The Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix releases the twelfth volume in its “Matrix+ Downloaded” series to coincide with the label’s 24th anniversary. The digital-only set collects 69 tracks across the label’s current spectrum – EBM, dark elektro/industrial, synth pop – and newer Spleen+ additions spanning post-punk, goth rock and coldwave. The compilation is offered as a free/pay-what-you-want download via the label’s Bandcamp page and also includes a PDF booklet.

On the cover you will recognize Erica Dunham from Unter Null.

Artists included on this free download compilation include: Studio-X (feat. Kyoko Baertsoen), Rector Scanner, Aesthetische, Cut.Rate.Box, Kant Kino, Frontal Boundary, C-Lekktor, Acylum, Diffuzion, Implant, Neikka RPM, First Aid 4 Souls (feat. Aux Animaux), Noemi Aurora, Suicidal Romance, Llumen, Hanging Freud, Lederman/De Meyer, The Ultimate Dreamers, Aiboforcen, Digital Factor, Armageddon Dildos, Helalyn Flowers, Krystal System, The True Union, Freakangel, Totem Obscura, Lovelorn Dolls (feat. Dero Goi), The Breath of Life, The Names, ImJudas, Synapsyche, Miseria Ultima, Unter Null, Alien Vampires (feat. Dani Divine), Venal Flesh, Helle9, To Avoid, Pouppée Fabrikk, Stahlgeist, Nigra Nebula, Aengeldust, Circuito Cerrado, Matthew Creed, Cubic, Metroland, The Psychic Force, Komor Kommando, First Aid Tech, Die Robo Sapiens, ELM, Plastic Noise Experience, AD:Key, Elektroklänge, 808 Dot Pop, Avarice in Audio, Elektrostaub (feat. Echo Image), Cryogenic Echelon, Entrzelle, Neuroactive, Technoir, Mondträume, Star Industry, Stray, Psy’Aviah (feat. Sorrow Stories), Zombie Girl, Darkness on Demand, Circumpolar, Dunkelwerk, and Lights A.M.

A&R manager, Sebastien Dolimont says: “In 2025, Alfa Matrix proudly celebrates 24 years of existence. Nearly a quarter of a century fighting for dark alternative music, discovering new talents, and keeping the underground alive. This anniversary is not just about us and our artists – it’s about you, our fans. Because without your constant support, there would be no label, no releases, no future for the scene we all love.”

And he add: “In a world where indie labels are disappearing, streaming revenues collapse, and risks of signing new talents are higher than ever, we are proud to still stand strong — but we can only do it with you by our side. By downloading this compilation, you are not just enjoying music — you are actively supporting 69 artists and helping keep our scene alive, fresh, and forward-looking. From all of us at Alfa Matrix and Spleen+, and on behalf of all our artists: thank you for 24 years of loyalty, passion, and support. Together, we’ll keep writing the future of the dark underground.”

About Alfa Matrix

Alfa Matrix is a Brussels-based independent label founded in 2001. The catalogue focuses on electronic subgenres including industrial, EBM, dark elektro, and synth pop, later expanding into post-punk/coldwave via the Spleen+ division. The label’s team includes label & artists manager Seba Dolimont, promo manager Bernard Van Isacker, and head of design Benoît Blanchart.

From the early 2000s, Alfa Matrix used series-based releases to build international reach. Notable strands include “Sounds From The Matrix” (label samplers), “Re:Connected” (digital label overview), and the club-oriented “Endzeit Bunkertracks” multi-CD anthologies (first “Act” released 21 March 2005, featuring 60 tracks with 50 exclusives).

In 2023, Alfa Matrix inaugurated Spleen+, a division centred on post-punk and adjacent styles, and followed with multi-artist projects and catalogue building, including the “Resurgence” 7-CD box that assembled 133 contemporary bands from the post-punk family.

