The latest album from the Swedish ambient act Desiderii Marginis, “Bathe In Black Light”, will be out on May 3rd via the French label Cyclic Law.

The album will be available in various formats, download, a CD edition in 4 panel digipak and a double vinyl edition limited to 100 copies in Marbled grey and black, and 200 copies in black.

Desiderii Marginis, a Swedish dark ambient music project, was created by Johan Levin in 1993 in Mjölby, Sweden. Initially a solo project, it released its first three tapes — “Consecrare”, “Via Peregrinus”, and “Triptych” — in very limited editions, which were later included in the 2009 compilation album “Years Lend a Golden Charm”. The project’s debut album, “Songs Over Ruins”, was released on Cold Meat Industry in 1997. Over the years, Desiderii Marginis has produced several albums, including “Deadbeat” (2001), “Strife” (2004), “The Ever Green Tree” (2005), and more recent works such as “Vita Arkivet” (2018), “Departed” (2020), and “Serenity / Rage” (2023), showcasing its evolving dark ambient sound​​.

You can check already a few tracks on 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!

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Genre/Influences: Electro-Wave, Minimal-Electro, EBM.

Format: Digital, CDR.

Background/Info: Manus Norr (The Girl And The Robot, Deadbeat, Le Volt) is back on track unleashing a new work as Northern Loner.

The project’s previous release under that name was “Odd Man Out”, a limited cassette album issued by Repartiseraren and Invisible Guy in 2018.

Content: The album features 8 songs and sounds a bit different from what I’ve heard before. The songs are inspired by elements of EBM, Electro-Wave and Minimal-Electro. The sound production is retro-driven featuring icy sound treatments. There still is a poppy touch on top.

+ + + : This new work reveals a little metamorphosis. Northern Loner has improved most facets of the production resulting in a fascinating and vintage-like Electro sound. “Safe Room” is a genius cut which might appeal to lovers of Fad Gadget. Northern Loner never convinced me before but I deeply respect the new work which opens new perspectives. 

– – – : I think the production of the vocals might be a bit ‘harsher’ or ‘colder’.

Conclusion: “The Paper City Conspiracy” is an album to discover if you like retro-Electronics.

Best songs: “Safe Room”, “Transition”, “Tunnel 57”, “A Spy Called Charlene”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100019057216619

About Northern Loner

Northern Loner is the solo project of the Swedish musician listed on Discogs as Magnus Norr. The music mixes minimal electro, electro-wave and EBM with a retro-leaning production.

Norr has been a member of the groups Le Volt and The Girl & The Robot, and also records as Deadbeat. Under that name he self-released the CDr album “Reflektioner” in 2017 and the single-sided 7″ single “Under Solen” on Radio Virus in 2019, issued as a numbered and limited clear square record. He appeared under his own name on the 2019 remix collection “Night City Remixes (The Songs Of Secret Service)” on Pbh Media.

The first Northern Loner album, “Odd Man Out”, appeared in 2018 as a limited cassette on Repartiseraren and Invisible Guy. “The Paper City Conspiracy” followed in 2022 as a self-released digital and CDR album holding eight songs.

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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, Cinematographic-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Northern Loner is a Swedish solo-project driven by Magnus Norr who you might know from his involvement with The Girl And The Robot, Deadbeat and his newest project Le Volt.

Content: The EP features 4 sweet sounding cuts, which are somewhere driven through a cinematographic approach. It’s a dreamy sound experience with slow rhythms and Swedish vocals. The last song is a bit more elaborated and reminds me of Pet Shop Boys.

+ + + : I like an old-school EP with 4 songs. The songs are perfect as background music although the last cut entitled “I Skuggan Av En Lind” sounds a bit different; there’s a more explicit melody line while the production is more minimal and yet more elaborated than the other songs.

– – – : I’m not that convinced about the first 3 songs, which are missing substance and catchy elements. I also heard more convincing work from this project, which was less driven by this dreamy, Cinematographic approach.

Conclusion: I’ve been more convinced with the other projects of Magnus Norr although it feels like there’s more potential hiding inside Northern Loner.

Best songs: “I Skuggan Av En Lind”.

Rate: 5½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100019057216619

About Northern Loner

Northern Loner is the solo project of Swedish musician Magnus Norr, who also works with The Girl And The Robot, Deadbeat and Le Volt. Discogs holds an entry for the project but lists no profile text.

The earliest release documented on Discogs is the limited cassette album “Odd Man Out”, issued by Repartiseraren and Invisible Guy in 2018. Side-Line reviewed the EP “The Blank Spot” in May 2021.

“Utanför” was released on 24 September 2021 as a digital download through Norr’s own Bandcamp page. The EP holds four tracks: “Inuti men utanför”, “Nostalgi”, “Jag somnar om” and “I skuggan av en lind”.

