Siglo XX &#8211; SIDE-LINE

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!

Legendary Belgian post-punk Soviet War comes with new and old work

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 06:03:19 +0000

Out on October 7th is “Psychopuppets”, the new album by the legendary Leuven based post-punk band Soviet War.

The release comes out on Track & Traces, a sister label of Starman Records founded by veteran Roland Beelen (Antler). Via Tracks & Traces Beelen releases material from artists who at the same time have strong roots in the past and enough creativity to produce new material in the present. Previous albums have been released by, among others, TB Frank & Baustein, TV Smith, Honeymoon Cowboys (Siglo XX) and Suns of Arqa.

Included on the release is archive and live material from the early 80’s, plus new material. The band is also touring again and recently played support for The Stranglers in Het Depot , Leuven.

Formed as The Soviets the primitive punk of the early years evolved into post-punk, as a result the band changed their name to Soviet War. The band recorded a cassette ‘Bootleg’ and sold hundreds of copies at concerts, but when the Anything But label put one of their songs, “The Nuthouse”, on its compilation “No Big Business 2” the band also recorded “Just a Story” during the same sessions. The track would end up on the “Koude Golven” compilation. In 1982 a second recording session resulted in the single “It became a problem/Guns for fun” on the same Anything But label and two other unreleased tracks, which you can finally find on this LP.

In early 1983, guitarist Leon left and the band split up. 36 years later, in 2019, Soviet War reformed with the three remaining original members, Bergy, Tirre and Zip joined by new guitarist Koen. Corona prevented their comeback concert from taking place, Instead they started work on new songs. As soon as the live circuit regained some breathing space in the autumn of 2021, concerts finally followed.

Psychopuppets by Sovjet War

V/A End Of The Corridor / A Compilation Of Belgian Cold Wave And Post Punk 78-84 (Album – Walhalla Records)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Punk, Post-Punk, Cold-Wave.

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Belgian Walhalla Records used to release the great “Underground Wave”-compilation series, mainly devoted to Belgian Electro bands from the 80s. This new compilation, which is again compiled by Lieven De Ridder, features eleven Belgian bands from the past involved with Punk, Post-Punk and Cold-Wave.

Artists: De Brassers, The Cultural Decay, Camera Obscura, Struggler, Siglo XX, Suspects, De Kommeniste, De Scheuren, Protection +, Vibø, Day After.

Content: The title of the compilation speaks for itself: this is pure nostalgia, but also an opportunity to get back to the early years of Cold-Wave and Post-Punk. Several bands were set up in the late 70s and got influenced by legendary UK Punk bands.

Siglo XX is for sure the most famous –and internationally renowned, band from the album. De Brassers became an established Punk band in Belgium, but the other formations received local success and recognition. Belgian fans will maybe know Struggler (who remained active) and The Cultural Decay.

+ + + : This compilation brings us back in time, (re)discovering the early years of Belgian Punk and Cold-Wave music, but it also is a way to discover lost and forgotten treasures from the Belgian Punk scene. Next to several live songs you’ll get the opportunity to discover some unknown bands like Suspects –which is featuring a more Electro-driven cut, Protection + and Vibø, which both are featuring cool Cold-Wave driven songs. If you’re more into the typical Punk music you also gone like De Brassers and De Kommeniste. Last, but not least you also will hear a live track of Siglo XX (cf. “Answer”). The inside info sheet is also interesting to get more info about the featured bands.

– – – : This is nostalgia so a few tracks are definitely suffering from the weight of time. You have to replace this work in the right context and time.

Conclusion: Just as for the “Underground Wave”-series, this compilation is a kind of sonic documentary and legacy…

Best bands: Suspects, Siglo XX, Vibø, Protection +.

Rate: 8.

Label: www.walhallarecords.be / www.facebook.com/WalhallaRecords

End of the Corridor by Various Artists

About Walhalla Records

Walhalla Records is an independent Belgian label founded in 2010 by Lieven De Ridder, who also DJs as Aimé Le Chevalier and once ran a record shop of the same name. The label works largely with Belgian new wave, minimal synth and cold wave material, much of it previously released only on cassette.

