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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The Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix releases the twelfth volume in its “Matrix+ Downloaded” series to coincide with the label’s 24th anniversary. The digital-only set collects 69 tracks across the label’s current spectrum – EBM, dark elektro/industrial, synth pop – and newer Spleen+ additions spanning post-punk, goth rock and coldwave. The compilation is offered as a free/pay-what-you-want download via the label’s Bandcamp page and also includes a PDF booklet.

On the cover you will recognize Erica Dunham from Unter Null.

Artists included on this free download compilation include: Studio-X (feat. Kyoko Baertsoen), Rector Scanner, Aesthetische, Cut.Rate.Box, Kant Kino, Frontal Boundary, C-Lekktor, Acylum, Diffuzion, Implant, Neikka RPM, First Aid 4 Souls (feat. Aux Animaux), Noemi Aurora, Suicidal Romance, Llumen, Hanging Freud, Lederman/De Meyer, The Ultimate Dreamers, Aiboforcen, Digital Factor, Armageddon Dildos, Helalyn Flowers, Krystal System, The True Union, Freakangel, Totem Obscura, Lovelorn Dolls (feat. Dero Goi), The Breath of Life, The Names, ImJudas, Synapsyche, Miseria Ultima, Unter Null, Alien Vampires (feat. Dani Divine), Venal Flesh, Helle9, To Avoid, Pouppée Fabrikk, Stahlgeist, Nigra Nebula, Aengeldust, Circuito Cerrado, Matthew Creed, Cubic, Metroland, The Psychic Force, Komor Kommando, First Aid Tech, Die Robo Sapiens, ELM, Plastic Noise Experience, AD:Key, Elektroklänge, 808 Dot Pop, Avarice in Audio, Elektrostaub (feat. Echo Image), Cryogenic Echelon, Entrzelle, Neuroactive, Technoir, Mondträume, Star Industry, Stray, Psy’Aviah (feat. Sorrow Stories), Zombie Girl, Darkness on Demand, Circumpolar, Dunkelwerk, and Lights A.M.

A&R manager, Sebastien Dolimont says: “In 2025, Alfa Matrix proudly celebrates 24 years of existence. Nearly a quarter of a century fighting for dark alternative music, discovering new talents, and keeping the underground alive. This anniversary is not just about us and our artists – it’s about you, our fans. Because without your constant support, there would be no label, no releases, no future for the scene we all love.”

And he add: “In a world where indie labels are disappearing, streaming revenues collapse, and risks of signing new talents are higher than ever, we are proud to still stand strong — but we can only do it with you by our side. By downloading this compilation, you are not just enjoying music — you are actively supporting 69 artists and helping keep our scene alive, fresh, and forward-looking. From all of us at Alfa Matrix and Spleen+, and on behalf of all our artists: thank you for 24 years of loyalty, passion, and support. Together, we’ll keep writing the future of the dark underground.”

About Alfa Matrix

Alfa Matrix is a Brussels-based independent label founded in 2001. The catalogue focuses on electronic subgenres including industrial, EBM, dark elektro, and synth pop, later expanding into post-punk/coldwave via the Spleen+ division. The label’s team includes label & artists manager Seba Dolimont, promo manager Bernard Van Isacker, and head of design Benoît Blanchart.

From the early 2000s, Alfa Matrix used series-based releases to build international reach. Notable strands include “Sounds From The Matrix” (label samplers), “Re:Connected” (digital label overview), and the club-oriented “Endzeit Bunkertracks” multi-CD anthologies (first “Act” released 21 March 2005, featuring 60 tracks with 50 exclusives).

In 2023, Alfa Matrix inaugurated Spleen+, a division centred on post-punk and adjacent styles, and followed with multi-artist projects and catalogue building, including the “Resurgence” 7-CD box that assembled 133 contemporary bands from the post-punk family.

The label has since the very start focused on a direct contact with its fans and customers via their online webstore and Bandcamp.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

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Belgian electro formation Cubic has released the “EFM02” EP – a digital follow-up to the sold-out vinyl release “EFM01”. Issued first on Bandcamp, this seven-track collection continues the project’s exploration of analog hardware and precision-engineered electro rhythms, connecting directly to the aesthetic introduced on the recently released album “Back to Basic“.

“EFM02” includes reimagined edits and exclusive tracks that shows the project’s signature sound: 808-style percussion, sequenced basslines, vocodered vocals, and meticulously layered synth programming. The opening tracks “Binary Code” and “Nanobots” deliver pure high-energy electro, while “OFM” and “My Home Computer” appear as alternative versions adapted from the “EFM01” vinyl sessions. “TCM” leans further into dark club territory with four-to-the-floor momentum, and “RT28XO” evolves from a previously shelved demo into a full-bodied production. The EP concludes with the original mix of “I Travel”, built entirely around the Modor DR2 drum computer.

About Cubic

Formed in Belgium by electronic producer Franky Deblomme, the project emerged from the country’s electro and minimal synth scene, blending vintage machine aesthetics with modern sequencing.

Franky Deblomme first launched his career with his – outstanding – EBM-project Darkmen. After having stopped the project we didn’t hear new stuff from this musician till he started working under the Cubic moniker.

After the excellent “Alphabet Hymn” EP and having revisited the 808 Dot.Pop-album “Cubic Temperature”, Franky unleashed the debut album “The Cubic Alphabet”. The work is being released by the Belgian electronic music label Alfa Matrix.

The sound has a clear connection with 808 Dot.Pop and Metroland; a kind of Kraftwerk-Pop with a personal and more diversified touch on top.

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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Belgian electro act Cubic has announced the release of a new vinyl-exclusive EP titled “EFM01 (Black)”, available as a strictly limited edition of 100 copies worldwide. Issued via Alfa Matrix, the 12-inch record follows closely on the heels of Cubic’s recent album “Back to Basic”.

Pressed on black vinyl, “EFM01” features five tracks unavailable in any digital format, with contributions from several electronic producers. Side A opens with a remix of Cubic’s “I Travel” by French artist COMMUTER, who delivers a sleek, high-energy reinterpretation with classic electro motifs. The second cut, “My Home Computer”, is an original Cubic production rich in vocoder textures and retro-futurist nods.

On the B-side, Maltese producer Acidulant contributes a bass-heavy 808-driven version of “I Travel”, built for club impact. Cubic then offers a new instrumental track, “OFM”, which blends warm melodies with a crisp electro pulse. The closing cut sees French producer Millimetric rework “I Travel” again, this time injecting a darker, EBM-tinged edge influenced by early Düsseldorf minimalism.

The artwork for “EFM01 (Black)” pays tribute to the iconic Modor DRM1 drum synthesizer and was created in cooperation with Modor.

• A1 – I Travel (Commuter remix)
• A2 – My Home Computer (electro funk edit)
• B1 – I Travel (Acidulant remix)
• B2 – OFM (electro funk edit)
• B3 – I TRAVEL (Millimetric remix)

You can only snag this black‑vinyl beauty directly from CUBIC, the official Alfa Matrix store, and some selected e-shops.

About Cubic

Cubic is a Belgian electronic music project led by veteran artist Franky Deblomme, previously known for his work with the band Darkmen. Based in Gent, Belgium, the project brings a fusion of various electronic music influences, drawing from decades of Deblomme’s experience in the electronic music scene.

The project is characterized by its eclectic blend of melodic techno, minimal synth-pop, 808 electro, and elements of electronic body music (EBM), reflecting a dark, underground aesthetic combined with vintage and contemporary electronic sounds.

His work incorporates inspirations from Düsseldorf’s vintage synth sounds (e.g., Kraftwerk), Berlin techno, the 1990s Manchester electronic scene (often associated with artists like Orbital and Underworld), and Belgian club culture, including EBM pioneers like Front 242. His music is known for the use of hardware synthesizers and effects, recorded in Deblomme’s “Bong 13” studio.

Cubic signed to Alfa Matrix in 2021, issuing the full-length “The Cubic Alphabet”. The follow-up album “Back to Basic” was released in early 2025.

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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Three years after his promising debut album “The Cubic Alphabet”, Franky Deblomme returns with a compelling follow-up album, “Back To Basic”. Preceded by two well-received releases (an EP and a single), this album solidifies the Belgian artist’s status within the growing Kraftwerk-inspired Synth-Pop movement. Alongside label mates like Metroland, 808 Dot Pop, and Elektroklänge, Deblomme emerges as a strong ambassador of this retro-futuristic sound. Back to Basic pays homage to vintage synthesizers and early computer music, weaving together an array of bleeps, cold retro sequences, and solid basslines. The melodies are simple yet effective, enhanced by the occasional robot vocals that add a splash of color to the mix. Cubic expertly blends Synth-Pop and EBM, delivering a mature and efficient production. However, the album’s only drawback is that the tracks can start to feel repetitive over time. (Rate:8½).

Listen to “Off Line (Basic Edit)”:

https://alfamatrix.bandcamp.com/track/off-line-basic-edit

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

Relying solely on hardware synths, drum machines, and fx, the sound of Cubic is made of relentless basslines, vocoder voices, and 4/4 kicks. An explosive fusion of 808 drums, KRAFTWERK percussions, and nostalgic 80’s computer vibes.  For the occasion of the release of his new studio album “Back To Basic”, we talked with Belgian electronic artist Franky Deblomme about synths, computers and floppy disks… 

The new album is available from Bandcamp and from the Alfa Matrix webstore on CD.

SL. “Back To Basic” pays homage to the iconic Commodore computers with its title and previous EP releases “c64” and “c128”. Can you tell us more about how these influences shaped the concept and sound of the album? 

F. I estimate that I must have got my first computer ( an Atari 800 XL ) sometime around 1986/1988 . Shortly afterwards it was traded in for a Commodore 64. At that time (I was around 14 years old) I was already very into electronic music . With these computers, I naturally thought that I would now be able to handle everything (which was not the case of course). But the familiar sound of the SID chip (in the 64) and the simple programming of a melody (in BASIC) formed the basis of my further musical path. So it seemed appropriate to release a limited floppy disk together with the new CD, containing a few samples that could be used freely. In addition to the floppy disc, the ‘fan pack ‘ also includes 2 postcards and a CUBIC business card

SL. The album promises an explosive fusion of 808 drums, KRAFTWERK percussions, and nostalgic 80’s computer vibes. How did you balance incorporating these retro elements while still creating something fresh and relevant for modern listeners?

