How do you revive a genre that never really died? Seba Dolimont, founder of Belgium’s Alfa Matrix label, took on a task few would dare: uniting 133 post-punk, cold wave, and synth artists from across the globe into one colossal 7-CD compilation. Add to that a 28-page book of rare interviews and scene reflections, and you’ve got “Resurgence” – one of the boldest physical releases in today’s digital-first music world.

But this wasn’t a smooth ride. Production delays, manufacturing disasters, and the sheer chaos of wrangling artists from 23 countries turned “Resurgence” into a test of endurance. In this interview, Seba Dolimont shares how “Resurgence” was born out of passion, community, and a healthy dose of madness – and how, against all odds, it became a landmark for the post-punk revival.

SL: Coordinating a project of this magnitude – reaching out to bands across 23 countries, licensing tracks, assembling masters, and content – sounds daunting. What were some of the biggest challenges you encountered in putting together “Resurgence”? Were there any unexpected obstacles – the postponed release date suggests as much – or interesting stories in getting certain artists on board or obtaining the material for the compilation?

SD: “Challenge” is the right word.  Although I have acquired  some experience through the years with other conceptual compilation projects like Fxxk The Mainstream, Endzeit Bunkertracks, Electronic Body Matrix or yet Absolute Girrrls Manifesto. This one first of all features twice more bands, which means twice more coordination work with bands/labels, etc. in a world where the additional value of such a physical compilation project is not always understood because nowadays the market is too much focused on playlists and play statistics on streaming platforms. Then came the whole effort of interviewing all these people. A quite time consuming effort, but a unique opportunity too for me, reconnecting with good old friends I had not seen/talked to for too many years, reminding me my good old years as chief editor of the print Side-Line magazine. Compiling all their input and distilling it to keep its essence and render it into this essay was quite of an experience.

And then when you believe all is ready and done… sent to manufacturing, you end up facing way too many issues leading to a big regrettable release date delay… That was a first time in our Alfa Matrix/Spleen+ history since 2001. We’ve worked with this manufacturer for many years now, but this time they outsourced parts of the job to unreliable sub-contractors — a mistake with heavy consequences. And that  harmed our engagement towards fans, distributors and featured artists.  We actually faced multiple unexpected delays — each more frustrating than the last. We’ve truly been hit by Murphy’s Law. After a fire and electrical breakdown at the manufacturing plant, we then encountered serious print quality issues, forcing us to reprint parts of the box to ensure it meets our top quality standards.

But today I feel more than happy cos I keep receiving tons of positive messages from fans  who bought it, but also form so many bands featured on “Resurgence”… it’s touching me deep in the heart.   I hope you will also enjoy it out there! 

SL: “Resurgence” is an unusually ambitious compilation – 7 CDs, 133 bands, and a companion book. What was the initial vision behind this project? Could you walk us through how the idea of celebrating post-punk’s legacy in such a grand format came about, and what you hoped to achieve for the post-punk community with this release?

SD. The “Resurgence” concept is linked to the creation of the Spleen+ division, celebrating the resurgence of the cold wave, post punk + minimal synth musical movements that were the root cause of the creation of our mother label company Alfa Matrix back in 2001. With this “Resurgence” project, we actually tried to gather a large number of artists who are all still active nowadays in the various sub-genres derivating from the post-punk roots, letting them shine in their very own and respective artistic diversity. Gathering them in one box-set that is also reflecting the aesthetic and unique feel that this music style has been bringing to us over the last decades and includes selected insights from scene protagonists we interviewed during our compilation process.  We enjoyed the engagement, commitment and passion of all these nice people who are part of this artistic journey!

SL: The compilation spans a wide array of styles – from classic guitar-driven post-punk and goth rock to coldwave, dark synth, ethereal wave, and even shades of EBM. How did you approach curating such diverse sub-genres under the post-punk umbrella while ensuring the 7-CD journey still feels cohesive? Were there any particular themes or sonic threads you used to connect tracks from one style to the next?

