Berlin-based dark electro and darkwave duo NNHMN have released the single “Touch Me”. The track previews the eight-track EP “Opera of Lust & the Art of Sorrow II”, due July 15, 2026 on K-Dreams Records on vinyl and as a digital release. The EP can be pre-ordered on Bandcamp, and a video for the track is online as well.

‘Touch Me’ previews ‘Opera of Lust & the Art of Sorrow II’

The duo of Lee and Michal Laudarg presents the single as a warmer counterpoint to the EP’s melancholic side. The other tracks on the EP include “Say my name”, “Touch me”, “Cold like Steel”, “Strange Love”, “Gangster”, “Feelings”, “Mannequin”, and “Golden Crime”. Earlier singles “Say My Name”, “Cold Like Steel”, and “Strange Love” preceded “Touch Me” in the run-up to the release.

The EP follows “Opera of Lust & the Art of Sorrow I”, the first chapter in the series. In the May 2026 Side-Line feature NNHMN interview: “We are evolutionists”, Michal Laudarg confirmed the project was already looking past the second part: “Now we are in the world of ‘Opera of Lust and The Art of Sorrow Part Two,’ but the material for the new album already exists.”

About NNHMN

NNHMN is a Berlin-based dark electronic duo formed by Lee and Michal Laudarg. The project name is read as “non-human”. The pair worked together in earlier projects under different names before starting NNHMN.

The album “Church Of No Religion” appeared on the Polish label Zoharum, followed in 2019 by the EP “Shadow In The Dark”, first issued as a limited cassette. In February 2020 the duo launched “Shadow in the Dark” on vinyl through the Spanish label Oraculo Records. The same year brought the “Deception Island” material, including the 12-inch EP “Deception Island Part 1” on Oraculo Records, and a first Side-Line Click Interview with NNHMN.

In May 2022 the duo returned with the 4-track EP “For The Comfort Of Your Exstacy” and a video, released via Young and Cold Records and K-Dreams Records. In April 2023 NNHMN re-released previous EPs on one album as “Deception Island 2“, with an extra track. A few singles were released as well: “Your Body”, “Tomorrow’s Heroine”, and “Bring It On”.

The “Opera of Lust & the Art of Sorrow” series opened with part one, supported by singles including “Bring It On” and “The Secret”. With “Touch Me”, NNHMN deliver the latest preview of “Opera of Lust & the Art of Sorrow II” before its July 15, 2026 release on K-Dreams Records.

Karo Kratochwil

Based in Wrocław, I work as a music journalist and photographer covering electro, industrial, EBM, gothic, and darkwave. My work includes features and live coverage, as well as concert, portrait, promo, and theater photography. What interests me most is the connection between artistic intention, what the work communicates, and what unfolds live on stage, all in pursuit of the bigger picture behind the music.

Berlin-based NNHMN have built their recent work around movement, tension, and transformation. With “Opera of Lust and The Art of Sorrow”, the duo continue to expand a sound that connects darkwave, electronic body music, performance, and club discipline without reducing itself to nostalgia. As “Cold Like Steel” prepares to open a slower, more melancholic side of the project, Lee and Michal speak about theatrical writing, genre evolution, live tension, Grauzone 2026, and “UNTERWELT”, their Halloween event at Festsaal Kreuzberg in Berlin.

NNHMN interview

Karo: Your new single “Cold Like Steel” is about to arrive, and from the way you introduced it, it seems to lean into a slower, more nocturnal emotion. What drew you toward that mood right now, and where does this track sit in relation to the material on “Opera of Lust and The Art of Sorrow”?

Lee: Yes, you are right. The sound is indeed quite different here, and the tempo of “Cold Like Steel” is much slower. The mood is also a bit more nostalgic and melancholic. After all, the album is called “Opera of Lust and The Art of Sorrow,” so this track definitely belongs to the Art of Sorrow side of it. But I still feel that, when it comes to our wave-oriented approach to electronic music, we keep the quality and the convention intact. I hope it will naturally fit with the rest of the record.

Karo: With “Opera of Lust and The Art of Sorrow,” you created a release that feels sensual, theatrical, and emotionally precise rather than simply dark for darkness’ sake. Looking back at it now, what do you feel that album opened up for NNHMN that earlier releases only hinted at?

Lee: I think the theatrical element has always been present in our music, because already at the stage of writing lyrics, I am thinking about atmosphere. Maybe it comes from the fact that I spent around ten years working in theatres, with dramaturgs, as an actress, so perhaps I always feel like I am constructing a tiny performance when I write my texts. So yes, I think it has always been there in our work.

