The English electronic-pop duo Goldfrapp will mark 20 years of their 2005 album “Supernature” with a 20th-anniversary deluxe edition out November 21, 2025 via Mute/BMG. Alongside the reissue, Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory have released a newly created “You Never Know (Goldfrapp Remix)”, their first new Goldfrapp track since 2018.

The new remix is streaming now.

The “Supernature: 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition” is confirmed as a 2CD + audio Blu-ray set in a 7″ gatefold sleeve with slipcase, plus a peacock-coloured double-vinyl edition that includes a bonus 12″ remix EP.

The newly commissioned remixes by Goldfrapp (Alison Goldfrapp & Will Gregory) include contributions from Richard X, Sun’s Signature (Elizabeth Fraser & Damon Reece), DFA, The Flaming Lips, Múm and others.

Goldfrapp – ‘Supernature’ 20th anniversary deluxe tracklist

CD1 — Original album + extra track

1. Ooh La La
2. Lovely 2 C U
3. Ride A White Horse
4. You Never Know
5. Let It Take You
6. Fly Me Away
7. Slide In
8. Koko
9. Satin Chic
10. Time Out From The World
11. Number 1
12. Beautiful (extra track)

CD2 — B-sides, remixes & rarities

1. Ooh La La (Benny Benassi Remix — Extended)
2. Beautiful (Richard X Rework)
3. You Never Know (Goldfrapp Remix)
4. Koko (Sun’s Signature Remix)
5. Ride A White Horse (FK-EK Vocal Version)
6. Lovely 2 C U (T. Raumschmiere RMX)
7. Slide In (DFA Remix) [Edit]
8. Let It Take You (Goldfrapp Remix)
9. All Night Operator (Part 1)
10. Time Out From The World (Fields Remix)
11. You Never Know (Múm Remix)
12. Satin Chic (Through the Mystic Mix, Dimension 11) by The Flaming Lips
13. Ooh La La (Live on Later… with Jools Holland)
14. Ride A White Horse (Live on Jools’ Annual Hootenanny)
15. Fly Me Away (Live on Jo Whiley’s Live Lounge)
16. Satin Chic (Live on Later… with Jools Holland)
17. Number 1 (Live on The Mark Radcliffe Show)

Blu-ray (audio only)

“Supernature” in 5.1 surround (album + extra track). Vinyl Tap

Vinyl (half-speed mastered) + bonus 12″

LP: the original album sequence (A/B sides).
12″ EP: “Beautiful (Richard X Extended Rework)”; “Number 1 (Alan Braxe & Fred Falke Club Remix)”; “You Never Know (Goldfrapp Remix)”; “Ooh La La (Phones Re-edit)”; “Koko (Sun’s Signature Remix)”; “Let It Take You (Goldfrapp Remix)”.

About Goldfrapp

Goldfrapp is the London-formed electronic duo of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, active since 1999.

Their debut album “Felt Mountain” (2000, Mute) showed their cinematic electronics, followed by “Black Cherry” (2003) and “Supernature” (2005), offering a mix of synth-pop and electro-glam. Subsequent albums include “Seventh Tree” (2008), “Head First” (2010), “Tales of Us” (2013) and “Silver Eye” (2017), all released via Mute (with “Head First” associated to Parlophone/EMI in some markets).

The duo last issued new material in 2018 with “Ocean” (feat. Dave Gahan) on the “Silver Eye” deluxe edition.

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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Sunroof (Daniel Miller and Gareth Jones) have shared a new track, “Brotherly”, from their forthcoming album, “Electronic Music Improvisations Volume 3”, set for release on vinyl, CD and digitally via the Parallel Series of Mute on 29 November 2024.

“Electronic Music Improvisations Volume 3” is a collection of nine improvised tracks, recorded using the duo’s Eurorack modular systems, and builds upon the self-imposed parameters laid out on their 2021 debut. With nothing pre-planned or rehearsed, each of the nine tracks were recorded using four channels (two each) with no overdubs. Explaining that “Our practice is more abstract than thematic. Every time we meet, we attempt a fresh start” the Miller and Jones arrived to each recording session with the spirit, energy and discipline of improvisation and recorded the tracks as live performances, with very little post-production work done once the tracks are recorded.

One exception is on “Ensnare”. The original, where glassy percussion works alongside submerged rhythmic beats, has been given two separate remixes by Daniel Miller and Gareth Jones.

About Sunroof

Daniel Miller and Gareth Jones have been collaborating for four decades. Daniel Miller and Gareth Jones’ collaboration began in 1982 when Miller asked Jones to work with him on what became Depeche Mode’s “Construction Time Again”. After Depeche Mode had gone home for the day, the two would stay on to work on their own sessions. By the mid-nineties Sunroof had become a remix project, reworking the likes of Can, MGMT, To Rococo Rot, Kreidler and Goldfrapp, amongst others.

In 2019, Miller and Jones were heading to a György Ligeti concert at the Barbican and beforehand the pair spent a couple of hours improvising with modular systems. Unusually, this time they decided to record the session and over a pre-concert meal, Gareth asked, “Are we actually going to make a record together before we die?”

The resulting album, “Electronic Music Improvisations Volume 1” (2021) was followed by “Electronic Music Improvisations Volume 2” (2023), and since 2021, Sunroof have been performing select live shows allowing their live performance to feed back into their recordings. Some of these recordings were released last year as a Bandcamp exclusive, “Electronic Music Improvisations Live in London and Frankfurt“.