F. In my opinion, it is impossible to make really “new” music, everything has been tried before. Over the years you start (under) consciously storing things you like in the back of your mind, which then come back to the surface when you start making music. So the new album definitely contains a lot of ‘classic’ sounds and structures. It is probably not innovative, but I do try to take these classical sounds to a higher level using modern technologies.

SL. “Computer Alphabet”, the opening track, features vocals by the iconic Speak and Spell computer. What inspired this choice, and how does it set the tone for the rest of the album?  I see it also as a bridge with the previous album’s concept?

F. Indeed, the first track forms the bridge between the previous album and the new path I have taken with this new album. The previous album was all about the “alphabet”, so it seemed appropriate to repeat this theme one more time. I think I first got to know the Speak and Spell computer sound through the sample in the track LFO by LFO on the Warp label in 1990, which had a big impact on me. The name ‘speak and spell ‘ is of course even more important in my musical influence : the iconic (and best) Depeche Mode album! And yes, I have an original Speak and Spell computer in the studio (but I think you could already guess that).

SL. You mentioned influences from classic electro artists like Anthony Rother and Dopplereffect. How do you pay homage to these pioneers while also infusing your own unique style and modern twists into tracks like ‘ART INN’ or yet ‘Pleasure Machine’?

F. It has to be said that it is mainly because of Dave Clarke that I got to know the ‘electro’ sound. This through his various compilations ( “X-mix Electro Boogie” from 96 and the “World Service” from 2001). This made me delve further into the genre and I discovered artists like Anthony Rother and Dopplerffect. It is a genre that still moves me after 25 years. And as for Anthony Rother, a lot of respect that he keeps going, I still enjoy his monthly youtube videos in his studio. This “electro” scene is still very much alive : there are still a lot of releases and labels dedicated to this genre. With this album, I hope to conquer a place in this community by combining electro, techno and ebm influences into one package. 

SL. “Back To Basic” relies solely on hardware synths, drum computers, and effects. Can you discuss the creative process behind using these tools to craft the album’s sonic palette, and how it differs from working with software-based production?

F. First of all, I have no prejudice between soft or hardware or analogue versus digital. Everyone should use what suits them best. For me this is hardware! For this album I used a specific live setup : 1 drum computer + 3 synthesizers + 1 hardware sequencer. With this I started jamming and laying down the basis for a song. Everything is then recorded ‘live’ on separate tracks into Logic ( through my Soundcraft MTK 22 mixer, usually 8 or so separate tracks). Once this basis was there, I could add things or cut and paste until I had a full song. A way of working that I will also use in the future.

SL. The album features the unique use of the first Belgian Drumcomputer (Modor DR2) and its synthesizer counterpart (Modor NF1). What drew you to these specific instruments, and how do they contribute to the overall sound of CUBIC?  I have the impression that your home-studio tends to become a sort of synth museum?

F. I’ve always had a weakness for drum computers. So there wasn’t much resistance to also buying the first (e only) Belgian drum computer. Modor’s products are very tacky and really made for live use. They have a unique sound (although they can sound like the classic analogue machines, their aim is to be just different too). Since Belgium has never been a big player in all these electronic music instruments, it seemed only natural to support this project. I do indeed have a nice collection of instruments by now , but I don’t do this purely for collecting. After more than 35 years, I am still hungry to get to know and discover both new and old instruments. Mind you, to make fine music you don’t need 20 synthesizers . I always limit myself to a few instruments per project!

SL. As an artist, how do you navigate blending genres like electro, techno, and EBM to create a cohesive listening experience on “Back To Basic”?

F. CUBIC has always been a project where I wanted to mix different styles and not limit myself to one genre. Which way this goes often depends either on your mood or on the music you are listening to at that moment. For this second album, this is clearly more ‘electro’ than the previous one. But as said, a next album can then go in a different direction, without really losing your identity. And of course it’s great that the label allows me the freedom to experiment across all these different genres.

SL. What do you hope listeners take away from this album, and how do you see it fitting into the broader landscape of electronic music today?

F. In a certain sense, of course, it remains a niche market in which I operate. But a song like ‘TITT’, with vocals and some nice melodies can certainly find its place within a wider audience.  I also notice that the new sounds are generating more plays, so we are heading in the right direction 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!

side-line.com

Belgian electronic artist Franky Deblomme has just released his brand new Cubic album “Back To Basic”. The new album follows the release of the 2-track singles “c64” and “c128” paying homage to the iconic Commodore computers.

The new album is available as download on Bandcamp and via the Alfa Matrix webstore on CD. You can also buy it in combination with the new Metroland, Aiboforcen and Elektroklänge albums at a discount price.

Note that there is also a Belgian element to this new album as “Back To Basic” also boasts the unique use of the first Belgian Drumcomputer (Modor DR2) and its synthesizer counterpart (Modor NF1).

Gefundenes Fressen for every Kraftwerk fan out there. Below are already two album tracks.

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

The Swedish minimalistic electro-pop act Elektroklänge have just released their second conceptual album “Motorik”. The album is the follow-up to their 2022 album “Komposituation” and was already teased by the recently released the “Abfahrt” EP.

Musically the project revives the vintage Kraftwerkian “Düsseldorf sound” adding an own signature style. And if you pay attention it will not exactly be a secret that “Motorik” is inspired by Kraftwerk’s groundbreaking “Autobahn” album, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Even the cover artwork is close to that of the 2009 remastered version.

The album holds 10 tracks. You can order the album on CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore, or as download via Bandcamp. And for those who want some more electropop in one go, Alfa Matrix also offers a packet holding this album for a very limited time plus the new full lengths from Metroland, Cubic and Aiboforcen at a special price.

You can check out the band’s previous album right 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

Before the release of the new “Back To Basic” full length album, Belgian electronic artist Franky Deblomme aka Cubic comes out with a second 4-track EP. Titled after the legendary Commodore C128, this EP is the obvious logical successor to the previous “c64” EP.

The new EP features exclusive club oriented and extended versions of “Art In” and “Human Computer”. While “MF2HD” is an exclusive non-album track, Cubic also offers a powerful EBM/industrial dance mix of “B C L” by label-mates Diffuzion.

Kraftwerk comes to mind but with a very refined contemporary sound. The EP is now residing in the Top 10 best selling downloads on Bandcamp in the industrial section. You can find it here on Bandcamp.

About Cubic

Franky Deblomme started out with his EBM-project Darkmen. After having stopped the project he started working under the Cubic moniker. After the excellent “Alphabet Hymn”-EP and having revisited the 808 Dot.Pop-album “Cubic Temperature”, Franky launched Cubic’s debut album “The Cubic Alphabet”. The sound has a clear connection with 808 Dot.Pop and Metroland; a kind of Kraftwerk-Pop with a personal and more diversified touch on top.

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: Electro-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Two years after the astonishing debut-album “The Cubic Alphabet” and noticeable EPs Franky Deblomme is back on track delivering to us an appetizer for his upcoming full length album. The title of the EP indicates what it’s all about; the magic of the legendary Commodore 64 computer. 

Content: The Belgian artist moves on exploring the magic of 80s synths and equipment by revisiting Electro-Wave to transpose it in a refreshing and sexy, contemporary format. Pure vintage bass lines and drum sections mixed with robotic vocals. The 4 tracks sound pretty similar and filled with nostalgia.

+ + + : Cubic confirms the potential of the debut works; a styled production driven by vintage sound treatments to reactivate the magic of the 80s Electro-Wave movement. I like the solid bass lines and simple, but efficient, melody lines while the robotic, sterile, vocals still have this magic effect on me. The tracks are pretty similar but “Offline” is my favorite for its extra-danceable strength.

– – – : I’m missing a bit more vocals although it’s not absolutely essential. 

Conclusion: This EP sounds as a strong and promising teaser to the upcoming Cubic-album.

Best songs: “Offline”, “Titt”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.cubicpromo.be / www.facebook.com/cubicpromo

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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

Belgian electronic artist Franky Deblomme is set to release Cubic’s new studio album through the Alfa Matrix label. The album will feature elements such as 808 drums, percussions reminiscent of Kraftwerk, and references to 80’s floppy discs and vintage personal computers.

Cubic has now released a 4-track EP titled “c64” via Bandcamp, which draws inspiration from the Commodore 64 computer.

The approach of this EP is like a voyage through the vintage synth world. The opening track “TITT” incorporates elements commonly found in classic electro tracks, such as 808 style drums, a dreiklangsdimensionen snare, percussion sounds, analog basslines, and vocoder voices. Following this, “Offline” features a distorted sound with a pronounced kick and a Novation bass station 2 synth element. “Art In” uses 4/4 kicks, a bassline from Analogue Solutions ‘Fusebox synth’, and a Moog Sub 37 patch for its lead sound, reminiscent of artists like The Hacker and Commuter. The final track, “B C L” (an abbreviation for Basic Computer Language), includes a 90’s style bassline created with the Modor NF-1, probably one of the only synthesizers originating from Belgium, and has similarities to the style of electro artist Anthony Rother.

All tracks have been created using hardware gear only. “Nothing beats the fun of twiddling knobs”, says Franky Deblomme.

You can check the EP out below, it’s immediately available via Bandcamp.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

Every time Side-Line releases a new compilation, I seize the chance to interview Bernard Van Isacker, the chief compiler for Side-Line and our editor-in-chief. This time around, he has curated the comprehensive 88-track “Electronic Bodies” compilation, predominantly focusing on EBM with a hint of New Beat. I must say, I’m perpetually amazed at how he juggles his time. Not only does he supervise Side-Line, but he’s also engaged with Alfa Matrix, holds a full-time role in online marketing with an international firm, and has recently founded the digital marketing agency, Fox DS.

SL: With such a packed schedule, how do you find the time for these compilation projects?

BVI: Honestly, I often ponder how I muster the time and enthusiasm to initiate and oversee projects of this magnitude, given their time-consuming nature. The motivation largely stems from the Side-Line community; I sometimes feel I owe them my time (laughs). I genuinely enjoy these projects; I’m a person who thinks in terms of projects and concepts rather than daily routines. This mindset is evident even in my day job, where I’m known to favour large-scale, impactful projects over short-term tasks. This approach ensures consistency in my endeavours. As I age, I notice this trait becoming more pronounced.

SL: Merely 12 hours post-release, the “Electronic Bodies” compilation has already clinched the top position on the industrial charts. How do you maintain such consistency?

