Genre/Influences: Minimal-Electro, EBM.

Format: Digital, 2CD.

Background/Info: French-Spanish Pedro Peñas Robles is a renowned artist who has been involved with different sonic projects but he’s also a DJ, performer, author and label owner (Unknown Pleasures Records). This work is getting us back to his most ‘famous’ music project HIV+ featuring a fine selection of twenty nine songs he released all over the years with other artists.

Content: Robles collaborated with very famous artists like The hacker, Millimetric, Chris Shape, Blind Delon, Adriano Canzian, Maman Küsters ao. The album is featuring original songs, cover versions (from Liaisons Dangereuses, DAF and The Normal) and remixes (by bands like Absolute Body Control, Radical G, Equitant, Marc Hurtado, Cruise [CTRL] ao) but also songs from one of his side-projects Adan+Ilse. The work brings us back to Minimal-Electro/EBM on which Pedro added his vocals.

+ + + : I first of all salute the artwork of the CD-edit but next there’s the content. I think it totally stands for the EBM-style the artist has often revealed by different releases on his own label. Solid bass lines, danceable beats, and a few, harsh, Industrial elements, bringing 80s EBM alive. On top of it all there’s the powerful and sexy voice of Robles. The list of ‘friends’ he has worked with is impressive and often resulted in a great symbiosis between music and vocals.

– – – : I’m less convinced by the different cover versions (cf. “Warm Leatherette”, “Los Niños Del Parque” and “Der Mussolini”). It’s always tricky covering legendary songs which I think are more suited to live performances instead of an album.

Conclusion: This is a great opportunity to re-discover HIV+ (which seems to be no longer active) and his collaboration with great, Electronic, artists.

Best songs: The Hacker & HIV+ “Novö Diskö – Remix by Alek Drive”, Dave Inox & HIV+ “Miss Conceptual – Remix By Raul Parra”, Oliver & HIV+ “Neither Wise Nor”, Radikal Kuss & HIV+ “Ça Suffit!”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/havoc2027

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

Listen to “Spanish Electronic Body Music”:

About HIV+

HIV+ is a project of Pedro Peñas y Robles, a French-Spanish artist native to southern Spain and based in France. He began working as a DJ in 1987 and started an experimental music career in 2000, citing Esplendor Geometrico, SPK and Throbbing Gristle among his influences. He also runs the label Unknown Pleasures Records. “Spanish Electronic Body Music”, a double-CD collection of twenty nine songs released on Zoharum on October 30, 2023, gathers scattered singles and collaborations from across his catalog.

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

Who says Dirk Da Davo thinks The Neon Judgement! Even if this band remains one of the pioneers and true references in the Electro-Underground scene, Dirk has been involved with numerous other projects. The recently released album “Retrospective 1987-2023” is an opportunity to discover those projects; a fine selection from Dirk Timmermans’ (he’s real name) work over the thirty six past years aside from The Neon Judgement. The album has been released on vinyl format by Je M’En Fish and features ten songs. Each title of the work inspired me to ask a questions to Dirk. This is a short story of this Belgian living legend of Electronic music… and more…

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: The album takes off with “King Of Fools” which is probably the most surprising song from the album. It sounds sexy while the slide guitar has something pretty American-like. What is this song all about and what does it say about the music you’re listening to?  

DDD: The song is about the feeling that got created during the lockdown and the absurdity of certain measures taken which oppressed the people like never before. And I am questioning that in the song. ‘Will you obey the king of fools? Is there a way to neglect his rules? In a way he seems modified… Do you think he is justified?’ It is about this new created normality which I can’t get used to.

Musicaly it is not that far away for me. As a young kid I grew up with my father’s western music compilation records. And the music you listen to when you are a kid, stays forever in the back of your head… It’s a bit American/Western. It’s not the first time that it shows up. With The Neon Judgement we did the albums “Blood And Thunder” (1989) and “The Insult” (1991)who also have a American Tex Mex vibe in some album tracks. 

Q: “Ozz” is a track you composed together with Jean-Marie Aerts. I didn’t exactly expect you both composing music together. How did you get in touch and how was it working together? 