The label has since the very start focused on a direct contact with its fans and customers via their online webstore and Bandcamp.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

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The Brussels-based Spleen+ label (a division of Alfa Matrix) has prepared a deluxe 7CD collector’s edition – “Resurgence” – which brings together 133 active bands from across the globe, spanning the diverse sub-genres born from post-punk’s iconic roots. You can order it now from the Alfa Matrix webstore and in digital download format from Bandcamp.

The release comes housed in a luxurious vinyl-sized box, and comes accompanied by a 28-page book. The book holds interviews from renowned producers like John Fryer and Jean-Marc Lederman, label managers, journalists, and iconic artists (including Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, William Faith, No More, Skeletal Family, Mona Mur, KaS Product, And Also The Trees, Clan Of Xymox, Attrition, Das Ich, Merciful Nuns, The Names, The Breath Of Life, etc).

Spanning 23 different nationalities, the music included is a genre-spanning mix of post-punk, cold wave, dark synth, ethereal, and minimal EBM with such bands like Boy Harsher, A Cloud Of Ravens, No More, Skeletal Family, Collection D’Arnell Andrea, Underviewer, Attrition, Merciful Nuns, Lederman/De Meyer, Local Suicide & Sekelesys, Star Industry, Ataraxia, Czarina, Helalyn Flowers, Ascii.Disko, Je T’Aime, The Ultimate Dreamers, Lycia, Opera Multi Steel, The Breath Of Life, Auger, The Names, Whispers In The Shadow, Lovelorn Dolls, Astari Nite, Chiasm, Saigon Blue Rain, Omnimar, Still Patient, Creux Lies, Golden Apes, and many more.

You can already check out a few tracks here.

Apart from the 7CD vinyl size deluxe carton box format, “Resurgence” will not be available on mainstream digital platforms, except exclusively via the label’s Bandcamp page.

There is also a special combi pack including the 7CD set plus Darkness On Demand’s “Panic In Reserve” CD and To Avoid’s “All Gods Are Gone” 2CD.

“Resurgence” Tracklist

Cd 1

1. Bestial Mouths . Hex (The Spell)
2. A Cloud Of Ravens . Parable
3. Boy Harsher . Give Me A Reason
4. Czarina . Wonderland
5. Collection D’arnell Andrea . Waiting For Meaulnes
6. Krystal System . La Lame Dans Ta Main
7. Je T’aime . Out Of Sight
8. Aeon Rings . Fully Operational
9. The Ultimate Dreamers . Polarized
10. Partikul . Nothing Good In Me
11. Cosmobrigade . Spacepit
12. Aeon Sable . From Witchcraft To Deviltry
13. Stereoskop . Deep Down
14. The Breath Of Life . Slowly Crushing
15. Faust Project . Rats Lullaby
16. Al . Mistake
17. N.E.L. & J.P . Desinteresse
18. Zeitgeist Zero . Scream
19. Voyna . Moulding Heart

Cd 2

1. Blackbook . You Are Strange
2. Auger . My Heart Is Glass
3. Dekad . A Deadly Show (Video Edit)
4. Love In Cage . A Logical Secret Collection
5. Helalyn Flowers . Halos
6. Soft Scent . No Wounds
7. Sweet Ermengarde . Sweet Sacrifice
8. Martin Dupont . Bent At The Window (2023)
9. The Names . Far From The Factories
10. Boxes Of Blow . Melting Faces
11. Mirror Of Haze Feat. Primitive Heart . Reckless
12. A Slice Of Life . Seven Days
13. Then Comes Silence . Pretty Creatures
14. Nite . Inside Of My Head
15. Astari Nite . Bowie In Daydreams
16. Korus . Złote Światło Pierwszego Zachodu
17. Lovelorn Dolls . A Heart Cries
18. Whispers In The Shadow . Revenants
19. Merciful Nuns . Oneironauts

