With “Kids Alone”, The Ultimate Dreamers blur the line between carefree adolescence and uneasy introspection. What began as a light-hearted, ironic song has taken on unexpected darker interpretations once released into the wild. In this interview, the band reflects on paradox, emotional extremes, unreliable narratives and absurd humour – revealing how playfulness, nostalgia and unease can quietly coexist in their “Paradoxical Sleep” universe.

The new The Ultimate Dreamers EP was produced, mixed and mastered by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark) at Implant-Plant studios, maintaining the production line already established on “Echoing Reverie”, “Violent Ghost” and “Paradoxical Sleep”. Several lyrics again come from long-time collaborator Kelly O’Hara. Note that the official video for “Kids Alone (single version)”, which you can see below, combines the track with re-edited footage from the 1935 Betty Boop cartoon “Baby Be Good”.

The Ultimate Dreamers interview

SL. The new The Ultimate Dreamers single “Kids Alone” sounds playful on the surface, but uneasy underneath. Is this EP a celebration of youth or an autopsy of innocence?

FC. As we sometimes read, it is amusing to see how a song can be interpreted once it is released into the wild. ‘Kids Alone’, like others in our repertoire, is 100% light-hearted and ironic. Surprisingly, it has been perceived as dark by many. Originally, I just wanted to evoke the silly things, harmless or not, that a teenager like I was or my children might are now, do when their parents aren’t looking.

SL. You re-recorded the title track in a more reckless, NDW/electropunk form. What did the original version lack: danger, irony, or the courage to let go?

FC. It was partly these reactions that prompted me to consider a harder version. There is also the fact that, after a few months of maturing, certain tracks reveal other possibilities. Creating a new version of them allows me to put the spotlight back on the track and the album it comes from.

SL. The EP jumps abruptly from party chaos to introspection and despair. Is that contrast intentional – or simply the most honest way to reflect how adolescence actually feels?

FC. It wasn’t really intentional, and that’s the beauty of things: when what we think is random suddenly takes on a deeper meaning. It’s true that adolescence is a time of life when we can swing from one emotion to another in the most extreme way.

SL. “Spiritchaser” and “Deafness” sit at opposite emotional poles. Do you see The Ultimate Dreamers as chroniclers of inner states or as unreliable narrators shaping memory into myth?

FC. That’s nicely put. My goal is not to convey a message. The format of a song doesn’t lend itself to that anyway. But I like to tell little stories or report the words of a given character (for example, a conspiracy theorist or someone affected by a serious illness), which don’t necessarily reflect my own thoughts but rather things that have made an impression on me.

SL. The new The Ultimate Dreamers video borrows imagery from a 1935 Betty Boop cartoon. Why corrupt something so innocent instead of creating darkness from scratch?

FC. Are Betty Boop cartoons really innocent? (laugh) All we did was extract a few scenes from a single cartoon, edit them together and add music.

SL. With remixes spanning darkwave, mechanical coldness and folk melancholy, do these alternate versions clarify your universe or deliberately fracture it?

FC. We carefully select the artists we ask to revisit our tracks, but it’s difficult to predict the outcome of their work. We’re often surprised, and sometimes the result is a break, a rupture, or even an enrichment. This is the case with the three remixes on the “Kids Alone” EP, particularly the remix by Aux Animaux (of “Kids Alone”), which worked very well. The one by Mängelexemplar (of “Spiritchaser”) was included in several rankings of the best tracks of 2025, and the one by Kinex Kinex (of “Wegvliegen”) is truly astonishing.

SL. If “Kids Alone” is a window into the “Paradoxical Sleep” world, what would you rather listeners misunderstand: the joy, or the dread?

FC. It doesn’t really matter, because we like to cultivate paradox, surrealism and absurd humour.

About The Ultimate Dreamers

The Ultimate Dreamers are a Belgian post-punk and cold wave band originating from Lessines in Hainaut province and now based in Brussels. The group first came together as teenagers in the mid-1980s, writing and recording a series of home and rehearsal-room demos between roughly 1986 and 1990 and playing shows in the local scene without releasing a studio album at the time. Those early recordings resurfaced decades later and were compiled as “The Ultimate Dreamers – Live Happily While Waiting For Death“, issued on digital, CD and vinyl formats.

From 2022 onward, The Ultimate Dreamers shifted their centre of operations to Brussels and joined the Spleen+ roster, the post-punk / cold wave division of Alfa Matrix. They released the “Polarized EP” and the two-track single “Polarized / I Loved You?!”, which prepared the ground for their first new studio album “Echoing Reverie” in March 2023. In parallel, the band contributed a cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong” to the Alfa Matrix / Spleen+ compilation “A Strange Play (Vol. 2) – Tribute to The Cure” , with their version of The Cure’s “Lovesong”.

Following “Echoing Reverie”, the group issued the “Violent Ghost” EP with alternative versions and remixes by artists such as Front 242, Shad Shadows and Hørd. In late 2023 they appeared on the seven-disc post-punk anthology “Resurgence”, presented under the headline “‘Resurgence’, a massive 7CD post-punk boxset released in January 2025. The singles “Digging” and “Spiritchaser” mapped the route toward their second modern full-length “Paradoxical Sleep” (February 7, 2025), with the latter introduced by “Spiritchaser” (2-track Single).