Its catalogue opened with “Underground Belgian Wave Volume 1” and “Volume 2” in 2010, continued with “Underground Wave Volume 3” in 2012, “Volume 4” in 2014, the singles collection “The Underground Wave 7″s” in 2015 and “Volume 5” in 2016. Artist releases include Somnambulist “Withered Land” and Secret Life “Nineteen Eighty Four” in 2011, Kloot Per W “Playback With A Switch – A Cassette Anthology 1978-1982” in 2012, Asmodaeus “Lies And Logic” in 2014 and Enzo Kreft “Dark Matter” in 2016, alongside the compilation “The Whispering Trees”.

“End Of The Corridor” was released on 22 July 2021 with eleven tracks. Side-Line reported on the ‘End of Corridor’ vinyl compilation of Belgian cold wave and post punk from 1978-84 on 5 August 2021.

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.

Side-Line presents: Sinner’s Day Festival 2021 – Heusden-Zolder (BE)

Filip Wildhoney — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 16:41:10 +0000

The 2021 edition of the Sinner’s Day Festival will take place from 30th October until 1st November 2021 at The Max in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. About 53 new wave, EBM, industrial, post-punk, synth-pop and eighties bands are featured on 2 stages.

This year the line-up includes: Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft (Robert Goerl & DAF world premiere), Gary Numan, Clan Of Xymox, Praga Khan, Covenant, Fields Of The Nephilim, Suicide Commando, Funeral Dress, The Arch, The Bollock Brothers, Your Life On Hold, Ground Nero, Absolute Body Control, A Slice Of Life, Astrasonic, Blancmange, Diary Of Dreams, Agent Side Grinder, Red Zebra, Siglo XX, The KVB, And Also The Trees, La Muerte, UK Subs, Glen Matlock, IAMTHESHADOW, A Split Second, BFG, Then Jericho, She Past Away, The Foreign Resort, Minuit Machine, Leaether Strip, Haujobb, Gene Loves Jezebel, Twin Tribes, La Lune Noire, Empathy Test, Jah Wobble and more!

There is also The Batcave, the dance-area where you can party while DJ’s spin their finest tracks 13h/day. A camping area is available if you want to stay next to the festival area at night!

Tickets can be ordered here

Be aware that you need to show a valid Covid certificate/Covid Safe Ticket to get access to the festival!

‘End of Corridor’ vinyl compilation of Belgian cold wave and post punk from 1978-84

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 15:31:32 +0000

The Belgian re-release label Walhalla Records, specialized in new wave, cold wave and minimal synth, is releasing a new vinyl compilation including previously unreleased material by Belgian cold wave/postpunk bands suchs as De Brassers, Siglo XX, Struggler, De Kommeniste…

Titled “End of Corridor”, the LP will be presented on Saturday 14 August from 2 to 6 pm in café Mombasa (Moorkensplein 37, 2140 Antwerp). The first 100 copies contain an extra insert that is signed by the artists.

The tracklist:

Here’s a presentation of the release.

Belgian post-punk / new wave act Spiral of Silence returns after almost 20 years of total studio silence

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 27 May 2021 16:54:39 +0000

Good news for fans of the Belgian post-punk / new wave act Spiral of Silence. The band’s drummer Achiel Keppens informs us that they have a new single out, “Toll”, and this almost 20 years after their last studio effort, “Decadent” (2002), which got released back then on Purple Moon Records.

The new album will see also Kloot Per W joining on guitars and co-writing and half of Siglo XX will collaborate as well. In short a Belgian post-punk affair. But that’s not all, the band also plans a new tour for 2021-2022.

Here’ s a sneak preview of the band’s forthcoming single “Toll” out on the British label Jesus Factory Records.

About Spiral of Silence

Spiral of Silence is a Belgian post-punk / new wave group with strong influences from the Madchester scene of the late 70s and early 80s. Formed in 1991 their first demo was released under the name “Theater Of Pain”, but after the death of Bart Auwaerts (also in the group Spiritus Mundi) the band changed their name.