DDD: I know Jean-Marie already for a long time. He produced some album tracks for The Neon Judgement’s “Blood And Thunder”-album in 1989. He played the bass on The Neon Judgement’s “Jazzbox”-single in 1998 and we even did some experimental dub vinyl releases together in the 90s. And in a way we stayed connected. I live in Spain and Jean-Marie and his wife decided to come over for a vacation. I have a recording studio in the place where I live. It took exactly 2 days after his arrival and we started recording jam sessions. We finalized an EP and we decided to call our project DDDJMX. We released the digital EP in 2017 by the same title: “DDDJMX”. At the end he visited me 3 times which resulted in 10 recordings we digitally released in 2020 as the “Oceaned”-album. It was interesting. Jean–Marie left me completely free in production , arrangements and all regarding the tracks. An honor for me that he gave me his confidence! I feel flattered.

Q: “The Unreal” sounds to me as ‘modern’ The Neon Judgement. Are you sometimes nostalgic when evoking The Neon Judgement and do you think it’s really over now -especially because you went back on stage again since the so-called farewell concert in the A.B.? 

DDD: Oh really? It was not intended like that. No, I am not a nostalgic person at all or it must be about my childhood. I always prefer to look ahead and try to find new challenges. That is where the oxygen is! We had a fantastic trip with The Neon Judgement; I’m grateful to the fans but one day you have to call it a day. But never say never, I like to keep these things open… What I enjoy now is recording new music and develop myself further as a musician, not to play the same tracks over and over again. 

Q: “Where Even Angels Fall” sounds definitely 80s like. How much of the young Dirk Da Davo from the 80s do you still recognize in your music and approach today?  

DDD: That is a difficult question. I think through all my career I kept my personal touch, but it might have been influenced with the musical surroundings at certain periods… But I still carry the DDD label over all I think. No compromises for better business.

Q: “Sexhead” definitely is my favorite song from the album which reminds me of Cabaret Voltaire. I think to know Cabaret Voltaire have been one of your influences. What did you like in their sound and did you ever got the chance to get in touch with Richard H. Kirk -who passed away in 2021?  

DDD: An influence is perhaps a big word. We felt more like-minded. I liked the way they approached music from their first album on. The sound –experiments, the search for something new and with that sound they represented the times in which we lived. I met Richard once yes; I think that was during the first half of the 80s. We shared a venue in our hometown, Leuven, a venue named Lido with as line-up: The Neon Judgement, Cabaret Voltaire and 23 Skidoo. Oh what a night full of impressive music! ! 😉 

Q: “Meat Cathedral” is another 80s song which was released by your side-project If It Moves. It’s a project you set up with Glenn Frank -who also contributed to songs of The Neon Judgement right? What was this project all about?  

DDD: The project happened by coincidence. I joined Glenn’s band Street Ducks at the time as an extra guitar player. We shared a rehearsal room and one evening I was there alone with him. We started to program some industrial beats, I took a guitar and Glenn a microphone and what you hear happened on the spot. A week later we were recording the track together with Ludo Camberlin in his studio and it got released on vinyl. Glenn was part of The Neon Judgement for a short period as a bass player, but not as a song writer.  

Q: “157” reminds me of the early minimalism from Front 242. I can’t remember you ever did something together with the guys of ‘242’. Was there a connection or friendship? Rivalry? Just respect? 

DDD: There was an undercooled friendship, for sure no rivalry no. I remember a big party we had together in the 80s in Sweden, were we shared the stage in a double bill. We ended up throwing tables to each other during the after party, but it was just for fun! 🙂 Tour stress that is! 😉

Patrick Codenys also helped me out preparing the recordings of The Neon Judgement’s “Mafu Cage”-album. We were getting into sampling, but we didn’t have a sampler ourselves. That is when Patrick proposed that I could come over to his house to prepare samples for the “Mafu Cage”-sessions because they had a sampling machine.

“157”is one of my favorite Neon Electronics recordings produced by Glenn Keteleer (Radical G) who is my partner in the project now since 10 years. 

Q: “Strive” is one of your ‘new’ songs but what are you actually busy doing? And who are you working with? And is there an artist you really would like to work with?  