In 2025, the band released the French-language single “Envoler” and its companion “Envoler-Wegvliegen EP”, before returning to the “Paradoxical Sleep” material with “Kids Alone EP” at the end of the year.

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.

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The Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix releases the twelfth volume in its “Matrix+ Downloaded” series to coincide with the label’s 24th anniversary. The digital-only set collects 69 tracks across the label’s current spectrum – EBM, dark elektro/industrial, synth pop – and newer Spleen+ additions spanning post-punk, goth rock and coldwave. The compilation is offered as a free/pay-what-you-want download via the label’s Bandcamp page and also includes a PDF booklet.

On the cover you will recognize Erica Dunham from Unter Null.

Artists included on this free download compilation include: Studio-X (feat. Kyoko Baertsoen), Rector Scanner, Aesthetische, Cut.Rate.Box, Kant Kino, Frontal Boundary, C-Lekktor, Acylum, Diffuzion, Implant, Neikka RPM, First Aid 4 Souls (feat. Aux Animaux), Noemi Aurora, Suicidal Romance, Llumen, Hanging Freud, Lederman/De Meyer, The Ultimate Dreamers, Aiboforcen, Digital Factor, Armageddon Dildos, Helalyn Flowers, Krystal System, The True Union, Freakangel, Totem Obscura, Lovelorn Dolls (feat. Dero Goi), The Breath of Life, The Names, ImJudas, Synapsyche, Miseria Ultima, Unter Null, Alien Vampires (feat. Dani Divine), Venal Flesh, Helle9, To Avoid, Pouppée Fabrikk, Stahlgeist, Nigra Nebula, Aengeldust, Circuito Cerrado, Matthew Creed, Cubic, Metroland, The Psychic Force, Komor Kommando, First Aid Tech, Die Robo Sapiens, ELM, Plastic Noise Experience, AD:Key, Elektroklänge, 808 Dot Pop, Avarice in Audio, Elektrostaub (feat. Echo Image), Cryogenic Echelon, Entrzelle, Neuroactive, Technoir, Mondträume, Star Industry, Stray, Psy’Aviah (feat. Sorrow Stories), Zombie Girl, Darkness on Demand, Circumpolar, Dunkelwerk, and Lights A.M.

A&R manager, Sebastien Dolimont says: “In 2025, Alfa Matrix proudly celebrates 24 years of existence. Nearly a quarter of a century fighting for dark alternative music, discovering new talents, and keeping the underground alive. This anniversary is not just about us and our artists – it’s about you, our fans. Because without your constant support, there would be no label, no releases, no future for the scene we all love.”

And he add: “In a world where indie labels are disappearing, streaming revenues collapse, and risks of signing new talents are higher than ever, we are proud to still stand strong — but we can only do it with you by our side. By downloading this compilation, you are not just enjoying music — you are actively supporting 69 artists and helping keep our scene alive, fresh, and forward-looking. From all of us at Alfa Matrix and Spleen+, and on behalf of all our artists: thank you for 24 years of loyalty, passion, and support. Together, we’ll keep writing the future of the dark underground.”

About Alfa Matrix

Alfa Matrix is a Brussels-based independent label founded in 2001. The catalogue focuses on electronic subgenres including industrial, EBM, dark elektro, and synth pop, later expanding into post-punk/coldwave via the Spleen+ division. The label’s team includes label & artists manager Seba Dolimont, promo manager Bernard Van Isacker, and head of design Benoît Blanchart.

From the early 2000s, Alfa Matrix used series-based releases to build international reach. Notable strands include “Sounds From The Matrix” (label samplers), “Re:Connected” (digital label overview), and the club-oriented “Endzeit Bunkertracks” multi-CD anthologies (first “Act” released 21 March 2005, featuring 60 tracks with 50 exclusives).

In 2023, Alfa Matrix inaugurated Spleen+, a division centred on post-punk and adjacent styles, and followed with multi-artist projects and catalogue building, including the “Resurgence” 7-CD box that assembled 133 contemporary bands from the post-punk family.

The label has since the very start focused on a direct contact with its fans and customers via their online webstore and Bandcamp.

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.

www.side-line.com

Belgian post-punk/cold-wave quartet The Ultimate Dreamers has issued the 2-track single “Envoler” via Spleen+ / Alfa Matrix, sung in French and long used as an emotional peak in their live set.

The single bundles a newly unveiled single cut and a reimagined version by Paris collective Curtain. The official clip – directed by longtime visual collaborator Misty – is out in parallel. The single was mastered by Len Lemeire at the Implant-Plant 3.2 in 2025.

A physical edition will follow in the format of a 3-track CD landing on 19 September 2025, compiling the single version, the Curtain rework, and a Dutch rendition titled “Wegvliegen” alongside an alternate video.

“Envoler” appears on “Paradoxical Sleep”, released 7 February 2025, where it sits in the album sequence alongside singles “Digging” and “Spiritchaser”.

About The Ultimate Dreamers

The Ultimate Dreamers fuse Belgian cold-wave austerity with a storyteller’s heart. The quartet – Bertrand (guitar), Fred (vocals, second bass), Jo (bass), Sandrine (keys, cello) – builds songs on interlocking basslines, serrated guitar, and chiaroscuro synths, with cello carving out the ache.