BVI: The credit goes entirely to our audience. Time and again, I observe the active engagement of the Side-Line community. The volume of personal emails from readers is staggering, and I make it a point to respond to each one, even the occasional critiques regarding our editorial decisions. A prime example is our decision to remove ads from Side-Line, a move purely based on reader feedback. In hindsight, it was probably our best decision, eliminating those intrusive Adsense ads that marred our magazine for years.

Returning to your question, we can now engage tens of thousands of fans with a single click. I always strive for transparency in our communication. For instance, if a project gets shelved (which has happened once in the past two decades), I explain the reasons behind the decision. Honest communication is paramount in everything we do at Side-Line. I’m fortunate to run this magazine alongside one of the most principled individuals I know, Stephane Froidcoeur. I highly regard his opinions, and despite our occasional disagreements, we remain an inseparable duo, frequently deliberating on our future direction. This long-term planning is crucial to our operations.

SL: What drove your decision to spotlight EBM and a bit of New Beat?

BVI: The idea dates back a few years. Sven Lauwers, Andy De Decker (Ionic Vision / Metroland), and Franky Deblomme (Cubic, Darkmen) once suggested that Side-Line should explore EBM and New Beat. This concept lingered in my mind, but with the “Electronic Resistance” projects consuming a significant portion of my time over the past 18 months, it took a backseat. However, a recent conversation with Sven reignited this dormant idea. A brief poll on Side-Line’s Facebook page indicated the potential success of this project. While the popularity of our compilations has been on an upward trajectory, I’m acutely aware that success shouldn’t be taken for granted. It’s imperative to consistently deliver value.

SL: On that note, I was surprised to discover the new Ionic Vision track “Deathrow” in the compilation. How did that inclusion come about?

BVI: When I informed Sven about this upcoming project, I inquired if he had any unreleased tracks to contribute. He mentioned their unreleased album and promptly sent over a track. Ionic Vision has been a staple in my EBM mix from the outset, so it’s gratifying to feature this iconic Belgian act in the compilation. Additionally, Andy contributed a track from his project, Him+He, which leans more towards New Beat.

SL: ELM, which kicks off the compilation, is widely regarded as a trailblazer in today’s EBM scene. Would you concur?

BVI: Absolutely. Musically and in terms of production, Peter is top-tier. Had ELM been active in the 80s, he’d undoubtedly be a superstar. I recently discussed ELM during an interview for Canada’s DJ Moose’s The Gothic Moose podcast. Fabrício Viscardi from Aesthetische was also a guest, and we delved into the production quality of various releases. Fabrício (just like Peter), in my opinion, possesses exceptional production skills. Both ELM and Aesthetische consistently deliver top-notch productions.

SL: Not surprisingly that I also see Aesthetische featured on this compilation.

BVI: Indeed. Upon hearing the masters for “Boiling Over (Celsius Version)”, I was convinced it deserved a spot on the compilation. I sought Seba Dolimont’s (Alfa Matrix) opinion, and his response echoed my sentiments. This track epitomises the evolution of EBM in 2023, infusing a contemporary touch while preserving its roots. Coupled with superior production, it’s undeniably a gem.

SL: I’ve observed that only a handful of bands in the compilation are established names in the scene. Are other labels hesitant to collaborate?

BVI: I never pressurise scene labels to contribute. They receive an invitation, and their participation is entirely voluntary. Our compilation series has always been independent of label contributions, although a few labels consistently support our vision and concept. The majority of submissions are from emerging bands eager to expand their audience. Our primary objective remains to nurture and promote new talent. We’re always open to collaborations, and labels willing to contribute are always welcome.

SL: Do you maintain communication with all these numerous bands post-release?

BVI: I consistently encourage bands involved to keep me informed about their subsequent activities once the release is out. Many do, and this way we ensure to track their progress and share updates when there’s noteworthy news. Our approach isn’t just a one-off; it’s only fitting that these bands know they can rely on our continued support.

SL: Was the process of selecting bands for this compilation straightforward?

BVI: The response we receive when we issue a call for submissions is always overwhelming. Sifting through the plethora of material is a weeks-long endeavour. Once I’ve shortlisted the bands, the next step involves securing contracts, which proved challenging this time around due to the sunny weather. Chasing contracts during the summer holiday season is far from ideal, that I knew and know now even more. One contract eluded us, resulting in 88 bands on the compilation instead of the initially announced 89. So, for those fixated on the number 88, the missing 89th slot isn’t our oversight but a consequence of the band’s oversight (laughs).

SL: What inspired your focus on Ukrainian victims of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

BVI: I recently came across an article detailing the psychological toll of the war initiated by Russia against Ukraine. The repercussions are devastating, with families torn apart and a surge in divorces and suicides. Many are grappling with PTSD, a condition that arises after experiencing traumatic events. Symptoms disrupt daily life, manifesting as flashbacks, avoidance behaviours, and a host of other issues. If we’re in a position to assist, we should.

SL: Doesn’t immersing yourself in such grim realities depress you?

BVI: While it’s undeniably sombre, it’s essential to recognise our privileged position compared to their plight. Rather than symbolic gestures, I advocate for tangible action. The West should be doing more. The disparity between resources squandered on frivolities and the valiant efforts of the Ukrainian populace defending their homeland infuriates me.

SL: I’ve noticed a decline in the presence of Russian bands in this scene. Have you observed this trend?

BVI: They haven’t vanished; they’ve chosen to either keep a low profile or relocate from Russia. In a few instances, some even openly support the controversial regime led by Putin. For example, Side-Line has a policy not to feature bands that align with Putin’s views. I’m in regular contact with many Russians. A majority express their dismay at the current situation, foreseeing significant repercussions as their nation faces increasing isolation, contrary to what some media outlets suggest. Do you think the BRICS nations appreciate having such an outlier in their midst? A few others I converse with remain reserved, but their sentiments suggest they don’t necessarily disagree with their nation’s actions in Ukraine. It’s disheartening, but I believe in maintaining open communication, hoping they’ll recognize the gravity of the situation. Decades of propaganda have left a profound impact.

The future of Russia’s dark music scene remains uncertain. I hope they recognize the extensive damage their nation has inflicted. With a death toll exceeding 300,000, there’s no room for national pride. The current oppressive environment will likely stifle these bands’ voices, leading me to anticipate a decline in activist lyrics and public positions in their work. This shift should serve as a stark indicator for those still questioning the integrity of their government and its societal constraints.

SL: Why hasn’t Side-Line ventured into establishing a full-fledged label? Given the magazine’s dedicated readership, it seems like a logical progression, doesn’t it? I remember discussing this with you before.

BVI: Yes you did, and my stance hasn’t changed (laughs). Side-Line collaborates with thousands of bands. Focusing on a select few could compromise our credibility. I’m meticulous about ensuring my involvement with Alfa Matrix doesn’t influence Side-Line’s operations. Managing bands under the Side-Line banner would blur these lines further. While I frequently receive proposals to release albums, I remain committed to Side-Line’s vision of being a platform for all bands within our genre. Our audience’s trust and respect are paramount. Their unwavering support is the lifeblood of Side-Line. Without them, there’s no magazine, and consequently, no compilations.

SL: During this project, were there any bands that particularly resonated with you?

BVI: Conditions Extrm and their side-project Balsab, both hailing from Bordeaux, intrigued me with their raw EBM sound. Their music evokes memories of the tape demos Side-Line received in the early 90s. They encapsulate Side-Line’s ethos of amplifying young bands’ voices. Numerous other bands contributed, but these two immediately come to mind due to their interconnectedness, despite submitting their tracks separately.

SL: What’s on the horizon for Side-Line? I’ve heard whispers of a potential Turkish compilation. Can you shed some light on this?

BVI: Those aren’t mere whispers; I’ve alluded to it occasionally. I’m liaising with Turkish partners to assess its feasibility. I often encounter criticism for not featuring bands from the Muslim world in our compilations. While I’m open to the idea, the scene in these countries isn’t as expansive. However, the prospect intrigues me, and I’ve initiated preliminary research. No promises, but the groundwork has begun. For now, enjoy the current compilation, it holds plenty of good stuff!

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

Alfa Matrix, the renowned Belgian label, commemorates its 22nd anniversary with yet another mastodont compilation on Bandcamp. The latest installment in the acclaimed “Matrix Downloaded” series, titled “Matrix+ Downloaded 011”, is now available as a free download on their Bandcamp page. Packed with 60 tracks, including new signings and a preview of the upcoming Spleen+ label releases, this compilation showcases Alfa Matrix’s diverse music repertoire.

“Matrix+ Downloaded 011” soared to the top of the industrial Bandcamp charts within hours of its release, claiming the coveted number 1 position.

The collection holds 60 tracks in total including several new signings. These are the bands present on this brand new free download compilation: Hanging Freud, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Breath Of Life, Psy’Aviah Feat. Sorrow Stories, ImJudas, Star Industry, Halo In Reverse, Lovelorn Dolls, The True Union, Freakangel, Avarice In Audio, Siva Six, Alien Vampires, Synapsyche, Helalyn Flowers, Neuroactive, Elektrostaub Feat. Stefan Netschio, Technoir, Entrzelle, Llumen, Noemi Aurora, Aiboforcen Feat. Jan D., Reichsfeind, Mondträume Feat. N-Frequency, The Psychic Force, Digital Factor, Implant, Darkness On Demand, Aesthetische, Komor Kommando Vs. The True Union, Matthew Creed, C-Lekktor, First Aid Tech, Pouppee Fabrikk, ELM, Die Robo Sapiens, Plastic Noise Experience, Armageddon Dildos, Stahlgeist, AD:keY, Kant Kino, Suicidal Romance, Miseria Ultima, First Aid 4 Souls, Neikka RPM, Circumpolar, Venal Flesh, Helle9, Diffuzion, Acylum, Circuito Cerrado, Aengeldust, Studio-X, 808 Dot Pop, Cubic, Metroland, Rector Scanner, Elektroklänge, Cosmic Armchair, Lights A.M.

You can download “Matrix+ Downloaded 011” for free via Bandcamp.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

The post-punk scene has a new recordlabel with Alfa Matrix launching a sublabel created to accomodate this specific genre and its varieties including coldwave or even minimal synth. Called Spleen+ you can already find 2 bands signed to it, the Belgian post-punk act The Ultimate Dreamers, who launched their label debut with the EP “Polarized”, and the Italian new wave act ImJudas who presents 2 new EPs, “People Of The Blame” and “So Untrue”.