But now, after quite intense touring, we have really started to understand how our relationship with the audience works. And it is beautiful to deliver high-energy, dance-oriented tracks that still have enough space inside them, little ambient lakes where the audience can breathe for a moment, cool down, and then rise with us again.

Also, I think being blind to the evolution of genres within the dark scene is a serious limitation. We are very much in favour of modernising the sound, of letting it evolve naturally. We are not a dark band in the sense of simply recreating the ’80s. Many bands do that. I do not mean it as better or worse. Some artists are simply faithful to the original sound. We are evolutionists.

Karo: The path from singles like “Bring It On” and “The Secret” toward “Opera of Lust and The Art of Sorrow” felt deliberate rather than random. When you release music this way, do you think in terms of chapters, tension, or narrative?

Michal: Yes, that is a good point. We do try to choose the songs we reveal in a more organised way. The idea is that the tension should grow, that one song completes the previous one or announces the one that will come next. Each single gives a short, still slightly hidden piece of information about what can be expected. It does not happen randomly. It happens in a considered way. That is it.

Karo: You played Grauzone 2026, one of the strongest meeting points for darkwave, minimal synth, and related scenes. What did that appearance mean to you, and did it sharpen your sense of where NNHMN stand in the wider European landscape?

Lee: What has been happening with our project for some time now, headlining and co-headlining festivals like Ombra, Extramuralhas, and Grauzone, does not sharpen our sense of who we are. It shows that the audience appreciates us, that promoters see it, and that we have our own public. During this year’s Grauzone, I honestly did not see the church filled so completely for any other show as it was for ours. It can be overwhelming, but it is motivating. It gives us energy to continue. At the same time, we still play very small clubs for totally enthusiastic audiences. This scene is still a niche. These festivals are the jewels in its crown. We appreciate them very much.

Michal: Grauzone is one of the best festivals in Europe, not only for alternative electronic music, but also for rock. After playing Ombra at the end of the year, then Grauzone in a beautiful church, it felt very special. It is a big family. We meet artists and fans we have known for years. Does it sharpen our sense of where the project is now? I do not know. But it motivates us to work more, to release the ideas already waiting on our hard drives, and to develop the new ones in our heads.

Karo: Your live sets often work through tension, atmosphere, and slow escalation rather than immediate impact. When building a show, what matters most: dramaturgy, physical pulse, emotional contrast, or the ritual dimension?

Michal: That comes from the kind of DJ sets I like most. The ones that feel magical never start with a huge impact, because then what? It is better to invite people into your world and then slowly increase the tension. Once they are inside, you can raise the tempo, increase the emotional dose, and we can all get carried away together. In the end, it is like a trip into another world. More or less, this is how we build our live sets. It is a recipe I keep from my DJ years.

Karo: Looking at the songs shaping your current setlists, is there a newer track that unexpectedly became central on stage?

Lee: A few tracks from “Opera of Lust and The Art of Sorrow Part One” work really well live. “Maybe Late” works perfectly. “Demon Your Demon” has been strong from the beginning. We even tested it live before releasing it, and the audience reacted immediately. “The Secret” has also become a strong point in our set.

Karo: Your schedule now includes Italy, Spain, Sweden, and then Berlin for “UNTERWELT” on Halloween. Do different cities pull different versions of NNHMN out of you?

Lee: Yes, absolutely. We think a lot about the audience before we land in different countries. Reactions are completely different. You cannot compare an audience in the Netherlands with one in Mexico, Colombia, or Poland. In some places you need much stronger contact, more speaking, more closeness. In others, people sing so loudly that I almost cannot sing myself. Recently in Italy and in the UK, people climbed onto the stage. It was sweet and funny, never unpleasant. Audiences differ in temperament and temperature. We pay attention to that.

Karo: “UNTERWELT,” set for 31 October at Festsaal Kreuzberg, already feels bigger than a simple date on the calendar. What do you hope it becomes?

Lee: For me personally, I would love it to be like a dream come true. A dark, shining dream. I would love it to become the best Halloween darkwave festival in Europe.

Michal: This year Halloween falls on a Saturday, so the date aligns perfectly. We want to create a place that presents underground artists and gives the audience a chance to discover what is still underground today but may soon become widely known. Some acts are completely fresh and already amazing. Others are legacy bands that built this scene. None of this comes from nowhere. We are all a continuation of something. We hope future editions will allow us to bring even more artists who inspire us.

Karo: Berlin has no shortage of dark events, but many rely either on nostalgia or purely on club functionality. What gap do you feel “UNTERWELT” can fill?