Born in the mid-’80s in Lessines – the surrealist cradle of Magritte and Scutenaire – the band wrote and recorded between 1986 and 1990, then went silent. Decades later, archived demos surfaced and became “Live Happily While Waiting For Death” (2021), turning a rediscovery into a new chapter. The group moved from memory to momentum, shifting its home base to Brussels and stepping back on stage with intent.

They re-entered the present with “Echoing Reverie” (2023) on Spleen+, Alfa Matrix’s new wave-focused imprint – an album that tightened their DNA: urgent rhythms, melody in grayscale, lyrics that watch the world from a sleepless window. The “Violent Ghost” EP followed with mixes by Patrick Codenys (Front 242) and Hørd, linking old-school pedigree to modern shadows.

In 2024, the singles “Digging” and “Spiritchaser” mapped the road to “Paradoxical Sleep” (Feb 7, 2025) – a full-length produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32CRASH, Anne Clark) with guest turns from Simona Ferrucci (Winter Severity Index) and June Dune (Dead Crush). The record balances nocturnal pulse and melodic bruise, the kind of writing that lingers after the club lights rise.

They kept moving. “Envoler” arrived as a French-sung single in September 2025, paired with a rework by Paris collective Curtain and a video by long-time visual ally Misty – a concise statement of what the band does best: tension, tenderness, lift-off.

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.

side-line.com

After their unexpected yet triumphant return, Belgian darkwave/post-punk act THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS continue to redefine their sound with their latest album, “Paradoxical Sleep”. With an expanded lineup, fresh influences, and a deepened creative vision, the band embarks on a new chapter that blends nostalgia with modernity. We sat down with Frédéric to discuss the evolution from “Echoing Reverie”, working with longtime collaborator Len Lemeire, exciting guest contributions, and the magic of live performances. Dive into the mind behind “Paradoxical Sleep” and discover what makes this album their most personal and ambitious work to date.

The album is available on Bandcamp and from the Alfa Matrix webstore on CD and on vinyl.

S. “Paradoxical Sleep” marks a new creative chapter for THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS. How did the writing and recording process differ from your previous album, “Echoing Reverie”?

F. ‘Echoing Reverie’ featured 6 tracks (+ 2 bonus tracks), of which only “Polarized” was completely new. The others were a cover (“Hell’s Bells”) and 4 tracks composed during the band’s first life in the late 80s but which had been completely rearranged and re-recorded. “Paradoxical Sleep” features 11 tracks (+ 2 bonus tracks), 10 of which were written in 2023. Only “Envoler” is a new version of an old song that we wanted to re-record because of its success in concert. ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ is much more representative of the band we are today and our current influences. Creatively, I’ve learnt to use modern tools and we’ve included Sandrine’s cello on two tracks. The lyrics were also written in close collaboration with Kelly O’Hara. Finally, the recording went differently, with a lot of takes done at home before going to Len’s studio. It was a longer process.

S. You worked again with Len Lemeire (IMPLANT, 32CRASH…) for the mixing, engineering & production? A dream team for you?

F. You could say that. As we sometimes read, Len is in a way the 5th member of the group. We get on very well and talk to each other a lot. He makes a decisive contribution to the sound design and some of the arrangements. He does all the mixing but I’m there all the time. Finally, his talent for mastering is well established. Many listeners have commented on this.

S. The album blends post-punk, darkwave, and new wave with a modern touch. How do you strike the balance between staying true to your influences and evolving your sound?

F. It happened naturally. I was brought up on post-punk, which will always be a fundamental influence, but I’ve always kept up with the latest music and trends. Bertrand, Joël and Sandrine also have their own musical culture, which adds to the range of influences.

S. The singles “Digging” and “Spiritchaser” set an intriguing tone for the album. What do these tracks represent within the overall narrative of “Paradoxical Sleep”?

F. The choice of singles was the subject of much thought and external consultation within our circle. “Digging”, with its doom overtones, was a radical departure from what we’d released up to that point. We thought it was a good song too, so we chose it as our first single. On the other hand, “Spiritchaser” was more electronic and pop. Choosing it as the 2nd single both reassured and defined the perimeter of the album to come.

S. Guest collaborations play an important role on this album, with Simona Ferrucci (Winter Severity Index) and June Dune (Dead Crush) lending their voices. How did these collaborations come about, and what did they bring to the album’s atmosphere?

F. The idea of having guests on the album came about while the songs were being written. For “The Knife”, it was obvious from the outset and we had actually tested the formula before recording, during a concert where June Dune joined us on stage for her vocal part but also for a guitar line. It was done without rehearsal and it worked really well. We obviously put it into practice on the record.

For “Into the Fog”, it was in the studio that the idea of a female voice answering mine on the chorus came up. I immediately thought of Simona, one of the artists for whom I have the greatest admiration. Here too, her beautiful, deep voice fits the mood of the song perfectly. In the end, June’s and Simona’s contributions, as well as Kelly’s writing, bring a healthy feminine element to the album.

S. Sandrine’s cello adds an ethereal depth to certain tracks, just like on stage when you perform live. How did this element shape the sonic identity of the album, and was it something you always envisioned incorporating?

F. Sandrine is classically trained and plays in two orchestras. The cello is her favourite instrument and we’ve included it live since she joined the band in 2023. It’s something that sets us a bit apart from other bands and is much appreciated during concerts, particularly in England and Germany, even if it remains a technical challenge. Naturally, the instrument has found its place in our new compositions and we’re keen to give it a prominent place, without it being predominant. It’s an instrument with a nostalgic sound that’s particularly suited to our music.

