Genre/Influences: Dark-Ambient, Cinematic.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: The Folly Of Mars” is the fourth full length album by British-German duo Tony Young (Autoclav 1.1) – Andreas Davids (Xotox). It also is their second opus released by Cyclic Law. The work is inspired by the ‘man’s desire to conquer outer space at all cost’ resulting in numerous consequences.

Content: The compositions are moving on a similar line as the previous work; an experience in Dark-ambient and Cinematic music featuring tracks that have been slowly built up. Switching from relaxing- into darker passages the album is diversified although driven by a haunting sphere accentuated by growling sounds and overwhelming sound waves.

+ + + : I especially like the deep, low, resonating sound waves this album has been composed. It resulted in a few absolute high lights but especially “The Fallen Empire Of Man” is a great cut to discover. I also like the switch from relaxing to obscure, mysterious, passages.

– – – : The work sounds in the line of the previous work “Real Seasons”, but being familiar with the work of both artists I’m sure they’re able to do better and especially to create a true climax in their work.

Conclusion: This work is touched by an eternal darkness.

Best songs: “The Fallen Empire Of Man”, “We Will End Time”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.naturaest.org / www.facebook.com/NaturaEstDA

Label: www.cycliclaw.com / www.facebook.com/cycliclaw

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

Genre/Influences: Industrial, Electro-Industrial.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Behind this new project is hiding an experienced German duo. Die Frösche is driven by  DJ Christian Bergmann (<1979>) and Andreas Davids (Xotox, Natura Est). The debut album features eleven cuts.

Content: From the very first notes and seconds of the work you’ll notice the Electro-Industrial approach of this duo. The influences remind me of their respective main project <1979> and Xotox. The structures are quite repetitive now and then joined by a few strings and even simple melody lines. The work remains pretty Industrial but will also appeal for lovers of darker Techno fields.

+ + + : This is the kind of music which will for sure have more impact on stage and/or dancefloors than played -even at loud volume, in your living room. I prefer the tracks with extra elements like “Quak 03” and “Quak 09”

– – – : The work is very, very, repetitive and becomes rapidly predictable. So that’s why it’s more suited for live shows and dancefloors. I think it could have been cool to inject some spoken samplings, shouts and/or a few words to the music so in the end it remains pretty rudimentary and brute.

Conclusion: Speaking for myself I definitely prefer the ‘Industrial’ projects of both artists instead of this common project. There’s definitely more hiding behind Die Frösche than what you can hear at “Sumpflärm 01”.

Best songs: “Quak 03”, “Quak 09”, “Quak 06”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/1979Hands / www.facebook.com/xotoxmusic

Label: www.infacted-recordings.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Infacted-Recordings/124099254321690

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

Genre/Influences: Cinematic, IDM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Tony Young strikes back with a new work of his sonic brainchild Autoclav1.1. He released an impressive discography in less than twenty years. This is his second work released by the German label Audiophob. The album deals with human apathy towards climate change.

Content: The work of Autoclav1.1 remains characterized by sophisticated sound arrangements mixing bombast rhythms and downtempo cadence. I also notice groovier rhythms. The songs have been accomplished with subtle sound treatments and piano play. Notice by the way 2 songs featuring collaborations; the first one with Sven Phalanx (Schattenspiel, Schwarzwald) and the second one with Andreas DAvids (his mate from Natura Est and still involved with Xotox. Now relaxing and then overwhelming, this album is a true sonic journey.

+ + + : I’ve always liked the work of this artist who’s maybe not dealing with the most accessible sound format although composing his work with intelligence. It’s the result of a creative process wherein the new work he perfectly assimilates Cinematic impressions and IDM. The songs have been recovered with beautiful strings. “Landfill” is a beautiful track driven by a downtempo and accentuated by a low, vibrating, bass line while you’ll also notice a great, explicit, sequence. Autoclav1.1 first of all remains a project with a very own and recognizable style.

– – – : The sound isn’t probably the most accessible one for a wider audience but I guess that’s not exactly the main purpose of this artist. I however would like to hear a few tracks with styled vocals.

Conclusion: This album is just the umpteenth confirmation of this artist’s genius who throughout the years has created a very sound DNA.

Best songs: “Landfill”, “Fauna Collapse”, “Dead Air feat. Sven Phalanx”, “Tsunami”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: https://autoclav.wixsite.com /  www.facebook.com/Autoclav11-41967751781

Label: www.audiophob.de / www.facebook.com/audiophob

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

Genre/Influences: Electro-Ambient, Experimental.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: This is the second work between Andreas Davids (Xotox, Natura Est) and Sven Phalanx (Schattenspiel, Schwarzwald).