After one more demo, “Connection” (1996), the band released 2 albums, one on the Italian label Energeia (“Leap” – 1998) and one on the Belgian label Purple Moon Records (“Decadent” – 2002). Note that Antonio Palermo of that other Belgian new wave cult act Siglo XX also played in Spiral of Silence. His characteristic guitar sound can be heard on the album “Decadent” and the track “Echo” was entirely produced by Antonio.

In 2001 the band also self-released “The Early Years ’91-’95” compiling the previously released demo tapes “Theatre Of Pain” (1993) and “Connection” (1996).

By 2003 Spiral of Silence ceased all activities but later on did play some reunion concerts (including in London) without recording new material. In 2013 Spiral of Silence got back on track and started touring again.

Side-Line presents: W-Festival – Waregem (BE)

Filip Wildhoney — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 09:56:44 +0000

The 4th edition of the W-Festival will take place from 15th until 18th August 2019 in Waregem Expo, Belgium. About 70 new wave, EBM, industrial, post-punk, synth-pop and eighties bands are featured on 3 stages.

This year the line-up includes: The Stranglers, Echo & The Bunnymen, Killing Joke, Nitzer Ebb, And One, VNV Nation, Apoptygma Berzerk, Peter Hook & The Light, Blutengel, New Model Army, She Wants Revenge, Lebanon Hanover, Portion Control, Tyske Ludder, Mesh, Whispering Sons, Kaelan Mikla, Collection d’Arnell-Andréa, DaGeist, Pink Turns Blue, Red Zebra, Siglo XX, Merciful Nuns, Then Comes Silence, The Human League, Jimmy Somerville, Lene Lovich band, Blaine L. Reininger plays Tuxedomoon, Nik Kershaw, Howard Jones, Tony Hadley, Schmutz, Allez Allez and more!

On the camping area are a lot of special availabilities like B and Bee, Luxury Lodge and WaveTents. Other extra’s on the festival are silent disco, outdoor quiet zone, wellness, merchandise and more!

Tickets and VIP-tickets can be ordered here.

The Process Void – Dreams Of Departure (CD EP – Green Mutant Recordings)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 19:30:22 +0000

Genre/Influences: New-wave.

Background/Info: Alex J Wise is an Australian artist operating from Sydney and who started composing music during the 90s. He made some remixes for artists like Angelspit, Tycho Brahe, Technoromance ao. This debut EP features 5 different cuts (reminding me the good-old mini-album format) and has been co-produced, mixed and mastered by Claus Larsen (Leather Strip, Klute, Am Tierpark).

Content: I can’t remember to have ever heard a song from The Process Void. I discovered a sound reminding me of the 80s new-wave movement. Electronics and guitar have been used while you also will notice the sound that will remind you of the good-old rhythm boxes. Some tracks and even vocal parts remind me of the great Belgian new-wave formations Red Zebra and Siglo XX.

+ + + : No doubt about it, The Process Void has found the secret formula to bring the 80s spirit back to life. I can imagine Claus Larsen (being a devoted 80s lover) probably accentuated this link with the past. The songs are easy listening pieces of darkness and melancholia while Alex J Wise has the right timbre of voice for this kind of music.

– – – : I can’t get away from the idea that the songs could have been a bit ‘harder’. I’m missing a truly climax and I can’t say to have found a potential hit on this EP.

Conclusion: “Dreams Of Departure” features a few cool ideas, which the artist now has to elaborate.

Best songs: “Konstellation”.

Rate: (6).

Band & Label: www .theprocessvoid .com / www .facebook .com /theprocessvoid

About The Process Void

The Process Void is the recording name of Sydney-based Australian artist Alex J Wise, active since the 1990s. Before “Dreams Of Departure”, Wise remixed artists including Krankhaus, Angelspit and Tycho Brahe, and contributed to compilations such as “Australian Independent Darkwave Vol. 2” (2006) and the Severed Heads tribute “Headspace” (2012).