S. The album artwork is as striking as the music itself. Can you tell us about its concept and how it ties into the themes of “Paradoxical Sleep”?

F. Thank you. We’ve had a lot of positive feedback about this visual. We commissioned it from Nicolas Crombez, a Belgian graphic artist with whom I’ve worked a lot in the past. I had Nicolas listen to all the demos and explain the themes in each song. I then gave him carte blanche and his inspiration did the rest, with a result that transcends the music of the album it illustrates. I followed the same procedure for the videos, directed by Nele Vereecke aka Amanita Noir. I love leaving room for surprise and that moment of discovery.

S. With limited-edition colored vinyl and a collector’s digipak CD, it’s clear that the physical experience of music still matters to you. In an era of streaming, why is it important for you to offer these special editions?

F. It’s undoubtedly an old school approach, but we remain attached to the album experience, where a group of tracks form a coherent whole, whereas with pure streaming, certain songs might never be played. In this context, the physical medium takes on its full meaning, with a visual on which you can linger for a long time while listening to the music. I’ve never been a fundamentalist of the ‘vinyl sound’ but I was very surprised when I listened for the first time to the test pressing. With these tracks, which I knew perfectly well, I clearly heard, more than ever before, a clear difference with digital. And I liked that.

S. Since your quite unexpected “resurrection”, it’s quite impressive the number of concerts you made and a bit everywhere. Which were the 3 most marking places you played at? And I suppose lot more shows are in the pipeline for 2025?

F. Yes, we really enjoy the live experience. It’s a lot of fun and excitement, not least because it’s a bit of a risk for a band that’s not just throwing karaoke on a laptop. Our 3 most vivid memories are our mini-tour of England at the end of 2024, which we thoroughly enjoyed, our open-air concert on an airfield near Namur, at sunset under a sky worthy of Magritte and in front of an enthusiastic audience, and finally our first concert at Le Botanique, supporting And Also The Trees. As a bonus, I’d add the Minicave 2023 festival in Germany. Indeed, 2025 is shaping up rather nicely, with a few summer festivals if all goes well and quite a few concerts abroad, including a return to England. I hope that the excellent feedback we’ve had on ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ will lead to some great propositions…

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.

www.side-line.com

Following the “Echoing Reverie” album and gigs across Europe, the Belgian post-punk / coldwave quartet The Ultimate Dreamers return with “Paradoxical Sleep” – an album of entirely new material.

The release was already teased with the singles “Digging” and “Spiritchaser”.

Produced by Len Lemeire (known for his work with Implant, “éCRASH, …) “Paradoxical Sleep” also features special guest vocals from Simona Ferrucci of Winter Severity Index on “Into the Fog” and June Dune of Dead Crush on “The Knife.”

The new album is available as a limited-edition colored vinyl (150 copies each in solid red or transparent violet) and as a sleek digipak CD edition with two exclusive bonus tracks.

• Paradoxical Sleep (Download)
• Paradoxical Sleep (Transparent Violet) Vinyl
• Paradoxical Sleep (Solid Red) Vinyl
• Paradoxical Sleep CD digipak

About The Ultimate Dreamers

The Ultimate Dreamers, a Belgian post-punk and cold wave band, originated in Lessines, the birthplace of surrealist René Magritte. Formed in the mid-1980s, they crafted melancholic melodies that delved into themes of dreams, love’s turmoil, and societal disillusionment.

After disbanding in 1990, their home-recorded demos resurfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the release of “Live Happily While Waiting For Death” in September 2021. This revival saw the band, now based in Brussels, return to the stage and studio.

In March 2023, they released “Echoing Reverie”, produced by Len Lemeire. An extended EP, “Violent Ghost”, featuring remixes by Front 242, Shad Shadows, and hørd, followed in October 2023. Their new album, “Paradoxical Sleep”, is out now.

The current lineup includes Bertrand (guitar), Fred (vocals, second bass guitar), Jo (bass guitar), and Sandrine (keyboards, cello).

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.

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Out now is “Spiritchaser“, the brand new 2-track single by the Belgian post-punk / cold wave act The Ultimate Dreamers. Besides the title track, you’ll also find the B-side “Digging” which was also the previous single.

“Spiritchaser” is the second glimpse into their new forthcoming album “Paradoxical Sleep”, due early 2025.

The single comes accompanied by a video for “Spiritchaser”.

About The Ultimate Dreamers

The Ultimate Dreamers, a Belgian post-punk and coldwave band, originated in Lessines, the birthplace of surrealist artist René Magritte. Active between 1986 and 1990, they recorded numerous demos during this period. After a lengthy hiatus, the band re-emerged in 2021, releasing “Live Happily While Waiting For Death”, a compilation of their early demos.

In 2022, they unveiled the single “Polarized / I Loved You?!”, followed by the album “Echoing Reverie” in March 2023. The album was produced by Len Lemeire, known for his work with Anne Clark and 32Crash.

October 2023 saw the release of the “Violent Ghost” EP, featuring alternative versions and remixes by artists such as Front 242, Shad Shadows, and hørd.

