Out via Mecanica on December 1st is “Waves”, a double vinyl holding cult tracks from the German project New Scene.

New Scene was a project created in the late 80’s by Arno Müller and Markus Barth. They were part of the roaster of the German label BOY Records, together with acts like Time Modem, Cybex Factor and “O”. New Scene released two singles/mega-mixes in 1989/90 under the title of “Out of Control”, becoming both classics in the German Techno scene. Their third single “Tonight” also turned out to become a big success in the clubs and pushed New Scene to release their debut and only full-length album “Waves” in 1992 on BOY Records.

BOY Records was founded in June 1988 by Michael Zosel. It was distributed via ZYX Music and by 1992 Michael branched out creating the parent Future Sound Productions as an umbrella for BOY Records. Distribution was spread between ZYX Music, Bernhard Mikulski, and SPV (SPV Recordings) depending on the label and release.

Re-release New Scene album with bonus tracks

Mecanica now offers a Limited edition re-release of the New Scene album with remastered audio and as expanded double vinyl, including some bonus tracks: “The Walk”, “Machine” (both previously available only on a rare CD) and “The Fog” (b-side of the single “Tonight”). The re-release comes in new artwork by Salt (Stefan Alt/ANT-ZEN).

Check out the videos below 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!

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Out via Mecanica in early Summer will be the 4 earliest albums of Bill Leeb’s main project Front Line Assembly, founded in 1986 (just upon his departure from Skinny Puppy). All 4 albums comes as limited pressing of 500 copies, on double vinyl, with deluxe gatefold sleeve and new vintage artwork.

The following albums will be included:

• “The Initial Command”: this the debut landmark album by Canadian EBM-industrialists Front Line Assembly, originally released in 1987 through Belgian label KK Records. Bill Leeb shows us already a unique style, setting a benchmark for all that would follow. Fiercely original, not least for ‘it’s time’, from the glittering synths and harsh metallic percussion of the unarguably cinematic “Casualties” and the abrasive white noise on “Ausgang zum Himmel”, to the punchy breaks and dramatic strings of “No Control”. This Deluxe re-release includes all original tracks and both bonus tracks taken from a re-release in 1997: “Complexity” and “Core”.
• “Corroded Disorder”: this album compiles some of the earliest hits of Front Line Assembly including the classic “Body Count” for which the band prepared their first official video-clip. “Corroded Disorder” was originally released in 1995 as a hybrid of the EP’s “Corrosion” and “Disorder” (both released in 1988 on Third Mind Records, UK), along with some extra tracks taken from the compilation “Convergence” and a couple of new bonus songs.
• “Total Terror 1”: This is the second of two self-released cassette tapes by EBM-industrial act Front Line Assembly (the first one being ‘Nerve War’). At this point, Bill Leeb was the band’s only dedicated member, with some help from Rhys Fulber. Most of the original cassette was remixed and re-mastered to be commercially released on CD in 1993 as “Total Terror 1”. This edition added three previously-unreleased bonus tracks from other old sessions: “Freedom”, “Distorted Vision” and “Cleanser”. The original recordings of these songs were done in 1986 using nothing more than a four track recording system. This would be quite primitive for today’s standards and sound quality will not be so effective, however the ideas are all ther, letting us enjoy some of the first songs EVER created by Front Line Assembly. The deluxe re-release includes all tracks from “Total Terror 1” plus the rare song “Eternal” and some bonus taken from old compilations.
• “Total Terror 2”: This is another collection of early Front Line Assembly demos, remixed and remastered for a limited CD release for the first time in 1994. The original recordings of these songs were done in 1986/87. The equipment used was primitive, but then so is mankind. The deluxe re-release includes all tracks from the first edition plus some bonus taken from old compilations.

Here’s the first impression of what you can expect from these vinyl editions.

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: Dark-Electro.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Vomito Negro stroke back before summer with the new album “Entitled”. The work features older-, but previously unreleased tracks, which were originally written in the 80s and now reworked and re-recorded. Eight pieces have been recovered from dust and resurrected.Notice by the way the vinyl edit was released by Mecanica (Poland).

Content: These songs sound like ‘old’ Vomito Negro; a dark and tormented sound, which made the Belgian band that famous. Coldness sounds like they are emerging from any single note and arrangement while the ghost-like vocals by Gin Devo are only reinforcing the nightmarish approach. “In Strikt Tempo” is a familiar, old track, but this version is totally different from both versions originally released at “Human” (1990).

+ + + : “Entitled” clearly consists of untitled, forgotten and previously unreleased songs by this great Belgian formation. It brings us back to the glorious days of the band although Gin Devo is now the single core member on board. This work has the smell of the late 80s and early 90s. The first half of “Entitled” is absolutely phenomenal; a mysterious, cold track with samples about LSD to take off followed by the elaborated and ghost-like “In Strikt Tempo”. “Something Must Break” coming next creates a transcendental sensation by the repetitive sequences, but it’s another cool cut. Both last tracks are also worthy of examination; a bit harder again and brining us back to dark, terror-like atmospheres.

