The Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix is launching 8 new Bandcamp exclusive releases today from AD:keY, Aesthetische, Die Robo Sapiens, First Aid 4 Souls, Helalyn Flowers, Neuroactive, Psy’Aviah and Studio-X vs. Simon Carter. At the same time the label also officially releases the new albums by 808 DOT POP and Avarice In Audio today.

Good to know, if you want to support artists and labels to survive during this Corona crisis, Bandcamp is again waiving its revenue share on all sales today. All the purchases placed on that day will therefore support the bands and labels present on the platform.

The new releases can be found 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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Alfa Matrix continues the ‘Matrix:Reb00ted’ series, this time with 2 remix albums by Belgian artist Psy’Aviah displaying his electro dance trip pop remixes cruising through the Alfa Matrix band catalogue. The releases are first released via Bandcamp and will follow on all other platforms in the next weeks.

Here’s what is available on both volumes plus also a preview of what to expect.

Matrix:Reb00ted – The Psy’Aviah Guerrilla – Zion [Electro Dance] Warfare [07]

This volume holds 15 songs from Alfa Matrix’s massive music repertoire remixed by Psy’Aviah. Offering the electro dance side of the Belgian band you can expect a harder selection of modern dancefloor assaults with these bands: Ayria, Suicidal Romance, Zombie Girl, Junksista, Leaether Strip, Essence Of Mind, Nebula-H, Diffuzion, Schwarzblut, Diskonnekted, Krystal System and Psy’Aviah. You can check all the songs below and download it from Bandcamp directly.

Matrix:Reb00ted – The Psy’Aviah Guerrilla – Zion [Trip Pop Electro] Warfare [06]

This volume also holds 15 songs from Alfa Matrix’s massive music repertoire remixed by Psy’Aviah. The “trip pop electro” edition reveals a selection of more moody and catchy synth electro songs thanks to bands like Mondträume, Metroland, Aiboforcen, Helalyn Flowers, Acylum, Junksista, Entrzelle, Llumen, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Halo In Reverse, Schwarzblut, Mildreda, Totem Obscura and Psy’Aviah, also including guest vocals by Kyoko Baertsoen, Mari Kattman and Fallon Nieves. You can check all the songs below and download it from Bandcamp directly.

Previous volumes

Here’s a list of the 5 previous volumes which Alfa Matrix released in the past with remixes executed by Kant Kino, Simon Carter, Acylum and Aesthetische !

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-pop, ambient-pop.

Background/Info: “Soul Searching” is the seventh official album for Belgian Yves Schelpe aka Psy’Aviah. The composer again invited an impressive list of ‘guest singers’ to put their voice on his compositions.

Content: Psy’Aviah is a project in constant move. “Soul Searching” features typical influences and arrangements, which are into the Psy’Aviah sound, but compared to the previous album –which was more into some dance-electronics, this work reflects maturity and impressive vocal performances. The opening cut featuring one of the most famous and ‘popular’ psychiatrists from the Flemish part of Belgium (aka Dirk De Wachter) you’ll also get songs with Roeland van der Velde, Mari Kattman, Mark Bebb, Alicia May, Kyoko Baertsoen, Saydi Driggers, Marieke Lightband, Addie Nicole, Lis van den Akker and Ellia Bisker.

Sound-wise Yves Schelpe has achieved a work, which sounds like a sonic bridge between electro-pop and ambient-electronics. It might appeal for lovers of Delerium, Conjure One, Lunascape and related bands.

The limited edition features an extra disc with remixes by SD-KRTR, Metroland, Rob Dust, 11 Grams, Mind.Divided, SNVFF, J. Wolf, The Gothsicles, Studio-X, Cosmic Armchair, Noire Antidote, Maarten Pels, Tom Bro, People Theatre, KGProject and French Skies. 

+ + + : Psy’Aviah is back with great stuff and has probably accomplished his most achieved work to date. After a rather disappointing “Lightflare”-album on which Yves Schelpe fall in the trap of easy electro-dance music, this work reflects a more intelligent approach and still a challenge in the fusion between electro-pop and atmospheric passages. The songs have been accomplished by alluring, deep sounding bass lines, elevating leads, down-tempo rhythms and a few Eastern sound treatments on a couple of songs. Yves Schelpe also selected an impressive list of talented singers (featuring some familiar Psy’Aviah guests next to newcomers).

One of my favorite cuts is the more club-friendly “New Times” feat. Alicia May (who already sang on a song of Benjamin’s Plague) while the already familiar “Voodoo Love” feat. Roeland van der Velde is a dreamy, beautiful piece of music. Among the vocalists I also want to mention Kyoko Baertsoen, Saydi Driggers and Ellia Bisker (reminding me of Lana Del Rey).