DDD: I am busy doing what a musician does: making music and enjoying it. And I try to run my digital label as good as I can. 

I am all the time working on songs and demos with Sanchez (the Mexican) under DD Sanchez, solo etc… Hopefully after summer we can produce new Neon Electronics music.. After summer I will release a digi-EP with new DDDJMX music. There is always something going! There’s not really a musician that I can directly think of , but for sure I would like to deliver music for a Quentin Tarantino movie if that counts also!  

Q: Talking about Sanchez, “Cities In Dust” is a song from your project together with him. The project DD Sanchez remains one of the most surprising ones and I dare to say a kind of antidote to your involvement with The Neon Judgement. What’s the ‘bonus’ in your career of DD Sanchez?  

DDD: It’s a challenge for myself. From the beginning of the project (first release 2019 “Z”-EP) I had the intention with DD Sanchez to write and create a less dark kind of music. A real challenge when you are mostly known in a darker scene and maybe not so wise but a musician should always follow his instinct and his heart . We released a full digi-album October 2022 and it got titled “HappyGrey” The title carries the load: it not really happy Pop music and neither very dark music. So it is “HappyGrey” music. 

Q: “In Dreams” was originally written in the early 90s and sounds to me as The Neon Judgement injected with Techno. What did you keep in mind from this (r)evolution in sound called Techno?  

DDD: “In Dreams” was recorded and released on vinyl format under DDD Program in 1992. During those times I was into club music and Techno. I think the Techno scene took over the thing that we started as the next generation. They distilled it down to its essence. Nowadays I still enjoy quality Techno music. I am a secret fan of Amelie Lens, also a Belgian DJ artist, but don’t tell anyone !

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, Cold-Wave, Dark-Wave, Dark-Techno.

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Dirk Da Davo will be always connected to one of the most legendary and influential Electro bands in history: The Neon Judgement. From both members Dirk Timmermans aka ‘Dirk Da Davo’ has been the most creative and prolific one. Next to The Neon Judgement he also released solo-material working under his own nickname but also as Neon Electronics and collaborating with other artists like Glenn Keteleer (Radical G), Jean-Marie Aerts (formerly involved with TC Matic), Glenn Frank, The Hacker, Sanchez ao. This compilation is a selection of familiar, rare and unreleased tracks that were released between 1987 and 2023.

Content: This is a very diversified record where it sometimes is nearly impossible to recognize the sound of The Neon Judgement -as DDD will be always linked to this band. But Dirk feels clearly comfortable dealing and experimenting with different influences. “King Of Fools” is one of these cuts which has something like an American sound carried by this heavy, guitar play. Other tracks are reminding me of early Neon Judgement experiments which are mainly coming through in the Electronic sound treatments and rhythm box patterns. Other cuts are into Dark-Techno and that’s what Neon Electronics stands for -especially during the early years of the project. You’ll also discover two previously unreleased songs; one featuring Mexican artist Sanchez.

+ + + : I didn’t know what to expect when holding this vinyl in my hands but I was more than positively surprised. This album sounds somewhere in between a ‘best of’ from Da Davo’s work next to The Neon Judgement and a summary of all different kinds of productions and styles he has explored. I like the opening cut “King Of Fools” which has something sexy and pretty addictive in the guitar play and vocal lines. “Ozz” featuring Jean-Marie Aerts aka ‘JMX’ sounds as an instrumental from Neon Judgement with extra guitar on top. I also want to mention “Where Even Angels Fall” for its old-school Electro style and “Sexhead” originally written in 1987 and reminding me of Cabaret Voltaire. “1987” written together with Glenn Keteleer reminds me of early Front 242 minimalism. Last but not least I also recommend “In Dreams” sounding as Neon Judgement infected by Techno music.

– – – : I’ve just one regret -which has nothing to do with the content of the vinyl; but it would have been cool for this retrospective to get some inside information, pictures etc… featured as a booklet.

Conclusion: A great retrospective from a living legend of Electronic music.

Best songs: “Sexhead”, “In Dreams”, “King Of Fools”, “Where Even Angels Fall”, “157”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/dirk.dadavo

Label: www.facebook.com/JemenfishBE Read the news on ‘Retrospective 1987 – 2023’.

