Genre/Influences: New-Wave, Dark-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD, Cassette.

Background/Info: Distance Dealer is a new (international) project between Blackjack Illuminist Records owner Alexander Donat (still involved with Vlimmer) and Thiago C. Desant (Phantoms vs. Fire). The German – Brazilian project released their debut work featuring ten songs.

Content: The project was introduced as a symbiosis between both artists and their respective projects. The New/Dark-Wave approach of Vlimmer is for sure a noticeable element of the composition. Alex Donat is also singing, but for this project he sings in English, vaguely evoking Robert Smith. Sound-wise the album also features elements of Shoegaze, the album being composed with synths and guitar. 

+ + + : The 80s touch will definitely appeal for all lovers of New/Dark-Wave music. The band’s main force is their passionate way of singing. Alexander Donat really put all his soul in the songs, which perfectly matches with the melancholia of the music. I was impressed by the Dark-Wave/Pop “Mourned & Dead”, the more into guitar driven “A Lack Of What?” and the last track “Hit By A Brick”, which sounds like a true apotheosis to this work.

– – – : It all feels like this duo has potential, but can improve on some of the details in the songwriting and global production.

Conclusion: Distance Dealer confirms it’s possible for musicians living in different countries to release cool productions. This is a promising debut.

Best songs: “Hit By a Brick”, “A Lack Of What?”, “Mourned & Dead”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/distancedealer

Label: www.facebook.com/Blackjack.Illuminist Read the news on ‘Mind Dawns’.

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: Cinematographic, dark-ambient.

Format: Digital, CD, Cassette.

Background/Info: The Brazilian project Phantoms vs. Fire is very prolific. This new opus is the fourth full length since 2018. The work has been introduced as being connected with its predecessor “My Mind As Your Amusement Park”.

Content: The work features 19 tracks and there are clearly two different –although related parts in it. There first of all is a heavy epic side, which is clearly linked with soundtrack music and sometimes joined by some rhythms. I even noticed a kind of epic-EBM soundtrack. Next we get a more familiar –and rather pure, cinematographic part, which is more in the line of previous releases. Some cuts are darker, others are featuring explicit electronic sequences, but in the end the entire work remains driven by pure cinematographic music.

+ + + : What I especially enjoyed listening to “Modern Monsters I & II” is the overwhelming epic/orchestral part. I can’t say it’s totally new, but it has never been at the forefront of the production. And this artist literally excels in the creation of epic sounds and arrangements. A track as “The Ghost-Eater” sounds as a sublime example illustrating great writing skills. But there’s also something to say about the more electro and even EBM driven “The Roanoke Colony Zombies”, which is a surprising, but original cut. The album is also characterized by impressive sound blasts mainly emerging at “Pharaoh” and especially the beautiful “Hermes Trismegistus”.

– – – : It’s cool to get that many tracks featured on one album, but unfortunately there are a few forgettable cuts like “In The Walls Of Eryx” and “Fair Is Foul And Foul Is Fair”.

Conclusion: Phantoms vs. Fire seems to gain maturity on each new album, each new work becoming better and better and I here discovered a great epic side, which I hope will serve as a basis for future works.

Best songs: “The Ghost-Eater”, “The Roanoke Colony Zombies”, “Pharaoh”, “Hermes Trismegistus”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: https://phantomsvsfire.com

Label: www.facebook.com/Blackjack.Illuminist

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: Cinematographic, dark-ambient, experimental.

Background/Info: This is the third full length album for this Brazilian project and the second opus released this year on Blackjack Illuminist Records. The album is inspired by a concept, which would lead me too far to explain, but which can be explained as ‘the story of a man and the damaging physical and psychological effects of his romantic ambitions’. The album is also meant as the first chapter of a story, which is intended to be told in eight parts.

Content: The album moves on there where the previous work “WLDLFE” stopped. It’s an ingenious mix of cinematographic and dark-ambient influences while a few other elements are sometimes joining in. I’m referring to slow rhythms and experimental passages filled with multiple field recordings. It’s a kind of sonic collage resulting in frightening atmospheres.

+ + + : The main strength of the work for sure is the rather atypical ambient format. This ambient approach is characterized by mysterious moods and anguished passages. The album is also diversified while I like the authentic touch hanging over the songs.

– – – : Diversity is okay, but sometimes it creates a real versatile effect like an artist who’s in search of his sound.

Conclusion: I personally prefer this album to the previous one; it’s an enjoyable ambient trip without absolute highlights, but without real depths.

Best songs: “Otherworld Cacophony”, “Arrival”, “In Love With A Glitch”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: https://phantomsvsfire.com

Label: www.facebook.com/Blackjack.Illuminist

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: Electronic, ambient, cinematographic.

Background/Info: This is the second album from Brazilian multi-artist Thiago C. Desant. The first work entitled “Swim” was released last year on Burning Witches.

Content: The opening track reveals an instrumental, rhythmic electro-ambient composition. It’s not really representative for the rest of the work, which however remains pretty ambient-like, but less driven by rhythms. “WLDLFE” is a sonic universe filled with reverie, sometimes with an extra psychedelic flavor on top. Some parts are progressively moving towards colder passages.

+ + + : The ambient side is quite fascinating and especially when driven by a cadence like on “Plastic Animals”. The opening song is a real promising cut, but unfortunately not fully representative of the entire work. I like the way songs are evolving into colder passages.

– – – : The work remains intentionally instrumental, but I think it would add a bonus using a few vocal parts and/or spoken samplings. That’s maybe the reason I experienced a few passages as a little bit monotonous.

Conclusion: I don’t know if it’s because of the great opening song, but I think there’s more potential in this artist than what came out on “WLDLFE”.

Best songs: “Plastic Animals”, “Electric Cross”, “Masquerade”.

Rate: (6).

Artist: www.phantomsvsfire.com

Label: www.facebook.com/Blackjack.Illuminist

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