Content: The sounds and atmospheres emerging from this production are totally matching with the concept. You instantly get the sensation of entering an astral universe wherein the multiple bleeps are symbolizing stars and the dense atmospheres stand for different planets of the universe. The tracks are driven by slow rhythms, making the global production more accessible. 

+ + + : Both artists move on exploring the world of Electro-Ambient music. The titles of the tracks have the name of a planet –except the first and last cut, which are referring to the concept. So nothing really original here, but a fascinating transposition of the concept into sounds and tracks. The composition is well-crafted, even elaborated, accomplished with subtle arrangements and revealing cool sound treatments like crystallene effects. Different spoken samples accentuate the theme as well.

– – – : This project is clearly meant to entertain a very restricted number of fans while it remains a kind of ‘alien’ among the Infacted roster.

Conclusion: This opus confirms the fascination of both protagonists for Ambient music with a little wink to some pioneers in the genre.

Best songs: “Saturn – Rings Of Saturn”, “Jupiter – Element Feuer”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/andreas.davids /  www.facebook.com/sven.phalanx

Label: www.infacted-recordings.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Infacted-Recordings/124099254321690

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

Genre/Influences: Dark-Ambient.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: “Real Seasons” is the third full length album by the British-German duo Tony Young (Autoclav 1.1) – Andreas Davids (Xotox). After a debut album released by Ant-Zen and the next opus released by Mahorka, they now joined hands together with Cyclic Law. 

Content: “Real Seasons” is a pure Dark-Ambient trip. As a visitor you’ll enter a dark, sonic labyrinth made of endless corridors wherein low sound waves will get you to the exit. Humming sound waves create a ghost-like effect. The 6 tracks have been progressively built up, slowly reaching their climax.

+ + + : I especially like the debut part of the album. “From The Cross Quarter Day” and “The Feast Of May Eve” both are meticulously created tracks resulting in a sonic cataclysm. Both cuts also reveal a real strong visual strength, which I often consider as one of the major characteristics to speak about an accomplished Dark-Ambient opus. It remains fascinating to see the growing chemistry between both artists, this album  definitely reaching a higher level than the debut album.

– – – : After a great first part, the three tracks left are entertaining, but without reaching a similar level.

Conclusion: Natura Est is clearly not an occasional project, but definitely a Dark-Ambient formation with a true potential. This duo is getting better and better.

Best songs: “The Feast Of May Eve”, “From The Cross Quarter Day”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: https://naturaest.wixsite.com /

www.facebook.com/NaturaEstDA

Label: www.cycliclaw.com / www.facebook.com/cycliclaw

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

Tony Young started writing music under the AUTOCLAV1.1 moniker in 2004. Since the first album released in 2005 on Crunch Pod, the creativity of the British artist has no limits. AUTOCLAV1.1 is a prolific project releasing new material nearly every single year. Dealing with different, but related music genres and influences like IDM, Industrial, Electro-Ambient ao Tony Young released his albums on different labels; the already mentioned Crunch Pod, Tympanik Audio,  but also Hive Records and WTII Records. EP’s were released on other labels. This year AUTOCLAV1.1 joined hands together with Audiophob to unleash the new album “Nothing Outside”, which is without a shadow of a doubt the most intimate work so far. I talked with Tony Young about his new work and a few more things.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: “Nothing Outside” has been released during the Covid-19 pandemic, which clearly also inspired this work. How do you as citizen and as artist experience this situation?

Tony: Yeah, this was written as the initial lockdown took hold over here. It’s been tough for everyone really; but I do have the luxury of enjoying my own company. As far as writing music is concerned, there has been little difference for me. I spend a lot of time just messing with music and not really recording it; and this album just came into being. I remember thinking I may write an EP of just piano and Ambient music and when I started I just got out the bass guitar and then of course, beats followed. Covid-19 or no Covid19 there would have been a new album; just probably with a different concept if there hadn’t been a pandemic.

Q: The album also wants us to reflect about what is going on in the world, but I’m afraid less politicians and/or leaders feel really concerned. What’s your critical perception about it all and how do you see things evolving? Do you also see positive things evolving?

Tony: Well, it’s more about my own experiences and environment really than asking anyone else to reflect. It would be cool if it has meant something to anyone else though with regards to his or her own personal experiences in this time. As far as how the pandemic has been dealt with… well, our government has been shocking from start to finish.  They’re a bunch of over privileged Tories who just look out for their own; and are now maxing out on an opportunity to stamp out those less fortunate. I wouldn’t have expected anything less from a UK Conservative government. I don’t see anything positive on the horizon really. It makes me wish I lived in New Zealand. The UK really is a shambles; and with the compete clusterfuck of Brexit tag-teaming with the pandemic, it’s only gonna get worse.

