Genre/Influences: Minimal-Electro, EBM.

Format: Digital, 2CD.

Background/Info: French-Spanish Pedro Peñas Robles is a renowned artist who has been involved with different sonic projects but he’s also a DJ, performer, author and label owner (Unknown Pleasures Records). This work is getting us back to his most ‘famous’ music project HIV+ featuring a fine selection of twenty nine songs he released all over the years with other artists.

Content: Robles collaborated with very famous artists like The hacker, Millimetric, Chris Shape, Blind Delon, Adriano Canzian, Maman Küsters ao. The album is featuring original songs, cover versions (from Liaisons Dangereuses, DAF and The Normal) and remixes (by bands like Absolute Body Control, Radical G, Equitant, Marc Hurtado, Cruise [CTRL] ao) but also songs from one of his side-projects Adan+Ilse. The work brings us back to Minimal-Electro/EBM on which Pedro added his vocals.

+ + + : I first of all salute the artwork of the CD-edit but next there’s the content. I think it totally stands for the EBM-style the artist has often revealed by different releases on his own label. Solid bass lines, danceable beats, and a few, harsh, Industrial elements, bringing 80s EBM alive. On top of it all there’s the powerful and sexy voice of Robles. The list of ‘friends’ he has worked with is impressive and often resulted in a great symbiosis between music and vocals.

– – – : I’m less convinced by the different cover versions (cf. “Warm Leatherette”, “Los Niños Del Parque” and “Der Mussolini”). It’s always tricky covering legendary songs which I think are more suited to live performances instead of an album.

Conclusion: This is a great opportunity to re-discover HIV+ (which seems to be no longer active) and his collaboration with great, Electronic, artists.

Best songs: The Hacker & HIV+ “Novö Diskö – Remix by Alek Drive”, Dave Inox & HIV+ “Miss Conceptual – Remix By Raul Parra”, Oliver & HIV+ “Neither Wise Nor”, Radikal Kuss & HIV+ “Ça Suffit!”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/havoc2027

Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum

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: Techno-body, EBM, minimal-electronics.

Background/Info: Colombian DJ and producer Diego Diaz claims to be inspired by 80s electronics, EBM bass lines and techno music. He already released a few EP’s and now strikes back with this EP featuring 13 remixes and alternate versions of the title song.

Content: “Mueve Tu Cuerpo” is driven by a solid EBM sequence, some sexy female groaning plus a few male spoken words. The song makes me think of Liaisons Dangereuses ‘on speed’.

Remixes have been accomplished by an impressive list of artists. Adriano Canzian, Cute Heels, Equitant, Tony Verdi, Azlack, Tkuz, Inaki Kreator & Iñigo Díaz, Resistor, Alquimista and Raul Parra (remixing 2 songs) have been asked to accomplish the remixes. They all add a very personal touch, which however remains strongly carried by the techno-body style of the original edit. The last song is a “Radio Edit” of “Mueve Tu Cuerpo”.

+ + + : “Mueve Tu Cuerpo” is the perfect title song for an EP. It’s an efficient piece of pure techno-body stuff, which will ravish the truest body fans and dark-techno freaks. I especially like the link with the 80s electro-wave & EBM reminding me of Liaisons Dangereuses.

Among the remixes I noticed great contributions by Equitant and Tony Verdi, and also cool remixes by Andriano Canzian, Raul Parra and Azlack. The mix of techno and EBM remains pretty minimal, danceable and vintage-like.

– – – : The only point of discussion is the endless number of remixes. Even if they’re pretty diversified, they more seem to be stuff for DJ’s who this way can choose their favorite version/remix.

Conclusion: “Mueve Tu Cuerpo” definitely sounds like sonic food for the dancefloors. This is the sound of modern techno-body music made in Colombia: hot and danceable!

Best songs: “Mueve Tu Cuerpo – Tony Verdi Remix”, “Mueve Tu Cuerpo – Equitant Remix”, “Mueve Tu Cuerpo – Original Mix”, “Mueve Tu Cuerpo – Adriano Canzian Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.facebook.com/djdelectro

Label: http://musex–industries.es / www.facebook.com/pages/I–Traxx–Recordings/581744748516067

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 of the blue the belgian Alfa Matrix label releases the 2nd volume in their massive ‘Electronic Body Matrix‘ series. The first volume of this compilation series (check the release here) got qualified by many as the ultimate anthology of the EBM / electro-industrial scene. The 2nd edition of the “Electronic Body Matrix” compilation box once again manages featuring a real “who is who” artist selection bringing all new, exclusive or rare tracks.