Among the remixes I recommend the 80s driven “Hold On” remixed by Metroland, “New Times” remixed by SNVFF, the wafting “Dream Fever” remixed by Tom Bro and the trance-orientated “Searching” remixed by French Skies.

– – – : The main difficulty for Psy’Aviah remains the style, which is hard to define for mixing different influences; it remains often too ‘indie’-like for underground music and too ‘dark’ for the indie-stream. It’s not exactly an album for the clubs although it sounds danceable!

Conclusion: Psy’Aviah has accomplished its opus magnum, which however remains an album hard to label and a pure challenge when it comes to ‘sales’.

Best songs: “New Times”, “Voodoo Love”, “Dream Fever”, “Searching”, “City In Flames” + “Hold On – Metroland 7” Remix”, “News Times – SNVFF Remix”, “Dream Fever – Tom Bro After Club Remix”, “Searching – French Skies Club Remix”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.psyaviah.com / www.facebook.com/psyaviah

Label: www.alfa–matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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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One of Belgium’s finest electronica trademarks over the last decade, Antwerp-based Psy’Aviah aka Yves Schelpe returns with “Soul Searching”. The new album, expected for a November 1st release, was preceded by the “Dream Fever” download EP released in March this year.

The basic album (available here) will hold 12 tracks while there is also a limited 2CD set (available here) holding a 16-track bonus CD. And for the remixers amongst you all, there are 2 remix kits waiting for you as well once the album is released on Bandcamp.

Guest vocalists

The album itself features guest vocalists in the likes of Mari Kattman, Kyoko Baertsoen (ex-Hooverphonic and Lunascape), Lis van den Akker, Ellia Bisker, Addie Nicole, Saydi Driggers, Alicia May, Roeland van der Velde, Marieke Lightband, Mark Bebb as well as psychiatrist Prof Dr. Dirk De Wachter speaking on the intro track “Becoming Human”.

First 2 tracks available

You can now listen to the first 2 tracks which have been made available from the album.

In case you missed the “Dream Fever” EP, as released in March, check it out 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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Out now is the brand new Psy’Aviah EP “Looking For The Sun” which counts no less than 19 tracks. The download EP is available now via Bandcamp with other platforms following soon. Note that the Bandcamp version holds 3 extra tracks which will not be available on the other platforms.

The title track from the “Looking For The Sun” EP is taken from the recently released Psy’Aviah album “Lightflare”. The EP holds 3 brand new songs and a plethora of club oriented remixes. Vocally the band’s Yves Schelpe chose again for a list of female vocalists including Lumí, Kyoko Baertsoen, Marieke Lightband, Saydi Driggers and Anewta C.

Next to the 3 additional Bandcamp exclusive songs, you’ll also get an extended booklet with lyrics and a mini-essay, unique photos and a full remix kit for the new track “No More Heroes”.

You can check out the EP 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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Hooverphonic has found a brand new frontwoman: 17-year old Luka Cruysberghs, the winner of The Voice Of Flanders 2018. Hooverphonic’s Alex Callier was also Cruysberghs’ coach in the TV program and sung the Hooverphonic track “Mad About You” in the finals.

Luka Cruysberghs will be replacing Noémie Wolfs who quit the band in 2015. Since the band formed in 1995 the duo Alex Callier and Raymond Geerts have had various frontwomen: Liesje Sadonius, Kyoko Bartsoen, Esther Lybeert and Geike Arnaert.

The band has also announced a brand new single: “Romantic”. You can watch an acoustic version of the new single below.

Here is the teaser for the official version.

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-pop, dance-pop.

Background/Info: The sixth official studio album by Belgian Yves Schelpe aka Psy’Aviah appears to be a               very particular work for the artist. The writing of “Lightflare” helped him to exorcise personal demons, which are commonly known as ‘depression’ and ‘burn-out’. Just like on previous releases Schelpe joined hands with an army of female- and male singers.

Content: The singers who have contributed to this new work are Mari Kattman, Ellia Bisker, Marieke Lightband, Addie Nicole, MiXe1, Lofthill, Fallon Nieves, David Chamberlin, Phoebe Stone, Kyoko Baertsoen and Koner. The sound of Psy’Aviah has progressively evolved from underground electronics in the early beginning to electro-pop & dance eclecticism during the recent albums. It becomes rapidly clear that Yves Schelpe is more and more exploring the dance-pop style. Most of the singers are very talented artists that inject a sensual touch to the work while others bring a darker touch to the work.