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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The British synthpop duo, Erasure, consisting of vocalist Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, have announced the vinyl reissues of three albums: “Tomorrow’s World” (2011), “Snow Globe” (2013), and “The Violet Flame” (2014). These limited edition vinyl reissues, set for release on December 13, will be available via Mute Records.

Tomorrow’s World (2011) – Limited Edition Clear Vinyl

“Tomorrow’s World” marks Erasure’s return after a four-year hiatus. Released in 2011, the album showcased a duo deeply rooted in the synthpop scene yet embracing a more modern sound. Produced by Frankmusik (who has worked with artists such as Lady Gaga and Pet Shop Boys), the album was recorded across multiple locations, including Maine, London, and Los Angeles. It includes the singles “When I Start To (Break It All Down)”, “Be With You”, “A Whole Lotta Love Run Riot”, and “Fill Us With Fire”.

The album was well received. It followed a period where Andy Bell released his solo album “Don’t Stop”, and Vince Clarke briefly reunited with Alison Moyet for a Yazoo tour.

Snow Globe (2013) – Limited Edition Pink Vinyl

“Snow Globe” took Erasure in a stripped-back, often melancholic take on the festive genre. Departing from the more traditional, glitzy sounds of Christmas music, the album features eerie, minimalist arrangements.

Produced by Erasure, alongside Gareth Jones and Richard X, the album includes a modern rendition of the traditional Latin carol “Gaudete” and new versions of classics like “White Christmas” and “Silent Night”. The album’s lead single was “Make It Wonderful”.

The Violet Flame (2014) – Limited Edition White Vinyl

“The Violet Flame” came out in 2014, following the festive experiment of “Snow Globe”, and saw Erasure return to their electronic roots. The album was produced by Richard X (known for his work with Goldfrapp, SOPHIE, and Róisin Murphy).

Unlike their previous work, where songs traditionally began on guitar or piano, the tracks on “The Violet Flame” emerged directly from electronic dance grooves. This change in process resulted in standout singles such as “Elevation”, “Reason”, and the Halloween-themed “Dead of Night”.

With over 25 million albums sold worldwide and an impressive 18 studio albums under their belt, Erasure has cemented their place as one of the UK’s most successful synth-pop duos. Formed in 1985, they have consistently evolved while maintaining their signature synthpop sound. Their most recent releases include “The Neon” (2020) and its experimental follow-up “Day-Glo (Based on a True Story)” (2022), which reimagined the songs from “The Neon” with new arrangements and vocals.

The vinyl reissues will be available on December 13, 2024, via Mute Records, and pre-orders are currently open.

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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(Photo by Marta Ruly) Sunroof (Daniel Miller and Gareth Jones) have announced details of a new album, “Electronic Music Improvisations Volume 3”, set for release on vinyl, CD and digitally via the Parallel Series of Mute on 29 November 2024.

“Electronic Music Improvisations Volume 3” holds nine improvised tracks, recorded using the duo’s Eurorack modular systems, and builds upon the self-imposed parameters laid out on their 2021 debut. With nothing pre-planned or rehearsed, each of the nine tracks were recorded using four channels (two each) with no overdubs.

Note that “Splendid” was recorded using the original 4-track TEAC that Miller picked up second hand in the late 70s and used to record The Normal’s “Warm Leatherette” 7”.

Out now are two remixes of the track “Ensnare” by Daniel Miller and Gareth Jones. You can check out the original and the two remixes below.

This is the original version of “Ensnare”.

This is the Daniel Miller remix of “Ensnare”.

And here is the ElectroGenetic remix by Gareth Jones of “Ensnare”.

Daniel Miller and Gareth Jones have been collaborating for four decades. Their collaboration began in 1982 when Miller asked Jones to work with him on what became Depeche Mode’s “Construction Time Again”. After Depeche Mode had gone home for the day, the two would stay on to work on their own sessions, a practise that continues to this day. By the mid-nineties Sunroof had become a remix project, reworking the likes of Can, MGMT, To Rococo Rot, Kreidler and Goldfrapp, amongst others, and their first recordings appeared on a compilation paying tribute to Neu!

Sunroof album discography

• Electronic Music Improvisations Volume 1 (2021)
• Electronic Music Improvisations Volume 2 (2023)
• Electronic Music Improvisations Live in London and Frankfurt (2023)
• Electronic Music Improvisations Volume 3 (2024)

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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(Photo by Paul Heartfield) Goldfrapp co-creator Will Gregory has shared another track, “Parabolic Sleuth”, from the upcoming deluxe edition of the Will Gregory Moog Ensemble album “Heat Ray: The Archimedes Project” inspired by Archimedes’ work. “Heat Ray: The Archimedes Project” has been completely performed on analogue synths, with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

“Heat Ray: The Archimedes Project” is set for release on Mute on 27 September. The deluxe edition features insights from the recreational mathematician, comedian and author Matt Parker, best known for his YouTube series, “Standup Maths”. The nine pieces written and presented by Parker each introduce a track from the album.

The album has been augmented with two bonus tracks, “Heavy Logic” and the track we present today, “Parabolic Sleuth“.

A series of live dates will coincide with the release – starting with Hidden Notes festival in Stroud before three performances with the Britten Sinfonia at the Barbican, London Basingstoke and in Saffron Walden and a further date in Southampton for the ensemble.

