Genre/Influences: Minimal-electronics, wave-pop.

Background/Info: Some of you for sure know Andreas Gregor and Dave Rout from their involvement with bands such as !Bang Elektronika, Digital Poodle, Datafreq ao. They also set up Techniques Berlin in the 80s, which has now been reactivated. “Breathing” features new songs, previously unreleased material and remixes while the digital version has a nice little bonus of 5 extra tracks.

Content: “Breathing” sounds like disembarking from a time-machine that has brought us back to the 80s. The music is pure analogue-like and often remind me to Fad Gadget. This is good-old synth-music, which sounds cold and melodic. Some songs are featuring female backings.

The second disc is mainly featuring remixes and a few cover versions. This is an opportunity to discover remixes by bands such as  23RD Underpass, Classioline, Depression Era, Electronic Dream Factory, Images In Vogue, Kevin Komoda, Makina Girgir, Nine Circles, The Glen And Joe Show, Tony Marinello, Ultra Arcanum and !Bang Elektronika. You also get 3 cover versions from Rational Youth, Epic Dreams and Agents In Infrared (another project by Andreas Gregor).

+ + + : If you’re freak of retro-electronics this analogue electro/wave-pop album is a must have. It’s totally 80s like and brings the magic of vintage gear alive. This band doesn’t innovate, but simply belongs to the 80s and recreate the music from that great decade. The sound is icy and sterile, but still melodic and danceable. There are numerous noticeable cuts and still interesting remixes by Classioline, !Bang Elektronika and especially Tony Marinello. I also have to mention cool cover versions from songs by Rational Youth and Epic Dreams.

– – – : I definitely prefer the original versions instead of the remixes so this extra disc could maybe have been reduced to a few songs.

Conclusion: Techniques Berlin is a forgotten and even rather unknown band from the 80s Canadian scene, which has been now reactivated and still sounding fully 80s like. This is a great piece of music.

Best songs: “Cold War”, “Just One Look”, “Picture Show”, “Chances”, “Salvation” + “Love Via Computer – Remix Tony Marinello”, “Cyberbeat – Remix !Bang Elektronika”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: http://techniquesberlin.wixsite.com/home /

www.facebook.com/pg/techniques.berlin

Label: www.facebook.com/NadannaItaloSynthRecords

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro-pop, minimal-pop.

Background/Info: Ultra Arcanum is a London based formation consisting of Mark Thirkell (vocals) and Konstandinos Dorlis (electronics). Their debut work “The Silence Inside” was released on the ‘young’ label Nadanna. This label was set up by the owners of Electro Aggression Records and Anna Logue Records and is devoted to  minimal synth music, italo disco and electro-pop.

Content: It’s not that easy to grasp the sound of this formation, but I definitely notice an atypical and minimal approach in electronics. It’s not exactly what I would call ‘traditional’ electro-pop music rather than a mix of pop elements together with atmospheric influences and some vintage sounds. Some songs are still featuring guitar parts played by guest musicians.

The CD format (there also is a vinyl) features 4 extra songs, which are remixes accomplished by 23^rd Underpass, The Silicon Scientist, Techniques Berlin and Epic Dreams.

+ + + : The least I can say is that Ultra Arcanum composes a very own style, which is inspired by old-school electro influences and minimalism. It even becomes a bit experimental-like, making the originality of the record. Among the remixes I noticed an interesting and more danceable-like approach by the Canadian formation Techniques Berlin. Another interesting aspect is the digipak format adding an artistic touch to the work.

– – – : The songs are suffering from a lack of professional production, which might explain the rather flat sounds and the under-produced vocals (at least on a few songs). Even if this band definitely strives for an original sound approach, the sounds are sometimes a bit too ‘preset’-like.

Conclusion: Ultra Arcanum deals with an interesting sound, which is however hard to seize, but the main aspect is that the global production has to be improved.

Best songs: “A Final Loss”, “Strange Kinda Love – Techniques Berlin Remix”.

Rate: (6).

Band: www.facebook.com/pg/inarcanum

Label: www.facebook.com/NadannaItaloSynthRecords

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com