Shhadows and Small Planets reunite to deliver a cover of Ned’s Atomic Dustbin’s classic track, “Grey Cell Green”. This new release, out via Re:Mission Entertainment, sees both bands blending their distinct sounds to create a shoegaze and darkwave hybrid.

Small Planets, hailing from Los Angeles, bring dark, ethereal music that is reminiscent of Cocteau Twins, The Cure, and Slowdive. Shhadows from their side are based in Denver and bring a blend of darkwave and post-punk witch house influences.

This is the second collaboration between Shhadows & Small Planets. Their previous collaboration was an original track called “E” on the 2022 Shhadow’s album, “Bloodwork”. For their rendition of “Grey Cell Green”, they decided to move away from the punk vibe of the original and instead focus on crafting a slower, more ethereal sound and we quote from their press release: “Transforming ‘Grey Cell Green’ into a shoegaze and darkwave blend was an exciting challenge. We wanted to retain the emotional core of the song while giving it our unique twist.”

The new single is out now. You can download it below from Bandcamp.

And this was the previous collaborative track, “E”.

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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Rachel Goswell, the vocalist of Slowdive, has teamed up with Peter G. Holmstrom of Pete International Airport, also the guitarist for The Dandy Warhols, to release a new video for their track “Tic Tac”.

The song “Tic Tac” is the lead track of their 7-inch vinyl release, also titled “Tic Tac”, scheduled for release on November 24 through Little Cloud Records. This special edition is pressed on translucent yellow vinyl, with the B-side featuring a unique remix by Anton Newcombe of The Brian Jonestown Massacre.

Originally featured on Pete International Airport’s third album “It Felt Like The End of the World”, “Tic Tac” represents a foray into a blend of psychedelic rock and dark electronica. The album, released several weeks prior, has been mixed by Jeremy Sherrer, known for his work with Modest Mouse, The Shins, and The Dandy Warhols. It boasts contributions from various artists in the neo-psychedelic scene, including members from bands such as Cheap Trick, Dark Horses, A Place to Bury Strangers, Sun Atoms, Omniscuro, Guiding Light, Pang Attack, and Hopewell.

“I co-wrote ‘Tic Tac’. I bought his last album and I really liked it. Peter Holmström has different singers on each song and co-writes with everybody, which I think is a really interesting way to work. Obviously, Pete is a guitarist, first and foremost, and a very good one. He sent me music for ‘Tic Tac, and it’s actually changed a lot. It was a lot more guitar-y, the original musical piece that he sent me, and it got really stripped down and changed,” says Rachel Goswell.

“I think he sent me that in 2020. That was a COVID lockdown year and I had a lot of stuff going on. It took me I think nearly about a year to actually get around to sitting down properly and writing it. I kept procrastinating about doing it and then once I’d done it, I was really pleased with it. But I think as a record, there’s some great songs on it. I didn’t know who else had written with him on this record, I was just really happy to be a part of it. It is quite a broad spectrum musically, and quite eclectic.”

Below is the video for ‘Tic Tac’.

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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(Photo by Mary Martley) The Portland-based project Pete International Airport, which revolves around Peter G. Holmström of The Dandy Warhols, has released anew album, “It Felt Like The End of the World” via Little Cloud Records. It’s the project’s third album, mixed by Jeremy Sherrer at Spooky Electric Co. (Modest Mouse, The Shins, The Dandy Warhols) with mastering by Dave Coley at Elysian Mastering.

“This record was mostly written and recorded during the pandemic so sonically and lyrically it can’t help but be influenced by what we all went through. There is a melancholy darkness as well as a peaceful beauty. The album title came from a “fairytale/poem” that is whispered at the end of ‘Sea Of Eyes’. It perfectly captures the hopeful/scary feeling of change that comes at the end of something,” says Peter G. Holmström.

Named after a song by Holmström’s other band, The Dandy Warhols, this project features numerous guests, including Rachel Goswell (Slowdive, Mojave 3), Alexander Hackett (Pang Attack), Dion Lunadon (A Place To Bury Strangers, The D4), and Cheap Trick’s Tom Petersson on 12-string bass. The material for this new album was recorded in Portland, LA, NY, UK and Montreal.

Pete International Airport also presents the video for “Next of Kin” featuring Lisa Elle of Dark Horses.

“It Felt Like The End of the World” is downloadable from all music platforms and is also available on CD and a deluxe double-album in a gatefold sleeve, pressed on transparent vinyl with an orange blob or on transparent vinyl with a purple blob.

Below is the video for the track “Brave New World”.

