Next Wave: Viet Cong

Viet Cong is a Calgary based indie rock band from Canada. The group consists of two ex-members of the rock band Women, vocalist/bassist Matt Flegel and drummer Mike Wallace, as well as guitarists Scott Munro and Daniel Christiansen and it was formed around 2012. To this date they have released two EPs and two singles and this year finally they released their much anticipated self titled debut album which certainly is one of the top albums this year. Their musical style is described as Labyrinth post-punk and combines various influences and reflects in various music styles. Viet Cong invent new Post-punk instead making another Post-Punk revival. 

Lebanon Hanover- Beside the Abyss

Lebanon Hanover have announced the release of a brand new studio album entitled 'Beside the Abyss'. This will be their fourth album in three years. It has been written and performed by Larissa Iceglass and William Maybelline in Athens, May 2013 and it is produced by Chris Manolitsis. As it is announced the album will also feature guest musicians. The official release date is late February, early March.

Next Wave: Corners

Corners is a four piece band from Los Angeles consisting of Tracey Bryant, Billy Changer, Rick Mabery and Jeff Eretitti. Influenced by Velvet Underground and Joy Division, the band of engineers simply called Corners play California styled surf postpunk combined with garage. They have released their second album 'Maxed out on Distractions' and to promote it, the band is currently touring. Check their social pages to find them in a place near you.

http://corners.bandcamp.com/

WAW: Zastranienie- Prism

Desire records have announced a new track by Zastranienie. The new song is entitled "Prism" and it is the first track from their debut vinyl release which has been revealed for now. The album is set for release next year. Stay tuned for more info.

A Certain Ratio's 'Sextet' to be Reissued on Factroy Benelux

Factory Benelux will reissue A Certain Ratio's third album 'Sextet' next month. 'Sextet' was originally released in 1982 and featured the single "Knife Slits Water" and the great title track "Lucinda". This new version of 'Sextet' will include bonus tracks and 12 inch versions and will be released as 2CD Deluxe edition. Official released date is set for November 3rd, 2014. 

The Wake Release 'Testament'- Best of Compilation

Factory Benelux has released 'Testament', a comprehensive 'best of' collection by influential Glasgow group The Wake. 'Testament' includes tracks recorded for cult labels Factory and Sarah Records. It combines key album tracks with singles including "On Our Honeymoon", "Something Outside", "Talk About the Past", "Of the Matter" and "Crush the Flowers". 

Also included are a previously unreleased 7" edit of 'Pale Spectre' and 2012 studio outtake Clouds Disco. The vinyl edition includes an exclusive 54 minute bonus CD featuring 21 early live and demo recordings from 1981/82, preserved in the tape archive of Joy Division/New Order manager Rob Gretton. Among these priceless lost recordings are 7 songs never before heard even on bootlegs. 

The matt reverse board artwork is based on the artwork for an unreleased cassette edition of 'Here Comes Everybody', designed by Peter Saville. 

Follow the link for the track lists and additional information

www.factorybenelux.com/testament
 

Next Wave: Tempers

Tempers is a NYC-based post-punk/electronic duo comprised of Jasmine Golestaneh and Eddie Cooper. Jasmine, born in Florida, is of Latvian-Iranian descent, and grew up in Paris and London before moving to New York. She has recorded and performed as musician for most of her life and her visual art, primarily collage, has been shown in galleries throughout New York. Eddie is a NYC native who spent years in Berlin, where he released records on electronic labels like !K7 and Eskimo. The started playing as a band in 2011 and began recording songs almost immediately as part of their songwriting process. They have plans to release a full-length album later this year. Their first single "Eyes Wide Wider" b/w "Hell Hotline" were mixed by Damian Taylor(Trust/Bjork/The Killers).

http://www.tempersmusic.com/ 

https://soundcloud.com/tempersmusic 

Retrovision: The Chills- Pink Frost

Thirty years ago The Chills released the haunting and atmospheric "Pink Frost". One somewhere said "Creepy beauty from the far south" and I think this is the right sentence to describe this lo-fi, post-punk, goth feel tune. Their biggest and probably most essential hit was recorded in 1982 and this is also where it belongs. This might be the song that defines the band and gives the absolute high water mark in New Zealand's jangle pop history.