Cd 3

1. Lederman – De Meyer . Heartbeat
2. Local Suicide & Skelesys . Surface Of The Sun (Radio Edit)
3. Punx Soundcheck Feat. Ascii.Disko & Princess Superstar . Gasoline
4. No More . Sleepers And Trains
5. Mitra Mitra . Memories For Company
6. A Copy For Collapse Feat. Simona Pietrucci . Faded
7. Alien Skin . Depress Me
8. White Mansion . Cancel The Sky
9. Apnoie . Splash Your Bile
10. Celluloide . Compte Les Ombres
11. Risk Risk . Streetwalk
12. Total Chroma . Northern Lights
13. Opera Multi Steel . À Nos Moments Perdus
14. Lycia . Simpler Times
15. Noemi Aurora . Blood As Lipstick
16. Novus . Ess
17. I Ya Toyah . Death’s Kiss
18. Katcross . Rest
19. Winter Severity Index . Speak To Me

Cd 4

1. Systeme Paradoxe . Comme Le Sable En Hiver
2. Aiboforcen . Break The Black Ice (Original Mix)
3. Chiasm . Cut Right Through (Emileigh Rohn Edit)
4. Saigon Blue Rain . Dolls Dresses
5. Her Own World . Mistrust
6. Still Patient Feat. Minu-Schirin Samimi . Blind Vision
7. Creux Lies . Playtime
8. Der Klinke . Curtains (Your Life On Hold Remix)
9. On The Floor . Crying On The Dancefloor
10. Numa Echos Feat. Red Zebra . Waisted Items
11. Factheory . The Day (Ok Lion! Mix – Short Version)
12. Antiflvx . Crystal
13. Flor Concreta . She’s Closer
14. Golden Apes . Ash Trees
15. Glis . Blue Sky Night
16. Ataraxia . The Source
17. Hanging Freud . Grooming
18. Ok Lion! . Get Away
19. Yuzna . Queen Of The Eels

Cd 5

1. The Breath Of Life Feat. Implant . The Last Record
2. The Halo Trees . Happy Man
3. Palm Ghosts . Tilt
4. Your Life On Hold . Imprisoned (Merciless Radio Edit)
5. Götterdämmerung . Common Existence
6. Jenni Sex . Sin Chimes
7. Denner . She Radiates Darkness
8. Imjudas . I Love You
9. Black Needle Noise . Dollhouse On Fire
10. Dead Souls Rising . Dysmorphobia
11. The Waning Moon . Annabel
12. Korinthians . Leader Of The Night
13. Elektrostaub Feat. Stefan Netschio . Mantis (Auger Remix)
14. Omnimar . The Matrix
15. Synapsyche Feat. Chris Harms (Lord Of The Lost) . The Last Dying Flame
16. Dance My Darling . Criminal
17. First Aid 4 Souls Feat. Emke Of Black Nail Cabaret . Das Messer
18. Supernova 1006 . Tell Your Name (Mix)
19. Suicidal Romance . Runaways

Cd 6

1. Ascii.Disko . Loslassen
2. Vioflesh . Emotions
3. Dina Summer . Who Am I (Club Version)
4. Pleasure Victim . Rascheln
5. Pink Opake . Pronta
6. Thewalkingicon . The Trail (Radio Edit)
7. Psy’aviah Feat. Sorrow Stories . Healing
8. Seasurfer . Collapsing
9. Lakeside X . Fire In The Sky (Radio Version)
10. Darkness On Demand . Hang On (Winterhart Remix)
11. Star Industry . Selling Icons (The Dreamside Remix)
12. Alphavox . Dark Satellite
13. Yama Uba . Shapes
14. Lifeless Past . Anxiety
15. Pink Turns Blue . Not Gonna Take It
16. Social Union . Waiting For Red
17. Sine . Until (Clan Of Xymox Remix)
18. Sorry, Heels . She Burns (We Burn) Version
19. Lights A.M . Clouds

