Genre/Influences: Electro cold-wave, new-wave.

Background/Info: DaGeist exists of Davide Schiavoni (vocals/compositions) and Frédéric Strzelczyk (bass guitar). The band was originally founded in 2008 in Lille (France) and released 1 album (“40”) before, on the same label.

Content: First track (and single) “Virgin” is a calm song that brings a very melancholic sphere because of the contrast between the light synths and low bass-lines. “Just Like You” and “So Cold So Dark So New” are both built on typical cold-wave basslines with atmospheric synths in the chorus. “Truth” is a very good song with especially a very nice voice of Davide on it. “I Am Alone” is for me for sure the best song of the album, it has a lot of true passion in it and could become a dancefloor-classic in clubs. The uptempo “Don’t Close Your Eyes” has a very catchy chorus and a funky riff that reminded me on Stardust’s “Music Sounds Better With You”, while the very danceable “Kiss Or Kill” reminded me a bit on New Order. On “Broken” the music and words sound both very emotional and sad. “Ciel De Cendres” is an uptempo song with this time lyrics in French. The music on “Curse” sounds a little bit like And One meets Diary of Dreams and has the extra female guest-vocals of Kelly on it. “Vampire” has a very poppy undertone while the last song “Roberto” is very much based on synths and dedicated to the father of singer Davide.

+ + + : 12 tracks of emotional, melancholic and dark music, brought in a modern style. The combination of the synths and bass-guitar sounds very good.

– – – : The production of some songs could here and there be better. The long repeating high voice on some songs might be a bit annoying after a while for some people.

Conclusion: DaGeist is for sure one of the better new bands in this scene. “Sexy” has some very nice songs on it and breaths the spirit of modern new-wave.

Best songs: “Virgin”, “Truth”, “I Am Alone”, “Don’t Close Your Eyes”, “Kiss Or Kill”, “Broken”, “Curse”.

Rate: (8) WH.

Artist: dageist1.bandcamp.com / www.facebook.com/dageist

Label: www.dansemacabre.de / www.facebook.com/dansemacabrerec

The 4th edition of the W-Festival will take place from 15th until 18th August 2019 in Waregem Expo, Belgium. About 70 new wave, EBM, industrial, post-punk, synth-pop and eighties bands are featured on 3 stages.

This year the line-up includes: The Stranglers, Echo & The Bunnymen, Killing Joke, Nitzer Ebb, And One, VNV Nation, Apoptygma Berzerk, Peter Hook & The Light, Blutengel, New Model Army, She Wants Revenge, Lebanon Hanover, Portion Control, Tyske Ludder, Mesh, Whispering Sons, Kaelan Mikla, Collection d’Arnell-Andréa, DaGeist, Pink Turns Blue, Red Zebra, Siglo XX, Merciful Nuns, Then Comes Silence, The Human League, Jimmy Somerville, Lene Lovich band, Blaine L. Reininger plays Tuxedomoon, Nik Kershaw, Howard Jones, Tony Hadley, Schmutz, Allez Allez and more!

On the camping area are a lot of special availabilities like B and Bee, Luxury Lodge and WaveTents. Other extra’s on the festival are silent disco, outdoor quiet zone, wellness, merchandise and more!

Tickets and VIP-tickets can be ordered here.

Genre/Influences: Electro cold-wave, new-wave.

Background/Info: Set up in 2008 this French duo from Lille (Northern part of France) has released its debut album revealing 8 songs.

Content: From the very first notes you’ll notice the 80s inspiration that will remind you of new-wave and cold-wave music. Composed by electronics and bass guitar “40” is much more than simply an 80s emulation. While some passages vaguely remind me to their legendary compatriots Trisomie 21, the work also reveals a more contemporary touch, which mainly emerges from the electronic treatments.

Globally speaking the songs are dark and into an extreme melancholic taste. The vocals are reflecting passion like reinforcing the emotional side of this work. The final song is something different through its dubby inspired rhythm.

+ + + : Dageist composed a modern piece of ‘old’ cold-wave music. There where most of the bands inspired by the 80s are just satisfied by a simple emulation of their favorite band(s) Dageist has built a bridge between the 80s and today. The coldness and darkness are definitely into the 80s spirit, but most of the electronics reveal a contemporary approach. “In My City” and “Trash Disco” both are absolute attention grabbers, but I also have to tip the final song “Comon” carried by a sexy, dubby cadence.

– – – : I especially regret that this album only features 8 songs. Despite of a few real attention grabbers a few other cuts are less exciting and I especially refer to the somewhat under produced opening song.

Conclusion: Dageist is an interesting discovery dealing with a music style reminding me of good-old souvenirs, but somewhat forgotten today. This is a rather promising debut, which still needs to be improved on a few elements of the production.

Best songs: “Trash Disco”, “In My City”, “Comon”.

Rate: (6½).

Band: www.facebook.com/dageist

Label: www.dansemacabre–group.de / www.facebook.com/dansemacabrerec

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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