The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble members include Portishead’s Adrian Utley, a longtime collaborator of Will’s, who co-produced and plays on the album. Mute’s Daniel Miller is its “kind of executive producer”, and he even played on one of the tracks. “Given he’s been into synths right from his early days, and is a genius with them, that was a good moment”, alongside John Baggott, Graham Fitkin, Simon Haram, Vyvyan Hope-Scott, Ross Hughes, Hazel Mills, Daniel Moore, Hinako Omori, Eddie Parker, Harriet Riley and Ruth Wall. Their instruments include Minimoog, Moog Voyager, Korg 700s, Prophet 6 and Roland JX3P.

Will Gregory Moog Ensemble dates

• 21-22 Sep – Hidden Notes Festival, Stroud
• 8 Oct – Barbican, London – with the Britten Sinfonia
• 9 Oct – Basingstoke, The Anvil – with the Britten Sinfonia
• 10 Oct – Southampton, Turner Sims
• 11 Oct – Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden – with the Britten Sinfonia

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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Jem Tayle (Shelleyan Orphan) and Boris Williams (The Cure) have founded a new project, Vamberator.

Jem describes the transition from Shelleyan Orphan to Vamberator as follows: “After Caroline Crawley’s passing, I had been offered the chance to make a solo album. I had been writing on and off without a focus and not having someone to bounce off was new to me. Boris is family, and we have played together with Shelleyan Orphan live and in the studio on and off for years, so it felt very natural for us to work on this together. I am extremely fortunate to have a drummer of his calibre pounding out the rhythms on this album.”

Vamberator’s debut single, “Sleep the Giant of Sleeps” is from the forthcoming album “Age of Loneliness” (Unifaun Productions), and also features regular collaborator Charlie Jones (Goldfrapp, The Cult, Robert Plant et al) on bass.

Asked to describe the themes and inspirations behind the new single, Jem says: “Chasing trains, chasing dogs, chasing dreams, they always get away. Pushing your way through that froth on a daydream, sharing the gloom with ghouls and procrastinating – it’s all part of the daily merry-go-round. But there is always an unseen presence that comes to the rescue, sometimes in dreams, sometimes in the middle of the night as you cool yourself in front of that open fridge. It’s relentless though, and here it comes again, but there’s so much to do, but close your eyes and there she is again.”

“Sleep the Giant of Sleeps” by Vamberator is out now from Bandcamp, Spotify, and all the usual digital music stores worldwide.

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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The UK/Canadian/American group Tantrum Zentrum presents their latest single, “Don’t Be A Fascist,” along with a new video featuring animation, lyrics, and glimpses of despots like Mussolini and Vladimir Putin. The single is now available through Teknostan Records.

The band consists of Vaat Dafuq (vocals, guitar), Sabine de Rousseau (guitar, vocals), Valhalla Schimmer (bass guitar), and Kur Putchnik (drums).

“‘Don’t Be A Fascist’ is a love story set during wartime. Inspired by the 80s Yugoslavian pop hit ‘Fa Fa Fašista’ (performed by Sarajevo’s Plavi Orkestar), the song tells a timeless tale: boy meets girl, they fall in love, but then their country becomes occupied by the German forces of the Third Reich, and the girl falls for a tall, handsome enemy soldier in a splendid uniform. Needless to say, the boy is furious!” explains Vaat Dafuq.

And he adds: “We chose a grandiose title that may strike a chord with many, even today. The release is accompanied by a light-hearted ‘explainer’ video that shouldn’t be taken too seriously.”

Tantrum Zentrum creates high-energy post-punk infused with funk, goth, and krautrock influences. Based in London, their music draws inspiration from early 70s krautrock and late 70s New York no-wave bands. This single is the second in a series of songs recorded with producer Steve Evans (Robert Plant, Siouxsie Sioux, Goldfrapp). Their previously released single, ‘Der Leiermann,’ is performed in German. While the new single is in English, it includes a few Bosnian and corrupted German words for emphasis.

Here’s the video.

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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While AI is getting condemned by many musicans for being non-human and a threat to their songwriting, the first artists that openly flirt with the new technology are popping up. The latest being British synth-pop artist Alison Goldfrapp who has been using AI in the video for her newest single “NeverStop”, the latest one from her debut solo album “The Love Invention” set for release on May 13th via Skint.

The “NeverStop” video was directed in collaboration with Mat Maitland (Big Active). It is the second in a series of visual accompaniments, following the cosmic visuals for “So Hard So Hot”. Both of the video productions employ various AI techniques to create extreme oscillations in a range that turns towards radical fantasy.

“The Love Invention” was recorded, produced, and co-written by Alison Goldfrapp and features collaborations with producers Richard X (Pet Shop Boys, M.I.A.), James Greenwood (Daniel Avery, Kelly Lee Owens), and Toby Scott (The Gossip, Annie).

In January 2023, Goldfrapp announced that she would debut as a solo artist under her own name. On January 19th, she released a collaborative track with Claptone titled “Digging Deeper”. Subsequently, in February 2023, Goldfrapp teamed up with Paul Woolford to release the song “Fever”. On March 16, 2023, Goldfrapp revealed her first solo album, “The Love Invention”, scheduled for release on May 12, 2023. Describing the album as “my tribute to the dance floor,” she simultaneously launched the lead single, “So Hard So Hot”.

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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BXL Central and Pias are collaborating to host a special musical event that brings together Dan Lacksman and Michel Moers of the renowned Belgian synth-pop trio Telex, and Daniel Miller, the founder of Mute Records.

The event aims to provide an insight into Telex’s lasting impact on electronic pop music and their groundbreaking contributions. Olivier Monssens, a respected journalist and filmmaker, will be interviewing the artists during the discussion. The event is free to attend, however, reservations are required.