Lee: Festivals that inspire us most are Grauzone, Ombra, and Extramuralhas. They proved you can build a festival that does not rely only on established names, but mixes young unknown artists with respected ones. This creates a beautiful atmosphere. Underground is forever alive. There is an audience for this. We are the best example, one hundred percent self-made, no backing daddies in the shadow. Good music should never belong to one age group. We want variety and space for growth.

Michal: We want a very mixed audience: fans of EBM, gothic music, darkwave, coldwave, heavier electronic sounds, and different generations under one roof. After the concerts, the night continues with dance-oriented live acts and DJs. We hope even techno fans will join us for Halloween in a different way. This is for every soul that loves alternative electronic pleasure. Many acts will simply give joy.

Karo: NNHMN often balance seduction with severity. How conscious are you of that balance now?

Lee: Six or seven years ago, we made much more experimental music, something like rhythmic ambient, but it did not speak to many people. So yes, we think about readability. Music is communication. We are not extremely socially developed people, so art is our way of communicating with the world. You want to be communicative. But the most important thing is to agree with what you create. If you do not stand behind your work, it becomes a heavy sin. You feel ashamed. So the foundation is honesty with your own creation.

Michal: Our earlier projects were very avant-garde and existential. That has always been our trademark. With NNHMN, we want the songs to be more communicative, but the darkness still comes naturally. We evolve because we change as people. That is life.

Karo: Looking ahead, are you extending the world of “Opera of Lust and The Art of Sorrow,” or are the new songs already pointing toward your next evolution?

Lee: The thought always moves forward. We often talk about Kraftwerk and how they evolved from a krautrock band into what we know today. You cannot create as a person from your past. You are already different from two years ago. That is the nature of life. So yes, we are evolutionists. The sound changes with us.

Michal: Now we are in the world of “Opera of Lust and The Art of Sorrow Part Two,” but the material for the new album already exists. It will be more shiny than what we have done so far, but still dance-oriented. After releasing Part Two and touring, we want to return to the studio quickly. We no longer want to wait. We want to release these ideas as soon as possible. Life does not always align with your plans though.

Karo Kratochwil

Based in Wrocław, I work as a music journalist and photographer covering electro, industrial, EBM, gothic, and darkwave. My work includes features and live coverage, as well as concert, portrait, promo, and theater photography. What interests me most is the connection between artistic intention, what the work communicates, and what unfolds live on stage, all in pursuit of the bigger picture behind the music.

On Friday 25th and Saturday 26th of August, the largest Gothic gathering in Central Europe will once again return to Prague. It features an expanded line-up of 14 bands (including icons Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Pink Turns Blue as well as bands like Rabia Sorda and Agent Side Grinder), DJs and the traditional gothic picnic.

Tickets have gone on sale now. Entry is 890 CZK + fees (GoOut).

In a reaction the organisation tells us this: “It’s hard to believe that Prague Gothic Treffen is turning eighteen this year. Yet it doesn’t seem that long ago when we first organized a gathering for a few gothic enthusiasts and played bands we’d never seen live from Winamp with religious reverence. But the years don’t lie, and PGT has since grown to become the biggest gothic gathering in Central Europe, still attracting more and more visitors from home and abroad. Last year’s move of the event ‘to a bigger place’ was a great success, so even this year, we can expect two concurrent stages in the inter-connected clubs Fuchs 2 and Bike Jesus. Here you will hear everything from traditional goth to the hottest trends of the dark scene.”

The linup consist of: Sigue Sigue Sputnik (UK), Rabia Sorda (MX/D), Pink Turns Blue (D), Agent Side Grinder (S), Sydney Valette (F), NNHMN (D), Golden Apes (D), Noktva (I), Dead Lights (NL/UK), Ductape (TR), Grundeis (D), Już Nie Żyjesz (PL), Warteraum (CZ/A), Latexotiq (CZ).

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com

NNHMN, a Berlin-based dark electronic music duo comprised of Lee (110) and Michal Laudarg, was initially forced to release “Deception Island” as two separate EPs in 2020 (“Deception Island Part 1” and “Deception Island Part 2”). Those 2 EPs now get presented as a re-release combining both on one single album: “Deception Island 2”. The re-release also holds a previously unreleased intro-track on the A-Side.

Watch the video for “I See You” below.

NNHMN has been quite prolific since they formed releasing numerous albums, singles, and EPs. The band made their mark in 2019 with the release of their album “Church Of No Religion” under the Zoharum label. In 2020, they self-released “Techno Meditation” as a limited cassette edition. This was followed by their 2022 album “For The Comfort Of Your Exstazy” through Young And Cold Records.

The duo has also released a diverse range of singles and EPs, starting with “Special” in 2019, also self-released. Other releases include “Second Castle” and “Shadow In The Dark”, both released in 2019 under K-Dreams Records, as well as “Deception Island Part 1” and “Deception Island Part 2”, which were released in 2020 through Oráculo Records. In 2021, NNHMN released “Tomorrow’s Heroine” under K-Dreams Records and self-released “Your Body”.