The current lineup includes Bertrand (guitar), Fred (vocals, second bass guitar), Jo (bass guitar), and Sandrine (keyboards, cello).

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.

side-line.com

The Brussels-based Spleen+ label (a division of Alfa Matrix) has prepared a deluxe 7CD collector’s edition – “Resurgence” – which brings together 133 active bands from across the globe, spanning the diverse sub-genres born from post-punk’s iconic roots. You can order it now from the Alfa Matrix webstore and in digital download format from Bandcamp.

The release comes housed in a luxurious vinyl-sized box, and comes accompanied by a 28-page book. The book holds 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).

Spanning 23 different nationalities, the music included is a genre-spanning mix of post-punk, cold wave, dark synth, ethereal, and minimal EBM with such bands like 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 many more.

You can already check out a few tracks here.

Apart from the 7CD vinyl size deluxe carton box format, “Resurgence” will not be available on mainstream digital platforms, except exclusively via the label’s Bandcamp page.

There is also a special combi pack including the 7CD set plus Darkness On Demand’s “Panic In Reserve” CD and To Avoid’s “All Gods Are Gone” 2CD.

“Resurgence” Tracklist

Cd 1

1. Bestial Mouths . Hex (The Spell)
2. A Cloud Of Ravens . Parable
3. Boy Harsher . Give Me A Reason
4. Czarina . Wonderland
5. Collection D’arnell Andrea . Waiting For Meaulnes
6. Krystal System . La Lame Dans Ta Main
7. Je T’aime . Out Of Sight
8. Aeon Rings . Fully Operational
9. The Ultimate Dreamers . Polarized
10. Partikul . Nothing Good In Me
11. Cosmobrigade . Spacepit
12. Aeon Sable . From Witchcraft To Deviltry
13. Stereoskop . Deep Down
14. The Breath Of Life . Slowly Crushing
15. Faust Project . Rats Lullaby
16. Al . Mistake
17. N.E.L. & J.P . Desinteresse
18. Zeitgeist Zero . Scream
19. Voyna . Moulding Heart

Cd 2

1. Blackbook . You Are Strange
2. Auger . My Heart Is Glass
3. Dekad . A Deadly Show (Video Edit)
4. Love In Cage . A Logical Secret Collection
5. Helalyn Flowers . Halos
6. Soft Scent . No Wounds
7. Sweet Ermengarde . Sweet Sacrifice
8. Martin Dupont . Bent At The Window (2023)
9. The Names . Far From The Factories
10. Boxes Of Blow . Melting Faces
11. Mirror Of Haze Feat. Primitive Heart . Reckless
12. A Slice Of Life . Seven Days
13. Then Comes Silence . Pretty Creatures
14. Nite . Inside Of My Head
15. Astari Nite . Bowie In Daydreams
16. Korus . Złote Światło Pierwszego Zachodu
17. Lovelorn Dolls . A Heart Cries
18. Whispers In The Shadow . Revenants
19. Merciful Nuns . Oneironauts

Cd 3

1. Lederman – De Meyer . Heartbeat
2. Local Suicide & Skelesys . Surface Of The Sun (Radio Edit)
3. Punx Soundcheck Feat. Ascii.Disko & Princess Superstar . Gasoline
4. No More . Sleepers And Trains
5. Mitra Mitra . Memories For Company
6. A Copy For Collapse Feat. Simona Pietrucci . Faded
7. Alien Skin . Depress Me
8. White Mansion . Cancel The Sky
9. Apnoie . Splash Your Bile
10. Celluloide . Compte Les Ombres
11. Risk Risk . Streetwalk
12. Total Chroma . Northern Lights
13. Opera Multi Steel . À Nos Moments Perdus
14. Lycia . Simpler Times
15. Noemi Aurora . Blood As Lipstick
16. Novus . Ess
17. I Ya Toyah . Death’s Kiss
18. Katcross . Rest
19. Winter Severity Index . Speak To Me

Cd 4

1. Systeme Paradoxe . Comme Le Sable En Hiver
2. Aiboforcen . Break The Black Ice (Original Mix)
3. Chiasm . Cut Right Through (Emileigh Rohn Edit)
4. Saigon Blue Rain . Dolls Dresses
5. Her Own World . Mistrust
6. Still Patient Feat. Minu-Schirin Samimi . Blind Vision
7. Creux Lies . Playtime
8. Der Klinke . Curtains (Your Life On Hold Remix)
9. On The Floor . Crying On The Dancefloor
10. Numa Echos Feat. Red Zebra . Waisted Items
11. Factheory . The Day (Ok Lion! Mix – Short Version)
12. Antiflvx . Crystal
13. Flor Concreta . She’s Closer
14. Golden Apes . Ash Trees
15. Glis . Blue Sky Night
16. Ataraxia . The Source
17. Hanging Freud . Grooming
18. Ok Lion! . Get Away
19. Yuzna . Queen Of The Eels

