The March Violets hold a special place in the collective memory of 80s Post-Punk lovers. Core members Rosie Garland and Tom Ashton, now joined by bassist Mat Thorpe, have released a new album featuring 9 tracks. While the heyday of the 80s and the band’s biggest hits are long behind them, the signature guitar sound remains largely intact. You can still hear the Post-Punk influences from their early days, though the new material leans more towards a ‘catchy Rock’ style. Personally, I favor the darker, harder elements of the album, which, unfortunately, don’t appear as often as I’d like. It’s worth noting that Rosie Garland’s vocal timbre is remarkably consistent, sounding nearly identical to what it was 40 years ago. Overall, it’s not a groundbreaking album, but a decent nod to nostalgia. (Rating:7).

Listen to “Bite The Hand”:

https://marchvioletsband.bandcamp.com/track/bite-the-hand

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

“Alive” is the third album from the Australian duo The Cold Field, and from the very first notes, it transports listeners back to the vibrant heyday of the 80s. The album weaves a soundscape that oscillates between Dark-Wave and Shoegaze, with a growing resemblance to the ethereal style of The Cocteau Twins. The guitar work is nothing short of magical, offering moments of melodic brilliance that glide effortlessly over deep bass lines and resonant vocals. Released by Cold Transmission Music, “Alive” stands as yet another masterpiece in The Cold Field’s discography. (Rate:8½).

Listen to “Tiny Beads Of Light”:

https://thecoldfield.bandcamp.com/track/tiny-beads-of-light

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

The Simpsons’ episode “Panic on the Streets of Springfield” is not really welcomed by Morrissey’s manager. In the episode, with a title referring to The Smiths 1986 single, you see Morrissey satirized as an imaginary depressed friend of Lisa Simpson. Named Quilloughby, the character is the lead singer from a fictional band called the Snuffs. The character was voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch.

Morrissey had an update posted on his Facebook by Peter Katsis, his American manager. It’s not the first time Katsis (of Deckstar Management) takes to the public forum to complain about a press article (see this article against The Independent) or in this case a TV-show.

Before the episode, show writer Tim Long said that Morrissey, Cure singer Robert Smith and Joy Division’s Ian Curtis were among the character’s inspirations.

Here’s the full post:

“Surprising what a “turn for the worst” the writing for The Simpson’s tv show has taken in recent years.
Sadly, The Simpson’s show started out creating great insight into the modern cultural experience, but has since degenerated to trying to capitalize on cheap controversy and expounding on vicious rumors.
Poking fun at subjects is one thing. Other shows like SNL still do a great job at finding ways to inspire great satire.
But when a show stoops so low to use harshly hateful tactics like showing the Morrissey character with his belly hanging out of his shirt (when he has never looked like that at any point in his career) makes you wonder who the real hurtful, racist group is here.
Even worse – calling the Morrissey character out for being a racist, without pointing out any specific instances, offers nothing. It only serves to insult the artist.
They should take that mirror and hold it up to themselves.
Simpson’s actor Hank Azaria’s recent apology to the whole country of India for his role in upholding “structural racism” says it all.
Unlike the character in the Simpson’s “Panic” episode…….
Morrissey has never made a “cash grab”, hasn’t sued any people for their attacks, has never stopped performing great shows, and is still a serious vegan and strong supporter for animal rights.
By suggesting all of the above in this episode…the Simpson’s hypocritical approach to their storyline says it all.
Truly they are the only ones who have stopped creating, and have instead turned unapologetically hurtful and racist.
Not surprising…… that The Simpsons viewership ratings have gone down so badly over recent years. – Peter Katsis”

Viewership ratings have indeed gone down

Katsis’ comment as if the Simpsons viewership ratings have gone down, is actually pretty correct. A few weeks ago Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, has spoken out in defense of the long-running cartoon’s lower rated recent seasons.

The series, which was recently renewed for two years, has long faced accusations from fans and critics that the quality has dipped from its seminal heyday.

Asked about the series’ decline in viewership ratings from its earlier seasons’ peak, Groening said: “I don’t think about that stuff at all. (…) If big numbers come with it, that’s great, if they don’t, well, let’s keep that a secret.”

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.

side-line.com

(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange)
The Norwegian alt-rock band Friksjon (“friction”) have compiled their first two single releases and two new tracks into an EP, released by Fucking North Pole Records on several platforms September 4th.

Friksjon is Torstein Eriksen’s musical habitat for music outside the constraints of Norsk Råkk and Freedumb, and loose threads gathered from projects that never saw the light of day. It’s musically miles away from previous efforts, and can be defined as alternative pop rock, with a musical backdrop of razor sharp guitars, psychedelic synthesizers, and doomsday drums. The lyrics are from a direct, personal, and brutally honest perspective. The members of the band hails from bands like Norsk Råkk, Freedumb, CC Cowboys, Heyday, Konstant Anfall, The Cornflakes, Kings and Deadweight and Hate This.

They’ll be touring the south-east of Norway from September until mid-November – check their Facebook page for more info.

Friksjon EP playlist:

jrstange

Sometimes – when I’m not cooking, biking, listening to music or attending concerts, I write stuff for Side-Line.com. Mostly about Norwegian bands, but it’s been some Swedish, English, American, Danish, German and others too… 😉

www.facebook.com/jrstange

For the first time in the band’s nearly 40–year history, the story of The Cure from someone who was there at the very beginning (Laurence “Lol” Tolhurst) is being released in 336 pages book format: “CURED: The Tale of Two Imaginary Boys”. Tolhurst is the band’s co–founder, co–songwriter, and lifelong friend of lead singer Robert Smith.

The book is available right here for ordering in the US and right here from the UK and right here from Germany.

From Smith and Tolhurst’s early childhood to the band’s heyday, “CURED: The Tale of Two Imaginary Boys” sheds a new light. Tolhurst mines the band’s peak years (1976–1989) to produce never–before–told tales of The Cure, shining a light on Robert Smith and revealing the highs and lows in a lifelong relationship. It also handles Tolhurst’s battle with alcohol, which shows this book really goes far deeper than what most bios do.

Tolhurst, currently living in Santa Monica, met Robert Smith in 1964 on their first day of school and together they began a journey that would take them to the very pinnacle of musical success. Starting in 1978, Lol and The Cure would chart an impressive selection of achievements that includes selling over 27 million units worldwide and earning 40 Platinum and Gold Records in the US, Europe, and Japan.

Here’s a trailer created for the book release. The video was directed by Michael Frost.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-aUjcKlNqQ

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.

side-line.com

Out in October is a reissue of the 2014 DVD “I Dream Of Wires”, a documentary about the rise, fall and rebirth of a machine that shaped electronic music: the modular synthesizer. For this documentary over 100 inventors, musicians and enthusiasts were interviewed about their relationship with the modular synthesizer.

Electronic pioneers like Gary Numan and Daniel Miller discuss the modular synthesizer’s 1970s heyday, through to its near-extinction in the 1980s, while musicians including Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) and Vince Clarke (Erasure) talk about their ongoing passion for the modular synthesizer, and how it influences their music.

“I Dream Of Wires” also explores the early development of modular synthesizers in the 1960s, from pioneering companies Moog and Buchla.

Below is a trailer for the DVD, you can order this splendid documentary right here. Highly recommended!

In addition also the “I Dream Of Wires” soundtrack sees a reissue, containing a full addition CD of bonus tracks and remixes. This is Solvent aka Jason Amm’s sixth full-length LP and also marks the return of Solvent to his own Suction Records label, his first album for the label since 1999.

You can order the 2CD right here.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

side-line.com