Event Details:

• Title: A Night with Telex & Daniel Miller
• Date: April 17
• Venue: BXL CENTRAL [CHEZ PIAS], Rue Saint-Laurent 36-38, 1000 Brussels

Schedule:

• 6:00 PM – Doors open
• 6:30 PM – Talk and interviews
• 8:00 PM – Event concludes

The event is free to attend; however, reservations are required.

Telex, consisting of Marc Moulin (1942-2008), Dan Lacksman, and Michel Moers, formed in 1978 in Brussels. As electronic pop pioneers, they played a key role in popularizing the genre. Their discography includes six albums, which Mute Records is reissuing in various formats on April 14, 2023.

Daniel Miller founded Mute Records in 1978 with his 7″ single ‘Warm Leatherette,’ released under the name The Normal. Mute has since evolved from a one-man label to a global group, with Miller remaining focused on the creative output. The label’s catalog features prominent artists such as Fad Gadget, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Erasure, Goldfrapp, and Yann Tiersen.

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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Depeche Mode are set to release their 15th studio album “Memento Mori” on March 17th. The album will be preceded by the lead single “Ghosts Again” which will be released on February 9th.

Depeche Mode’s 15th studio album “Memento Mori” was produced by James Ford and Marta Salogni. In case you might have forgotten James Ford produced the band’s previous album “Spirit”.

Here’s a first impression of some of the single.

And here’s a remixed unofficial version by Germany’s finest remixer Dominatrix of course.

Marta Salogni is an Italian record producer, mixer and recording engineer, who as a producer has worked with Björk, M.I.A., Groove Armada and Django Django to name but a few. As an engineer, Salogni worked with producers such as Danton Supple and David Wrench. Alongside Wrench, she has worked on projects with The xx, Goldfrapp, and Tracey Thorn’s 2018 Record alongside producer Ewan Pearson.

James Ford from his side is an English record producer, songwriter and musician, known for being a member of Simian Mobile Disco and The Last Shadow Puppets as well as his production work with the Arctic Monkeys, Foals, Florence and the Machine, Haim, Gorillaz, Klaxons, Jessie Ware and Kylie Minogue.

In further news, Dave Gahan and Kurt Uenala’s cover of The Raveonettes’ “Chains” is available now. The song originally appeared on The Raveonettes debut “Whip It On” from 2002 and the new version will be included on the re-worked version of the album “Rip It Off” out on vinyl later this year alongside other artists such as MØ, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Black Angels, Trentemøller and more.

Here is the 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!

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Genre/Influences: Electro-Wave, Electro-Pop, Experimental.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: I Speak Machine is an American project featuring Tara Busch and filmmaker Maf Lewis. “War” is the band’s third full length album. It’s a self-released production they got the opportunity to present as the support act of the Gary Numan tour in Europe.

Content: I Speak Machine brings good-old 80s Electro-Wave elements back to life. They next boosted and reinforced this element with harsher, Industrial, sound treatments while Tara Busch sings in a deeply, sensual, but charismatic way. This album reminds me of an imaginary hybrid between Goldfrapp and Chicks On Speed.

+ + + : I like the rough, industrialized, Pop style of this band. There also is a perverted, but cool fusion between the hot vocals and heavy sound treatments. It sounds a bit minimal and experimental, but also danceable. The album reveals different cool songs, but I have a preference for the ‘harder’ cuts like “Ruined Me”, “The Metal Of My Hell”, “Left For Dead” and “War”.

– – – : The Softer Cuts Aren’t Exactly The Album’s Best- Nor Hottest Exposure.

Conclusion: I honestly never heard of this band before, but this album is a true revelation revealing a band with a personal Wave-Pop approach.

Best songs: “Ruined Me”, “The Metal Of My Hell”, “Left For Dead”, “War”, “Push The Grease”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.ispeakmachine.com / www.facebook.com/ispeakmachine

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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13 years ago, that’s how long Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser has not released new solo music, but that is about to change as she will release a Record Store Day related EP. The EP, released under the Sun’s Signature moniker, will be the first release by the singer since she recorded and released the song “Moses”, written with Damon Reece and the late Jake-Drake Brockman, in 2009.

The title of the EP is simply called “Sun’s Signature” and will be out on April 23rd on black vinyl. The EP will hold five songs and will be released through Partisan Records. Only 8000 copies will be available worldwide.

Tracks included are “Underwater”, “Golden Air”, “Bluedusk”, “Apples” and “Make Lovely The Day”.

Sun’s Signature is the duo consisting of Elizabeth Fraser and English drummer Damon Reece (Spiritualized, Echo & the Bunnymen, Lupine Howl, Massive Attack, The Orb, Way Out West, Feist, Goldfrapp, Fuzzy Logic)

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: Dream-Pop, Trip-Pop, Dark-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD, Cassette.

Background/Info: Verneblung is a German duo this year releasing their debut album on Blackjack Illuminist Records. “Ready To drown” has been defined by the label as ‘Death-Pop’. The work comes two years after their self-released EP “Alles Wie Immer”.

Content: The sound of this band is not easy to define. It rather sounds as a mix between different, related influences. There’s a strong 80s wink, which emerges from Dream-Pop and Dark/Electro-Wave influences. The global mood hanging over the work is also pretty dark and even desperate. But there’s also a more Trip-Pop approach injecting a modern touch to the work. The vocals have been sung in German and English.