About Dirk Da Davo

Dirk Da Davo is the alias of Belgian musician Dirk Timmermans, a founding member of The Neon Judgement. Beyond the band, Timmermans has released solo material under his own name and as Neon Electronics, and has collaborated with Glenn Keteleer (Radical G), Jean-Marie Aerts (formerly of TC Matic), Glenn Frank, The Hacker, and Sanchez, among others. “Retrospective 1987 – 2023” compiles familiar, rare, and previously unreleased tracks spanning that period, including two previously unreleased songs, one featuring Mexican artist Sanchez.

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: EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Belgian formation The Juggernauts is back on track unleashing their first new work since the debut album “The Juggernauts Are Coming” (2016). Several changes happened in the meantime. The band is still driven by Peter Mastbooms aka ‘Borg’ while GlennKeteleer (Radical G) is no longer a member and was replaced by two new members. “Fear” is also the first release by Bodybeats Records -a Belgian label named after the live organization driven by ‘Borg’.

Content: “Fear” is a song that was originally released during the lockdown while a few more songs were already played live. The sound is driven by good-old EBM which is often connected with 90s productions. The title song is featured in 3 different (re)mixes. The 3 songs left are still EBM-like, driven by growling vocals and samplings on top.

+ + + : “Fear” is a cool title song which sounds like refreshed 90s EBM filled with retro-effects. There’s a more explicit EBM edit with raw, metallic percussion. The 3 songs left are more than simply B-sides. This is dark, melodic EBM with a message you can clearly discover behind the many samplings of Donald Trump. “Snitch Bitch” sounds explicitly EBM and also is the hardest cut.

– – – : “Fear” is the title song from this EP and yet it’s not an absolute hit.

Conclusion: The Juggernauts are back on track revealing a fully enjoyable EP so I’m really wondering what will be the next studio work of the band.

Best songs: “Fear V2K18 – 12” Mix”, “Fear V2K20 – C19 EBM Remix”, “Snitch Bitch”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.thejuggernauts.be / www.facebook.com/TheJuggernauts

About The Juggernauts

The Juggernauts is the Belgian EBM project of Peter Mastbooms, known as ‘Borg’, formerly of Vomito Negro and a live member of The Klinik. The project was co-produced in its early years with Glenn Keteleer, known as Radical G.

The debut album, “The Juggernauts Are Coming”, was released on Out Of Line Records on July 22, 2016. The “Fear” EP, reviewed above, followed as the band’s first new release since that debut, and as the first release on Bodybeats 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

Alfa Matrix and Front 242 have decided to do a new pressing for the “Rewind” 12″ vinyl in a different colour after the initial pressing (in blue colour) sold out in just a few hours. The label hopes to have the pressing in stock by early December although they add that “manufacturing delays are very unstable (and) we will let you all know as soon as an availability date gets confirmed.”

You can order the new pressing on yellow vinyl right here from Alfa Matrix.

The release was initially bound to be an exclusive double-celebration anniversary release for the Alfa Matrix label’s 20th birthday and Front 242’s 40th anniversary but history decided otherwise as we all know by now.

The 4-track 12-inch solid yellow color vinyl again features the flashy yellow / blue artwork design of Etienne Auger featuring 4 remixes by Terence Fixmer, The Hacker, Radical G and Kant Kino revisiting the tracks “No Shuffle”, “Don’t Crash” and “Take One”.

The 50 (fifty!) first orders from the official Alfa Matrix e-shop which also include at least one additional release from the list of CD’s/Vinyls below will receive 2 exclusive numbered vintage Front 242 band pix printed in A4 size on 170 gr silk coated paper (only one per package shipped ).

Below are the CDs to choose from:

• Psy’aviah – Bittersweet 2CD Box
• Imjudas – Yrjudas 2CD Box
• First Aid 4 Souls – I Am The Night CD
• Entrzelle – Dust On A Razorblade CD
• Reichsfeind – Darken CD
• Metroland – 4 (Transparent Crystal) 12″ Colour Vinyl
• Metroland – 4 (Solid Red) 12″ Colour Vinyl
• Alien Vampires – Kinky To Hell Lp Vinyl
• Pouppee Fabrikk – The Dirt Lp Vinyl
• Avarice In Audio – Our Idols Are Filth CD

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

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UPDATE: Alfa Matrix is already sold out, merely hours after announcing it.