Cd 5

1. The Breath Of Life Feat. Implant . The Last Record
2. The Halo Trees . Happy Man
3. Palm Ghosts . Tilt
4. Your Life On Hold . Imprisoned (Merciless Radio Edit)
5. Götterdämmerung . Common Existence
6. Jenni Sex . Sin Chimes
7. Denner . She Radiates Darkness
8. Imjudas . I Love You
9. Black Needle Noise . Dollhouse On Fire
10. Dead Souls Rising . Dysmorphobia
11. The Waning Moon . Annabel
12. Korinthians . Leader Of The Night
13. Elektrostaub Feat. Stefan Netschio . Mantis (Auger Remix)
14. Omnimar . The Matrix
15. Synapsyche Feat. Chris Harms (Lord Of The Lost) . The Last Dying Flame
16. Dance My Darling . Criminal
17. First Aid 4 Souls Feat. Emke Of Black Nail Cabaret . Das Messer
18. Supernova 1006 . Tell Your Name (Mix)
19. Suicidal Romance . Runaways

Cd 6

1. Ascii.Disko . Loslassen
2. Vioflesh . Emotions
3. Dina Summer . Who Am I (Club Version)
4. Pleasure Victim . Rascheln
5. Pink Opake . Pronta
6. Thewalkingicon . The Trail (Radio Edit)
7. Psy’aviah Feat. Sorrow Stories . Healing
8. Seasurfer . Collapsing
9. Lakeside X . Fire In The Sky (Radio Version)
10. Darkness On Demand . Hang On (Winterhart Remix)
11. Star Industry . Selling Icons (The Dreamside Remix)
12. Alphavox . Dark Satellite
13. Yama Uba . Shapes
14. Lifeless Past . Anxiety
15. Pink Turns Blue . Not Gonna Take It
16. Social Union . Waiting For Red
17. Sine . Until (Clan Of Xymox Remix)
18. Sorry, Heels . She Burns (We Burn) Version
19. Lights A.M . Clouds

Cd 7

1. Useless/You . Echo
2. Attrition . The Great Derailer
3. Children Of Zeal . Taking Over
4. Octolab . Friend Or Foe
5. Vague Phonique . The Last Man
6. Midnight Poetry . Black Hole
7. The Overlookers . Undercover (Edit)
8. La Machine . Vamos A La Playa (Radiomix)
9. Die Sexual . House Of God
10. Carrellee . Morning Sun
11. Underviewer . Was Soll Ich Tun (Aiboforcen Remix)
12. Night In Athens . Words Unspoken
13. Neila Invo . Alienation
14. Skeletal Family . My Own Redemption
15. The Murder Mystery . A Girl Named Red
16. Princess Ugly . For A Moment I Forgot The Desolation
17. Instant Lake . Ivory Dreams
18. Vision Video . Balaclava Kiss
19. La Scaltra . Dancing On Debris

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.

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Belgian post-punk band The Ultimate Dreamers have unveiled their unique rendition of “Lovesong,” originally by The Cure. The cover is available for free download now from the band’s Bandcamp page and is part of the Spleen+/Alfa Matrix tribute compilation, “A Strange Play vol.2“, which features various artists paying homage to the iconic British band. The compilation is available for streaming and download on Bandcamp.

A Fresh Spin on a Cult Classic

The Ultimate Dreamers have put their own spin on this beloved track by slowing down its tempo and incorporating TR808 drums. The band’s signature reverb adds a layer of depth, enhancing the song’s already dark atmosphere. This creative approach has led the band members to affectionately refer to their version as “Lovedark.”

A Glimpse into the Band’s Unique Style

The cover serves as an excellent introduction to The Ultimate Dreamers’ melancholic cold wave universe. The band has also released a complementary video clip to accompany the song.

Credits

• Words by: Robert Smith
• Music by: Roger O’Donnell, Robert Smith, Porl Thompson, Lol Tolhurst, and Boris Williams
• Recording, Mixing, and Production: Len Lemeire at Implant-Plant 3.0
• Video: Valentine Blanco

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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Alfa Matrix, the renowned Belgian label, commemorates its 22nd anniversary with yet another mastodont compilation on Bandcamp. The latest installment in the acclaimed “Matrix Downloaded” series, titled “Matrix+ Downloaded 011”, is now available as a free download on their Bandcamp page. Packed with 60 tracks, including new signings and a preview of the upcoming Spleen+ label releases, this compilation showcases Alfa Matrix’s diverse music repertoire.

“Matrix+ Downloaded 011” soared to the top of the industrial Bandcamp charts within hours of its release, claiming the coveted number 1 position.

The collection holds 60 tracks in total including several new signings. These are the bands present on this brand new free download compilation: Hanging Freud, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Breath Of Life, Psy’Aviah Feat. Sorrow Stories, ImJudas, Star Industry, Halo In Reverse, Lovelorn Dolls, The True Union, Freakangel, Avarice In Audio, Siva Six, Alien Vampires, Synapsyche, Helalyn Flowers, Neuroactive, Elektrostaub Feat. Stefan Netschio, Technoir, Entrzelle, Llumen, Noemi Aurora, Aiboforcen Feat. Jan D., Reichsfeind, Mondträume Feat. N-Frequency, The Psychic Force, Digital Factor, Implant, Darkness On Demand, Aesthetische, Komor Kommando Vs. The True Union, Matthew Creed, C-Lekktor, First Aid Tech, Pouppee Fabrikk, ELM, Die Robo Sapiens, Plastic Noise Experience, Armageddon Dildos, Stahlgeist, AD:keY, Kant Kino, Suicidal Romance, Miseria Ultima, First Aid 4 Souls, Neikka RPM, Circumpolar, Venal Flesh, Helle9, Diffuzion, Acylum, Circuito Cerrado, Aengeldust, Studio-X, 808 Dot Pop, Cubic, Metroland, Rector Scanner, Elektroklänge, Cosmic Armchair, Lights A.M.