+ + + : Nadin Klein’s timbre of voice has something sensual and bewitching. She for sure injects a true spirit in the sound of Verneblung. The sensual touch has been accentuated by the slow cadence of the rhythm. The main strength of this band is that they’ve developed a unique style, mixing 80s with contemporary influences.

– – – : The global writing process of the songs can be more elaborated and is maybe the main point to improve on further releases.

Conclusion: Verneblung or the imaginary hybrid between The Human League and Goldfrapp.

Best songs: “Cracked Puppet”, “Immer Dann”, “Ready To Drown”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/Verneblung

Label: www.facebook.com/Blackjack.Illuminist

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 Dave Gahan’s cover version of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters”. Dave Gahan and a whopping 52 other artists have joined together to cover songs from Metallica’s landmark album “The Black Album”.

Out today this tribute, “The Metallica Blacklist”, celebrate the original album’s 30th anniversary. It sees all of its proceeds go directly to Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation and World Central Kitchen. Other artists include Weezer, Miley Cyrus, St. Vincent, Phoebe Bridgers, Ghost, The Neptunes and many many more.

“Nothing Else Matters” was originally released as a single in 1992.

The tracklist:

1. Enter Sandman – Alessia Cara & The Warning
2. Enter Sandman – Mac DeMarco
3. Enter Sandman – Ghost
4. Enter Sandman – Juanes
5. Enter Sandman – Rina Sawayama
6. Enter Sandman – Weezer
7. Sad But True (Live) – Sam Fender
8. Sad But True – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
9. Sad But True – Mexican Institute of Sound feat. La Perla & Gera MX
10. Sad But True – Royal Blood
11. Sad But True – St. Vincent
12. Sad But True – White Reaper
13. Sad But True – YB
14. Holier Than Thou – Biffy Clyro
15. Holier Than Thou – The Chats
16. Holier Than Thou – OFF!
17. Holier Than Thou – PUP
18. Holier Than Thou – Corey Taylor
19. The Unforgiven – Cage The Elephant
20. The Unforgiven – Vishal Dadlani, DIVINE, Shor Police
21. The Unforgiven – Diet Cig
22. The Unforgiven – Flatbush Zombies feat. DJ Scratch
23. The Unforgiven – Ha*Ash
24. The Unforgiven – José Madero
25. The Unforgiven – Moses Sumney
26. Wherever I May Roam – J Balvin
27. Wherever I May Roam – Chase & Status feat. BackRoad Gee
28. Wherever I May Roam – The Neptunes
29. Wherever I May Roam – Jon Pardi
30. Don’t Tread on Else Matters – SebastiAn
31. Don’t Tread on Me – Portugal. The Man
32. Don’t Tread on Me – Volbeat
33. Through the Never – The HU
34. Through the Never – Tomi Owó
35. Nothing Else Matters – Phoebe Bridgers
36. Nothing Else Matters – Miley Cyrus feat. WATT, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo, Chad Smith
37. Nothing Else Matters – Dave Gahan
38. Nothing Else Matters – Mickey Guyton
39. Nothing Else Matters – Dermot Kennedy
40. Nothing Else Matters – Mon Laferte
41. Nothing Else Matters – Igor Levit
42. Nothing Else Matters – My Morning Jacket
43. Nothing Else Matters – PG Roxette
44. Nothing Else Matters – Darius Rucker
45. Nothing Else Matters – Chris Stapleton
46. Nothing Else Matters – TRESOR
47. Of Wolf and Man – Goodnight, Texas
48. The God That Failed – IDLES
49. The God That Failed – Imelda May
50. My Friend of Misery – Cherry Glazerr
51. My Friend of Misery – Izïa
52. My Friend of Misery – Kamasi Washington
53. The Struggle Within – Rodrigo y Gabriela

And you can listen to the complete album 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!

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(Photos by Diane Zillmer & Gareth Jones) Out May 21 via the newly revived Parallel Series of Mute is the debut album by Sunroof (aka Daniel Miller & Gareth Jones), “Electronic Music Improvisations Volume 1”.

The new album, their first after four decades of friendship and collaboration, is a collection of eight improvised modular pieces recorded as live in various studio spaces across London. “Electronic Music Improvisations Volume 1” will be available on limited edition clear vinyl, CD, and digital platforms.

You can listen to “1.2 30.5.19” right below.

Check also the previously released “1.1-7.5.19”.

About Daniel Miller and Gareth Jones

Daniel Miller (founder of Mute) met Gareth Jones back when Miller asked Jones to work with him in late 1982 on what became Depeche Mode’s “Construction Time Again”. After the band had gone home for the day, they would stay to work on their own sessions. That practice continued and, by the mid-nineties, Sunroof had emerged as remix project reworking the likes of Can, MGMT, To Rococo Rot, Kreidler and Goldfrapp, and appeared on a compilation paying tribute to Neu!.

Back in 2019, Miller and Jones were heading to a György Ligeti concert at the Barbican and beforehand – as they often do when together in the same city – the pair spent a couple of hours improvising with modular systems. Unusually, this time they decided to record the session and, over a pre-concert meal, Gareth asked a question that seems logical after all these years: “Are we actually going to make a record together before we die?”

The following day, they set themselves some rules: “We decided to get together to do a bunch of improvisations,” explains Gareth. “We said we’d work in a number of different physical spaces but always together, in the same room. We were keen to do shorter pieces because we were both very inspired by Chris Carter and Martin Gore’s electronic music projects, where the pieces were very concise and compact.”