Cd 7

1. Useless/You . Echo
2. Attrition . The Great Derailer
3. Children Of Zeal . Taking Over
4. Octolab . Friend Or Foe
5. Vague Phonique . The Last Man
6. Midnight Poetry . Black Hole
7. The Overlookers . Undercover (Edit)
8. La Machine . Vamos A La Playa (Radiomix)
9. Die Sexual . House Of God
10. Carrellee . Morning Sun
11. Underviewer . Was Soll Ich Tun (Aiboforcen Remix)
12. Night In Athens . Words Unspoken
13. Neila Invo . Alienation
14. Skeletal Family . My Own Redemption
15. The Murder Mystery . A Girl Named Red
16. Princess Ugly . For A Moment I Forgot The Desolation
17. Instant Lake . Ivory Dreams
18. Vision Video . Balaclava Kiss
19. La Scaltra . Dancing On Debris

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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Female fronted Glasgow-based duo Hanging Freud just released their 7^th studio album “Worship” on the Belgian Spleen+ record label.  The enigmatic duo continue refining their unique sound identity, often evoking influences and elements of post punk, ethereal, synthgaze, cold wave, ambient pop or yet experimental electronica.  It was therefore the right time for us to know a bit more about this enigmatic duet, do we had a nice chat with the two musicians behind Hanging Freud, Paula and Jonathan.

The album is available in various formats via Bandcamp and via the Spleen+ webstore.

SL. “Worship” is described as your most personal and emotive album. How do you navigate blending post-punk, ethereal, synthgaze, cold wave, ambient pop, and experimental electronica to create your distinct musical style?

Paula – I think we both listen to so such a wide variety of music this just comes naturally. We don’t limit our ideas. Personally, I never really understood genres, and perhaps this attitude is translated into the music. Having said that, I find it fascinating to hear all the different genres people can classify our work as. If we like certain ideas, we’ll use them, I don’t think we’ll ever want to confine ourselves to this or that thing. 

Jonathan – I don’t think there is a conscious effort to make something with a style in mind. We just like many things you find in music and try and come up with something that cuts through emotionally and anything that might make you think is this or that is just a means to an end in conveying what we really want to say. 

SL. How do you use the cinematic elements of your music to evoke specific emotions and create an ethereal cocoon for your listeners?

Paula – I like the idea of cinematic, there’s something romantic about it. I think perhaps the layering of sounds and the structure of the songs can convey that. I believe the task of the artist is to evoke emotions, but I’d be lying if I said there’s a lot of rational thought behind it, it’s more instinctive than that. Those are just the emotions we feel, and the music finds a way to express them. 

Jonathan – Its nice that it’s seen as cinematic, its not something that we intend to do but if its seen that way its probably from the emotion of the song from when its first recorded as a demo.

SL. This Hanging Freud album was recorded and mixed 100% digitally, in somewhat challenging circumstances during the pandemic lockdown. How did this digital approach influence the creative process, and what challenges and advantages did it present?

Paula –  I started writing these songs as soon as the lockdown was announced, in a land where I knew literally no one, in temporary accommodation, which at the time I was intending to visit for a short period. We didn’t have our studio, our instruments. We had a midi keyboard, a microphone and somehow managed to get hold of speakers on the last day stores were allowed to open. We didn’t even have a table. There were mice in the flat, in between the walls scracthing and making these terrible sounds, and the sounds of ambulances were constant from the hospital nearby. This was a completely new situation, and no one had any idea what would happen. We felt like there was nothing else to do but to work on music, but it was incredibly challenging given the circumstances. On the other hand, I believe limited resources can force people to look for creative solutions, which we did. For instance, the drum pattern in “This Day” comes from accidentally recording them with the microphone. We liked how this sounded, so we kept it that way.

Jonathan – It definitely made it more streamlined and straightforward. Everything was done using a minimal amount of tracks, tweaking some stuff or even using presets that we liked. Some of the synth work was recorded then moused and automated, other bits were recorded with midi manipulations. Drum patterns were written in and sourced from samples. It took us a couple of weeks to write. We were forced to work within the unlimited nature of a DAW but felt like we managed to use everything we had to without getting lost in it. 