The album “The Paper City Conspiracy” followed in 2022 and was also reviewed by Side-Line.

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, Wave-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Set up by Magnus Norr (also involved with Deadbeat, Le Volt), Northern Loner has already released a full length album and several EP’s. “The Blank Spot” is the newest work featuring five songs.

Content: “The Blank Spot” brings us back in time, awakening somewhere in the midst of the 80s Electro/Wave-Pop. There clearly is a vintage aspect running through the music; it’s all about melody lines and some typical effects from that time. The vocals are a bit androgenic and sometimes remind me of Marc Almond. You here and there also will notice some astral-like tones and atmospheres. The last cut is an instrumental edit.

+ + + : This is retro Wave-Pop music, but with a very own touch on top. The music has a ‘feel-good’ feeling. I like the catchy “The Nobles”, but also the last, instrumental song “Nightflight To Sardinia” revealing irresistible studio effects. The production of the vocals is another essential aspect of this project.

– – – : We get 5 different songs, but I can’t affirm to have heard a potential hit.

Conclusion: Northern Loner brings Wave-Pop to life with a unique approach.

Best songs: “The Nobles”, “Nightflight To Sardinia”.

Rate: (6½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100019057216619

About Northern Loner

Northern Loner is the project of Magnus Norr, who has also been involved with Deadbeat and Le Volt. Following an earlier full-length album and several EPs, Northern Loner released “The Blank Spot” EP in 2021, followed by the “Utanför” EP later that year and the album “The Paper City Conspiracy” in 2022.

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 now is the Anne Clark remix album “Synaesthesia – Classics Re-Worked”. The remixes were contributed by Solomun, Marc Romboy, Johannes Brecht, Yagya, Deadbeat, Andreas Bruhn and Blank & Jones and include new cuts of her biggest hits (“Our Darkness”, “Sleeper in Metropolis”, “Wallies” and so on.

The release is out as a 2CD set and a limited white double vinyl.

Out as well is the reissue of a collaboration album Anne Clark made with German musician and composer Thomas Rückoldt. On “Homage – The Silence Inside” you’ll find songs recorded between 2017 and 2018 paying homage to and interpreting some of her favourite poems from the likes of Sufi poet Rumi, Rainer Maria Rilke, Alice Oswald and so on. The album was originally released in 2018 but was only available through special mailorder.

2020 wasn’t exactly a happy year for Anne Clark, it ended up with no tour at all and a cancer diagnosis.

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: Dark-ambient, cinematographic.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: “Departed” can be seen as a milestone in the history of this project driven by Johan Levin. It indeed is the tenth full length of the Swedish artist, which two years after the great “Vita Arkivet”-opus strikes back with a new work meant as a ‘soaring meditation on mortality’.

Content: “Departed” clearly features classical elements of dark-ambient music. The work reminds me of the magic of the project’s early releases, composing overwhelming sound waves and ghost-like atmospheres. The darkness is accentuated by some mysterious choirs, which you’ll notice running throughout some cuts. There also is a passage with delicate piano playing, which also empowers the spooky format of the album.

The opus features six tracks, but the digital- and CD formats both have a bonus of 3 more cuts. You will discover reworked edits of familiar tracks featuring the famous “Deadbeat”-track originally released on Desiderii Marginis’ second album (2001).

+ + + : Johan Levin is clearly getting back to the essence of dark-ambient music; an obscure sonic voyage elaborated with haunting atmospheres and multiple little noises and other details. Some cuts create an intimate, but morbid atmosphere. It totally matches with the concept of the album. “Through A Forest Of Empty Armors”, “An Immense Hardened Shadow” and the reworked version of “I Am Without Rule (Sum Sine Regno)” sound pretty grimly. The reworked version of “Deadbeat” is another attention grabber and I especially like the kind of trumpet sound, which has something icy and like predicting a nearby disaster.

– – – : It’s hard to find minus points, but I just want to mention the third track “The Silence Of A Thousand Years”, which couldn’t convince me. No reason to complain!

Conclusion: “Departed” sounds like back to basics; an album in the purest dark-ambient tradition and reminding us the genius of this Swedish Master in the genre.

Best songs: “Through A Forest Of Empty Armors”, “An Immense Hardened Shadow”, “I Am Without Rule (Sum Sine Regno)”, “Deadbeat – MMXIX”, “Departed”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/Desiderii-Marginis-172940436056471

Label: www.cycliclaw.com / www.facebook.com/cycliclaw

About Desiderii Marginis

Desiderii Marginis is the dark ambient project of Swedish artist Johan Levin, formed in Mjölby in 1993. After three limited tape releases later assembled on the 2009 compilation “Years Lend A Golden Charm”, the project’s debut album, “Songs Over Ruins”, appeared on Cold Meat Industry in 1997, followed over the years by “Deadbeat” (2001), “Strife” (2004), “The Ever Green Tree” (2005) and “Vita Arkivet” (2018). “Departed” (2020), the tenth full length by Desiderii Marginis, arrived on Cyclic Law two years after “Vita Arkivet” as what Levin has described as a meditation on mortality.