Key to their manifesto was a distinction between an improvisation and a jam session. “With modular systems, you can just go on and on forever and never actually complete anything. Sometimes that’s okay – part of the joy of a modular is that you can just keep going indefinitely. But with this we were keen to actually finish something, so setting that timeframe became a really important rule for us,” adds Daniel.

Tracklisting

This will be the tracklisting of the tracks on “Electronic Music Improvisations Volume 1”.

1. 1.1 – 7.5.19
2. 1.2 – 30.5.19
3. 1.3 – 30.5.19
4. 1.4 – 18.6.19
5. 1.5 – 9.7.19
6. 1.6 – 7.5.19
7. 1.7 – 30.5.19
8. 1.8 – 2.3.19

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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(Photo Credit: David Paul Larson) Chris Liebing today released “Burn Slow Remixes Pt. 1”, a brand new EP ahead of a series of worldwide dates that includes Coachella, New York and Los Angeles in April.

Songs comprising the remix EP can be found on Liebing’s 2018 album, “Burn Slow”, which features vocal contributions from a diverse range of artists including Gary Numan, Cold Cave, Mute labelmate Polly Scattergood (onDeadWaves), Miles Cooper Seaton (Akron / Family) and Aleen.

First up on the EP is UK producer Mark Broom’s Vision Remix of “And All Went Dark”. Iranian DJ and producer Dubfire has contributed two remixes of “No Regrets (The Friend Pt. 2)”.

You can listen to the EP below.

Chris Liebing originally launched the “Burn Slow” project with a series of remixes, including his Depeche Mode “Going Backwards” mix and a mix of Goldfrapp’s “Everything Is Never Enough”. The favor was later returned with a Goldfrapp remix of “And All Went Dark”.

Chris Liebing, a techno DJ, music producer, radio host and founder of the record label CLR

Chris Liebing is a German techno DJ, music producer, radio host and founder of the record label CLR. In the early 1990s Liebing became active on the Frankfurt dance music scene where he opened the Spinclub techno club in 1994, and worked at Eye Q Records. He formed his first label, Audio in 1996, which was followed in 1999 by CLR.

In 2004 he released “Evolution”, which took two years to make. A year later, in 2005 he worked with Speedy J on the “Collabs 3000: Metalism” album, released by Novamute. He has also collaborated with Umek, Tommy Four Seven and Green Velvet.

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, in January to be precise, we posted this article “When an April Fools prank becomes reality: ‘STUMM433’ (feat. Laibach, Depeche Mode, …)” describing how Mute would release a box set featuring 50 Mute artists giving their interpretation of John Cage’s silent track “4’33”.

Today, The Normal aka Daniel Miller, has shared his tribute to John Cage’s “4’33””. It will be the first ‘music’ released by The Normal on Mute since the debut 7”. On Mute that is indeed because “Live at West Runton Pavilion”, The Normal’s second release, done with another Mute Records act Robert Rental, was released on Marat Records in Germany as Daniel Miller Robert Rental Live, with a black and white picture sleeve.

But back to 2019. Miller recorded his piece at a site in North London that will be familiar to fans of the label as the site of its foundation: 16 Decoy Avenue. Listen to The Normal’s take on “4’33”” right below.

Daniel Miller: “John Cage’s 4’33” has been present in my musical life for as long as I can remember as an important and inspiring composition. When the idea of every Mute artist doing their own interpretation of the piece came up during a conversation with Simon Fisher Turner, I immediately thought this was the perfect way to mark the label’s MUTE 4.0 (1978 > TOMORROW) series.”

Ironically, last year we had the idea to create an April Fools prank with a fake compilation with a lot of famous musicians covering John Cage 4’33 silent track. We decided not to do it, not sure if most of you would grab the irony.

Which Mute artists are featured in the boxset?

The boxset will feature over 50 Mute artists including A Certain Ratio, A.C. Marias, ADULT., The Afghan Whigs, Alexander Balanescu, Barry Adamson, Ben Frost, Bruce Gilbert, Cabaret Voltaire, Carter Tutti Void, Chris Carter, Chris Liebing, Cold Specks, Daniel Blumberg, Danny Briottet, Depeche Mode, Duet Emmo, Echoboy, Einstürzende Neubauten, Erasure, Fad Gadget, Goldfrapp, He Said, Irmin Schmidt, Josh T. Pearson, K Á R Y Y N, Komputer, Laibach, Land Observations, Lee Ranaldo, Liars, Looper, Lost Under Heaven, Maps, Mark Stewart / Sonskrif / The New Banalist Orchestra, Michael Gira, Mick Harvey, Miranda Sex Garden, Moby, Modey Lemon, Mountaineers, New Order, Nitzer Ebb, NON / Boyd Rice, Nonpareils, The Normal, onDeadWaves, Phew, Pink Grease, Pole, Polly Scattergood, Richard Hawley, ShadowParty, Silicon Teens, Simon Fisher Turner and Edmund de Waal, The Warlocks, Wire, Yann Tiersen and Gareth Jones.

The designers behind the visuals

Contributing designers include Simone Grant who worked with Miller on a lot of the early Mute artwork (The Normal, Fad Gadget and Depeche Mode); Steve Claydon, a member of Add N To (X) who designed for Goldfrapp; Slim Smith, who worked with Mute through the 1980s and 1990s; Malcolm Garrett, who designed the “House of Illustrious” box set for Vince Clarke and Martyn Ware; Tom Hingston, who has worked with Erasure and created the majority of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Grinderman artwork since the early 2000s; and Anton Corbjin, who has worked closely with Mute on many campaigns since the early 1980s, including those of Depeche Mode, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Fad Gadget.