SL. Given the specific circumstances of the pandemic lockdown and the claustrophobic environment you mentioned, how did this unconventional setting impact the themes and emotions explored in the album’s lyrics and overall concept?

Paula – There was a lot of personal tragedy and change at the time, but the start of a worldwide pandemic amplified everything and made people have to confront many things about themselves, life and death, uncertainty and hope, the world we live in, our own lives. We were not immune to this and these reflections are obviously there. Having to go through this in a completely unknown place, away from family, friends and everyone we knew gave us a very unique perspective on the whole thing. 

Jonathan – Working on that record was a form of escapism for me, even uncomfortably slouched on the side of a bed working on a bedside chest of drawers. There’s no anger on this record which is probably indicative of the state both of us were in at the time.  

SL. With multicultural backgrounds from Sao Paulo and London, how do your diverse roots influence the storytelling and sonic elements in your music? Are there specific cultural nuances that find expression in your sound?

Paula – I think so. It wasn’t until recently that I realised that I was creating some more “unconventional” rhythms and drums due to my upbringing surrounded by Brazilian music, which is so rich and varied, even though I grew up playing rock music, mostly.

Jonathan – London doesn’t have a hold over me now but its association to music was relevant to me when I was growing up in the 90s. I liked alternative music but at the same time listened to a lot of electronic music. I was well into ambient music, techno, jungle, hip hop and other instrumental music and all this was going strong and highly accessible in London at the time. Some of that has probably left an impression on me and what I try and contribute when we work together.

SL. The Hanging Freud album is being released as a limited vinyl edition in two different colors and includes the “Anomalies” bonus EP. How does the physical format enhance the listener’s experience, and what can fans expect from the bonus EP?

Paula – The physical releases are so beautiful. I’ve always enjoyed holding a record and looking at the artwork while listening to it, I’ve always liked having the records and listening to albums from start to finish. I think a lot of people feel this way, and a lot of very young people are learning the joys of listening to records too. The bonus EP is very interesting, because those are experimental exercises of when we first went fully electronic. I used to write songs on guitar, and working with electronic music was new to me at the time, while Jonathan was very experienced in it, so it’s a very interesting way to see how I approached songwriting then. It’s a rare one.

Jonathan –  Its always good to have a physical presentation of someones work. The bonus EP of Anomalies was a turning point for us where we understood better what we wanted to do with this project in the future.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

The Glasgow-based duo Hanging Freud (signed to the Belgian label Spleen+) (division of Alfa Matrix) has a new album out today: “Worship”. “Worship” is the 7th album for this Scottish new wave / minimal synthpop duo.

On this new studio album, Paula Borges and Jonathan Skinner offer 10 songs. The tracks were written in particular claustrophobic circumstances during the pandemic lockdown. “Because of what was going on, we were essentially stuck in temporary accommodation in Scotland, away from our studio and forced into a period unexperienced before. The songs that came out therefore come from a different place. Everything was done within a laptop and is proudly 100% digital. It was recorded and mixed while literally sitting on the side of a bed in a mouse infested apartment…” explains Paula Borges.

“Worship” is out as a limited vinyl edition available in 2 different colours: transparent violet and transparent turquoise (150 copies each worldwide) as well as a lush double-CD digipak with the “Anomalies” bonus EP just like in this Bandcamp download.

You can check out the album below 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!

side-line.com

Originally self-released via their DIY Tiny Box label in a very limited quantity, the Scottish post-punk/minimal electro act Hanging Freud are now also re-releasing their previous (6th) studio album “Persona Normal” via their new label partner Spleen+ (division of the Belgian Alfa Matrix label group), digitally via Bandcamp, in a digipak edition, as well as vinyl in two different colours (solid gold or solid silver) each strictly limited to 150 units worldwide.

Pre-orders are available via the Alfa Matrix store and these will all be shipped on December 1st.

Here’s how the vinyls look like.