Q: I’m not affirming that you reinvented the AUTOCLAV1.1-sound at “Nothing Outside”, but the composition sounds more intimate and Cinematographic than ever before, which is probably due to the piano play and arrangements. What did you try to accomplish and did you handle specific references and/or criteria to compose the album?

Tony: I do try to make each release different, but in all honesty, when I start a new album I have no real idea how it’s going to end up sounding at the start, with just a general impression of what I am after.

I wasn’t really planning of having a lot of piano in my newer songs; and “Makeshift Splint” was my first in a while where I only utilized it a small amount. However, I was having an afternoon just playing around with piano giving my fingers a workout, so to speak; and I just hit record and it went from there. I really enjoyed making this one. Song titles are personal reference points in my home environment, apart from the non-piano track “Hiraeth”, which was a nostalgia-fest for me personally speaking. There’s so much I write that I normally just bin; but for the first time ever, I was genuinely happy with everything I was writing. There’s so much I have released in the past that was below par; and if I had chance to re-write a couple of those albums with what I know now programming wise, I would.

Q: You’re a prolific artist, but you don’t exactly repeat yourself; it feels like every single album reveals new ideas while it remains difficult to label your music as one specific music genre. How comes you’re that prolific and where does this eclecticism comes from?

Tony: I listen to a lot of styles of music; and this keeps new ideas forming in my head. I haven’t listened to anything really Industrial in a long time and a lot of my songs are written in the formula of a lot of music I listen to. I listen to more guitar-based music than electronic really. Don’t get me wrong, I still listen to Dark-Ambient and stuff like that; but you’re more likely to catch me blasting out New Model Army, The Wonderstuff, PWEI and The Mission over any Industrial band nowadays. Although I still adore Coil and Swans. 

I like to think an appreciation of different styles means I am going to be more adventurous when I write. Although I know I can’t write as well as half the bands I listen to.

Q: As I just said you’re a prolific artist and even started a side-project NATURA EST together with Andreas Davids from XOTOX. What does this project bring you next to AUTOCLAV1.1 and what makes the chemistry between you and Andreas?

Tony: Andy is one of my best friends. We don’t see each other much, but it doesn’t really matter. I always wanted to do a Dark-Ambient project, knowing one day I will stop writing Autoclav1.1; so I wanted a project that seemed more fitting of someone growing older. 

I knew Andy liked his Dark-Ambient stuff too. I asked him just the once, if he wanted to do this and got an emphatic ‘Yes!’ immediately. We work well together and I don’t see it as a side-project. It is its own beast, running on its own steam.  The possibilities are endless; and we cannot wait for “Real Seasons” to be released. I think because Andy and I have a different style of writing on our respective solo-projects, it filters into a different kind of Dark-Ambient when we combine the stems we write. “We both have had the same vision when writing each album too. I am really proud of the project and I know he is too. There’s a lot of snobbery within Dark-Ambient circles as with other scenes, but we appear to have got our followers now.

Q: Covid-19 is definitely a curse for artists, but don’t you think it’s also a kind of blessing? An opportunity to work on new material, remixes, clips, revisiting old- and/or unachieved songs? What brings the future for AUTOCLAV1.1?

Tony: In no way, shape or form is this a blessing; but I think I see where you are coming from. As far as writing goes, it shouldn’t have an impact on anyone writing Electronic music as most have their own home studios. But I can definitely see how it affects bands playing live. I have missed many a show this year and I am sure I won’t see many next year either.

The future of Autoclav1.1? Who knows? I always say after each release that it will be my last; but I always find myself playing my bass or keyboards one miserable Yorkshire afternoon, where I more often than not, hit the record button once more.

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

Andreas (Andy) Davids set up Xotox in 1998. The German solo-project gained some reputation composing harsh rhythmic- and industrial music. Xotox released an impressive number of productions, but remained pretty silent during the past few years. “Gestern” is the first new studio-album in six years, but it also stands for an evolution in sound while it also is the first album released on Infacted Recordings. “Gestern” is a diversified production and yet mainly driven by a sonic hybrid between industrial- and techno music.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: “Gestern” is the first new Xotox studio-album in nearly six years. The work reveals a clear evolution in sound and has been released for the very first time on Infacted Recordings. Does it all feel as a new start, a kind of Xotox.v2 or is it just a natural evolution? What does it mean to you and what inspired you to release this work?

Andy: Both of it. During the last few years a lot has changed in my private living, which feels like a new start anyway so the change to Infacted Recordings and the release of “Gestern” really mark a new beginning which can be named Xotox 2.0 (by the way, these are exactly the same words my friend Marco said to me). It is also a kind of natural evolution as I am, of course, getting older, getting inspired by different things, being more open-minded to other music and many more things.