This 2nd edition presents some 76 bands across 4 CD’s plus an exclusive download link giving you access to another 40 additional bands for a total music play of 116 songs (over 70% rare or previously unreleased tracks), an astounding 10 hour sonic journey! Marketed as a deluxe carton box with an extensive 28-page booklet with band pictures and credits.

All together on one same compilation, the leaders of the electronic scene of yesterday and tomorrow come together and include: FRONT 242 (exclusive mix), NITZER EBB (exclusive mix), FIXMER/MC CARTHY, RHYS FULBER, DANIEL B. PROTHESE, DIVE, BRUDERSCHAFT, POUPPEE FABRIKK, ARMAGEDDON DILDOS, KOMOR KOMMANDO, ELEGANT MACHINERY, AYRIA, FUNKER VOGT, PLASTIC NOISE EXPERIENCE, NOISUF-X, NEUROTICFISH, AESTHETISCHE, THE PSYCHIC FORCE, IMPLANT, [SITD], ALIEN VAMPIRES, HOCICO, ORPHX, NÖVÖ, METROLAND, PITCH YAR OF MATTER, MONDTRÄUME, CULTURE KÜLTUR, TOLCHOK, DEUTSCHE BANK, AVARICE IN AUDIO, THE SEXORCIST, PSY’AVIAH, AIBOFORCEN, ELEKTROKLÄNGE, R.I.P. (ROPPONGI INC PROJECT), ENTRZELLE, and many more, without forgetting the impressive remix work contributions of bands like EISFABRIK, FADERHEAD, ORANGE SECTOR, NZ, ELM, etc.

Add to this all hardcore ambassadors of today’s pure EBM league in the likes of SPETSNAZ, ELM, NZ, AD:KEY, AUTODAFEH, AGREZZIOR, ORANGE SECTOR,KANT KINO, CELLULOIDE, LIGHTS OF EUPHORIA, DIFFUZION, PATENBRIGADE: WOLFF, ACCESSORY, CEPHALGY, AMORPHOUS, VENAL FLESH, PROTECTORATE, STOPPENBERG, CENTHRON, LLUMEN, CARDINAL NOIRE, MILDREDA, CRYTEK, KONER, etc.

The exclusive bonus download link included in this 4CD box also gives you access to some 40 additional songs from artists like MENTALLO & THE FIXER, ACYLUM, SERPENTS, ZOMBIE GIRL, AENGELDUST, EQUITANT, NETZ, STUDIO-X, SIVA SIX, NEIKKA RPM, ESSENCE OF MIND, DEKAD, INTERFACE, NEUTRAL LIES, CIRCUITO CERRADO, TRAGIC IMPULSE, WANT/ED, HELALYN FLOWERS, DIVERJE, SCHWARZBLUT, TOTEM OBSCURA, DIGITAL GEIST, KILMARTH, SIGNAL OPERATOR, ELECTRO SYNTHETIC REBELLION, DIGITAL GEIST, TECHNOID, DEN C.T. BUG, and many more!

The full track listing can be checked right 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.

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Genre/Influences: Minimal EBM.

Background/Info: Ray Heflin is a Texas based artist who gained all my respect with his minimal EBM. Equitant released an impressive number of digital releases while the “Retrospekt 2008-2013”-CD released by EK Product was a kind of consecration for this musician.

After a long silence Equitant seems to be back unleashing this digital single on Heflin’s own label Black Montanas.

Content: “Operative” sounds in the familiar dark and minimal EBM style of this genius musician. The song clearly evokes early EBM influences reminding me to the early years and success songs of Belgian pioneers A Split Second and Signal Aout 42.

The vocals are in the good-old half-spoken format, creating a spooky touch to the song.

+ + + : Equitant confirms its fine taste for minimal and vintage inspired body music.

– – – : “Operative” is definitely not the best song I’ve heard from this project and it’s the single track featured on this release.

Conclusion: Equitant is one of those formations belonging to the newest generation of EBM although inspired by the old standards.

Best songs: “Operative”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.facebook.com/Equitant

Label: www.blackmontanas.com /  www.facebook.com/blackmontanas

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