The band also recently announced a brand new album, “Worship” on which Paula Borges and Jonathan Skinner continue refining their unique sound identity evoking influences and elements of post punk, ethereal, synthgaze, cold wave, ambient pop or yet experimental electronica.

“Worship” gets released as a limited vinyl edition available in 2 different colours: transparent violet and transparent turquoise (150 copies each worldwide) as well as a lush double-CD digipak with the “Anomalies” bonus EP just like in this Bandcamp download.

You can check out the album below on Bandcamp.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

We already reported that the Glasgow-based duo Hanging Freud had joined hands with the Belgian label Spleen+ (division of Alfa Matrix). The duo now announces the release of “Worship”, their 7th album.

On this new studio album, Paula Borges and Jonathan Skinner offer 10 songs. The tracks were written in particular claustrophobic circumstances during the pandemic lockdown.

“Because of what was going on, we were essentially stuck in temporary accommodation in Scotland, away from our studio and forced into a period unexperienced before. The songs that came out therefore come from a different place. Everything was done within a laptop and is proudly 100% digital. It was recorded and mixed while literally sitting on the side of a bed in a mouse infested apartment…” explains Paula Borges.

“Worship” gets released as a limited vinyl edition available in 2 different colours: transparent violet and transparent turquoise (150 copies each worldwide) as well as a lush double-CD digipak with the “Anomalies” bonus EP just like in this Bandcamp download.

You can check out the album below 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!

side-line.com

Alfa Matrix, the renowned Belgian label, commemorates its 22nd anniversary with yet another mastodont compilation on Bandcamp. The latest installment in the acclaimed “Matrix Downloaded” series, titled “Matrix+ Downloaded 011”, is now available as a free download on their Bandcamp page. Packed with 60 tracks, including new signings and a preview of the upcoming Spleen+ label releases, this compilation showcases Alfa Matrix’s diverse music repertoire.

“Matrix+ Downloaded 011” soared to the top of the industrial Bandcamp charts within hours of its release, claiming the coveted number 1 position.

The collection holds 60 tracks in total including several new signings. These are the bands present on this brand new free download compilation: Hanging Freud, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Breath Of Life, Psy’Aviah Feat. Sorrow Stories, ImJudas, Star Industry, Halo In Reverse, Lovelorn Dolls, The True Union, Freakangel, Avarice In Audio, Siva Six, Alien Vampires, Synapsyche, Helalyn Flowers, Neuroactive, Elektrostaub Feat. Stefan Netschio, Technoir, Entrzelle, Llumen, Noemi Aurora, Aiboforcen Feat. Jan D., Reichsfeind, Mondträume Feat. N-Frequency, The Psychic Force, Digital Factor, Implant, Darkness On Demand, Aesthetische, Komor Kommando Vs. The True Union, Matthew Creed, C-Lekktor, First Aid Tech, Pouppee Fabrikk, ELM, Die Robo Sapiens, Plastic Noise Experience, Armageddon Dildos, Stahlgeist, AD:keY, Kant Kino, Suicidal Romance, Miseria Ultima, First Aid 4 Souls, Neikka RPM, Circumpolar, Venal Flesh, Helle9, Diffuzion, Acylum, Circuito Cerrado, Aengeldust, Studio-X, 808 Dot Pop, Cubic, Metroland, Rector Scanner, Elektroklänge, Cosmic Armchair, Lights A.M.

You can download “Matrix+ Downloaded 011” for free via Bandcamp.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

The Glasgow-based post-punk / minimal electro duo Hanging Freud (São Paulo-born Paula Borges and London‘s Jonathan Skinner) join hands with the Belgian label Spleen+ (division of Alfa Matrix) for the release of their 7th studio album “Worship”.

A first song from this album is now available for free on Bandcamp with the song “Falling Tooth” that merges the band’s influences ranging from post punk, ethereal, synthgaze, cold wave, ambient pop or yet experimental electronica. Add to this Paula Borges very dark vocals.