We sat together with Seba Dolimont who is the A&R behind Spleen+ (and Alfa Matrix).

SL: Congratulations Seba with the new endeavour. Why start a side label next to Alfa Matrix?

SD: Since 2001, Alfa Matrix has been showing a quite eclectic approach of our music repertoire and label artist roster. We release EBM music from FRONT 242, POUPPEE FABRIKK, ELM or DIE ROBO SAPIENS, but also harsh dark elektro with ALIEN VAMPIRES, ACYLUM or C-LEKKTOR, minimal vintage synth with METROLAND, future pop with REICHSFEIND, NEUROACTIVE, MONDTRÄUME, BRUDERSCHAFT… Modern avantgarde electro with RECOIL, IMPLANT, KOMOR KOMMANDO, PSY’AVIAH or yet CUBIC! But also without forgetting our darker acts merging industrial with goth darkwave guitars like STAR INDUSTRY, HELALYN FLOWERS or FREAKANGEL.

We have been toying with this idea for this Spleen+ division for many months. It’s not something that comes out on the spur of the moment, you need to prepare such additional activity within our whole Alfa Matrix Label Group concept. We have been following and enjoying this continuous resurgence of the cold wave / post punk / minimal synth scene for some time. We also noticed that new sub-scene walls started emerging from the ground where the fans do not look much over the walls. Dedicated events and festivals get organised. Dedicated blogs, playlists, etc. start gathering more and more dark souls… So the idea from our side is to simply contribute to this movement offering it some structured and more targeted approach cos there are so many talented artists out there in need of support in their DIY efforts. This focused approach should allow us better supporting artists playing this kind of sound and reaching out to a boiling sub-scene, enlarging our scope of activities and bringing complementary fanbases together because eclecticism remains a core value for our work… And this without bringing us too far away from our roots cos the label team is made of 3 friends born in the early 70’s who were fed on JOY DIVISION, THE CURE, SIOUXSIE, SISTERS OF MERCY and other GHOST DANCE, X-MAL DEUTSCHLAND and SKELETAL FAMILY and not only on 80’s synth pop and the Belgian Electronic Body Music movement!

SL: What (new) signings can we expect?

SD: The very active Belgian act THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS is our first new signing in the genre (see the number of concerts they already played this year only! They are amazing! Their new album comes out in March…) while some current Alfa Matrix artists are potential candidates for a next release on Spleen+ including IMJUDAS or yet STAR INDUSTRY for example. Together with Frédéric Cotton (known for decades of activities as concert & party promotor in Brussels behind the famous “Fantastique Nights” but also as lead singer of THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS) we will also release this year a mega compilation devoted to the cold wave/post punk genre showing how prolific this scene can be anno 2023! We are working on it as we speak…

Since the announcement of this new label division, I am also quite happy and positively surprised by the number of proactive connections we got from very great bands who showed interest in working with us. That’s really exciting. Of course some of them are cool Belgian bands, some being living legends, cos it’s always easier collaborating with a local label speaking your language, but we are also in contact with artists from the UK, Italy, South America, etc. Nothing I want to reveal yet, but we will do this on due time. Keep an eye on our pages at https://www.facebook.com/spleen.plus and https://spleenplus.bandcamp.com . A website will follow soon as well.

SL: Will this also mean extra vinyl releases?

SD: The vinyl format is part of the equation on today’s music market. A portion of music fans who are collecting physical products do prefer the vinyl format but not all of them. So already with Alfa Matrix we have been issuing vinyls for some time for selected bands with own fanclubs and/or who are touring a lot. The vinyl format is also very appropriate to the cold wave/post punk genre that is uniting past, present and future. So my answer is a big YES. Absolutely!

Below are the first releases from the brand new label:

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

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

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Swedish Elektroklänge project formerly released a few EP’s -the first one being released by Plonk, and now signed to Alfa Matrix to unleash the debut album “Komposituation”. The work is inspired by German painter, poet and audio-visual artist Emil Schult -who in the 70s worked together with Kraftwerk.

Content: There’s a connection between Emil Schult and Kraftwerk. Soundwise the album is clearly driven by the legacy of the legendary Düsseldorf band. This is pure ‘Kraftwerk’-pop mixing astral atmospheres and melodies together with the unavoidable robotic vocals. The album sounds ‘easy going’ but also features a few more danceable cuts.

+ + + : There’s nothing more to say about the sound production mixing the minimalism in Electro-Pop of Kraftwerk with a more contemporary, and personal touch. I like the vintage sound treatments and the subtle sound arrangements. “Musik Kosmik” and “Dürerchen’s Mondfahrt” both are the most noticeable tracks for being a bit ‘harder’ and dancefloor orientated.

– – – : After Metroland, 808 Dot.Pop and Cubic Alfa Matrix already found a new band involved with the Kraftwerk spirit but Elektroklänge is the less convincing so far. It all sounds a bit too cliché without absolute master tracks.

Conclusion: “Elektrosituation” is an honest debut album but I think there’s more potential hiding behind this project then what came out.

Best songs: “Musik Kosmik”, “Dürerchen’s Mondfahrt”, “Einklinkt”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.elektroklange.com / www.facebook.com/Elektroklange

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Four years after their impressive debut EP Die Robo Sapiens are back with their debut album. The German side-project of Die Krupps featuring Jürgen Engler, Ralf Dörper and Marcel Zürcher brings us an album of ten songs plus an extra disc (available on CD and digital edits) featuring ten extra songs.

Content: Die Robo Sapiens stands for pure EBM. Good-old and elaborated songs from Düsseldorf which sometimes to me sound like a homage to legendary town mates Kraftwerk and DAF. Pure Electronic music mixing the robotic side and atmospheres of Kraftwerk together with the power of DAF. Engler’s captivating and alluring vocals on top will bring you to dance.

The extra disc features remixes by Seb Komor, Aiborforcen, Orange Sector, AD:key, Implant, Aesthetische, Cubic, Kant Kino, Metroland and Plastic Noise Experience.

+ + + : The already familiar songs “Teufelskreis” and “Tanz Mit Dem Roboter” both remain alluring cuts but I also have to mention “Transrapid Rapid”,  “Robotimierung”, “Robo Normativ”, “Niemals Stillstehen” and  “Automatenland” which all are outstanding pieces. It feels like Die Robo Sapiens moved on there where Die Krupps decided to experiment with guitar and Metal/Industrial music. You can feel the guys had some fun composing this album while the ‘Düsseldorfer’-sound reminding Kraftwerk but also DAF is a pretty cool wink. The bonus disc brings an impressive selection of great remixes in different genres; from EBM and sophisticated EBM to Minimal-Electro it’s nearly impossible to say which one sounds the best.

– – – : No minus points to mention.

Conclusion: When ‘veterans’ are teaching EBM artists how to compose great stuff!

Best songs: “Transrapid Rapid”, “Teufelskreis”, “Robotimierung”, “Tanz Mit Dem Roboter feat. JG. & The Robots”, “Robo Normativ”, “Niemals Stillstehen”,  “Automatenland” + “Teufelskreis – Sebastian Komor Rmx”, “Robotimierung – Orange Sector Rmx, “Transrapid Rapid – Aiboforcen Rmx”, “Niemals Stillstehen – Kant Kino Rmx”.

Rate: 9.

Artist: www.facebook.com/DieRoboSapiens

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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

In order to raise extra funds for our Ukrainian charity cause at Side-Line, we have released the single “Ukraina” which acts as a bridge between the two “Electronic Resistance” compilations released by Side-Line. This 5-track single – available right now for free download via Bandcamp – features the original track “Ukraina” by Iwan Lovynsky & KingSMarine augmented with 4 remixes by Aesthetische, Acylum, Kant Kino and Cubic who each bring their own sound in the mix.

Our chief editor Bernard Van Isacker explains: “The track perfectly explains what the people in Ukraine are going through, their anxieties, their anger. This is Ukraine as people live it today. You could call it an anthem which the other 4 remixers have personalized to their own taste.”

The single comes right after the release of the free “Electronic Resistance – Reconstruction” charity compilation and a new line of EBM Day T-shirts (which also include a free download of this compilation”).

EBM Day T-shirts

Via a special EBM Day T-shirt line we also decided to both remember Ukraine’s resistance and EBM-day in one, all revenue from this T-shirt line will go to Ukrainian aid.

On top we have produced special handmade steel medaillons, limited to 180 copies, representing the electronic resistance logo. You can use it as an amulet, or as a keychain. It is sold in combination with the EBM-day T-shirt (including an Electronic Resistance patch).

Shipping takes places end of December so you are sure to get your merchandise before the 24th of February. We do advise to place your order as soon as possible as the post is not always so fast.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

Out now via the Side-Line Bandcamp page is the 2nd volume in our Ukrainian charity compilation series. “Electronic Resistance – Reconstruction” is the follow-up to our previous 55-track strong compilation “Electronic Resistance” which was released earlier this year.

The new release holds 58 tracks, including 4 remixes of the Iwan Lovynsky & KingSMarine track “Ukraina” by Aesthetische, Cubic, Acylum and Kant Kino.

Bernard Van Isacker explains: “The war is still far from being over and what the Russians started on February 24th 2022 already has had a huge impact on all of our lives, but way more on those of the Ukrainian people. It’s clear that this topic is very touchy to many. Since the release hit Bandcamp yesterday evening, my mailbox is inundated by ‘proza’ from Russians who don’t agree with the concept of this compilation. But I also get a lot of feedback from Russian readers who appologize for what is happening, which is actually a good thing.”

The concept of this new volume is all about reconstruction, reconstruction of people’s lives, but also reconstruction of a nation which is still being brutalized by Russian aggression. The release holds again more than 50 darkwave / post-punk acts from the Ukrainian underground scene only including a lot of new names.

The compilation is now occupying the number 1 spot on Bandcamp’s industrial charts.

Bernard explains the difficulties to get this new volume on the road: “Just like with the first volume, we were again confronted with difficult conditions to get hold of the necessary files as some disks were in occupied territories, other files were lost and so we sometimes worked with very raw source material to reconstruct the tracks. Add to that that this time electronic contact was made extremely difficult due to the many electricity outages caused by Russian rocket attacks. Many track titles again refer to the current situation as you will notice. We again had the honor to have music from musicians active on the frontline, from soldiers to medics, and from people who continue to help out where possible. Heroes as far as I am concerned.”