You can download “Matrix+ Downloaded 011” for free via Bandcamp.

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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Nine years after the release of their first tribute to The Cure, titled “A Strange Play – Tribute to The Cure“, Alfa Matrix and Spleen+ have joined forces to create a follow-up tribute album. The second volume in the series, “A Strange Play (Vol. 2) – Tribute to The Cure“, features 27 tracks, including electro, synth pop, EBM acts from Alfa Matrix and cold wave, post-punk, and gothic rock bands from their Spleen+ division and is out now via Bandcamp, the label’s webstore and all other platforms.

The album includes reinterpretations of classic hits and lesser-known B-sides, shedding new light on the original tracks or giving them an entirely different sonic perspective. The tribute album itself this time is a collaborative effort between both established and emerging artists from the Alfa Matrix and Spleen+ rosters.

Compiled by and for The Cure fans, this new tribute adventure brings together a growing roster of Spleen+ artists, including Noemi Aurora, Star Industry, Imjudas, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Breath of Life, and Lovelorn Dolls. Additionally, the album features synth and electro cult acts, as well as upcoming Alfa Matrix artists, such as Neuroactive, Armageddon Dildos, Implant, Darkness on Demand (formerly Dance or Die), Helle9 (an Alien Vampires side-project), Metroland, Aesthetische featuring Zombie Girl, Aiboforcen, Technoir, Kant Kino, Digital Factor, Regenerator, Lights A.M (an Essence of Mind solo project), Neikka RPM, First Aid 4 Souls, Diffuzion, Avarice in Audio, Elektroklänge, Circumpolar, and Cosmic Armchair.

In conjunction with the release of “A Strange Play (Vol. 2),” goth-metal/darkwave act Lovelorn Dolls has released a single and accompanying video clip for their cover of “Lullaby.” The music video, created entirely using artificial intelligence, tells the story of a girl pursued by a mysterious, threatening, yet alluring man. The video’s creator, Kristell, was inspired by her own childhood experience of being both fascinated and frightened by The Cure’s original “Lullaby” music video.

Here’s the track list for the new volume which is available now on 2CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore and as download via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page and the Spleen+ Bandcamp page.

Here’s the first volume.

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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Genre/Influences: Cold-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Spleen +, a new Belgian label and subdivision of the established electronic label Alfa Matrix, brings a fresh focus on Dark-Wave, Post-Punk, and Minimal-Synth music. Their first signing is the iconic Belgian formation The Ultimate Dreamers, who rose to prominence in the 80s and re-emerged during the Covid-19 era. After releasing an album through Wool-E-Discs (“Live Happily While Waiting For Death”), they now present a new work produced by Len Lemaire (Implant), with a limited vinyl edition released by Wave Tension Records.

Content: Echoing Reverie showcases the band’s signature Dark-Wave style, featuring elements reminiscent of The Cure. One of the most surprising songs is a cover of AC/DC’s “Hell’s Bells”. The second part of the album introduces more explicit electronic arrangements, evoking the sound of 1000 Ohm. The final track is a very captivating Electro version/remix of “I Loved You?!” by Implant, reimagined as “Implant Loved You?!”.

Positives: The second half of the album is particularly noteworthy, with standouts such as “Midnight” (a must-listen for The Cure fans) and the Dark/Cold-Wave infused “I Loved You?!”. Though initially hesitant about the Implant cover remix, it ultimately proves to be a fantastic and extended edit perfect for Electro dance floors.

Conclusion: Echoing Reverie is an album of contrasts, with a tentative first half that gives way to a magnificent second half, ultimately delivering a very satisfying listening experience.

Best songs: “Midnight”, “I Loved You?!”, “Implant Loved You?! – Implant Remix”.

Rating: 8½.

Artist: www.the-ultimate-dreamers.com / www.facebook.com/theultimatedreamers

Label: www.facebook.com/spleen.plus

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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“Echoing Reverie” is the name of the brand new studio album from the Belgian post-punk / cold wave quartet The Ultimate Dreamers out now via the Alfa Matrix sub label Spleen+ on CD and as a download. The release comes after the release of the “Polarized EP”.

Active since the mid-80’s the band resurrected in a new line-up during the COVID lock-down, releasing a selection of old demos on the “Live Happily While Waiting For Death” CD and vinyl in 2021 and re-distributed via Spleen+ now as well.

Now signed to Brussels-based label Spleen+ (cold wave/minimal synth division of the Alfa Matrix label group), the band got its newest album produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32CRASH, Anne Clark, …). Also included on the album is the band’s interpretation of AC/DC’s classic “Hell’s Bells” as well as the bonus club remix of “I Loved You!?” by Implant.

The album is also be available as a limited vinyl edition, released by Wave Tension Records, with a slightly different track listing.

You can check the full release below.

And here is the previously released “Polarized EP”.

Official video clips on YouTube:

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.

www.side-line.com

The post-punk scene has a new recordlabel with Alfa Matrix launching a sublabel created to accomodate this specific genre and its varieties including coldwave or even minimal synth. Called Spleen+ you can already find 2 bands signed to it, the Belgian post-punk act The Ultimate Dreamers, who launched their label debut with the EP “Polarized”, and the Italian new wave act ImJudas who presents 2 new EPs, “People Of The Blame” and “So Untrue”.