Add to that several self-released singles. In short, busy bees. Thanks to Audioglobe for the info. Read the review of ‘Deception Island’.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Minimal-Electro, Techno-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Polish duo Lee and Michal Laudarg are operating from Berlin (Germany). They already released multiple productions in a short period of time. This work features four new cuts while it also is their first work released by Young And Cold Records.

The EP is a co-release with K-Dreams Records and holds “Omen”, “B.O.Y.”, “Lovelorn” and “Fusion Opulence”, as reported in Berlin-based dark electro duo NNHMN back with 4-track EP and video. It follows the mini-album “Tomorrow’s Heroine” from July 2021.

Content: The sound brings different influences together. You’ll notice pure and raw Electro-Minimalism mixed with Technoid elements. The sexy female vocals create an interesting contrast between sound and voice. The songs are driven by danceable rhythms.

+ + + : I consider NNHMN (Non Human) as one of the hottest revelations in the Electro underground scene from the past few years. They bring something of their own which is already accentuated by this new work. Both debut cuts, “Omen” and “B.O.Y.” appear to be some of the best songs they’ve ever composed. Still minimal-like and yet more elaborated than previous works, the songs are driven by impressive, raw, sound treatments while a dark, ominous, sphere supports the work. Lee’s timbre of voice is sexy and icy, but with emotion. It perfectly matches with the sound and the atmosphere created by NNHMN.

– – – : I can’t say both last tracks are just fillers; not at all but after the astonishing debut tracks you’ll not get a similar feeling of ‘exstazy’.

Conclusion: NNHMN never stops improving their composition. I’m really wondering where this band will go frm here. This is terrific music for dungeon parties…

Best songs: “Omen”, “B.O.Y.”, “Lovelorn”.

Rate: 9.

Artist: https://nnhmn.com / www.facebook.com/nonhuman.duo

Label: https://youngandcold.de /

www.facebook.com/youngandcoldrecords

About NNHMN

NNHMN, short for Non Human, is a Berlin-based dark electronic duo of Lee Margot and Michal Laudarg. The project mixes minimal electro, darkwave and technoid rhythms, with Margot on vocals.

NNHMN debuted in 2019 with the album “Second Castle”, followed by “Church of no Religion” the same year. The Spanish label Oraculo Records issued “Shadow In The Dark” on vinyl in 2020, and Side-Line published a ‘Click Interview’ with NNHMN: ‘Music Is A Bright Light In This Dark Tunnel’ in August of that year. The mini-album “Tomorrow’s Heroine” arrived in July 2021.

“For The Comfort Of Your Exstazy” marked the duo’s first release through Young And Cold Records in 2022. The pair later gathered earlier material on ‘Deception Island 2’, a 2023 album re-releasing previous EPs with an extra track, and appeared at Prague Gothic Treffen in August 2023.

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

(Photo by Caroline Bonarde) The Berlin-based dark electronic music duo NNHMN, aka Lee Margot and Michal Laudarg, are back with a 4-track release, “For The Comfort Of Your Exstazy” on Young and Cold Records / K-Dreams Records. The tracks included are “Omen”, “B.O.Y.”, “Lovelorn” and “Fusion Opulence”.

The EP is the follow-up to last year’s mini-album “Tomorrow’s Heroine” released in July 2021. The band debuted in 2019 with the album “Second Castle” followed by “Church of no Religion” the same year.

The official video for “Omen” can be viewed 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!

side-line.com

Photo: picture alliance/dpa, Alexander Prautzsch

After a two years break, due to Covid-19, the annual Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2022 (29th edition) will take place from 3rd-6th June in the Agra-Halle and surrounded area of Leipzig, Germany.

WGT focuses especially on the gothic, (steam)punk, new wave, electro, EBM, industrial and medieval music and (sub)culture. It is a total-concept world festival including concerts, renaissance fairs, viking and pagan markets, exhibitions, CD/DVD and film premieres, lectures, artist signing events, fetish events, and (late-night) parties.

Approximately 200 artists are on the list, spread over more than 50 locations and the festival has about 20.000 visitors. As usual a lot of names out of the dark scene will play WGT: Lacrimosa, IAMX, Clan of Xymox, Combichrist, Rabia Sorda, Corvus Corax, VNV Nation, Orange Sector, Tanzwut, Xotox, Eisfabrik, Unzucht, Nachtblut, NNHMN, Linea Aspera, Minuit Machine, Dark, Fïx8:Sëd8, Letzte Instanz, Nosferatu, …

Tickets for WGT soon can be ordered here (entrance tickets purchased in the years 2020 or 2021 remain valid for the WGT 2022).