The band debuted in Summer of 2017 with the EP “The Invisible Rope”. You can check out the complete discography on the band’s Bandcamp page where you can also download the free single.

Download this single for free from Bandcamp.

Below is the official video clip.

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

Hanging Freud, the Glasgow coldwave act who were featured on our free download compilation “Post​-​Punk (Genesis)” with the track “We Don’t Want To Sleep”, have finished an all new album. The new album is scheduled to be released some time during Winter via their own imprint Tiny Box to be followed by concert dates.

For this next album, there will be a few videos available, keep an eye on Side-Line to view them first.

Hanging Freud consists of the duo of Paula Borges and Jonathan Skinner. As a duo they combine their somewhat nomadic past with multicultural backgrounds of coming from Sao Paulo (Brazil) and London (UK), into their sound.

The duo debuted with “The Continent” (2008) followed by “Sunken” (2010), “No Body Allowed” (2015), “Motherland” (2016), “Anomalies” (2017), “In Exile” (2018), “Nowhere” (2018) and “Persona Normal” (2021). Quite a prolific band in other words. You can find all releases on the band’s Bandcamp page.

Below is the band’s most recent output, to get an idea.

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

Glasgow based darkwave/post-punk duo Hanging Freud have just unveiled their sixth full-length album, “Persona Normal”. “Persona Normal” is available now in physical and digital formats on Hanging Freud’s label, Tiny Box. Persona Normal was written produced and recorded by the duo with mastering duties from James Plotkin (Khanate).

Hanging Freud is the Glasgow based production duo Paula Borges and Jonathan Skinner. As a duo they combine their somewhat nomadic past with multicultural backgrounds of coming from Sao Paulo (Brazil) and London (UK) with post-punk and electronics.

The band states: “We were living between the UK and Brazil, going back and forth. These were two societies going through extreme change. The whole world was changing in a way that felt scary.”

For their new album the duo went for a progressive change with more urgency and directness in sound and while maintaining a synth/drum machine approach. The album moves the duo into a new post punk, krautrock and art rock direction rather than the more emotive, goth inspired leanings of their previous record “Nowhere”.

You can already enjoy this new video for the track “Antidote/Immune”.

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: Minimal-electro, electro-wave, cold-wave.

Background/Info: German label Cold Transmission Music moves on with the “Zeitgeist”-series unleashing the ninth volume. This is a new opportunity to discover some of the upcoming talents from the electro-underground and cold-wave scene.

Artists: SYZYGYX, La Mécanique, Elz And The Cult, Crying Vessel, Antipole, Aprilmen, Lobby, Glaring, Egoprisme, Sexy Suicide ao.

Content: There are less label bands featured at this compilation and that’s probably because “Zeitgeist Vol.9” sounds more electro-minimal like while the label is more focused on cold-wave music. Most of the bands are getting their inspiration from the 80s although you’ll notice very personal influences on top. The compilation sounds pretty vintage like and progressively evolves from minimal-electronics to a last part featuring cold-wave driven formations.

+ + + : It’s a new opportunity to discover less familiar- and totally unknown projects active in the shadow of bigger names. But the compilation again brings us real cool surprises. I especially like the minimal-electro touch emerging from bands such as Milliken Chamber, Glaring, Mater Suspiria Vision and SYZYGYX. From the cold-wave front I especially recommend La Mécanique, Sexy Suicide and Lobby (which in the meantime seems to have split up). This compilation features 31 bands!

– – – : I don’t see real minus points here, but it’s a pity some of the featured bands don’t have more recognition!

Conclusion: Among the endless list of samplers, the “Zeitgeist”-series seems to be one of the most interesting ones for bringing us a truly underground spirit by a nice selection of less famous, but talented artists.

Best bands: Glaring, Sexy Suicide, So What?, Milliken Chamber, Lobby, Egoprisme, Hanging Freud.

Rate: (8½).

Label: www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

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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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