We sat together with Seba Dolimont who is the A&R behind Spleen+ (and Alfa Matrix).

SL: Congratulations Seba with the new endeavour. Why start a side label next to Alfa Matrix?

SD: Since 2001, Alfa Matrix has been showing a quite eclectic approach of our music repertoire and label artist roster. We release EBM music from FRONT 242, POUPPEE FABRIKK, ELM or DIE ROBO SAPIENS, but also harsh dark elektro with ALIEN VAMPIRES, ACYLUM or C-LEKKTOR, minimal vintage synth with METROLAND, future pop with REICHSFEIND, NEUROACTIVE, MONDTRÄUME, BRUDERSCHAFT… Modern avantgarde electro with RECOIL, IMPLANT, KOMOR KOMMANDO, PSY’AVIAH or yet CUBIC! But also without forgetting our darker acts merging industrial with goth darkwave guitars like STAR INDUSTRY, HELALYN FLOWERS or FREAKANGEL.

We have been toying with this idea for this Spleen+ division for many months. It’s not something that comes out on the spur of the moment, you need to prepare such additional activity within our whole Alfa Matrix Label Group concept. We have been following and enjoying this continuous resurgence of the cold wave / post punk / minimal synth scene for some time. We also noticed that new sub-scene walls started emerging from the ground where the fans do not look much over the walls. Dedicated events and festivals get organised. Dedicated blogs, playlists, etc. start gathering more and more dark souls… So the idea from our side is to simply contribute to this movement offering it some structured and more targeted approach cos there are so many talented artists out there in need of support in their DIY efforts. This focused approach should allow 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 because eclecticism remains a core value for our work… And this without bringing us too far away from our roots cos the label team is made of 3 friends born in the early 70’s who were fed on JOY DIVISION, THE CURE, SIOUXSIE, SISTERS OF MERCY and other GHOST DANCE, X-MAL DEUTSCHLAND and SKELETAL FAMILY and not only on 80’s synth pop and the Belgian Electronic Body Music movement!

SL: What (new) signings can we expect?

SD: The very active Belgian act THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS is our first new signing in the genre (see the number of concerts they already played this year only! They are amazing! Their new album comes out in March…) while some current Alfa Matrix artists are potential candidates for a next release on Spleen+ including IMJUDAS or yet STAR INDUSTRY for example. Together with Frédéric Cotton (known for decades of activities as concert & party promotor in Brussels behind the famous “Fantastique Nights” but also as lead singer of THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS) we will also release this year a mega compilation devoted to the cold wave/post punk genre showing how prolific this scene can be anno 2023! We are working on it as we speak…

Since the announcement of this new label division, I am also quite happy and positively surprised by the number of proactive connections we got from very great bands who showed interest in working with us. That’s really exciting. Of course some of them are cool Belgian bands, some being living legends, cos it’s always easier collaborating with a local label speaking your language, but we are also in contact with artists from the UK, Italy, South America, etc. Nothing I want to reveal yet, but we will do this on due time. Keep an eye on our pages at https://www.facebook.com/spleen.plus and https://spleenplus.bandcamp.com . A website will follow soon as well.

SL: Will this also mean extra vinyl releases?

SD: The vinyl format is part of the equation on today’s music market. A portion of music fans who are collecting physical products do prefer the vinyl format but not all of them. So already with Alfa Matrix we have been issuing vinyls for some time for selected bands with own fanclubs and/or who are touring a lot. The vinyl format is also very appropriate to the cold wave/post punk genre that is uniting past, present and future. So my answer is a big YES. Absolutely!

Below are the first releases from the brand new label:

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.

www.side-line.com

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

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Belgian formation The Ultimate Dreamers were active between 1986 and 1990. After having released their work on cassettes they finally disappeared from the music radar to resurrect during the pandemic. The band is back alive with a new line-up. Old songs have been reworked and got a new mastering. This album features eleven tracks although the CD format has ten bonus tracks.

Content: I never heard from this Belgian formation before. That’s maybe because they’re from the Southern part of the country, which was not as into underground music than the Northern part. The songs are getting us back to the true spirit of the 80s; dark music composed with synths, guitar, bass and drums. The vocals have a sterile quality and are hard to understand,; this way adding a ghost-like touch to the work. 

+ + + : I’m not going to compare this band with another one, but I would be not surprised to see Trisomie 21 fans enjoying this work. The songs are into pure Cold-Wave, but there’s something more accessible like melody lines on top. I also noticed some organ sounds, but globally speaking I prefer the few songs with more explicit guitar playing like “A Long Time Ago”. The production of the vocals has something mysterious; not easily understandable and therefore somewhat foggy-like. 

– – – : I think there were much better bands in the 80s and that’s probably why The Ultimate Dreamers never reached a higher status, but I have to admit their typical 80s sound has something magic today!

Conclusion: This is one more forgotten 80s band, which has been recovered from dust for the greatest joy of Post-Punk lovers. 

Best songs: “A Long Time Ago”, “Laughing Furniture”, “Female Zone”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.the-ultimate-dreamers.com / www.facebook.com/theultimatedreamers 

Label: www.wool-e-discs.be / www.facebook.com/woolediscs

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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