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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(Photo by Jon DeRosa) Projekt Records has announced the September 15 release of the remastered and expanded edition of Aarktica’s “Morning One” album, which was originally released in 2001. For the first time, the album will be available digitally. “Morning One” was released shortly after Aarktica’s debut “No Solace in Sleep” (2000) and marks a transition from pure guitar ambient to the atmospheric drone pop hybrid sound that has since become the project’s trademark.

In addition to the original 2001 release, Aarktica (aka Jon DeRosa) has added three previously unreleased tracks. Included among these is a 2002 remix by Aaron Spectre (also known as electronic artist Drumcorps), who offers a downtempo version with danceable beats.

“In many ways, ‘Morning One’ is the ‘missing link’ in the catalogue,” says DeRosa. “This album is an important release for me; it represents a transitional phase, from a time when I was really feeling out what I wanted Aarktica to become. I was influenced by bands like Flying Saucer Attack, Slowdive, and Mogwai. Simultaneously, I was a composition student studying Indian classical music with La Monte Young, becoming increasingly interested in creating ambient textures in a compositional way. I was listening to composers like Ingram Marshall, and I was in awe of his ability to bridge the ambient/electronic world with that of modern classical music. In much the same way, I was listening to bands like Godspeed You! Black Emperor, who were achieving very much the same effect, but in reverse.”

Jon DeRosa is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He has been involved with several acts, including Dead Leaves Rising, Pale Horse and Rider, as well as his solo project known as Aarktica.

Here’s an idea how this project sounds like.

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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Wayne Hussey, frontman of The Mission, will soon have a new single out in support of key workers dealing with Covid-19 globally. He has remade the classic Mission anthem “Tower Of Strength”, joined by members of The Cure, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Slowdive, Bauhaus / Love and Rockets, The Smiths, The Twilight Sad, Depeche Mode, The Cult, The Wonder Stuff, Gary Numan, Evi Vine, Midge Ure (Ultravox), Spear of Destiny / Theatre Of Hate, Beauty In Chaos, The Soft Cavalry, All About Eve, Guns N’ Roses, Nine Inch Nails and Gene Loves Jezebel.

The actual collaborators include: Andy Rourke, Billy Duffy, Budgie, Evi Vine, Gary Numan, James Alexander Graham, Jay Aston, Julianne Regan, Kevin Haskins, Kirk Brandon, Lol Tolhurst, Martin Gore, Michael Aston, Michael Ciravolo, Midge Ure, Miles Hunt, Rachel Goswell, Richard Fortus, Robin Finck, Steve Clarke, Tim Palmer, Trentemøller

Produced by Wayne Hussey, this release features mixes by Tim Palmer and Trentemöller. This is also the first time brothers Jay and Michael Aston (of Gene Loves Jezebel) have recorded anything together since parting ways many years ago.

Here’s a preview of the song featuring for instance Martin Gore.

The single itself will be out on August 28 on all digital platforms followed by a 12” vinyl and CD on October 2.

Wayne Hussey: “When Covid-19 hit I started receiving messages asking ‘why don’t you re-issue Tower Of Strength for the front line workers?’ The song had apparently been adopted as an anthem by some NHS workers, and it got me thinking that I would like to contribute something to the greater cause at this unprecedented time and the only thing I could really contribute is music. So in conjunction with my good friend Michael Ciravolo, I came up with the idea of recording a new version of Tower Of Strength for charity by enlisting the help of musician friends and acquaintances. Tower Of Strength was first released by The Mission as single in 1988 and then again in 1994. It charted twice in the UK top 40 and has proved to be probably our biggest song and the one we generally close our shows with. It is anthemic. I wondered if recording a more well known song might have a greater reach but neither Michael or I could come up with any suggestions that seemed to fit lyrically without getting too corny. So Tower Of Strength it was then.

Usually I detest things that are done for charity that are also self-serving, but I came up with a plan that satisfied my conscience. I spoke with my fellow Mission band members who co-wrote the song – Craig Adams, Mick Brown and Simon Hinkler – and we agreed to give up any publishing income generated by the new version to nominated charities, including mechanical and performance royalties and 100% of any revenue raised by sales. TOS2020 has been renamed to divert funds from the original version, and the charities will all be personally nominated by the people involved in its recording and release. Because the musical contributions are global our idea is that the proceeds will be divided and distributed equally among all the beneficiaries.”