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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Last year we had the idea to create an April Fools prank with a fake compilation with a lot of famous musicians covering John Cage 4’33 silent track. We decided not to do it, not sure if most of you would grab the irony. You can imagine our surprise when Mute announced a box set this morning featuring 50 Mute artists giving their interpretation of… yes, 4’33.

From the artist that started Mute, The Normal, to the label’s newest signing, K Á R Y Y N, “STUMM433” will feature over 50 Mute artists – including Depeche Mode, Yann Tiersen, Liars, Silicon Teens, Irmin Schmidt – presenting their own interpretation of one piece of music: John Cage’s 4’33”.

Fortunately you’ll get a visual to accompany each ‘performance’ of 4’33”. The box set launches with a video from Laibach which you can see below.

Net profits from the release of STUMM433 will be split between the British Tinnitus Association and Music Minds Matter. These charities were chosen to honor Inspiral Carpets’ founding member Craig Gill who suffered from anxiety and depression as a result of his tinnitus in the years up to his untimely death. The box set will be released in May 2019.

Artists featured include: A Certain Ratio, A.C. Marias, ADULT., The Afghan Whigs, Alexander Balanescu, Barry Adamson, Ben Frost, Bruce Gilbert, Cabaret Voltaire, Carter Tutti Void, Chris Carter, Chris Liebing, Cold Specks, Daniel Blumberg, Depeche Mode, Duet Emmo, Echoboy, Einstürzende Neubauten, Erasure, Fad Gadget (tribute), Goldfrapp, He Said, Irmin Schmidt, Josh T. Pearson, K Á R Y Y N, Komputer, Laibach, Land Observations, Lee Ranaldo, Liars, Looper, Lost Under Heaven, Maps, Mark Stewart, Michael Gira, Mick Harvey, Miranda Sex Garden, Moby, Modey Lemon, Mountaineers, New Order, Nitzer Ebb, NON, Nonpareils, The Normal, onDeadWaves, Phew, Pink Grease, Pole, Polly Scattergood, Renegade Soundwave, Richard Hawley, ShadowParty, Silicon Teens, Simon Fisher Turner, The Warlocks, Wire, Yann Tiersen.

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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Chris Liebing has shared Goldfrapp’s remix of “And All Went Dark” featuring Polly Scattergood. You can listen to the track below.

Liebing launched the “Burn Slow” project with a series of remixes, including one for Goldfrapp’s “Everything Is Never Enough” and Goldfrapp have returned the honor with this remix of “And All Went Dark” reimagining the themes on Liebing’s album which include the concept of presence – the idea that everything is happening in this moment, and that everything in the past is mere memory.

Liebing’s “Burn Slow” album, which was released in September, features vocal contributions from a diverse range of artists including Gary Numan, Cold Cave, Mute labelmate Polly Scattergood (onDeadWaves), Miles Cooper Seaton (Akron / Family) and Aleen.

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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Chris Liebing has shared “And All Went Dark”, a new track from his forthcoming electronic album, “Burn Slow” which will be released September 7. “Burn Slow” will be a 10-track album with contributions from a diverse range of artists including Gary Numan, Miles Cooper Seaton (Akron / Family), Mute labelmate Polly Scattergood (onDeadWaves), Cold Cave and Aleen.

But first you can already enjoy “And All Went Dark” featuring Polly Scattergood. “And All Went Dark” follows the release of the Gary Numan narrated track “Polished Chrome (The Friend Pt. 1)” and “Novembergrey”.

Liebing has teamed up with Ralf Hildenbeutel for “Burn Slow” (formerly of Eye Q family). It was at Hildenbeutel’s Frankfurt studio where Liebing started working on the new material following 2 remixes – Depeche Mode’s “Going Backwards” and Goldfrapp’s “Everything Is Never Enough”.

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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Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan has joined up with Goldfrapp for the track “Ocean” on which he sings a duet with Alison Goldfrapp. The original version of the song was featured on Goldfrapp’s “Silver Eye album” released last year. This version is 20 seconds shorter with Gahan on vocals as well.

The new version will appear on the upcoming deluxe edition of “Silver Eye” and is due out July 6th. The deluxe edition will also features remixes of songs on the album by a series of remixers including Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory and Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard.

You can check out the track 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!

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Mute and Thames & Hudson have announced details of “Mute: A Visual Document”, a 320-page hardback book, available November 28, 2017 and ready for ordering right here.

“Mute: A Visual Document” is packed with artwork and photography – much of it previously unseen – from the Mute Archives and from Daniel Miller’s own archives, including photography and video stills from legendary photographers, conceptual artworks, rare ephemera and equipment.

The book features comprehensive discographies, a family tree of Mute artists, an extensive introduction and commentary by Daniel Miller – who has curated the materials for the book – plus anecdotal and photographic contributions from key figures in the label’s story, including Moby, Alison Goldfrapp, Anton Corbijn, Bleddyn Butcher, Brian Griffin, Jon Spencer, Barry Adamson, Ivan Novak (Laibach), Angus Andrew (Liars), Adrian Shaughnessy and Tom Hingston.

Mute was created by Daniel Miller to release his debut single as The Normal, “Warm Leatherette” / “T.V.O.D”, in 1978. The label quickly grew and established its reputation through the music of its community of artists – ranging from Fad Gadget, Goldfrapp, Moby, Can, Diamanda Galás, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds to Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure, Laibach, Liars and Ben Frost.