(Picture by Renee Parkhurst ) Let’s hope this article doesn’t get flagged by Google, Facebook and related because the follow-up of words in the title is rather worrysome (joke aside).

Adult has launched a remix of the Bestial Mouths song “Unshivered”. A video was equally made and can be seen below. The song is included in Bestial Mouths’ remix album “Thousandneedles” that features collaborations with SRSQ, Ash Code, Void Vision, Light Asylum, and more and which dropped earlier this month.

“Thousandneedles” will be available on vinyl and cassette versions this August via Fill-Lex Records and Soil Records.

In a reaction Adult says: “We got this remix request in the summer from Bestial Mouths and it was just the thing we needed to get us back in the studio again. It wasn’t like looking at a blank canvas and it felt more like collaboration in a way, which was much needed during such an isolating time.”

The track’s visual counterpart offers a psychological portrait of a person clawing their way to meaning. Director Jamie Parkhurst, who has previously worked with Los Angeles post-punk outfit, Death Bells, and experimental electronic artist Trevor powers, was helped by producer Yelena Akopian, stylists and designers Bradley Soileau and Elliott Evan, photographer Renee Parkhurst, DP Connor Ellman, and camera operator Alex Van Putten. The video was edited by editing is by Alex Nicolaou (Drab Majesty).

Here is the video.

Tracklist “Thousandneedles”

1. Grendel – Ruins Remix
2. Adult – Unshivered (If I Could Feel Mix)
3. Rodney Anonymous Or 7th Victim (Of Dead Milkmen) – Withiin Remix
4. Plackblague – Heavy Coil Mix (Industrial Waste Remix)
5. Ash Code -The Bleed Remix (Mixed/Mastered By Doruk Ozturkcan From She Past Away)
6. Nnhmn – The Loss Remix
7. Statiqbloom – The Falls Remix
8. Buzzkull – Lain To Rust Remix
9. Srsq – Reimagination (Souls Take Remix)
10. Shannon F /Light Asylum – Industrial Waste Remix
11. Kontravoid – Dry As Dust Remix
12. Void Vision- (A) Siren Calls Remix
13. Crowhurst – 23 Hours Before Resurrection Bestial Mouths Remix
14. Melania – Inshroudss

About Bestial Mouths

From their inception in 2009, the core root of Bestial Mouths has combined Lynette Cerezo’s voice with several genre influences across the spectrum of goth, industrial, post-punk, new wave, noise, metal, and other underground sounds using live acoustic and electronic drums and analog synthesizers. Since 2018, Bestial Mouths has been the sole project of Cerezo.

2019’s “Inshroudss” EP was the first Bestial Mouths release entirely written and conceived by Cerezo. The EP was released on the independent label RuneE & Ruin, which Cerezo formed together with friend and frequent collaborator Alison Lewis (Linea Aspera / Zanias / Fleisch Records).

In their decade-plus existence, Bestial Mouths have worked with a long list of producers and artists. Zola Jesus, Mick Harvey, Egyptrixx, Boy Harsher, Die Krupps, Mater Suspiria Vision, Zanias, The Horrorist, and Ludovico Technique are just a few collaborators, while they’ve shared the stage with the likes of Psychic TV, Austra, Chelsea Wolfe, DAF, 3 Teeth, OAKE, Front Line Assembly, White Ring, Suicide Commando, David J, King Dude, Youth Code, Cut Hands and Light Asylum.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Minimal-Electro, Electro-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: The Berliner based Polish duo of NNHMN last year released two EPs entitled “Deception Island 1” and “Deception Island 2” on Oráculo Records. Zoharum this year released both EPs together as an album featuring the ten original songs.

Content: NNHMN is a band I personally consider as one of the greatest revelations from the past few years; Minimal-Electro-Wave music, which is clearly reminding me of the sterile- and cold atmospheres of the 80s. The whispering and totally emotionless way of singing of Lee creates an icy, sensual touch while Michal’s sound production creates a kind of dark-cellar dancefloor sensation.

+ + + : If there’s one band that awakens my curiosity on each new work it for sure is NNHMN (Non Human). They aren’t setting the world alight, but creates a fascinating vintage exposure with a true Minimalistic approach. The typical melodic strings, dry snares and icy sequences are reminding me of the 80s. I think it’s a real good thing both EP’s have been assembled as a full length album and there are some brilliant songs on it like “Deception Island”, “Education Lost”, “In Darkness”, “Nachtgang” and “Robot Woman”.