All donations this time will go to United24, a global initiative to support Ukraine.

EBM Day Merchandise

But that’s not all. “We refuse to let Putin and his companions hijack what used to be a joyful EBM day, so we decided to both remember Ukraine’s resistance and EBM-day in one go by launching a special T-shirt line. Also the revenue from this T-shirt line will go to Ukrainian aid,” Van Isacker adds

A second T-shirt line comes accompanied with a special handmade steel medaillon, limited to 180 copies, representing the electronic resistance logo. You can use it as an amulet, or as a keychain. It is sold in combination with the EBM-day T-shirt (including an Electronic Resistance badge).

Both items hold the download of the “Electronic Resistance – Reconstruction” compilation.

Shipping takes places end of December so you are sure to get your merchandise before the 24th of February. We do advise to place your order as soon as possible as the post is not always so fast and shipping costs will go up after December so the post told us.

You can order the ‘EBM Day T-shirt’ right here and the ‘EBM Day T-shirt + medallion + badge’ right here.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

After a couple of teasing EP and video clip releases, the Belgian Alfa Matrix label releases today the full length debut album by Die Robo Sapiens, the ultimate EBM project by the members of Die Krupps. “Robo Sapien Race”. The release is available now on a fan edition Vinyl (with lots of extras such as a DJ Turntable slipmat) and as a limited 2CD box set pressing next to download.

Behind Die Robo Sapiens we find the Die Krupps members Jürgen Engler plus Ralf Dörper and Marcel Zürcher.

The 10-track “Robo Sapien Race” album offers a blend of minimal, vintage and powerful synth music with harder, stronger and angrier EBM assaults made of fat and ripping basslines, powerful German vocals and upbeat synth sequences. The artwork was rendered by the talented Japanese designer Tomoki Hayasaki.

Jürgen Engler: “The idea for us was to have an outlet for songs that couldn’t be used in a Die Krupps context. The use of guitars in Die Robo Sapiens music being taboo In a way, it’s a return to our electro roots, but with a twist. Imagine the Duesseldorf sound of Kraftwerk mixed with hard Die Krupps EBM. This combination of styles has been spooking around my brain for a while, and it was time to put it into action.”

The album’s first pressing comes out as a limited deluxe double-CD Digipak holding a bonus disc featuring each album song remixed by an impressive list of electro artists in the likes of Sebastian Komor, Orange Sector, Plastic Noise Experience, Metroland, Aiboforcen, Ad:Key, Implant, Aesthetische, Kant Kino and Cubic.

The album also gets released on vinyl format as a fan edition pack limited to 333 units worldwide including the 10-track album on black vinyl in a deluxe gatefold packaging (with full lyrics) with a bonus DJ turntable slipmat, a page marker and a numbered postcard, plus the new 20-track “Sounds From The Matrix 023” label CD compilation which for now is exclusive to this release.

You can check the tracks right below.

Videos

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Second stop in the new EP-series by Cubic is the Belgian town of Ghent. Franky Deblomme has been exposed to the influences from the town, which got fame during the New-Beat era while famous labels like Music Man Records, R&S impacted him as well. Strangely, I didn’t notice any mention of N.E.W.S. which released great electroclash productions.

Content: The EP features 3 new cuts plus a remix from the previous EP (cf. “Exit: Frankfurt”) by Metroland. Both debut cuts are groovy and definitely into Dance. “Hold On” sounds more minimal-like.

+ + + : I became totally convinced on the third cut; “Hold On” getting us back to the elements of the great “The Cubic Alphabet”-album. Label mates and friends Metroland did a fantastic job remixing “Asteroids”.

– – – : Both debut tracks are okay, but a bit too ‘Dance-commercial’ like to my taste.

Conclusion: The concept is getting increasingly interesting although I definitely preferred the first stop -or exit, in Frankfurt.

Best songs: “Hold On – Monday Mix”, “Asteroids – Metroland Mix Part 1 & 2”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/cubicpromo

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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

Throughout his work with Cubic, the Belgian artist Franky Deblomme always has distilled his own eclectic influences within the wide spectrum of electronic music into his material. The result is a mix of melodic techno, minimal synth pop, hypnotic trance and 808 electro with a darkish touch of underground body music in the background.

With the ‘Exit’ series, which started with the “Exit – Frankfurt” 4-track single, Cubic goes on a journey to all the influential electronic music cities. After a first stop in Frankfurt (Germany) with the first edition, the next stop is Ghent (Belgium).

Here’s what Franky Deblomme says about the “Exit: Ghent” single: “Although Ghent already played an important role during the New Beat period, the seeds for what would later become what we know today as “electronic music” really started to blossom in the early 90s. In 92, when I went to study in Ghent , I was at the right place at the right time to see the whole culture blossom. Although we were still in the grunge and guitars era in terms of mainstream music electro started to bubble up. Ghent was then the home of some iconic record labels (Music Man, R&S records), specialized record shops, small bars and (after-)clubs (such as Zodiac, Les Enfants Terribles, etc.).”

One of the most talented electronic musicians active in today’s dark scene

This new 4-track EP offers 4 tracks. Especially the second track “One For Greg (zodiac mix)” has a special meaning for the musician: “This track is dedicated to a good friend of mine who died far too young. In the early 90’s we used to visit the Zodiac club in the center of Ghent. These DJ’s inspired me. Definitely one of the reasons I got involved in electronic music later…”

This EP also features once again another Belgian guest behind the remixing console, with Metroland reworking “Asteroids” into a 9-minute plus version divided into 2 parts with a rather great tempo change.

This EP proves once again that Deblomme is one of the most talented electronic musicians active in today’s dark scene.

Out now exclusively via Bandcamp, soon also on all other platforms.

Do also check out his first single in the ‘Exit’ series, called “Exit – Frankfurt”.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

Taken from “Bittersweet”, the newest album by the Belgian dark pop act Psy’Aviah, is the “The Wildness In Me” EP which highlights the more up-tempo electric pop side of the Belgian band. For this track (and the more trip-pop oriented B-side “The Book Of Life”) Yves Schelpe collaborated with female singer Eli Rho.

On remix duties we find a very versatile number of of bands offering remixes, radio and extended versions but also instrumental edits by such artists as Miss Suicide, 13th Angel, Cyborgdrive, Restriction 9, Cubic, Karl Roque, Outpost 11, Studio-X and many more. A full booklet is included as well for those who download it from Bandcamp.

You can check out the full EP below on Bandcamp (with other platforms to follow later on next month).

And here is the video for the main track.

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: Electro-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: After the successful debut album “The Cubic Alphabet” released last year Belgian Franky Deblomme strikes back with a totally new EP featuring three songs plus one remix. This is the debut part of a new series.

Content: The 90s Frankfurter Techno scene has been an important source of inspiration to this EP. Cubic revisited elements of the 90s Techno sound which was really huge in Frankfurt. He mixed it with his ‘Kraftwerk-Pop’ approach, bringing 3 cool songs. It sounds totally dance- and minimal-like with some robotic spoken passages on top. The song “Impact 2023” has been remixed by Nevel who’s another Belgian artist (previously involved with Propulsion, Nebula-H, Ex.Es).

+ + + : This EP reveals 3 new and great songs. It sounds like Cubic with an extra ‘Frankfurter’-Techno touch on top. I like this approach which is also revealing great robotic-vintage sound treatments and deep bass lines. “Wieder Im Keller” is a masterpiece. Both other songs are also worthy of examination while Nevel accomplished a cool, bouncing remix. 

– – – : Back in the old days of the Frankfurter Techno scene this EP would have been available as CD. I regret that such a cool work hasn’t been released in a physical format.

Conclusion: Even if Cubic is driven by only retro-elements and influences it remains original and refreshing Electro-Pop.

Best songs: “Wieder Im Keller”, “Impact 2023”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: https://cubicpromo.be / www.facebook.com/cubicpromo

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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: The last year released album “A Chemical Process” was the comeback of German EBM project Digital Factor. Mike Langer is now back on track unleashing three new songs plus three remixes from label mates.

Content: All songs are perfect stuff for an EP -or single. Two cuts are mixing Electro-Pop and EBM while “Sometimes We Are A Little Bit Closer” is pure EBM adrenaline carried by solid bass line à la Pouppée Fabrikk. All songs have been remixed by Psy’Aviah, Cubic and Neikka RPM. 

+ + + : The title song opening the EP plus the EBM driven “Sometimes We Are A Little Bit Closer” both are great pieces reminding us of the great writing skills of this project. “What?” sounds a bit catchier while “Sometimes We Are A Little Bit Closer” is driven by evil forces. The remixes are pretty interesting as well but especially “I Wanna Taste” where Neikka RPM injected something extra thanks to sensual and mysterious chants of Neikka RPM’s singer.

– – – : The original version of “I Wanna Taste” is the only cut which couldn’t convince me. Well that’s not that bad for an EP!

Conclusion: Digital Factor confirms to be back into business. This is great EBM-driven stuff for retro-lovers and open-minded fans.

Best songs: “Sometimes We Are A Little Bit Closer”, “What?”, “I Wanna Taste – Neikka RPM Remix”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/digitalfactor

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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

Cubic – aka Belgian artist Franky Deblomme – is back with an all new 4-track EP “Exit – Frankfurt”. Offering a mix of melodic techno, minimal synth pop and 808 electro with a darkish touch of underground body music in the background, “Exit: Frankfurt” revisits his past influences and tributes the city of Frankfurt (Germany).

Franky explains: “The sonic output from Frankfurt in the 90’s was a big influence: labels such as Harthouse and EYE Q, techno clubs like The Omen and Dorian Gray. It was techno, it was a culture, but more intense and different than the Belgian way of doing it. Still to this day the German sound is an inspiration.”

Out now first exclusively via Bandcamp, the release will be out on all other platforms by April 22nd.

Check the full EP 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: Electro-Wave, Dark-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/info: Last year Brazilian Individual Industry celebrated the 25^th anniversary of their second full length “Ice-Water”. Driven by core members Alex Twin (Wave Records owner) and Maurizio Bonito, “Ice-Water” was originally released by the legendary Cri Du Chat. The record was produced by Roberto Verta (still involved with Harry) while Danyela Rocha was the vocalist. The album has been remastered and features a few extra songs/remixes.