Fresh news from the Front 242 camp. Originally planned to be an exclusive double-celebration anniversary release for the Alfa Matrix label’s 20th birthday and Front 242’s 40th anniversary, and to be revealed as a surprise at the band’s planned concerts in Brussels, Belgium (Ancienne Belgique) in 2021, is the 4-track 12-inch solid blue color vinyl “Rewind”. Next to the vinyl release, available right here from Alfa Matrix, there is an exclusive download version on Bandcamp holding 2 extra tracks.

The delay was caused by the long-casted shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The release, holding a design by Etienne Augier, holds remixes by Terence Fixmer, The Hacker, Radical G and Kant Kino of the tracks “No Shuffle”, “Don’t Crash” and “Take One”.

The digital version of this EP holds a bonus dynamic live version of Terence Fixmer’s remix of “No Shuffle” and the Bandcamp version also includes the exclusive “Rewind Medley” by Terence Fixmer. This extra bonus track will not be available on any other digital platform.

The vinyl is strictly limited to 666 units worldwide and the first 242 units sold via Alfa Matrix directly receive an exclusive ‘Front 242 page marker‘.

You can check out the medley right 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

The French label Unknown Pleasures Records, run by Pedro Peñas y Roble aka HIV+, stops its activities this summer. They are currently emptying their last stocks before closing for good. The label which started in 2013 was based in the south of France was dedicated to the production of material from the post-punk, minimal wave and EBM scene. Their final release is a Tribute to Death In June.

In the past the label has released albums of bands like Norma Loy, David Carretta, Blind Delon, Adan & Ilse, Hausfrau, Black Egg, European Ghost, Ono Scream, Antipole, Kill Shelter, Vogue Noir, Ohota, Wendy Bevan, Alek Drive, Art Kinder Industrie, Baroque, Maman Küsters, Japan Suicide, Follow Me Not, Der Himmel über Berlin, Dave Inox, Mr Nô, None, Velvet Kills, Selfishadows, Container 47, The Shyness Of Strangers, Secret Sight, La Main, Fluxus, Grand((Ø))Signal, Neon Electronics, Hardlab, Judith Juillerat, Monolog and Love In Prague.

The label has also worked and collaborated with several musicians such as Alan Vega, Gabi Delgado, Dirk Da Davo, Eric Van Wonterghem, Jurgen Engler, Richard 23, Patrick Codenys, Marc Hurtado, Arturo Lanz, The Hacker, Dirk Ivens, The Horrorist, Haujobb, Position Parallèle, John Lord Fonda, Dominique Nicolas, Marc Collin, Michaël Theis, Radical G, Növö, Millimetric, In Death It Ends, In Aeternam Vale, Sonic Area, Adriano Canzian, Alice Botte, Versari and many more.

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: EBM, electro-wave.

Background/Info: Dirk Da Davo entered into history as one of the Neon Judgement core-members. We also know Dirk for his originally solo-project Neon Electronics, which released its first self-titled album in 1999. The influences have been often pretty technoid-like. For this new opus Dirk Da Davo joined hands again with Glenn Keteleer (Radical G, The Juggernauts) and  Pieter-Jan Theunis (bass guitar).

Content: The sound and influences on “Apollo” are pretty different from what I’ve been used to hearing from Neon Electronics. The technoid input has been (voluntary) lost and replaced by an eclectic sound, which is covering electro-wave and EBM influences. Electronics and guitar playing (sometimes a bit psychedelic-like) are in perfect harmony. The most surprising songs are two ‘covers’ from The Neon Judgement, which both were hits (cf. a live version of  “TV Treated” and “Schizofrenic Freddy”).