– – – : I only noticed 2 songs (cf. “Blood Fever” and “Weak”), which can’t totally convince me.

Conclusion: I’m always a bit skeptical when famous bands release old and unreleased material, but this album will ravish the ‘old’ Vomito Negro fans… even if the band’s legendary singer is no longer involved, this album sounds great!

Best songs: “Something Must Break”, “In Strict Tempo”, “Murk”, “Ongoing Patterns”, “23 Days”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.vomitonegro.com / www.facebook.com/vomitonegro

Label: www.darkdimensions.de /  www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Dimensions-Label-Group/486014725206

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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Out via Mecanica Records in early October is the double vinyl pressing (with limited casebound book) of Die Form’s 1993 album “Ad Infnitum”. “Ad Infnitum” was originally released on CD in 1993 by Hyperium Records and was later re-released by Trisol (2001), Metropolis (2002) and Irond (2003) on CD.

This new double vinyl edition not only includes the complete original tracklist, but also a selection of 8 instrumental versions and unreleased tracks from the same period. The bonus tracks are “Test 050293”, “Incubus”, “Virus Emission”, “Impudicus Rex”, “Bite of God (Instrumental)”, “Chronovision (Instrumental)”, “Necrophilia (Instrumental)”, “Test Man Sonic”.

The double vinyl is limited to 474 numbered copies with a deluxe 16-page casebound hardcover book featuring unpublished images as well as other reworked photographs taken from “The Visionary Garden”. Every copy includes a certificate and a sticker.

About Die Form

Die Form is the seminal post-industrial electronic act started in the late 70’s by French musician and multimedia artist Philippe Fichot. He began recording a number of experimental cassettes under different names but Die Form became the main project and with which he has developed a prolific career during more than four decades.

Whilst the project was still in its first stage, the underlying concepts were already evident: a combination of esoteric electronic experiments with an underlying theme of eroticism, death and other taboo subjects, apparent in both the music and artworks.

In 1986 the project was joined by Éliane P., but it took until 1991 before we could hear her vocals, namely on the album “Corpus Delicti”.

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.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl, Cassette.

Background/Info: Dirk Ivens (Dive, Klinik, Sonar, Motor!k ao) and Eric Van Wonterghem (Monolith, Sonar, Insekt ao) have known each other for quite a long time and began making music together in 1980 as Absolute Body Control. The Belgian band hasn’t released that much new stuff in quite a long time, but are now back on track unleashing six new tracks, which have been released in different formats by different labels.

Content: “Waving Goodbye” is the opening track, which reminds me of the early years and probably the biggest hit of the duo, “Is There An Exit?”. There’s a similar icy sphere and vintage sound treatments with Ivens’ very own timbre of voice on top. This is Electro-Wave from the good-old days and both artists perfectly know how to bring this unique atmosphere alive. The songs are short, dark and evasive, but sometimes also pretty Experimental. There also is a short instrumental cut.

+ + + : Absolute Body Control takes us back in time, like bringing the 80s back to life and no one else but Absolute Body Control knows how to emulate this unique sphere. The typical sound of the good-old rhythm box and cold strings are pure 80s like. The main strength of the production hides in its simplicity. “Waving Goodbye” is a really great song, but I also have to mention “Earth Takes A Break”.

– – – : Some of the tracks are more Experimental and aren’t exactly my favorites. If you buy the vinyl you’ll hear a great A side and 3 less convincing cuts on the B side.

Conclusion: It’s good to see Absolute Body Control striking back with their pure retro driven Minimal-Electro-Wave style.

Best songs: “Waving Goodbye”, “Earth Takes A Break”, “Empty Cities”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/AbsoluteBodyControl

Labels: www.facebook.com/Wool.E.Tapes / www.mecanica-records.com / www.facebook.com/mecanicarecords / www.noisedemocracyrecords.com / www.facebook.com/NoiseDemocracyRecords

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 via Mecanica on July 20th is a 4LP and 2CD reissue of the Absolute Body Control collection “Lost / Found”. “Lost / Found” holds a total of 52 songs including 8 previously unreleased tracks.

The 4LP version is limited to 1,000 copies with 4 records inside individual sleeves, insert and numbered certificate. The 2CD digipak version is limited to 500 copies on vinyl record gatefold sleeve replica with 2 individual printed inner sleeves.

About Absolute Body Control

Absolute Body Control was formed by Dirk Ivens in 1980 influenced by the sound produced by the likes of Suicide, D.A.F. and the UK electronic scene. The project originally feature Marc De Jonghe (synths) and Veerle De Schepper (backing vocals), though Mark was replaced in 1981 by Eric Van Wonterghem, after the release of the debut 7″ “Is there an Exit?”.

The band split up in 1985.

Although they released a few cassettes, there was never a proper release on vinyl or CD. A compilation of tracks entitled “Eat this” was eventually compiled in 1993 and a first edition of the collection “Lost / Found” was issued on CD in 2005.

Dirk and Eric took the project back on stage in 2006 and decided to re-activate it. They first re-recorded some of their classic songs for the album “Wind[Re]Wind” and then continued releasing new material.