SD: You are right! The music is a genre-spanning mix of post-punk, cold wave, dark synth, ethereal, and minimal EBM, guaranteeing an unforgettable listening experience: Boy Harsher, A Cloud Of Ravens, No More, Skeletal Family, Collection D’Arnell Andrea, Underviewer, Attrition, Merciful Nuns, Lederman/De Meyer, Local Suicide & Sekelesys, Star Industry, Ataraxia, Czarina, Helalyn Flowers, Ascii.Disko, Je T’Aime, The Ultimate Dreamers, Lycia, Opera Multi Steel, The Breath Of Life, Auger, The Names, Whispers In The Shadow, Lovelorn Dolls, Astari Nite, Chiasm, Saigon Blue Rain, Omnimar, Still Patient, Creux Lies, Golden Apes, and so many more!

Spanning 23 different nationalities, this collection masterfully blends legendary acts with the freshest new talent, making it a diverse and rich experience that showcases post-punk’s enduring relevance and creative power. It was quite of a challenge compiling it all and I’m very grateful that I received the precious support of Stef Coldheart (Side-Line/Inferno Sound Diaries) & Fred Cotton (Fantastique Nights) who both gave me precious tips and helped me discovering many artists along the way.  Thanks to them again for this!

SL: The inclusion of a full booklet with essays and interviews is unusual for a music compilation. Why was it important for you to include this 28-page “story” book of interviews and photos? How did you decide who to interview (producers, journalists, artists, etc.), and what insights or historical context do these writings add to the music? Did any particular interview or quote from those 30+ scene figures strike you as especially illuminating with regard to post-punk’s evolution?

SD: This deluxe collector’s edition indeed brings together 133 active bands from across the globe, spanning the diverse sub-genres born from post-punk’s iconic roots. Spread over an impressive 7-CD collection, this box set captures the essence of a movement that has influenced generations of music, art, and culture.   This is why we put the focus on a physical product, to recreate the mood and take some distance from the current heavy digitalisation of art in general and music in particular.  And please don’t call me nostalgic (laugh). 

We really designed it as a true work of art, and I knew that only my long time Japanese friend Tomoki Hayasaka (Sheerheart) could transpose my vision into this amazing artwork design… It’s not just a music collection – it’s a sensory experience, where reading and listening combine to create something truly unique.

Housed in a luxurious vinyl-sized box, “Resurgence” is for me in many ways more than a music compilation – it’s a visual and auditory exploration of post-punk’s lasting legacy. It’s accompanied by a 28-page book in which you’ll gain exclusive insight from over 30 leading figures of the scene, who share their thoughts on the genre’s evolution – from its underground beginnings to its global resurgence. With interviews from renowned producers like John Fryer and Jean-Marc Lederman, label managers, journalists, and iconic artists (including Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, William Faith, No More, Skeletal Family, Mona Mur, KaS Product, And Also The Trees, Clan Of Xymox, Attrition, Das Ich, Merciful Nuns, The Names, The Breath Of Life, etc)…

SL: Alfa Matrix is known for its electronic/industrial and darkwave releases. Now with the Spleen+ division and projects like this, the label is delving deep into post-punk territory. What motivated Alfa Matrix to create the Spleen+ imprint and champion the post-punk/goth revival? How does this compilation reflect the label’s evolution or broader strategy in supporting alternative music scenes?

SD: We launched the Spleen+ label division of alfa matrix end of 2022!  See it as a new adventure that allows us supporting and contributing to that continuous resurgence of the cold wave / post punk / minimal synth scene and offering it some structured and more targeted approach. Although alfa matrix always defended a quite eclectic attitude for its music repertoire, this focused approach allows us better supporting artists playing this kind of sound and reaching out to a boiling sub-scene, enlarging our scope of activities and bringing complementary fanbases together… 

The very active Belgian act THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS was our first new signing in the genre followed by HANGING FREUD and two Belgian legends in the genre THE NAMES and THE BREATH OF LIFE… While some Alfa Matrix artists were potential candidates for a next release on Spleen+ including IMJUDAS, LOVELORN DOLLS, STAR INDUSTRY or the unique NOEMI AURORA. 

Preview ‘Resurgence’ – available as download and as a 7CD box set 

You can order this fine set as a 7CD set or as a download via Bandcamp. This release will NOT be available on Spotify or any other service, except for Bandcamp.

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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