Tracklist for the vinyl:

Vinyl Side A

1. TOS2020 (Beholden To The Front Line Workers Of The World mix)
2. TOS2020 (single)

Vinyl Side B

1. TOS2020 (Trentemøller remix)*
2. TOS2020 (Albie Mischenzingerzen remix)**

Tracklist for the CD:

1. TOS2020 (Beholden To The Front Line Workers Of The World mix)
2. TOS2020 (Trentemøller remix)*
3. TOS2020 (Albie Mischenzingerzen remix)**
4. TOS2020 (single)

Tracklist for the digital bundle:

1. TOS2020 (single)
2. TOS2020 (Beholden To The Front Line Workers Of The World mix)
3. TOS2020 (Trentemøller remix)*
4. TOS2020 (Albie Mischenzingerzen remix)**
5. Tower Of Strength (original new remaster) – The Mission (free bonus track with bundle only)

Side-Line also covered Depeche Mode’s ‘s Martin Gore launches new solo track ’.

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: Shoegaze, dream-pop.

Background/Info: When The Sun Hits is a new formation consisting out of experienced musicians from Nottingham (UK) and named after a Slowdive song . This 5 member formation has now unleashed their debut work, which features 6 songs and might be considered as a mini-album as well.

Content: We in fact get 4 songs plus 2 instrumental intermezzos. When The Sun Hits takes us away into a foggy dream-pop universe, which is progressively moving into shoegaze music. The vocals are somewhat complaining.

+ + + : The EP opens with the beautiful “The Last Light”, which sounds as the perfect offspring between shoegaze and dream-pop. I especially like the progression of this song, which moves into an elevating sensation. Another noticeable cut is the hardest one –and most typical shoegaze-like “Lovedead Town”. This production reveals an efficient harmony between two different, but complementary influences.

– – – : Both instrumental breaks don’t exactly add any bonus and even if I’m not a huge fan of remixes, I would have prefer to hear a cool remix instead of poorly inspired breaks. I also regret some songs remain pretty short, which at the other side often was a characteristic of shoegaze music.

Conclusion: “Immersed Within Your Eyes” is a cool appetizer, which tastes for more.

Best songs: “Lovedead Town”, “The Last Light”, “Lie To Me – Single”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.whenthesunhits.com / www.facebook.com/whenthesunhitsmusic

Label: www.saintmarierecords.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Saint–Marie–Records/164080190305178

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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After sharing their first single “Star Roving” earlier this year, Slowdive have announced more details from their self-titled album which will be released on May 5th via Dead Oceans and for which pre-orders are being accepted right now. Note that the album will be out on cassette (available here) to next to the normal CD format (available here). Vinyl fans can enjoy a black vinyl (available here) and a clear vinyl version (available here).

Next to “Star Roving” the band have also shared a new track called “Sugar For The Pill” (check the videos below). The video, produced by in/out, takes its inspiration from the album artwork which is itself astill from Harry Smith’s cult classic animation “Heaven and Earth Magic” from 1957.

To mark the album announcement, Slowdive will be played a surprise show at The Garage in London on March 29 – the venue in which they played their final London show in their original incarnation in December 1993.

The tracklist:

1. Slomo
2. Star Roving
3. Don’t Know Why
4. Sugar For The Pill
5. Everyone Knows
6. No Longer Making Time
7. Go Get It
8. Falling Ashes

Here are the video for “Star Roving” and “Sugar For The Pill”.

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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In Strict Confidence continue their back catalogue repackaging campaign. Their 2010 album “La Parade Monstruese” now comes reissued with 33 tracks on a very limited 3CD set. Apart of the main album, you get a lot of non-album tracks and remixes by such artists as Rhys Fulber (Frontline Assembly, Fear Factory) Asp, Sono, Asmas Traum and many others.

Also included are the Videoclips for the singles “My Despair” and “Silver Bullets” (watch the video below).

The set can be pre-ordered right here, limited copies available only.

The tracklist:

CD1:
01 La Parade Monstrueuse
02 My Despair
03 Silver Bullets
04 One Drop
05 Set Me free
06 This is All
07 Ewige Nacht
08 Snow White
09 I surrender
10 Schwarzes Licht
11 Golden Gate

CD2:
01 My despair (single version)
02 My despair (clubmix)
03 Feelings
04 My despair (Sono remix)
05 Constant Flow
06 My despair (slowdive)
07 My despair (extended)
08 My despair (video)

CD3:
01 Set Me Free (extended)
02 My Despair (Monozelle rmx)
03 Set Me Free (Piano Version)
04 One Drop (DJ Francois vs. Kartagon rmx)
05 Set Me Free (Rhys Fulber rmx)
06 One Drop (Patenbrigade:Wolff rmx)
07 My Despair (Crashtv rmx)
08 Promised Land (MC1R rmx)
09 Set Me Free (ASP rmx)
10 My Despair (Parralox rmx)
11 Am Abgrund (Samsas Traum rmx)
12 My Despair (Mind:Shredder rmx)
13 Lazarus
14 Silver Bullets (Video)

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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