I think it is not good to be stucked to a specific kind of sound just to please someone else´s ears. To be honest, I had some doubts because of the sound of “Gestern”, but at the other side, that is what I wanted to do, this is me! I always listen to my heart and do what comes into my mind. It’s reflected in the sound of my music and it is great to see that many other people like that too.

Q: One thing is for sure, “Gestern” moves a step forward in the exploration of hard-techno music. What’s your perception of contemporary techno music and especially the fusion between techno- and industrial music?

Andy: Techno was a new kind of music back in the days. It’s a progression of electronic-dance music and there is, as in all other genres too, music that I like and music that I don´t like. I think that the fusion of techno and industrial has put the harder electronic club-sound to a new level –danceable beats, hard percussions and also melody –which is a mixture that is hard to resist. But that is not so simple as it sometimes seems to be; this kind of music is more than just a distorted bass drum.

Q: How did the writing and recording of “Gestern” happened? Did the album requested some specific preparation, research or technical evolution?

Andy: Indeed it did. I had to change my music-software and I also changed the operating-system of my computer too. That really made it a new beginning of everything, which also was a great challenge and gave me the chance to make music without falling back into old patterns and I think that this resulted in a really good release.

Q: I noticed “Gestern” is doing well in the famous DAC (Deutsche Alternative Charts), which I can imagine is something to get proud of, but what’s the real impact of reaching the charts?

Andy: The DAC represent the plays in the clubs and that makes me, well, a little proud –being in some kind of club-charts with no clubs opened. It also makes me happy as I see, that I can reach these charts even after such a long time being around with Xotox. It shows me that my music really reaches and touches people and the fans so I’m thankful for this.

Q: I can easily imagine the Covid 19 pandemic has a serious (negative) impact as well on your album; no concerts and no big festivals! How do you experience the situation as an artist and as simple German citizen?

Andy: It’s a difficult situation for all of us and for both in me -the artist and the simple citizen. I’m in the lucky position to have no need to make a living from my music, but the whole situation really affects me as an employee too –especially as a father of a little kid. It’s frustrating, of course, as I want to present my music and the new album while doing concerts, which is not possible for the moment. Luckily the internet and the social media gives us a chance to spread the music and all news.

Q: You’ve been involved with multiple other projects, but Xotox remains your main artistic work for now more than 20 years. What makes Xotox different from the rest and how do you expect things evolving considering aspects such as modern technology, social network, streaming vs. physical releases etc?

Andy: Xotox has always been (and will always be) my main project. Here I can express myself and my emotions. I also have a love for dark-ambient which resulted in the project NATURA EST together with the wonderful Tony Young (Autoclav1.1). The third album will be released later on this year. I also collaborate with other artists or release solo-stuff on different labels or on my own Bandcamp-page. All this is very different from what I do with Xotox.

I always prefer physical releases, but I also know that times have changed and are still changing. Digital releases, streaming and social media have become very important and have to be considered too. I’m happy to be on a label that understands such ways of releasing and distribution.

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

Genre/Influences: Electro-ambient, industrial, cinematographic.

Background/Info: Natura Est resulted from the common efforts and the passion for dark-ambient music between Tony Young (Autoclav1.1) and Andreas Davids (Xotox). It’s an interesting meeting between one of the most talented IDM composers (Young) and a musician who’s more familiar with harder and industrial music (Davids). “Nature Est” is the self-titled debut album of the British-German duo.

Content: You rapidly will notice the ambient approach running through this work. It clearly walks towards darker paths accentuated by humming sound waves and background droning kicks. The work has a visual appeal giving me the impression to get lost in an imaginary sound labyrinth. Some passages are more into experimental music while there also is a strong cinematographic touch emerging from the tracklist.

+ + + : I consider Tony Young as one of the most talented musicians when it comes to IDM and related genres. His sonic trademark is maybe less noticeable at this work although there’s a real great songwriting characterized by a progressive evolution in the composition and structure of the songs. There also is a noticeable evolution towards darker sound territories revealing the great “Black Town”. I personally prefer this obscurer side, which also reveals a great visual strength.

– – – : If the main goal was to create a pure dark-ambient release comparable to bands such as Lustmord, Raison d’Être ao I should say Natura Est still has a way to go. “Natura Est” is a different kind of ambient music.

Conclusion: Ambient music is a style with multiple faces. Natura Est likes it dark, a bit astral-like and sophisticated plus diversified. It also is an interesting project between 2 artists who deal with different kinds of music, but who still are complementary.

Best songs: “Black Town”, “Causatum”, “The Soil”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: http://autoclavonline.com / www.facebook.com/andreas.davids

Label: www.ant–zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

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