– – – : This album is a kind of compilation so if you already know both “Deception Island”-EPs you’ll be not surprised.

Conclusion: I remain totally addicted to the impressive Minimalism of this Berlin based duo; this is how Electro-underground music has to sound!

Best songs: “Deception Island”, “Education Lost”, “In Darkness”, “Nachtgang”, “Robot Woman”, “The River Of Fire”.

Rate: (9).

Artist: www.facebook.com/nonhuman.duo

Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum Read the news on ‘Deception Island’.

About NNHMN

NNHMN (Non Human) is a Polish duo of Lee, formerly a city-theatre actress, and Michal, a former techno DJ, who relocated to Berlin and began making music together. The project debuted with “Second Castle” before the album “Church Of No Religion” and the mini-album “Shadow In The Dark,” both issued via Zoharum, with “Shadow In The Dark” also released on vinyl through Spanish label Oraculo Records in 2020. In a Click Interview with NNHMN, Lee described “Shadow In The Dark” as a conscious move toward a more dance-oriented cold-wave sound, a direction continued on the “Deception Island” EPs. Zoharum combined those two EPs into the album “Deception Island,” the release reviewed here.

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: Minimal-electro, electro-wave.

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Polish duo Lee & Michal are based in Berlin and already took me by surprise with their minimal-electro compositions. The last year released album “Church Of No Religion” released on Zoharum revealed the potential of the band. They now strike back with a new EP featuring four songs released by the Spanish label Oráculo Records.

Content: The influences and global sound approach haven’t really changed. NNHMN (Non Human) are still dealing with a very minimal electronic format, which is clearly linked with 80s influences, but above this retro touch the band also has its own sound. The work is characterized by the deeply, sensual vocals of Lee. But the rather groovy sequences are only accentuating the sensuality recovering this EP.

+ + + : “Deception Island” sounds to me as the most elaborated work from the duo although you’ll easily recognize their typical sound production. The songs however became a bit groovy-orientated, empowering the dance vibes, but globally speaking we again get a minimal- and even somewhat experimental electro production. The EP features 4 songs and there’s not really one title track. All cuts reveal an impressive potential. I have a little preference for the very old-school inspired “Hero”, but the title song and “Nachtgang” both are attention grabbers as well. The opening cut “The River Of Fire” is probably the most innovative cut for its groovy touch. This new work sounds sensual and cold, which in a way became the band’s trademark.

– – – : No minus points to mention, but I simply regret this band is not recognized enough for their talent and originality!

Conclusion: NNHMN simply moves on excelling in electronic-minimalism and improving their work on each new release.

Best songs: “Hero”, “Deception Island”, “Nachtgang”, “The River Of Fire”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/nonhuman.duo

Label: www.facebook.com/oraculorecords

About NNHMN

NNHMN is the Berlin-based duo of Lee, formerly active as an actress in city theatre, and Michal, a former techno DJ; both relocated from Poland to Berlin. In a August 2020 Side-Line interview, the pair described their 2019 EP “Second Castle” as their true creative starting point, ahead of the full-length “Church Of No Religion” and the mini-album “Shadow In The Dark”, both released via Zoharum. “Deception Island Part 1” continues that run on the Spanish label Oráculo Records.

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

NNHMN (Non Human) is a Polish duo featuring Lee -who was active as an actress in city theatre, and Michal -who was a techno DJ. After a while they started to live- and collaborate together, which artistic wise resulted in strange projects. NNHMN is one among them and the least I can say is that I discovered a minimal-, sexy electro-wave sound. The album “Church Of No Religion” and the mini-album “Shadow In The Dark” (both available via Zoharum) both are masterpieces if you like this kind of music, but especially if you’re in search of a creative electronic exposure. I talked about it with both protagonists.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: You’re based in Berlin, which for numerous artists remains a kind of ‘sonic Mecca’. What makes this city, his clubs and nightlife, but still his scene and all the artists maybe special for you? And do you feel a kind of impact from the place you live upon your music?

Lee: Well, yeah at the beginning it was very overwhelming actually, we moved out from Poland running away from growing religious and political estrangement and Berlin was a natural choice. When we landed here I felt overwhelmed being suddenly surrounded by all the freedom, creativity, variety and richness of culture. It took me quite a few years to be back myself. I took it and ate it and now I am free again to do something because it kinda trapped me in.

Michal: The previous mayor of the city used to say: ‘Berlin is poor but sexy’. Poor because in comparison to other cities,  especially of West-Germany it is rather a poor city but yep it is sexy. There are so many creative people from around the world, so many interesting musicians. I think it is rather difficult not to be impacted by this city, but it is true you need time to understand what is going on around.