Claus Larsen, who also records as Leather Strip, Klute and Am Tierpark, produced, mixed and mastered the EP.

‘Click Interviews’ with Honeymoon Cowboys: ‘The Four Important Elements To Compose A Track Are: A Melody, Instrumentation, Experiment And Coincidence’

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 20:00:24 +0000

Honeymoon Cowboys consist of Siglo XX members Antonio Palermo (on guitar) and Klaas Hoogerwaard (on drums). They’ve been joined by Kris Dries (on bass guitar and brother of Siglo XX singer Erik Dries), Thomas François (on keyboards) and Tom Van Troyen (vocals and ex-singer of Spiral Of Silence). The link with Siglo XX is very clear and even accentuated by numerous Siglo XX-songs that have been transposed into dark-rock, new-wave and ballad-rock style of this promising formation. The album “Liberating The West/Still” has been released on Starman Records & Tracks And Traces. I’d a chat with Antonio Palermo.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: I’m fascinated by your band name! Siglo XX sounded pretty cold and 80s-like, but Honeymoon Cowboys sounds into pure rock’n’roll! What is it all about and did you need to drink much beers to find the name?

Antonio: Lol, no we did not need much beer to find a name. It came spontaneously. I remember that we were in a studio, I think 15 or 16 years ago now, and we were recording some things for fun. The technician asked which name shall we write down and I said Honeymoon Cowboys, so the name was born. After all those years the line-up changed, only Kris, bassist was from the start a member.

I cannot give a proper answer for the first part of the question because I think nor the label for Siglo XX fits nor for Honeymoon Cowboys. The only thing I can say, is that Siglo XX was a bunch of friends, and we still are, and accidently we started to make music without any notion of music. Honeymoon Cowboys are different people who just make music and in the meantime became friends, despite the age differences.

Q: What has been the trigger to get back into music (in a way to reform Siglo XX) and what have been the main ideas when setting up Honeymoon Cowboys?

Antonio: As I have said in the previous answer, I never stopped making music. Most of the time it was for just fun. And it was surely not the idea to reform Siglo XX. Even if I would, I could not. Siglo XX will always remain what it was. The main idea was that I had some ideas and that I wanted to record some things and the only thing that we missed at that time was a drummer, so I called Klaas and the problem was solved.

Q: But the shadow of Siglo XX is hanging over this new band, like it was hard to cut off the umbilical cord. Is it melancholia or what is it all about?

Antonio: It is surely not melancholia. Maybe the people want to hear and to see what is not there anymore. But for me the two are completely different. And the past, the melancholia creates maybe the shadow.

Q: Tell us a bit more about the way you reworked the old Siglo XX songs and how was it composing the new tracks?

Antonio: The Siglo XX songs sound live pretty much how we used to play the songs live. There was no much reworking. The only difference is that we add just a guitar and synth, organ and/or piano. And that Dirk (Siglo XX bassist) plays the bass.

The four important elements to compose a track are: a melody, instrumentation, experiment and coincidence. And the rest is being patient.

Q: The title of your album “Liberating The West” is quite intriguing so what’s the deeper meaning behind and is there a possible link with the artwork?

Antonio: The title of the album is “Still” and you can combine it with the logo “Liberating The West”. Politically it means that there is not so much changed, things are getting from worse till worst. In this sense the spirit of Siglo XX is still there. And the link with the artwork, which was made by Erik (vocalist of Siglo XX), can be still revolting for a better world. And beside that it sounded very nice.

And the link maybe with Siglo XX is that all the members of Siglo XX co-operate at this album.

Q: Singer Tom Van Troyen (Spiral Of Silence) definitely appears to be a real important element of Honeymoon Cowboys. How did you guys met and tell us a bit more about the impressive production of the vocal parts?

Antonio: I met Tom 17 years ago. Spiral Of Silence asked me to produce a CD and play some guitar on a song. I played several times with them live. From then on we kept in touch. So I didn’t really need to search for a vocalist, I just phoned him and that was it.