Content: You can quickly tell that this album was produced several years ago now. It stands for a sweet and somewhat intimate Electro/Wave-Pop style. The compositions have something minimal, even a bit rudimentary. There’s an interesting cover version of French legends Kas Product and another song featuring Opera Multi Steel.

The bonus songs are remixes made by Marcelo Gallo (Pitch Yarn Of Matter) revealing a Trip-Pop approach.

+ + + : This reissue evokes to me good-old souvenirs as I especially liked the Cri Du Chat label roster. You’ve to place this album in its context; 90s Electro/Wave-Pop driven by great synth lines. The cover version of Kas Product’s “Tina Town” is a pretty cool track. I also have to mention the sweet and intimate opener “Cubic” for which the band made a clip to promote this reissue. I also have to say a word about the great work -which is a true transformation, by Marcelo Gallo who injected a somewhat sensual Trip-Pop touch to the work. It sometimes reminds me of Everything But The Girl.

– – – : While the remixes are bringing some modernism, the original songs are a little bit suffering from the weight of time. The songs are missing a bit of elaboration.

Conclusion: This album is a must have for the fans and pure nostalgia for Cri Du Chat fans.

Best songs: “Tina Town”, “Cubic” + “Primer – Marcelo Gallo Tripping 97 Remix”, “Abbot – Marcelo Gallo Iceland 97 Remix”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/individualindustry

Label: www.waverecordsmusic.com / www.facebook.com/waverecords

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

Over the past 12 months Inferno Sound Diaries‘ Stéphane Froidcoeur selected nearly 750 productions of which 600 also got a review on Side-Line. Some productions have been refused because the style of music didn’t fit, while a lot of reviews are still to be published in 2022.

Stéphane: “I’m really grateful to all labels, bands and promoters considering my work and efforts and I hope they’ll keep on providing me new promos next year. My greatest gratitude and thank goes once again to Rich Bova (NEIKKA RPM) who for years and years now is reading, correcting and improving the reviews. I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude and without Rich I simply would have to stop this job. No need to say I’ve been once again disappointed by a few so-called ‘artists’ and label owners. The attitude and lack of respect shown by those people -luckily a very few number, is just disgusting… but I’m afraid it reflects the world we’re living in… Behind a genius artist is not always hiding a great person…”

2021 has been also a very special year for Stéphane as he celebrated his 30th anniversary of journalism with an impressive series of interviews featuring very different people from this scene. Stéphane : “Big thanks to Séba Dolimont, Suicide Commando, Juno Reactor, Raison D’Être, Jürgen Vanvlasselaer, Rich Bova, Armageddon Dildos and Bernard Van Isacker who kindly accepted to contribute to this celebration.”

Here are the interviews conducted:

• Celebration Interview with Bernard Van Isacker (Side-Line & Alfa Matrix)
• Celebration Interview’ with Uwe Kanka / Armageddon Dildos
• Celebration Interview’ with ‘Music Lover’ Jürgen Vanvlasselaer
• Celebration Interview’ with Rich Bova / Neikka RPM
• Celebration Interview’ with Peter Andersson / Raison D’Être
• Celebration Interview’ with Ben Watkins aka Juno Reactor
• Celebration Interview’ with Johan Van Roy (Suicide Commando)
• Celebration Interview’ with Seba Dolimont (Alfa Matrix)

Like every year Stéphane has made a selection from the best albums of the year. This Top 25 covers different styles like EBM, Dark-Electro, IDM, Synth-Pop, Ethereal, Dark-Ambient, Industrial, Cinematographic, Gothic, Post-Punk, Dark-Techno and a few related genres and is taken from the promotional material we got while compilations, ‘best of’-productions, EP’s and singles were not considered for this ‘best of’.

But now, here are the 25 best albums!

1. Rome – “Parlez-Vous Hate?” – Trisol
2. Circumpolar – “Awaiting The Dawn” – Alfa Matrix
3. Clicks – “Goth” – Dependent Records
4. Of The Wand And The Moon – “Your Love Can’t Hold This Wrath Of Sorrow” – Heidrunar Mykrunar
5. Crystal Geometry – “Distressing Visions” – Sonic Groove
6. Mechanimal – “Θόρυβος” – Inner Ear Records
7. Raison D’être – “Demonum“ – Cyclic Law
8. Zwaremachine – “Conquest 3000” – Phage Tapes
9. Eclipsed – “Holyiens” – Electro Frequent
10. Nattskiftet – “Stamplar In” – Progress Productions
11. Nnhmn – “Deception Island 2” – Zoharum
12. This Morn’omina – “The Roots Of Saraswati” – Dependent Records
13. Skrika – “Fifth Nature” – Cryo Chamber
14. Llumen – “Polygon Heart” – Alfa Matrix
15. Not My God – “Simulacra” – Metropolis
16. Seasurfer – “Metropolis” – Reptile Music
17. Ps Stamps Back – “Au Bout De La Nuit” – Ant-Zen
18. The Illusion Of Silence – “Gardens In The Dark” – Shadowplay
19. She Spread Sorrow – “Huntress” – Cold Spring Records
20. Blutengel – “Fountain Of Destiny” – Out Of Line
21. Agonoize – “Revelation Six Six Sick” – Reporecords
22. The Force Dimension – “Mortal Cable” – Sonic Groove Experiments
23. Cubic – “The Cubic Alphabet” – Alfa Matrix
24. Pyrroline – “Struggling” – Electro Aggression Records
25. Beckahesten – “Tydor” – Cyclic Law

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, … all have released 10 new streaming albums and EPs this morning from the Belgian Alfa Matrix label from artists such as Armageddon Dildos, Circumpolar, Cubic, Elektrostaub, First Aid 4 Souls, Imjudas, Rector Scanner, Siva Six and Suicidal Romance.

All in all a mix of good oldschool darkwave, EBM, synthpop, electropop, industrial and harsh electro.

If your prefer HQ audio downloads, then you can head for the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page where are all available as well since a few days.

Below are the releases in alphabetic band-order. Enjoy!

Armageddon Dildos – Destruction EP

Circumpolar – Awaiting The Dawn

Cubic – Phonic Lessons Part 3 EP

Elektrostaub – Reliance

First Aid 4 Souls – Beyond The Galaxy (Rework)

ImJudas – Ritual EP

Rector Scanner – Das Mädchen Aus Dem All EP I

Rector Scanner – Das Mädchen Aus Dem All EP II

Siva Six – Deathcult

Suicidal Romance – Love Promise EP

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

Here’s a band which we absolutely love: Cubic. Behind the project we find Franky Deblomme (ex-Darkmen) who with this new project offers a mix of melodic techno, minimal synth pop and 808 electro with a dark touch of underground body music in the background.

Out now – and first via Bandcamp – is the new 5-track EP “Phonic Lessons Part 3” featuring the previously unreleased track “Q”, a totally revamped 12 inch edit of the “The Cubic Alphabet” track “E” next to reworks of various other tracks.

For those who love vintage electronics with a fresh touch, this is your thing for sure. Warmly recommended.

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

In April of this year, the electropop act Suicidal Romance released their “Runaways” comeback EP (available here on Bandcamp). Out now is their brand new 4-track EP “Love Promise”. The duo Dmitry Darling and Viktoria Seimar deliver here an electrowave love-song augmented with 3 remixes by Digital Factor, Kilmarth and Cubic.

Gefundenes Fressen for fans of Blutengel, L’ame Immortelle and In Strict Confidence.

The single was written and produced by Dmitry Darling, mixed by Pjotr Latosev and mastered by Max Gerasyonov except for the remixes which were mastered by Ocean Black. On the artwork by Gobotoru we recognize Vira Takinada.

You can check out the single below or download it right here from Bandcamp.

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

Since the release of the “Tulpa” EP in 2017, ImJudas has appeared on various compilations, including our very own “Face The Beat 5” with the track “Without Us You Are Nothing”. With the 6-track EP “Ritual”, Italian artist Maxx Maryan – male half of the electro rock duo Helalyn Flowers – launches the last EP before the launch of his debut solo album “Yrjudas” scheduled for an early 2022 release.

Besides the title track we also find an Aiboforcen remix of the B-side “So Untrue” featuring Noemi Aurora, and 4 remixes of “Ritual” by 808 Dot Pop, Cubic, Reichsfeind and Acylum.

You can download the EP right now from Bandcamp, check the previews below.

And this is the debut EP which was released in 2017, “Tulpa”.

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

Franky Deblomme got some recognition with his EBM-project Darkmen. After having stopped the project we didn’t hear new stuff from this musician till he started working under the CUBIC moniker. After the excellent “Alphabet Hymn”-EP and having revisited the 808 Dot.Pop-album “Cubic Temperature”, Franky unleashed CUBIC’s debut album “The Cubic Alphabet”. The work has been released by Alfa Matrix, which in a way is a kind of consecration for the artist and a promising start for Cubic. The sound has a clear connection with 808 Dot.Pop and Metroland; a kind of Kraftwerk-Pop with a personal and more diversified touch on top. “The Cubic Alphabet” is a refreshing opus, which brings something extra to traditional Electro-Pop.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Franky, I think you started experimenting with music in 1981! What kind of musician are you and how did you see yourself evolving throughout the years? 

Franky: The fascination for synthesizer started in ‘81 (seeing Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran behind a prophet 5 synth); the experimenting followed a few years later .

At first with toy machines: a casio SK5 and some cassette players, as the years passed I was able to buy the real stuff. I’ve always been a collector of hardware synths, samplers and sequencers (even now). Getting to know these machines inside out is something that drives me.

I’m not a trained musician, but with 30 years of knob twiddling and a trained ear, I dare to say that I know what I’m doing. Even now I’m still eager to learn, especially in the mixing and mastering process where there’s still room for improvement .

Q: EBM fans for sure remind you from your involvement with Darkmen. How do you look back at this project and how did you finally come to set up CUBIC, which is still Electronic although quite different –and your first new music experience in years? 

Franky: I did the Darkmen-thing for 10 years together with one of my best friends, Thomas Vrambout. We managed to meet or play live with bands we admired ( like DAF, Nitzer Ebb, Orange Sector, SA42, Terrence Fixmer…) and we travelled the world for free to do something we liked to do. So you can say It was a wonderful experience.

The downside, EBM is a quite restricted genre in terms of artistic freedom. EBM is almost like a mathematical formula (in sound, structure, artwork and lyrics ). In the end I felt too restricted. So when we both turned 40, It was time to pull the plug and leave EBM to the ‘Jügend’.