Q: You last year released your official debut album “Church Of No Religion”. What kind of album did you try to compose and how did the writing- and recording process happen?

Lee: Ha, the official debut was actually ‘’Second Castle’, which took its name as a sign of -let’s say a rebirth of creativity, an intro to other releases. ‘’Church Of No Religion’’ has been like translating all of that inspiration of experiencing other states of consciousness during just losing yourself in Berlin days, nights, flashbacks into the body of musical work. It’s true that you can feel this transcendent feeling in the club when the DJ knows what he/she is doing, music and atmosphere is proper.. this -and on the other hand, I have always been thinking about this whole thing with the Old Testament -this cruel world,  there is this ‘’Song Of Songs’’ poem in there -the huge one, very controversial one -I used characters of this poem to create living embodiments. I wanted to recreate the stories; wanted it to be the garden of delights. This album to me is a techno-ish Bosch.

Q: I think it’s really interesting analyzing your sound, which covers multiple influences. Where does this eclecticism come from and what does it say about your sources of inspiration?

Lee: I am aware it sounds very, very simple, but I love music -the divinity of it. I am not very interested in genres I must say, but in musical personas behind it and in the music itself. As a vocalist and some kind of a writer, I admire (mostly) female vocalists. I have a great sentiment to discover vocal pearls of hippie music, I really like middle ages music, sacral music of all kind, I adore the cold-wave scene, sexy electro does something to me, strong minimal-techno is the best music for your living body, industrial-folk for your poetic mind to swim in… Bach always works for me.

Michal: Thinking about music is always thinking about emotions. I started with punk and hardcore, being involved in a band, loving D.R.I. etc etc. These are my roots -and maybe that’s where I come from actually. But then the time has come for electronic music. Mostly techno but also disco, electro… As a DJ I played a lot of it, like Listen To The Hiss, DJ HELL Feat Alan Vega (this one I love especially), Vitalic, Umek and all that stuff. Musically we have a bit different souls, but we meet each other in emotional space.

Q: The title of the album is an intriguing title and appears to me as a metaphor, but what can you tell us about the lyrical content?

Lee: It’s just pure improvisation, the method is called glossolalia -singing without words! F.ex., old stars of nowadays strange 4AD were singing this way.

Q: You recently re-released the mini-album “Shadow In the Dark” on CD format. What are the main changes/evolution compared to the album “Church Of No Religion”?

Lee: We recorded ‘’Shadow In The Dark’’ after ‘’Church”; it was a conscious decision to develop the sound toward cold-wave electronic, we wanted to play in clubs for people, so we moved the music denominator toward more dancey sound while maintaining the poetry (I hope so).

Q: And you also released a totally new EP entitled “Deception Island I”, which again sounds pretty minimal, but still your most elaborated work to date. What can say about the writing of this work and how do you see this EP in the band’s evolution?

Lee: I am an adult finally and I have the feeling that my audience is also mature enough to feel and listen. I feel like I don’t have any choice, but to take these disappointing, embarrassing, frustrating, frightening, touching or painful life lessons and spin them into something simple yet meaningful. Shortly I know that the writing/edit (of the lyrics) needs to get to the point.

Michal: it’s a good question. Thanks. We are always on this path of searching for the ideal sound and expression and this is the next step on this endless road.

Q: It seems you guys are actually going through a very personal tragedy. Does music bring some cure and/or relief to go through this period? And what brings the future?

Lee: Music definitely has been a purgatory during this time, without it, we would fell into the void of infinite pain. About the future… I want to get all the sophisticated layers, I want beautiful music.

Michal: Yes, music is a bright light in this dark tunnel,  it is the invisible lovely friend. And the future, unfortunately, depends on Corona’s plans. If this little, not even living creature, will be tired of harrowing humans,  then maybe we are back on the track and play shows again. You know I miss that feeling to play live and also to be in the club,  seeing other people, other bands. Those restrictions are totally understandable,  but they hit us so much. Maybe better times will come.

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: Minimal-electronics, experimental.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl, Cassette.

Background/Info: The German duo Lee & Laudarg released their newest work, “Shadows In The Dark” during the last hours of 2019. NNHMN (NoNHuMaN) previously released the brilliant album “Church Of No Religion” while they now return with six new tracks –plus a bonus track on the CD edit. Next to the digital format, this work has been released on CD by Zoharum, on vinyl (12”) by Oráculo Records and on cassette by K-Dreams Records.

Content: The global approach remains pretty similar to “Church Of No Religion”. It’s nearly impossible to define the music of NNHMN, which consists of different influences the duo meticulously brought together. This work is less trance- and industrial like, but digging deeper into minimal electro fields. It even has an old-school electro touch, which you’ll hear in the dry snare drums and electro treatments. Some sound treatments running through “Scars” reminds me of the great “Geography”-album of Front 242. The sensual vocals on top of the songs remain one of the band’s main characteristics. 

