V/A Wave Earplug No.1 (Vinyl Album – 4mg Records)
Genre/Influences: Electronics, electro-wave, minimal-electro, experimental. Background/Info: 4mg Records is a Slovakian label set up by…
Genre/Influences: Electronics, electro-wave, minimal-electro, experimental.
Background/Info: 4mg Records is a Slovakian label set up by Imiafan and devoted to promote DIY artists. This vinyl is the first series dealing with wave music from all over Europe.
Bands: Imiafan, Venin Carmin, Paralelo, The Revolving Eyes, Angaudlinn, Exhausted Modern feat. Zarkoff, Trois traffic, Staatseinde, Second Planet.
Content: This compilation features 9 artists coming from Slovakia, Sweden, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic & Croatia. It first of all is a way to discover multiple hidden talents and who knows maybe some bands will even break through. Most of the songs are into electro-minimalism and mainly mixed with electro-wave elements. There clearly is an inspiration reminding the great 80s decade.
+ + + : This is the kind of concept I really encourage and fully support. It reveals a nice sonic cocktail of unknown bands dealing with refreshing electronics. I know it might sound a bit contradictory when saying that music is refreshing while it’s inspired by 80s sounds, but most of the bands have created a fascinating sonic bridge between good-old new-wave and contemporary minimalism. I heard some excellent contributions from Belgian formation The Revolving Eyes, the minimalism of Imiafan, the more into dance-pop sounding Trois Traffic and the electro-wave of Staatseinde. It also is a real great idea to release this ‘vintage’ sounding music on vinyl format.
– – – : The artwork of the vinyl cover could have been more creative and professional, but I guess that’s also a part of the DIY attitude… which I like by the way!
Conclusion: If you’re bored of compilation featuring big names and their latest hits, you better can spend your money a clever way by buying an original compilation, which will make you discover interesting (and mainly) new names.
Best bands: The Revolving Eyes, Imiafan, Trois traffic, Staatseinde, Venin Carmin.
Rate: (7½).
Since you’re here … … we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. And unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can. So you can see why we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive. If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you. The donations are safely powered by Paypal.