With CUBIC I wanted to incorporate a lot of my other musical influences and preferences .

Q: I experienced a kind of duality in the sound of Cubic; pretty old-school driven and yet a pretty refreshing sound. Tell us a bit more about Cubic-sound and the different sources of inspiration? 

Franky: Like most of us I was influenced by Synth-Pop (Duran Duran, Depeche Mode), the dark Belgian sounds (Front 242, Neon Judgement, New-Wave).

But the Electronic sounds and bands that emerged in the early 90’s, were the ones that had the most impact on me; think Orbital, Leftfield, System 7, The Orb or labels like Warp or R&S Records .

In that period I also was a ‘Techno’-DJ, playing in clubs and parties so the whole 90s club sound is something that I still like .

Not that I’m into EDM or the current Techno sounds, but bands like Der Dritte Raum, Steven Rutter or Extrawelt can inspire me.

All those influences I wanted to incorporate in the Cubic sound. With the first album I still had to find my musical direction, but the new demo’s will be a 100 % Cubic.

Q: Behind your debut album “The Cubic Alphabet” is a kind of concept, but what is it really all about? And how did the writing and production of the album happen? 

Franky: Well, the alphabet has 26 letters so I’ve intended to write 26 letters/songs ,  each one referring to one letter of the alphabet.

So the first full album (with 13 letters / songs on it ) is the first part . In a later stage a second full length album with 13 letters will be released, forming the whole alphabet .

The album was written/mixed and mastered in my ‘Bong 13’ studio over a period of 12 months. All songs are based on hardware synths, drum machines and effects, recorded to a digital platform. Half of the songs already existed in demo form, and were rearranged for the album, others were newly written .

Q: I think you’ve always been pretty close with Sven Lauwers aka ‘Passenger S’ from Metroland and 808 Dot.Pop (and formerly Ionic Vision). You even reworked all songs from his 808 Dot.Pop-album  “The Colour Temperature” into a new work entitled “The Cubic Temperature”. What can you reveal about this ‘musical friendship’ and how did “The Cubic Temperature” see the daylight? Any plans to set up a common project? 

Franky: It must have been 16 years ago now I got in touch with Sven (he was running the EBM sublabel Machineries Of Joy). From the beginning It was clear that we had the same taste (in music, humor and beer). So many years later, he’s one of my closest friends. His musical ear for details in his music and the way he translates concepts into sounds and songs both are a real inspiration. We both push each other to a higher level.

I have made a lot of remixes for all of his projects, and  “The Cubic Temperature” is to my opinion the highlight of our collaboration over all the years. That album is not a remix album. I wanted to keep a lot of the original 808 signature sounds and add layers of Cubic on top. It started out with one song (cf. “Placnk’s H”) and the result was so exciting the idea grew to do the whole album.

I still think it’s a great concept, one artist doing an interpretation of another artist without losing the soul of the original songs (and remixing it to death). It took almost 6 months to finish, but it was worth it.

Other plans? Yes and now: we have to be careful not to overdo this collaboration. When we get together it often results in crazy ideas or concepts, maybe some of those will see the light of day.

Q: What brings the future? Do you’ve concrete plans to go with Cubic on stage? How do you expect Cubic evolving after the debut album?

Franky:Playing live is for sure something I want to do in the future, full live or a mixture of DJing and live, everything could be possible.

The fist focus is now releasing some more music, and creating the real ‘cubic’-signature sound and creating something of a following.

Let’s hope to get some live action in 2022 .

Some remixes I’ve done for fellow Alfa Matrix bands will probably be released soon… and some more Cubic sounds.

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

“Jab # 3​,​1415926535​.​.​. [Ain’t gonna fuck with my brain]” is the title of an all new 8-track strong EP by the female fronted dark electro pop act Diffuzion.

Lead singer Xev explained the title as this: “‘Ain’t Gonna Fuck With My Brain!’ is a quite usual expression we use in Russian language when somebody annoys you with repetitive and unnecessary information. So why not make a song out of it.”

Combine that with the the highly frustrating Covid19 lockdown situation with a physical separation of over 7000 km across the Atlantic ocean between both members and you get the idea where this comes from. The whole resulted in an excellent cut!

Besides the title track we also get an excellent, but really an excellent, rework by Aesthetische of “The Blessed”. The title track was reworked by First Aid 4 Souls, Cubic, Aesthetische, Matthew Creed, Neikka RPM and Acylum vs. Aengeldust.

You can download this rather attractive release below, first on Bandcamp, later on on all other services.

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: Electro-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: After the excellent “Alphabet Hymn”-EP and having revisited the 808 Dot.Pop-album “Cubic Temperature” Belgian solo-project Cubic now unleashes his own debut-album. It’s a conceptual work wherein Franky Deblomme (ex Darkmen) put some letters of the alphabet into music.

Content: Franky Deblomme already gives us an idea of his sound approach on previous releases. He’s clearly inspired by the Minimal-Electro/Pop approach of his label mate Metroland (and 808 Dot.Pop) getting back to the sound of Kraftwerk, mixed with his own Dance & New-Beat influences plus a harder EBM touch (as a kind of wink to Darkmen). Vocals have been replaced by robotic/computer vocals, which are just adding a cool effect to the songs.

+ + + : Cubic has achieved a well-crafted and intelligent piece of retro/modern Electro. The influences are moving much farther than simply Kraftwerk, but I also want to mention some bass lines reminding me of Front 242 and Dance sequences à la Niels Van Gogh. It creates a diversified opus with as common thread a sophisticated and refreshing Electro production. The work reveals different potential hits such as “X – Album Edit”, “W”, “S”, “D – Delta Dub” and “F – French Dub Mix”. The concept has something funny, but the music is definitely more interesting. This is a surprising production mixing refinement and subtlety at one side and danceable songs with a refreshing Electro-Pop style at the other side.

– – – : Cubic belongs to this growing wave of Robotic/Kraftwerk-ian projects so it’s not that renewing although Cubic has something of its own!

Conclusion: Cubic brings Electro-Pop music to a higher dimension and level by mixing different- and related influences together. This is for sure one of the hottest newcomers from the Alfa-Matrix roster.

Best songs: “X – Album Edit”, “W”, “S”, “F – French Dub Mix”, “D – Delta Dub”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/franky.deblomme.3

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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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After some compilation appearances, including our very own “Face The Beat 6”, and a collaboration with 808 Dot Pop on the upbeat “Cubic Temperature” album plus a first EP (“Alphabet Hymn”), the Belgian dark electronics act Cubic has released its debut album: “The Cubic Alphabet”. The debut album features 13 tracks.

Behind Cubic we find Franky Deblomme (ex-Darkmen) who in Cubic makes a dark mix of melodic techno and 808 electro. Add to this touches of underground body music in the background and you know what to expect. If we have to name two artists that could act as a sonic reference it would be Gesaffelstein and Terence Fixmer.

The album “The Cubic Alphabet” is out now via Alfa Matrix in 2 formats: CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore and download via Bandcamp (and of course all the other digital services). We were quite impressed!

You can listen listen to the album right below.

Other Cubic releases

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

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Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Cubic is a Belgian solo-project driven by Franky Deblomme. EBM freaks will remind him as the frontman of Darkmen. “Alphabet Hymn” is the first work released by Cubic on Alfa Matrix. There’s a kind of concept about the alphabet.

Content: Cubic rapidly reminds me of Metroland and 808 Dot Pop. It’s not a coincidence Franky Deblomme has remixed the entire 808 Dot Pop debut album into the so-called “Cubic Temperature”. There’s a similar approach in the ‘robotic-pop’ featuring computer spoken vocals and a Kraftwerk-ish styled composition. The work features 5 songs –including a remix by 808 Dot Pop while the other versions are pretty diversified.

+ + + : Cubic has something special; it’s not just a copy of Metroland and 808 Dot Pop, but a more diversified composition, which is also getting back to some EBM roots (cf. “X – Edit”) and Techno (cf. “F – French Mix”). The last mentioned cut is a pure sonic jewel; the fusion of Kraftwerk inspired Electro-Pop together with Techno vibes. The tracks are carried by impressive bass lines, which is another great element of the work. Last, but not least 808 Dot Pop did a great remix of “F”.

– – – : The ‘robotic-pop’ army has been joined by one new adherent so in the end Cubic is not really innovating although still taking me by surprise.

Conclusion: Cubic clearly sounds as a project with a huge potential and this EP is a solid teaser to await the album.

Best songs: “F –French Mix”, “F – 808 Dot Mix”, “Alphabet Hymn – Edit”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/franky.deblomme.3

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info:  After having remixed the song “Kelvin” for 808 DOT POP’s last single, Franky Deblomme aka Cubic was asked to rework more songs from the debut album “The Colour Temperature”. Here’s the result, a new album featuring twelve songs.

Content: 808 Dot Pop and Cubic both are driven by similar influences and their love for Electro/Robotic-Pop music. The link with Kraftwerk is always nearby, but both artists also have their own approach. I experienced some of the songs reworked by Cubic as more elaborated than the original edits. It’s all in the details, like some heavy sound blasts emerging at the surface. The computer vocals are still there, some bass lines have been empowered while the last song is an original “Cubic Mix”.

+ + + : I prefer this kind of album instead of the classical EP’s filled with remixes. Cubic seriously reworked the original songs. You’ll easily recognize the songs, but there’s a little extra on top. Sometimes colder like the opening track “Cie 1960 – Chromaticity”, sometimes carried by frightening sequences like on “Blackbodies – Lampblack” and sometimes driven by great sound treatments like on “Seeing Heat – Peripheral”, Franky Deblomme brings a true bonus to an album, which already was a cool surprise. The already familiar  “Ultraviolet – Photonic” remains another attention grabber.

– – – : I always have a problem when remixes or reworked songs by other artists are better than the original versions. I can’t say it’s true for all of the songs featured at “The Cubic Temperature”, but it’s amazing to see what Franky Depblomme has accomplished. Both musicians should consider working together!

Conclusion: This album is an absolute must have for Electro-Pop lovers, but also a nice addition to the debut album of 808 Dot Pop.

Best songs: “Cie 1960 – Chromaticity”, “Seeing Heat – Peripheral”, “Blackbodies – Lampblack”, “Ultraviolet – Photonic”, “Kelvin 4500”.

Rate: (8).