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 later next month via Mecanica, and limited to 500 copies, is the Vomito Negro album “Entitled”. This album was created with entirely unreleased tracks from the early 80’s. All songs were re-arranged and re-recorded by Gin Devo at his own studio, The Lab, with the use of original vintage hardware synthesizers, sequencers and drum machines.

Tracks:

1. Ongoing Patterns
2. In Strikt Tempo
3. Something Must Break
4. Black Point
5. Blood Fever
6. Weak
7. Murk
8. 23 Days

About Vomito Negro

Vomito Negro is a Belgian electronic band formed in 1983. The name is Spanish and Portuguese for “black vomit”, a phenomenon that arises in the last stage of the disease yellow fever.

After numerous successful releases like “Shock”, “Human” and “The New Drug” Gin Devo was discontent with the result of their last studio album “Fireball” released in 2002. As a result he started a new project called Pressure Control and released the debut album “Vamp”. In 2008 Gin Devo decided to bring back Vomito Negro and also released “Skull & Bones”. In January 2013, the band released the album “Fall of an Empire” followed by “Death Sun” (2014) and “Black Plague” (2017).

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 via Mecanica later in May is a limited edition of 550 copies on double green vinyl of “Grinding Walls”. The 2LP set will be released as a gatefold sleeve with printed inner sleeves and a numbered card.

This re-release can be ordered now.

The album is the soundtrack composed by Dirk Ivens in collaboration with Sigillum S for a film created by the visual artist Petulia Mattioli aka KOMA. Originally released by Daft Records in 1995, this release is pressed for the first time ever on vinyl – including all original tracks plus some bonus songs taken from “No Pain No Game” and other old compilations.

Next is the 12inch “Let Me In” taken from Dive’s most recent album “Underneath”. The vinyl features 2 exclusive mixes (including one by Mildreda) of the title song, plus 2 exclusive new tracks, the ambient instrumental “Hollie” and the Suicide-Cover “I Remember”.

You can order this limited edition release 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. 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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Synths Versus Me is a duo formed by Vanessa Asbert and Nico Cabañas and based in Lloret de Mar (Spain) – yep Benidorm style that is. In the past they had several releases out via Oráculo Records and now have moved onto Mecanica to release a fresh 12″ vinyl release: “1987” (which can be ordered now).

The music is a mix of minimal synth, EBM and cold wave and this 12” EP includes 2 brand new tracks and 2 exclusive remixes. The original version of “1987” is pure vintage EBM in the vein of Signal Aout 42 and Front 242. The track was remixed by Dirk Da Davo from The Neon Judgement adding some drums, guitar samplers and sequences.

On the B-side there is the original mix of “Aimless Device”, which is a rather catchy electro-pop tune featuring female voices. The remix version was delivered by American artist Boy Harsher.

Here’s what you can expect on this vinyl release.

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 fine label Mecanica has something great up its sleeve. They are going to release a 2CD set of the 1991 Lassigue Benthaus album “Matter”.

“Matter” is the first Lassigue Benthaus album originally released in 1991. Well… not exactly, because after Schmidt co-founded the cassette label N.G. Medien in 1986 (on which various tapes of international artists were released including the Canadian electronic body music act Frontline Assembly) he released the Lassigue Bendthaus 11-track tape “The Engineer’s Love” already in 1988.

“Matter” musically finds itself somewhere between late industrial and electronic body music, yet already anticipating acid and techno.

The recordings and production for “Matter” began in 1986 and took almost 4 years, until the album finally came out in 1991 on the German Parade Amoureuse label. “Matter” as well as its related singles and maxi-singles were recorded and mixed by Tobias Freund (Pink Elln).

This new edition includes all original tracks plus the singles “Automotif”, “Hertz” and some previously unreleased and rare remixes. You can order this excellent new edition right here.

Lassigue Benthaus is the project by German composer, musician and producer of electronic music Uwe Schmidt, also known as Atom™, Atom Heart, or Señor Coconut. He is often regarded as the father of electrolatino, electrogospel, and aciton music. In the nineties, Schmidt moved to Chile and developed part of his career there, adopting the alias Mr. Coconut.

Here’s a preview of what you can find on this classic 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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Out via the fine Mexican label Mechanic from early April on is the vinyl reissue on double red vinyl of the 2007 released Absolute Body Control album “Wind[Re]Wind” which was originally released on a very limited picture disc LP and later on CD including updated and re-recorded versions of their best tracks.

This 2LP red vinyl reissue can be ordered right here, be fast it will be selling out in no time.

Now, almost a decade after the first pressing, “Wind[Re]Wind” will be relaunched including all the 13 tracks from the CD plus 2 new versions (“Waving Hands” and “The Man I Wanna Be”) and a live recording from WGT 2007 (previously available only on a limited CD). Check out the complete track list.

Absolute Body Control was formed by Dirk Ivens in 1980 and joined by Eric Van Wonterghem just after releasing their first single “Is There an Exit?”. After a few years, the band members all went their separate ways forming acts such as The Klinik, Dive, Sonar, Monolith and Insekt.

Here’s a track as featured on the reissue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgr6ULrTEBY

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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