The limited edition reveals a bonus disc with some extra songs and mainly remixes made by Rool, Sd-Krtr, People Theatre, Alter Future, Assemblage 23, Chaos All Stars, Cyborgdrive, Isserley and Jean-Marc Lederman.

+ + + : Diversity remains one of the main characteristics of this new work. It can be heard in the songs and of course the different vocalists. Yves Schelpe has a real nose to find the right singer for each of his songs. Sound-wise this album is the most ‘commercial’ one or should I say the most ‘dance-pop’ like. It sometimes reminds me a bit of Delerium, but my favorite cuts remain the darkest ones. The song “Reboot Reset Relay” sounds more in the continuation of earlier Psy’Aviah stuff reminding me the albums with singer Emélie Nicolaï. The sound production is absolutely impressive, which more than ever makes me say that Yves Schelpe is ready to switch from a mainly underground scene towards a more indie and commercial scene.

– – – : “Lightflare” is a technically overwhelming album coming from an artist who has lost ground with this scene. Psy’Aviah always has been a kind of antidote to dark-electronics, but he now become a true ‘alien’.

Conclusion: Yves Schelpe can be seen as a visionary artist of this scene; a kind of producer working with guest singers and exploring the most dance-like fields of electro-pop music. The question is if he still belongs to this scene? I’m rather skeptical about the answer however he released a cool work.

Best songs: “Reboot Reset Relay feat. Fallon Nieves”, “In The Sound feat. MiXe1”, “Ghost feat. David Chamberlin” + “Aftermath feat. Ellia Bisker – People Theatre Remix”, “Sound Of New feat. Addie Nicole – Sd-Krtr Remix”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.psyaviah.com / www.facebook.com/psyaviah

Label: www.alfa–matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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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“Lightflare” is the title of the brand new upcoming album by the Belgian electro trip pop act Psy’Aviah. The album was written following a depression where Yves Schelpe literally hit the bottom, but luckily for us it transferred into a new release holding 14 tracks featuring an array of male and female vocalists.

Apart from the live vocalist Marieke Lightband, you’ll also find Ellia Bisker, Kyoko Bartsoen, Michael Evans (MiXE1), Koner, Mari Kattman, Fallon Nieves, David Chamberlin (Entrzelle), as well as the guitar parts signed by Jürgen Brischar of Junksista and by live member Ben van de Cruys.

You can already check out 2 tracks below, or pre-order the album on Bandcamp, you’ll get the 2 tracks as instant download.

The whole was mixed by Mitia Wexler, while the mastering was executed by Geert de Wilde (IC 434).

“Lightflare” comes out as a double-CD carton-fold limited edition with a bonus disc (available here) featuring 4 exclusive meditative / contemplative tracks inspired upon both triphop/ambient and more ethereal Indian and yoga philosophies and sounds. Next to this you get a collection of remixes by Assemblage 23, Jean-Marc Lederman, SD-KRTR, People Theatre and many more.

Below is the album video trailer.

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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“Fly” is the second album by Yoko Ono, produced by her and John Lennon, and released in 1971. The album included notable songs such as the singles “Midsummer New York” and “Mrs. Lennon”, “Hirake” aka “Open Your Box” and “Don’t Worry, Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)”, dedicated to Ono’s daughter Kyoko Cox.

The track “Airmale” was the soundtrack to Lennon’s film “Erection”, showing a building being erected in time lapsed photography, while “Fly” is the soundtrack to Ono’s film “Fly”. Below you can see the video for “Mind Holes” equally from the 1971 avant-garde album, “Fly”.

Note that this double vinyl LP (white vinyl on top) reissue has the following 4 bonus tracks: “Between the Takes”, “Will You Touch Me”, “The Path” and “Head Play (Medley: You/Airmale/Fly)” totalling 17 tracks for this reissue. You can order this rather exquisite album right here in the double vinyl version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJxH29lyFsM

The album was recorded around the same time as Lennon’s “Imagine”. A small detail, Ono had to re-record her vocals on “Open Your Box”, on 4 March 1971 at Abbey Road Studios, after a managing director of EMI called the lyrics “distasteful”. The song featured a line that went “Open your trousers, open your skirt, open your legs and open your thighs”. “Trousers”, “skirt”, “legs”, and “thighs” were then changed to “houses”, “church”, “lakes”, and “eyes”. Remarkably enough Lennon and Ono didn’t complain about the change of the words, and only “wanted to get the record out”.