Artists: www.facebook.com/808dotpop / www.facebook.com/franky.deblomme.3

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: We discovered 808 Dot Pop –side project of Metroland’s ‘Passenger S’ with the successful debut album “The Colour Temperature”. One year later the Belgian artist strikes back with a new album entitled “The Cubic Temperature”, which is a collaboration with Cubic. And Cubic is another Belgian project driven by Franky Deblomme (previously involved with the EBM project Darkmen) and recently signed to Alfa Matrix. “Ultraviolet” is featuring three separate although connected releases: “Phototonic”, “Pentatonic” and “Diatonic”.

Content: “Ultraviolet Phototonic” features the title song plus 3 remixes. “Ultraviolet Pentatonic” is a single featuring 2 songs and “Ultraviolet Diatonic” is the final production revealing 3 more tracks.

The music remains in the line of 808 Dot Pop’s debut album; pure robotic Electro-Pop, which sounds catchy and full of bleeping sequences and some computer vocals. Remixes have been made by Implant and the German artist My.Cosmo while 808 Dot Pop accomplished alternative edits as well. The most surprising work is “Ultraviolet Diatonic” featuring a piano edit by My.Cosmo plus 2 surprising cover versions from classical pieces. First Erik Satie’s famous “Gymnopedie” and next Johan Pachelbel’s “Canon In D”. Both tracks have been transposed into robotic-pop.

+ + + : The title song has been masterly reworked by Cubic and will appeal for all lovers of 808 Dot Pop and Metroland. This is catchy, robotic music featuring sophisticated passages, but especially entertaining, danceable Electro. Among the remixes I especially want to mention the harder version by Implant and the more elaborated “Suntanned”-version. From the 3 productions I especially recommend the “Phototonic”-one. The reworked of “Gymnopedie”-theme from Erik Satie is cool and original.

– – – : I know Passenger S likes releasing different edits from the same title-song, but I personally prefer one great piece with consistence instead of different digital formats. The classical covers are cool and original, but not exactly adding a true bonus to the work.

Conclusion: These works –but especially “Ultraviolet –Phototonic” only confirm the potential of 808 Dot Pop and the talent of Cubic.  

Best songs: “Ultraviolet – Photonic”, “Ultraviolet – Implant Remix”, “Ultraviolet – Suntanned”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/808dotpop

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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

In June last year the Belgian electronic act 808 DOT POP released its debut album “The Colour Temperature”. The release was extremely well received and was followed by a string of singles including a remix by the Belgian electronic music veteran Franky Deblomme aka Cubic for “Kelvin” and this for 7″ single release. What first seemed to be a one-shot remix turned into a further collaboration.

More tracks were reworked and finally the idea grew to recreate all of the tracks on the debut album. A few months later “The Cubic Temperature” was born which holds reworks of “The Colour Temperature” and related singles, including B-sides.

Also included exclusively on the Bandcamp release only is a true megamix.

The release – which is officially out since today – is available on CD and as Bandcamp download (including an exclusive 13 minute megamix on Bandcamp called “The Cubic Mix”).

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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Here’s a release we have been looking forward a lot! After some compilation appearances – such as our very own “Face The Beat 6” compilation – plus a collaboration with 808 Dot Pop on the “Cubic Temperature” album, the time has come for Franky Deblomme aka Cubic to launch the first release with his new project.

On the debut EP “Alphabet Hymn” (available now on Bandcamp) you’ll discover some vintage Düsseldorf synth influences next to Berlin techno, 90’s Manchester rave, EBM and the typical Belgian club sound style. Expect typical Belgian after-club sound including also a succinct usage of the female voice.

All of the material was recorded in Deblomme’s Bong 13 studio, using only hardware synths and effects. “An addiction that cannot be replaced by software synths”, adds Franky Deblomme.

This 5-track EP also features a remix by label mates 808 Dot Pop remixing the song “F”.

Check the full EP below!

And here’s the exclusive cut the project did for “Face The Beat 6”.

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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It has been a hectic year, also for Alfa Matrix, but luckily their bands took the time to work in their studio to record new material. Out now via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page is the label’s 10th edition in the “Matrix Downloaded” compilation series, again offering you a – free – insight in what the Belgian label is all about. You can discover 64 tracks right here on Bandcamp.

The download holds tracks from Cubic, Psy’Aviah, Aesthetische, Digital Factor, Reichsfeind, Llumen, Zombie Girl, Diffuzion, Matthew Creed, Circuito Cerrado, Circumpolar, Venal Flesh, Mentallo & The Fixer, Freakangel, Alien Vampires, I:Scintilla, Schwarzblut, Totem Obscura, Reactor7X, First Aid 4 Souls, Lederman / De Meyer, Implant, AD:keY, Kant Kino, Die Robo Sapiens, ELM, Pouppee Fabrikk, Armageddon Dildos, Plastic Noise Experience, Synapsyche, Avarice In Audio, Elektrostaub, Junksista, First Aid 4 Souls, Benestrophe, Mental Exile, Star Industry, Halo In Reverse, Lovelorn Dolls, Helalyn Flowers, Essence Of Mind, Rector Scanner, Elektroklänge, Metroland, Lights A.M, Cosmic Armchair, Aiboforcen, H.O.W., 808 DOT POP, Suicidal Romance, Entrzelle, Technoir, Neuroactive, Mondträume, The Psychic Force, Studio-X, Studio-X Vs Simon Carter, Neikka RPM, Komor Kommando, Siva Six, Aengeldust, Acylum, Dunkelwerk and Növö.

Exclusive face masks

Next to that you can also get the download together with a face mask, out in a very limited series. You can either buy them separately or get all 3 in one. Check the set of 3 Face Masks (Blue Matrix + Endzeit + Red EBM Alert) or the separate masks.

Note that EVERY face mask order comes with a free compilation CD on top: “Sounds from the matrix 022” with 20 extra tracks.

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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808 Dot Pop, the new side-project from Metroland’s Passenger S, releases an exclusive fanbase bundle of 3 (!!) exclusive 7” vinyl releases, each limited to 150 copies and available right here via Alfa Matrix.

Across these 3 vinyl singles, 808 Dot Pop serves us the result of various collaborations (with Italian singer Noemi Aurora of Helalyn Flowers and with Belgian sound guru Franky Deblomme aka CUBIC) remaining very focused on the project’s own sonic trademark made of melodic synths, analogue drum machines, fresh dynamic bubbly sequences and floating electronics.

This vinyl collection is a nice extra to the very well received “The Colour Temperature” CD album. You can order the bundle straight from the Alfa Matrix label.

2 new downloads and an exclusive 7 inch vinyl for “Kelvin”

Next are new versions of of “Kelvin” spread over 2 separate download singles: “Kelvin (7300)” and “Kelvin (5600)”. The “5600” mix comes alongside the brand new and exclusive song entitled “Boltzmann’s K” while the “7300” 3-track single reveals both “7300” and “4500” versions of the title song next to the “Boltzmann mix” of the “Planck’s H” track.

808 DOT POP’s “Kelvin” is also released in the unique 7inch vinyl which you find in the above mentioned 7 inch vinyl bundle.

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: Electro-pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: After the “Variation” and “Pulsation” edits of “Blackbodies” we now get the “Radiation”-EP from 808 Dot Pop. This is the solo-project from Belgian artist ‘Passenger S’ who’s still involved with Metroland. Noemi Aurora (Helalyn Flowers) has been featured as a guest singer on previous “Blackbodies”-EP’s.

Content: “Radiation” features a new version of “Blackbodies”, which sounds darker and rough while Noemi’s vocals have been ‘computerized’ adding a sterile touch to the work. We next get two songs and especially “RGB (Red To Green)” is an interesting cut for its sophisticated approach. After the experimental debut, this track accentuates the minimal approach of the EP. “Gamma Rays” is the other new song. Both songs have been remixed as well; first one by Cubic and the other one by Kraftman.

+ + + : This is for sure my favorite EP from 808 Dot Pop and the right work to announce the debut album “The Colour Temperature”. While it sounds pretty ‘Kraftwerk-ian’ like and still close to Passenger S’ main project, the new song “RGB” is maybe one of the best songs I’ve heard from this musician. There’s an intelligent sound approach, which is different from what I’ve heard before. It’s minimal and yet pop-like. It sounds more like music to listen to and yet it has something danceable. The computer vocal effects are cool, but here again reminding me of Metroland. Both remixes are cool and especially the beautiful synth lines on top of Kraftman’s remix of “Gamma Rays”.

– – – : Just like Metroland, 808 Dot Pop likes to release several productions around the same song(s). I was a bit skeptical about this new work, but I have to admit it’s my favorite one! Time for the album now!

Conclusion: This EP makes me think 808 Dot Pop is not just an entertaining side-project, but there’s a potential hiding in it. I hope the album will confirm the accomplishment of this work.

Best songs: “RGB (Red To Green)”, “Blackbodies (Radiation)”, “RGB (Green To Blue)”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/808dotpop

Label: www.alfa–matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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: Rhythmic-noise, industrial, industrial-trance.

Background/Info: The German sonic ogre is back on track unleashing the seventh album since “Kitanai Yatsu” (2000). 

Content: Operator Leif Künzel moves on mixing heavy industrial loops and pure rhythmic-noise patterns. There also is a more electronic touch emerging from a few songs while a minimal approach is also noticeable at a few other cuts. The power remains constant, but the rhythm can sometimes become a little slower. The work also features remixes by Hypnoskull and Cubic Nomad. 

+ + + : “Mujoo” is more than simply power; it sometimes feels as ‘controlled power’ but with overwhelming noise blasts. I like the explicit passages with minimal treatments like little bleeping sequences. The last few tracks are more into trance and electronics and I especially recommend listening to “Oh Boy” and “Pounding”. I can’t say that Mono No Aware has reinvented itself on these few tracks, but there’s a wider spectrum of influences that has been covered. Another highlight is the remix of “Impulse Response” by Cubic Nomad transposing the original edit into a heavy, danceable cut with filtered bleeps. 

– – – : If you’re not into heavy rhythmic-noise assaults, this album will maybe appeal to you for its trance-industrial part, but globally speaking it remains a brain-damaging experience!

Conclusion: Mono No Aware remains extremely powerful, but still revealing a refreshing touch. 

Best songs: “Pounding”, “Impulse Response – Cubic Nomad Remix”, “Oh Boy”, “A Good Decision”, “X”, “ISX”. 

Rate: (8½).

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