+ + + : NNHMN simply confirms their potential and fine taste to create original electronic music. Music and vocals together are still in perfect harmony, but they’re mainly complementary. I like the sensuality of the vocals and the minimalism of the music. The sound is characterized by some vintage treatments and alluring bass lines. On top of it all you’ll notice cool effects and studio manipulations. The sounds are icy, but the songs are hot to dance on!

– – – : The single song that couldn’t convince me is the bonus track from the CD-version. It’s an experimental version of the title song, which doesn’t sound as the most inspiring one. 

Conclusion: NNHMN makes me think of a modern version of Chris & Cosey! Great electro-minimalism from modern times and even better than the previously released album.

Best songs: “Scars”, “Shadow In The Dark”,  “Vampire”, “Der Unweise”.

Rate: (9).

Artist: www.facebook.com/nonhuman.duo

Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum Read the news on ‘Shadow In The Dark’.

About NNHMN

NNHMN (read as “non-human”) is a Berlin-based duo formed by Lee and Laudarg. The project released a trilogy of albums in 2019: the debut “Second Castle” in February, the experimental ambient-techno work “Church Of No Religion” on Zoharum, and “Shadow In The Dark” in December. The vinyl edition of “Shadow In The Dark” came out via Spanish label Oraculo Records, with Zoharum handling the CD and K-Dreams Records the digital and cassette distribution, while the duo also toured Europe in support of the album.

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-trance, experimental, electronic.

Format: Digital, CD,  Cassette.

Background/Info: Lee & Laudarg is a German duo who set up NNHMN (NoNHuMaN). “Church Of No Religion” is the band’s debut album dealing with ‘the collection of purgatory poems and lamentations’. Notice by the way there also is a cassette format of the album available by K-Dreams Records.

Content: The music this band is dealing with is something really apart. It sounds like finding its sources in industrial music, but I also have to mention trance and minimal-electronics. The particularity of the work consists of the enigmatic female chants, injecting an ethereal- and mysterious effect on top of the work. Sometimes evasive, but often haunting, the album alternates songs of dark reverie together with ‘harder’ passages, which are more into trance and even some tribal elements.

+ + + : The album resulted from a brilliant and successful osmosis between music and vocals. Electronic sequences and rhythms are mixing different music genres, creating an accessible experimental/industrial electro style with great chants on top. It’s an original exposure coming from a duo, which has something innovative and I even dare to affirm visionary-like. NNHMN feels comfortable composing softer, evasive cuts at one side and ‘harder’ transcendental pieces at the other side. Behind the intriguing aspect of the work also hides a sensual touch.

– – – : The tracks have something predictable after a while, but I’m not complaining when listening to such a creative sound formula.

Conclusion: This work has something visionary, like merging different influences together to obtain a terrific result. This is a project you really have to discover!

Best songs: “Kedar”, “Haxan”, “Mothership”, “Shulamit Woman”, “Army Of Mary”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/nonhuman.duo

Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum

About NNHMN

NNHMN (Non-Human) is the electronic duo of Lee and Laudarg, based in Berlin, Germany. “Church Of No Religion” is the band’s debut album, released in 2020 on Zoharum with an accompanying cassette edition on K-Dreams Records. NNHMN followed it with the EP “For The Comfort Of Your Exstazy” in 2022 on Young And Cold Records.

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 darkwave synth-duo NNHMN (read it as non-human), based in Berlin, has its album “Shadow in the Dark” released on vinyl by Spanish Oraculo Records, which is also the organiser of the Ombra Festival in Barcelona.

Here’s the official video for the track “Special” to get an idea how the band sounds.

The band is about to start a European tour. They will be soon in Brussels, Barcelona, Madrid, Salerno, Paris to name but a few. Also, they will do a short tour in Poland. And then festivals, in Athens in Summer, later on in Barcelona. 

Who are NNHMN ?

NNHMN is a minimal wave project formed by Lee and Laudarg who had already formed a duo under various names and with different members.

The band released a trilogy in 2019 including first of all their debut “Second Castle” in February of 2019, which is basically a rhythm and ambient oriented album. The second album of 2019 “Church Of No Religion” was released by Zoharum Records and consisted of an experiment in playing with conventional ambient techno. In December of 2019 the duo published the album “Shadow in the Dark”.

While the vinyl edition of their last album will be released by Oraculo Records, a CD edition will be released by the experimental record label Zoharum. K-dreams Records will take care of the digital distribution and the tapes. Read the review of ‘Shadow In The Dark’.

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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