Here are a few teasers:

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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Available now is “Systemagic”, a video taken from Goldfrapp’s seventh studio album “Silver Eye” which will be released 31st March 2017 on Mute. With this video Alison Goldfrapp is making her directorial debut. Before she has been involved with album artwork and art direction on the video “Anymore”.

You can watch the video above.

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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Goldfrapp will release their seventh studio album “Silver Eye” on March 31st through Mute. The band will also reveal their new single “Anymore” in March, you can already listen to the track below:

“Silver Eye” is the follow-up to 2013’s album “Tales of Us” and the duo spent 10 days in Dallas with producer John Congleton, in London they teamed up with electronic composer Bobby Krlic, aka The Haxan Cloak while Brian Eno collaborator Leo Abrahams added abstract guitar textures. The album was mixed by David Wrench (The xx, fka Twigs, Caribou).

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: Synth-pop.

Content: It’s A Synth is a Danish duo set up by 2 guys who met at the university. They first got involved into a rock-minded band called Leisure Alaska, but finally got reunited again into this electro-inspired duo It’s A Synth.

Speaking for myself the name of the band is not the most original one I’ve heard although it clearly indicates the influences behind the duo. “Curiosity” is their first official full length featuring 10 songs.
The first notes clearly reveal their addiction and devotion to synthesizer music, which has been meticulously crafted into an alluring synth-pop mould. There’s a great sound behind the compositions while the somewhat androgenic vocals inject a kind of sexy and mysterious touch to the work.

The opening part reveals different elements, which even remind me of some 60s psychedelia at “Endless Endeavour” –which is a pretty cool song, but the work really takes off at the some harder and faster “Almost”. From that song on It’s A Synth sounds like unleashing fascinating vintage electronics, which have been mixed with low sounding bass lines. They define their work as ‘synthrock’, which comes through on “Somehow”. It sounds pretty indie pop-rock as well.

But the best is yet to come! “Moving” is the absolute masterpiece of the album, which will clearly appeal to the fans of Goldfrapp. This is a magic piece of pop music featuring sexy vocals. It’s quite contradictory with the song coming up –and the last one, “Spirit”, which sounds more like a rough an unpolished format of pop music.

The least I can say is that this duo is quite diversified although pure pop-makers.

Conclusion: “Curiosity” is a well-chosen title for a well-crafted and diversified album, which will definitely please numerous electro-pop lovers.

Best songs: “Moving”, “Almost”, “The Last Cell”, “Endless Endeavour”.

Rate: (DP:8)DP.

Band: www.itsasynth.com / www.facebook.com/itsasynth

Label: www.targetgroup.dk / www.facebook.com/targetgroupdk

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: Goth-rock & electro;

Content: Leeds based Zeitgeist Zero seems to have awakened from hibernation. The band remained pretty busy, but this is their first new album since 2008 (cf. “Dead To The World”). In 2012 they released the “Blackout”-EP, but since then nothing new really happened in the studio.

This self-released 3rd full length looks very artistic. Zeitgeist Zero didn’t spare any effort to deliver a great digipak format while the songs were mixed by Steve Whitfield (The Mission, Terrorvision) and once again mastered by John Dent (Goldfrapp, PJ Harvey).

It has been never easy to qualify Zeitgeist Zero as one particular genre as this band covers many different influences, which often move in between gothic, rock and electronic. I dare to say that “Ghosts Of Victory” is somewhat more electro-minded when it comes to the arrangements. Globally speaking the songs are quite powerful and mainly driven by heavy guitar and dynamic drum sections. Singer Teresa Dead appears to be a gothic diva singing in a real passionate way. She’s the soul of the band and that’s an element, which is more explicit on this new release.

The songs are mixing rough and powerful passages together with delicate elements. Most of the choruses are into a dynamic explosion of drums and electro manipulations on top of the guitar playing. There’s a well-crafted balance between the different layers, which makes for the originality of the album.

Zeitgeist Zero clearly reveals a mature production and styled composition. From a pure technical point of view this work is absolutely successful. But a well-crafted and produced album also needs potential hits. I can’t say that the album is filled with hits, but it does have many cool songs. I’m referring to the energetic and gothic minded “The Jekyll In Me”, the more electro achieved “Don’t Pop My Bubble” and the delicate sounding “A Last Farewell” revealing a dense flavor of melancholia.

Zeitgeist Zero also tries to surprise their fans by the somewhat Rock-a-Billy inspired “Dust And Bone”, which also has something cabaret-like through the piano parts.

No real hits thus far till you discover “United In Black – Dance Or Die Mix”. This song was originally released on their last EP (cf. “Blackout”) and boosted to a great club version on this album. This song is more into a mix of cyber-goth and pop-rock influences. It was a great idea to put this song back on the album with a new mix.

“When The Lights Go Down” is another song from their EP, which has been mixed as a new version as well, but this “Bump ‘N’ Grind Mix” is not as successful.

Conclusion: Zeitgeist Zero has a unique style covering different dark musical grounds. There’s no real innovation at “Ghosts Of Victory”, but it’s a well-crafted and fully accomplished piece of work. This is a band with a strong image so they now only need a main hit to reach a wider (international) audience.

Best songs: “United In Black – Dance Or Die Mix”, “Don’t Pop My Bubble”, “The Jekyll In Me”, “Dust And Bone”.

Rate: (Elise Din:7½)Elise Din.

Band: www.zeitgeistzero.com / www.facebook.com/ZeitgeistZero

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