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: Dark-ambient.

Background/Info: This album from Johan Levin aka Desiderii Marginis was originally released on Cold Meat Industry in 2001 and featured 10 songs. It also became a work that increased the recognition of this dark-ambient composer from Sweden. Next to the recently released new opus “Vita Arkivet”, “Deadbeat 2018” will take us back in history. The work has been remastered and the CD format features 2 extra songs (that were already available on a digital re-release from 2014).

Content: When you listen to this album nearly 20 years after its original release you rapidly understand why Desiderii Marginis became a reference in the dark-ambient music genre. “Hardbeat” features all essential elements of great dark-ambient music; overwhelming, anguishing atmospheres, drones, industrial sound treatments, spooky-whispering vocal passages and obscure field recordings (or samplings).

+ + + : “Hardbeat” feels a bit like waiting in front of the gates of hell. It’s an anguishing sound experience tickling men’s fantasy to move throughout unknown fields. This is great sonic darkness composed with noticeable industrial sound treatments and ghost-like sound waves. The drones are injecting an extra scary touch. The album is also diversified featuring one great track after the other.

– – – : In my humble opinion, Desiderii Marginis never has been a stereotypical dark-ambient project. It always is a wider mix of influences and that’s why it sounds a bit unique.

Conclusion: There’s nothing wrong with re-releasing masterpieces! “Deadbeat 2018” still has its original magic!

Best songs: “Deadbeat I”, “A Bolt Out Of The Blues”, “In harm’s Way”, “Mantrap”, “Unlcean”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.desideriimarginis.net / www.facebook.com/Desiderii–Marginis-172940436056471 

Label: www.cycliclaw.com / www.facebook.com/cycliclaw

About Desiderii Marginis

Desiderii Marginis is the dark ambient project of Swedish musician Johan Levin, active since 1993 and signed to Cold Meat Industry, where the project released its debut album “Songs Over Ruins” in 1997; that album was reissued on CD and LP via Cyclic Law in 2017. “Deadbeat”, reviewed here under its “Deadbeat 2018” reissue title, originally appeared on Cold Meat Industry in 2001 and was remastered and expanded with two extra tracks for this Cyclic Law edition. Desiderii Marginis released the new album “Vita Arkivet” on Cyclic Law around the same time, which Johan Levin discussed in a Side-Line interview.

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: Synth-pop.

Background/Info: Deadbeat is a Swedish synth-pop project driven by the creative spirit of Magnus Norr. “Reflektioner” is my personal introduction to this formation although a few previous work has been released. The main particularity of this work is the contribution of several guest singers. This is an opportunity to (re)discover Compute, Frl. Plastique (Welle: Erdball, The Girl & The Robot), Toril Lindqvist (Alice In Videoland) plus two less familiar artists Ida Lagerlöf and Millie Ajanovic Nordh.

Content: Deadbeat took me by surprise. I didn’t know what to expect, but I discovered a mature and well-crafted electro-pop composition in the truest Swedish tradition. The main particularity is the Swedish language. It’s not that new, but it always injects a surprising and somewhat exotic effect for non-Swedish music lovers.

From happy sounding pop songs, which now and then remind me of Erasure to vintage passages to songs with subtle sound arrangements and delicate bleeps plus a few alluring vocal parts this work really has a lot to offer.

The final songs are remixes by Lackan, Mats Forsell and Kloon.

+ + + : Sweden remains one of the most prolific grounds for great synth-pop music. Deadbeat is not reinventing the genre, but is an accomplished ode to synth-pop music. The global production process is absolutely perfect while we get multiple great songs revealing “Den Brända Jordens Taktik” as absolute apotheosis. Most of the guest singers are adding a real bonus and I mainly think about the charismatic Compute and the particular timbre of voice of Frl. Plastique. The least I can say is that there’s a real symbiosis between the musician and the singers.

– – – : I like the digipak format, but unfortunately it’s not that easy to fully distinguish the band name. It’s maybe a detail, but it has its importance. All remixes are okay, but not exactly adding a real bonus.

Conclusion: Deadbeat is a band I highly recommend and especially for all those who like Swedish electro-pop. This is a band with a real professional and accomplished sound.

Best songs: “Den Brända Jordens Taktik”, “En Fallen Dröm”, “Makt”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: https://deadbeatexhibit.bandcamp.com/album/reflektioner

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