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

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: UK duo Cult With No Name strikes back with a new self-released opus. The band has been active for numerous years and can look back at an impressive discography, “X-Into-I” being their eleventh album thus far.

Content: The sound is already characterized by an electro-Pop basis recovered with a strong Ambient touch. Most of the songs have a wafting sensation which even evolves into a kind of Electro-Ballad style. The vocal production gives me the impression of a narrating, singing, style.

+ + + : This is a styled composition where especially the Cinematic/Ambient passages reveal the particular approach in sound. CWNN has always been a band with a very own approach, far away from established standards and definitely not a common project. I appreciate this way of doing but also the intelligent piano- and symphonic arrangements. “I’ll Spend 9 Lives With You” is a true, beautiful, song and a great exposure in the aforementioned ‘Ballad’-style. I also enjoyed some songs with more explicit rhythm like “Snake Oils” and “If You Were Here”. 

– – – : I’m missing a bit more passion and variety in the vocal production. The album is also missing at least one dance track -although I realize it’s not the main focus of the band.

Conclusion: Electro/Ambient-Pop which isn’t easy to catch although enjoyable to listen to.

Best songs: “I’ll Spend 9 Lives With You”, “Snake Oils”, “If You Were Here”, “Not Afraid”. 

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.cultwithnoname.com / www.facebook.com/cwnnofficial

Listen to “X-Into-I”:

About Cult With No Name

Cult With No Name, often abbreviated CWNN, is a German/English duo of Erik Stein and Jon Boux based in London. Formed in 2004, the band describe themselves as “electronic balladeers”, drawing on post-punk and modern classical influences. They debuted with “Paper Wraps Rock” in 2007, followed by “Careful What You Wish For” (2008), the film score “Lightwerx: The Cabinet of Dr Caligari” (2009), “Adrenalin” (2010), “Above as Below” (2012), “Another Landing” (2014), the soundtrack collaboration “Blue Velvet Revisited” with Tuxedomoon and John Foxx (2015), “Heir of the Dog” (2017), “Mediaburn” (2019) and “Nights in North Sentinel” (2021). Now releasing through their own CWNN Music label, the duo issued their eleventh album, “X-Into-I”, in 2023.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

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

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: British Cult with No Name duo strikes back with a new self-released opus, which is the band’s tenth full length since 2007.

Content: It’s not that easy defining the sound of this band, which is clearly different from all standards. It remains an Electro-Pop driven composition, each album having its own approach. The work has something sensual for the production of the vocals, but also for its delicate piano arrangements. It also has something dreamy, sometimes spiced with a melancholic touch on top. They again asked a few guest singers like Kelli Ali (ex-Sneaker Pimps) and Blaine L. Reiniger who was already featured in the previous work. The female vocals accentuate the sensuality hanging over this work.

+ + + : Cult With No Name is a band with an own approach and a unique sound. But it also is a band which doesn’t really like to repeat itself. I here like the piano arrangements, which are also playing the melody lines. I also noticed a kind of violin-sounding arrangements, creating a sort of cinematographic sensation. There are several cool songs featured, but “After The Storm” is definitely the outstanding piece of the opus. This track is full of emotions, beautifully crafted and accentuated by warm female backing vocals. 

– – – : Some passages are maybe a little bit too smooth like.

Conclusion: It remains a challenge defining the sound of this formation, but it might be labeled as ‘Cinematographic-Pop’ music.

Best songs: “After The Storm”, “Noa’s Arc”, “Fight Or Flight”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.cultwithnoname.com / www.facebook.com/cwnnofficial

About Cult With No Name

Cult With No Name is a London duo of Erik Stein and Jon Boux, formed in 2004. The pair describe themselves as electronic balladeers and draw on post-punk and modern classical music.

They debuted with “Paper Wraps Rock” on the Los Angeles label Trakwerx in 2007 and stayed with the label for “Careful What You Wish For” in 2008, “Adrenalin” in 2010 and “Above As Below” in 2012. From “Another Landing” in 2014 they have released through their own CWNN Music imprint, followed by “Heir Of The Dog” in 2017 and “Mediaburn” in 2019.

“Nights In North Sentinel” arrived in 2021 with guest vocals from Kelli Ali, formerly of Sneaker Pimps, and Blaine L. Reininger. The duo followed it with “X Into I” in 2023 and “Indifference And Dust” in 2025.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Out since last month but still worth checking out today is the new electronic project formed by two talents in the leftfield electronic music: Jean-Marc Lederman (The Weathermen, The The, Fad Gadget, Ghost & Writer,…) and Erik Stein (Cult With No Name). The duo formed Lederman * Stein and have released their debut with the “Textbooks for Tomorrow” EP.

Each of the 8 tracks on the digital only EP explores a very different sonic and melodic territory, from warm analogue and modular electronics, over synth pop and atmospheric sounds, to jazz riffs infested structures.

You can check out the EP below.

Side-Line also covered Jean-Marc Lederman’s ‘The Mysterious Manuscript of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, ambient-pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: “Mediaburn” is the ninth full length album by the London (UK) based Cult With No Name (CWNN). The work features thirteen songs and reveals a few interesting guests.

Content: Defining the sound of this album rather feels like a trip through eclectic fields. The main influence however remains a rather ambient composition, which is filled with slow cadences, deep bass lines, wafting synth lines, piano arrangements and even a somewhat jazzy/lounge passage. Nearly all of the vocals have been sung by guest singer Keli Ali, but the most noticeable feature is Blaine L. Reininger playing violin on “By Air Or By Sea”.

+ + + : I like the delicate song writing from this album, which is fitting with the smooth atmosphere created by CWNN. This work feels like a relaxing experience on which the music is progressively taking you away into an imaginary oasis of prosperity. I especially like the piano playing and arrangements, but the jazzy “She Sells Incels” is for sure a real masterpiece. I also like the song together with Blaine L. Reininger. The final cut (cf. “Button On My Desk” has something more danceable and that’s an interesting track to end.

– – – : The album is maybe missing a climax and that’s maybe because all cuts remain pretty smooth. Only the last track sounds a bit different.

Conclusion: This album is a truly relaxing therapy.

Best songs: “She Sells Incels”, “Needle And Thread”, “Button On My Desk”, “By Air Or By Sea”.

Rate: (7).

Artist & Label: www.cultwithnoname.com / www.facebook.com/cwnnofficial

About Cult With No Name

Cult With No Name is a London, UK based duo of Erik Stein and Jon Boux, who describe themselves as post-punk electronic balladeers. The duo debuted in 2007 with the album “Paper Wraps Rock,” followed by “Careful What You Wish For” (2008), “Lightwerx: The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari” (2009), “Adrenalin” (2010), “Above As Below” (2012), “Another Landing” (2014), “Blue Velvet Revisited” (2015) and “Heir Of The Dog” (2017).

“Mediaburn,” reviewed here, is the duo’s ninth full-length album, featuring guest vocalist Keli Ali and violin from Blaine L. Reininger of Tuxedomoon. Cult With No Name continued with “Nights In North Sentinel” (2021), “X Into I” (2023) and “Indifference And Dust” (2025).

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