Another interesting details is that each edition of the US, UK and Japanese albums utilized that country’s distinctive telephone ring in the track “Telephone Piece”. You can hear the 3 versions 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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(Picture by Anton Coene) The brand new video of Kyoko’s “In Dreams” is available now, although strictly speaking it will only be officially announced next week. So consider this to be an exclusive watch!

“In Dreams” is featured on Kyoko’s first solo album released a few months ago as we reported about it right here.

The material for this album was co-written with the producer/songwriter Jan De Block. The album was further completed together with guitarist Jo Mahieu; bassists Jan Detremerie and Vincent Pierins; songwriters Jim Colman (Jim Cole), Bert Wuyts, Patrick Hamilton and Kevin Strauwen; Uwe Teichert (mastering) and producer/musician Ronald Vanhuffel.

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 58th track on our free download compilation “Face The Beat: Session 4” (featuring 92 tracks) is by the popular Belgian electropop act Psy’Aviah here featuring Fallon Nieves (see the photo above).

The track we offer here is also featured on the band’s most recent “Seven Sorrows, Seven Stars” album which sees Yves Schelpe collaborating with Kyoko Baertsoen (ex-Hooverphonic, Lunascape), David Chamberlin (Entrzelle), Andrew Galucki, Alvin River, and many other artists. Over the years Psy’Aviah has gained a solid reputation offering strong songwriting and a slick production. You can connect with the band via their Facebook page.

Listen to “Not What I Expected (Feat. Fallon Nieves)” below and download it right here.

Check our “Face The Beat: Session 4” page on Bandcamp to discover the other 91 bands. All donations will go to charity.

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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Belgian singer Kyoko Baertsoen, who you will know from her work with Hooverphonic and as Lunascape will release her solo debut on March 8th, on International Women’s Day, simply titled “Kyoko”.

“Kyoko” counts 10 new songs which bring us back to her triphop-roots. The first single to be released from the album is “Wildest Rain”.

The material for this album was co-written with the producer/songwriter Jan De Block. The album was further completed together with guitarist Jo Mahieu; bassists Jan Detremerie and Vincent Pierins; songwriters Jim Colman (Jim Cole), Bert Wuyts, Patrick Hamilton and Kevin Strauwen; Uwe Teichert (mastering) and producer/musician Ronald Vanhuffel.

We have been listening to the album already and can only recommend it warmly. An interview will be published shortly.

Below is already a video trailer:

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-pop, dance-pop, trance-pop.

Background/Info: No doubt about it, Psy’Aviah is one of the most atypical electro underground bands. The Belgian formation driven by Yves Schelpe earlier this year confirmed its electronic eclecticism on the album “Seven Sorrows, Seven Stars”, which is their sixth full length. Schelpe and his female army of guest singers strike back with an EP featuring 17 cuts!

Content: This EP features 3 parts. You first get “Radio Edit” versions from 2 songs originally released on their last album plus one new song featuring Lis Van Den Akker. “Alcubierre Drive” featuring the sensual vocals of Kyoko Baertsoen remains a unique and dreamy piece of electro-pop while “Not What I Expected” featuring Fallon Nieves sounds like a trance-pop transposition of Praga Khan. The new song “Alone” is something totally different and in a pure commercial-like dance-pop style.

We next get an important remix part featuring numerous remixes of “Alcubierre Drive” and “Alone”, but also a remix of “Not What I Expected” and 2 remixes of songs featuring Mari Kattman. Among the remixes you’ll find bands like Avarice In Audio, Cyborgdrive, Etasonic feat. Andre H, Antibody, Diskonnekted, Koner and Tim Iron.

The last part is something different revealing earlier material like 4 instrumental tracks that were composed for theater Music in 2002. We here get a more conceptual and cinematographic exposure of Psy’Aviah.

+ + + : Yves Schelpe confirms his diversified taste for electronic music. He feels comfortable composing sensual electro-pop, confirms his talent for harder, danceable and somewhat trance-like songs and takes us by surprise revealing pure dance-pop music on the edge of commercial music. “Alone” is a song, which can really become a commercial hit and the remix of Etasonic feat. Andre H is even more dance-like.

Speaking for myself I prefer the trance approach of  “Not What I Expected”, which is a great dance-piece with some dirty female vocals. Among the remixes I heard a great and totally reworked version of “Alcubierre” by Diskonnekted.

– – – : Okay for the “Radio Edit”-songs and different remixes, but the more conceptual earlier work is something too different, which is not matching with the main part of this EP. You can put a lot of stuff on an EP, but in the end it still has to sound compact and that’s what I’m missing here. Another reflection consists of the real ‘dance-commercial’ side of Psy’Aviah revealed on “Alone”. It’s a great production and I really believe this song has the potential to become a hit (it makes me think to what happened with Delerium’s “Silence”), but on the other side it creates a schizophrenic feeling, like a band showing real different faces.