+ + + : The main strength of “Apollo” is its diversity. There clearly is a vintage aspect reminding The Neon Judgement (and not only for the cover versions) but still a kind of wink to one of Liaisons Dangereuses’ hits (cf. “Être Assis Ou Danser”) entitled “Energy X” sung in French. Both Neon Judgement cover versions or adaptations make sense and remain great cuts. I’m still a huge fan of the synth line running to “TV Treated”, which is one of the iciest leads I’ve ever heard. 

– – – : Generally speaking I like this work, but it’s a kind of ‘melting pot’ bringing different influences –and even Neon Judgement songs together. This album has less in common with previous works of this project and that’s maybe a pity!

Conclusion: Neon Electronics has never been so close to The Neon Judgement! It will be fine for the fans of Neon Judgement, but where’s the challenge for Neon Electronic lovers?! Don’t get me wrong; “Apollo” is a cool, but a bit unexpected work!

Best songs: “Energy X”, “TV Treated – Live 2018”, “Schizofrenic Freddy”, “Invisible Man”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/ddd.neon.electronics

Labels: www.dancedelicd.com /  www.wool–e–discs.be / www.facebook.com/woolediscs

About Neon Electronics

Neon Electronics is the project of Dirk Da Davo, best known as a member of The Neon Judgement, together with Glenn Keteleer (Radical G, The Juggernauts) and Pieter-Jan Theunis on bass. The project released its self-titled debut album in 1999 and continued through the 2000s with releases including “U B There” (2000), “Nice And Sexy” (2001) and “Monkey Ever After” (2006). Da Davo later revived Neon Electronics for the “Liberation” EP, released on Oraculo Records in 2026 with remixes by Ancient Methods and Patrick Codenys, before discussing the project’s end in a 2026 interview.

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-techno, IDM, industrial, EBM.

Background/Info: Belgian DJ/producer/musician Glenn Keteleer is an artist of many talents. We know him in the underground scene for his involvement with The Juggernauts and his solo-project Radical G. Linear Straight is another of his projects, which is more techno driven. The album “Roscosmos” was released at the end of 2018 by the Berlin based Konsequent label.

Content: Linear Straight has gained a serious reputation in the techno scene, but sounds much more than simply techno-music. “Roscosmos” is a fusion between different influences, which are all mixed with techno elements. From complex IDM passages to electro-industrial sound treatments to bombastic arrangements to EBM bass lines to dark groovy sequences, “Roscosmos” covers a wide spectrum of sonic ideas.

+ + + : If Linear Straight is considered to be a techno-artist, he clearly deals with a very personal- and atypical style. I like the diversity of his sound canvas and I have a preference for the IDM touch running through the title track. But I also fully enjoyed the bombastic techno of “Ancient Flute” and the darker approach of the already familiar “Rational Velocity” and “The Year Of The dragon”. Some EBM-driven bass lines are pretty cool as well.

– – – : I sometimes get the impression Glenn Keteleer doesn’t experiment with more EBM elements –and that’s a pity, but on the other side that’s precisely what he’s doing as Radical G.

Conclusion: Linear Straight sounds as techno music for ghosts; dark with some drama and danceable!

Best songs: “Vegen”, “The Year Of The Dragon”, “Roscosmos”, “Rational Velocity”, “Ancient Flute”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/LinearStraight

Label: www.facebook.com/konsequentrecords

About Linear Straight

Linear Straight is a solo alias of Brussels, Belgium musician Glenn Keteleer, active on the Belgian techno scene since 2002. He is also known for the EBM and electropop act Radical G and for his work with The Juggernauts, and regularly performs as a DJ at Berlin clubs including Tresor and Griesmühle. “Roscosmos”, released via the Berlin label Konsequent at the end of 2018, is his first full-length album as Linear Straight.

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

Read the news on ‘Atoms In Fury’.

About Lederman / De Meyer

Lederman / De Meyer pairs two veteran Belgian electronic musicians: Jean-Marc Lederman, previously of The Weathermen (with Tuxedomoon’s Bruce Geduldig) and a past collaborator of Fad Gadget, and Jean-Luc De Meyer, vocalist of Front 242 since 1982. The duo released its debut album, “Eleven Grinding Songs”, on Alfa Matrix in 2018, followed by EPs drawn from the album including “Atoms In Fury”, 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

Read the review of ‘Atoms In Fury’.