There was no impressive production. Tom has by himself an impressive voice. The only thing we had to do, is seeing what voice color suited the best for the song and that was trying, trying and trying and being patient. But that was also for the rest.

Q: You already played several live shows so what have been the reactions so far and what kind of live band is Honeymoon Cowboys?

Antonio: The live reviews are very positive, so we can’t complain. The second part is very difficult to answer because we can’t say how the people look at us. They are free to fill it in for themselves.

Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries

Honeymoon Cowboys – Liberating The West / Still! (CD Album – Tracks And Traces/Starman Records)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:14:18 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-rock, new-wave, ballad-rock.

Background/Info: Honeymoon Cowboys is a five-headed Belgian formation featuring ex-Siglo XX members Antonio Palermo (guitar) and Klaas Hoogerwaard (drums). Another familiar member is singer Tom Van Troyen who was previously involved in Spiral Of Silence. The band has been completed by two more members featuring Kris Dries who’s the brother of the Siglo XX singer.

Last year Honeymoon Cowboys released the live-album “Liberating The West – Live At Eurorock 2015”. This album revealed several Siglo XX cover versions. “Still!” is their first studio album although it features a few more live songs.

Content: Siglo XX was one of the darkest cold-wave bands from Belgium, but except a few new-wave reminiscences Honeymoon Cowboys sounds more into a rock’n’roll spirit. It’s a kind of dark-rock music with some extra cold-wave elements on top while driven by an impressive vocalist.

“Still!” is a refreshing composition, a bit ‘chanson’-like and reminds me of Nick Cave. But here again the bewitching timbre of voice of Tom Van Troyen excels like a hybrid of Tom Smith (Editors) and Nick Cave. He sings in a passionate way like injecting a real spirit to the music.

The sound reveals a real maturity and you can hear a real passion coming through. I even get the impression that Honeymoon Cowboys are revisiting some parts of The Doors (cf. “Everything Is On Fire”) while it’s a song originally written by Siglo XX. There also is an intimate and brilliant reworked version of “Waiting For A Friend” originally written by… Siglo XX.

+ + + : The shadow of Siglo XX clearly hangs over this album, but it doesn’t sound at all like an emulation. It rather sounds like they took the best from the past mixed with a more contemporary approach while carried by a genius vocalist. The debut songs are impressive; they’re well-crafted and revealing a delicious harmony between all of the aspects.

– – – : I regret the live songs featuring cuts that have been already released on their previous live album. Let’s hope that the band will move on and will bring back a complete studio album.

Conclusion: Siglo XX has been resurrected revealing a funny rock approach and a great singer with a sexy voice. This is maybe a new beginning for a great formation.

Best songs: “Sea Without Mercy”, “Everything Is On Fire”, “Time Is Not Our Friend”, “Closed Souls”, “Waiting For A Friend”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www .facebook .com /honeymooncowboys

Label: www .starmanrecords .com / www .facebook .com /StarmanRecords / www .tracksandtraces .se / www .facebook .com /Tracksandtraces

Early ‘80s synth, industrial, cold wave scene revisited on ‘So Low’ compilation (incl. Front 242, Tuxedomoon, …)

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 17:30:06 +0000

Out in 2 weeks from now – and ready for ordering here – is the brand new compilation “So Low”. The compilation has been curated by Optimo’s prolific DJ/producer/label boss JD Twitch aka Keith McIvor and holds a selection of early ‘80s synth, industrial and cold wave classics and undiscovered gems.

The 16-track collection is named after McIvor’s irregular club night of the same name in his hometown of Glasgow. Included are tracks by UK/European minimalists P1/E, Colin Potter and Gerry & The Holograms, and American industrial/experimentalists including Michigan’s Hunting Lodge and avant-garde San Francisco collective Tuxedomoon, as well as a number of French and Belgian acts such as Siglo XX, Front 242, The Klinik and Clair Obscur. Tracks from Throbbing Gristle and band members Chris Carter and Cosey Fanny Tutti, who went on to record as Chris & Cosey, and Germany’s pioneering minimal wave musician John Bender are also included.

You can check the track list right here and order it from there too.