Conclusion: This is without a shadow of a doubt the most versatile release by Psy’Aviah. You for sure will find something to your taste while discovering talented singers, but I’m missing some cohesion between all the influences.

Best songs: “Not What I Expected – Radio Edit”, “Alcubierre Drive – Diskonnekted vs. J. Wolf Remix”, “Lessons From The Past – Tim Iron Remix”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.psyaviah.com / www.facebook.com/psyaviah

Label: www.alfa–matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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 on November 11th is “Chasing The Speed Of Light” EP by the wellknown Belgian electropop act Psy’Aviah. Side-Line secured an exclusive stream of the 10-tracks available on the download version of the EP (note that this limited fan CD version has 7 extra tracks – it can be ordered right here). The EP features vocals by Kyoko Baertsoen (ex-Hooverphonic, Lunascape), Lis van den Akker, Fallon Nieves and Mari Kattman (CD-version only).

The extended fan edition CD version also offers 2 previously unreleased club remixes by trance/dance producer Tim Iron for “Lessons from the Past” and “Last of Us”, plus a very early Psy’Aviah demo written back then under the Marion Xue moniker. Next to that you get 4 atmospheric recordings Yves Schelpe made back in 2002 as a soundtrack for a theatrical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s classic novel “The Portrait Of Dorian Grey”.

But here’s already the full 10-track download EP for you to listen to, exclusively on Side-Line!

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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Out in April, but ready for ordering on Bandcamp and here for the CD/2CD versions, is “Seven Sorrows, Seven Stars”, the brand new Psy’Aviah album. Alfa Matrix is now offering 4 tracks for streaming, which you can check below. The tracks included are the intimate “Looking Back (feat. David Chamberlin from Entrzelle), the pulsating “Lessons From The Past (feat. Mari Kattman)”, the what we expect to be an upcoming dance hit “Not What I Expected (feat. Fallon Nieves)” and “Wild Ride (feat. Miss FD)”, the latter has a very oriental touch as you’ll hear.

These days Psy’Aviah is basically the project around the multi-talented Belgian artist Yves Schelpe who has been gathering a varied range of singers around his songs including Kyoko Baertsoen (ex-Hooverphonic, Lunascape), David Chamberlin (Entrzelle), Roeland van der Velde (Model Depose), Bernard Feron (MED, Combat Voice), Mari Kattman, Andrew Galucki, Alvin River, Pieter Van Vaerenbergh (Metafuzz, Zelon), Ellia Bisker (Sweet Soubrette), Miss FD, Addie Nicole (Halocine), Diana S. (Junksista) and Fallon Nieves.

Next to the normal CD version and the extended download version, the album also comes out as a limited deluxe 2CD carton box edition with a 14-track bonus CD holding album songs reinterpretations with a much more dancefloor techno / trance oriented approach. You an find the complete trackless of remixers right here.

Below is already the trailer for the album:

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-pop & rock, dreamy-pop.

Background/Info: Francesca Lago is an Italian multi-instrumentalist and singer who already released a few productions, but on an irregular basis. She’s back on track unleashing an album featuring 10 new songs.

Content: When I hear the music of this work I can’t get away from making a comparison with Hooverphonic and Kyoko Baertsoen (one of the early singers of Hooverphonic and later on involved in Lunascape). There’s a sweet, sensual and charismatic timbre of voice, which is merged with a kind of dreamy-pop music. There’s a great balance between music and vocals. You now and then will notice a few harder and rock-inspired passages featuring guitar parts reminding me now to The B52’s and then to shoegaze.

The work reveals several beautiful songs touched with a melancholic flavor. The slow rhythm accentuates the sensual aspect of the work, but we also get a few harder cuts with more enraged vocals.

Francesca Lago got some help from a few contributors and I here like the beautiful passages of the cello reinforcing the melancholic touch of the work.

↑↑↑: there’s a noticeable and poignant dreamy aspect running through the work, which is joined by the magic of beautiful vocals.

↓↓↓: I was not as convinced by the harder element emerging from a few cuts, which inject some diversity although not really adding to the album.

Conclusion: This work is a sweet and elevating experience revealing a talented vocalist in harmony with beautiful song writing.

Best songs: “Dna”, “Out In The Blue”, “Where Do We Go”, “The Desert”.

Rate: (DP:7½)DP.

Band: www.francescalago.com / www.facebook.com/francescalago

Labels: www.urtovox.com / www.t3records.de / www.facebook.com/T3-Records-105364864720

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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