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

Some bands from the industrial scene do get noticed outside the scene as well. English electronic music DJ, producer and radio presenter Dave Clarke has picked the newest single by Implant, “Phone call”, to be featured on his latest White Noise radio show.

The track used is the Radical G remix of Implant’s “Phone call”. It doesn’t come as a surprise as “Phone call” is a pure old school electronic track with a very attractive beat, which gets emphasised in the remix Radical G made of the track. You can find “The Phone Call” on the band’s newest single with the same title and of course on their upcoming album “Oxynoxe-X” which will be out later in November – check here to order the 2CD boxset)

Here’s the track below:

The original version, in a video edit, 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!

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Four years after “The Productive Citizen” album, Implant returns with a brand new single, “The phone call”, which is a teaser for the band’s new full length release “Oxynoxe-X”, out later this year. You can download it right now from Bandcamp, before it hits the other streaming and download platforms in September.

The title track “The Phone Call” turns out to be a medium tempo dance track mixing classic EBM with fresh electro à la Dewaele Brothers. Good to know – especially for the technical freaks – the track was integrally composed on a Doepfer A100 modular synthesizer.

Next to the single edit “The Phone Call” EP features 6 additional remixes by Radical G, Noseda, True Zebra, Llumen, Jean-Marc Lederman and Implant themselves. You might have noticed that all these remixes are “made in Belgium”, letting this release bring its own contribution to the already rich “Sound of Belgium” history as the band’s label Alfa Matrix points out.

As bonus-track, the EP also features the exclusive cut “El Pastor”, the opening live track of Implant’s recent live shows which appears here for the first time in studio version.

You can check out the 8-track single below:

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Genre/Influences: Minimal techno, minimal-EBM, techno-body.

Content: I consider Glenn Keteleer as one of the best Belgian sound wizards of the past few years. The man released an impressive number of great releases that earned him a serious reputation. That’s for sure a reason why he contributed to the recently released new album by Neon Electronics.

This new opus by Radical G takes off in a rather experimental way. You rapidly notice the techno-input, but the first songs all remain pretty quiet. “Kong” also shows the EBM inspiration, which comes through in the solid bass line. This song also reveals great vintage and somewhat spooky synth layers while the song progressively moves towards a danceable and minimal EBM apotheosis.

I like the progression in the tracklist, which becomes harder and more danceable. But before focusing on the harder passages I have to say a word about “Canned Hunting” revealing Keteleer’s commitment against this horrible practice. The song remains pretty quiet and mainly animated by a spoken speech about this practice although it sounds pretty minimal EBM as well.

We next get a few songs that reveal outstanding sound treatments and terrific bass lines plus some paranoiac bleeps (cf. “Red Cove”). The bass line running through “Jabba’s Palace” reminds me somewhat to The Chemical Brothers while globally speaking this song also moves into EBM inspiration.

“Mankind” needs a ‘bang’ and that’s precisely what comes through on “Flood,” which is the beginning of a great 2nd half. The sound manipulations are absolutely terrific while the song is also characterized by an amazing and somewhat trance-minded break. This track is a cool appetizer for the upcoming “Kryptonite”, which is an absolute hit song. I think that Glenn Keteleers will convince the last skeptics about his potential and knowledge as a sound wizard. This track is a divine mix of techno and EBM with an extra dark flavor on top.

The last cuts remain harder and danceable while constantly carried by terrific sound arrangements. There already is a great break in the midst of “Fury (Original Mix)” while the vintage touch comes back on “Love Ain’t Fashion (Original Mix).” The last song also is the only one featuring vocal parts while a big kick will drive you to dance like a mad.

Conclusion: “Mankind” reveals a great progression from quieter- towards harder and ultra danceable stuff. Radical G confirms its potential and growing talent in the manipulation of sounds and the creation of a real powerful techno-body hybrid.

Best songs: “Kryptonite”, “Flood, “Kong”, “Fury – Original Mix”, “Love Ain’t Fashion – Original Mix”, “Jabba’s Palace”.

Rate: (DP:8½)DP.

Band: www.radicalg.com / www.facebook.com/RadicalG

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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