Next Wave: Schonwald

Schonwald is an Italian cold wave duo consisting of Alessandra Gismondi and Luca Bandini. This two-piece unit has been surreptitiously dwelling in the shadowy corners of the European underworld for a few years now, releasing their debut LP in 2009 and performing at festivals with the likes of UK Decay, and other similar bands. Schonwald are now encroaching on world submission with the unleashing of their long-anticipated “Mercurial” single. A chilling and hopelessly bleak drum-machine rhythm sets the tone, parting the waves of rippling darkness into a massive surge of inescapable, hushed-yet-crushing electronic melancholia. European post punk at it’s finest, Alessandra and Luca of Schonwald create a pulsing, black-lit atmospheric electronic vibration so cold, hypnotic, and simple, it’s perfect for our endlessly frozen world. 

Take a listen here:
https://soundcloud.com/hozac-records/schonwald-mercurial
Like of follow:
https://www.facebook.com/schonwald.music
https://twitter.com/#!/weareschonwald

B-Movie's New Releases Announced

B-Movie are back! Earlier this year the band has announced the release of an EP as well as the brand new album. Both releases were released during the summer and feature brand new material. The EP is entitled 'Distant Skies' while the album with new material is called 'The Age of Illusion'. The album features new material, recorded by the original line up and it is the first release since 'Forever Running' (1985). The band will also embark on tour to promote new releases. 

More news via B-Movie official.
http://www.b-movie.co.uk/

Play's Red Movies Release Announced by Medical Records

Medical Records proudly presents the singles collection by UK’s Play as the second in a series of crucial reissues from the Survival Records imprint. Play was made up of Wayne Kennedy and David Rome, and all of their output was released on Survival (home to Drinking Electricity, Hard Corps, and Richard Bone). Play released 3 singles between 1982-1984, and a compilation LP “Red Movies” in 1985 (which compiled a majority of the singles but not all). All of these singles are now out of print and collectable. The Medical Records reissue of Red Movies is complete with 2 extra tracks not featured on the 1985 compilation LP including 3 remixes. The LP features preserved original front cover art . Back cover art is slightly modified to include updated credits and additional photos of Wayne Kennedy. Pressed on high quality 180gram “half and half” colored vinyl (blue and red) in a limited edition. The LP is out on September 17, 2013. 

 More info and pre-order link:
http://medical-records.org/records/play.html

A Certain Ratio's- I'd Like To See You Again out on Factory Benelux

Factory Benelux has released a new CD edition of 'I'd Like To See You Again', the third studio album by Manchester postpunk funk group A Certain Ratio, originally released by Factory Records in October 1982. 'I'd Like To See You Again' was the last Ratio album to feature the original quintet of Donald Johnson, Jeremy Kerr, Martin Moscrop, Simon Topping and Peter Terrell, and saw the band move from the ethereal textures of Sextet towards a more stripped-down sound, influenced by the Latin and electrofunk scene in New York. 

 This remastered CD features 5 bonus tracks, including the 7" and 12" versions of dancefloor classic "Knife Slits Water", flipside "Tumba Rhumba", an exclusive remix of "Guess Who", and underrated single "I Need Someone Tonite", issued in 1983 and the first Ratio record to feature keys player Andy Connell. 

http://factorybenelux.com/id_like_to_see_you_again_fbn17cd.html

Tracklist:
1. Touch
2. Saturn
3. Hot Knights
4. I'd Like To See You Again
5. Show Case
6. Sesamo Apriti – Corco Vada
7. Axis 8. Guess Who
9. Knife Slits Water (7" version)
10. Tumba Rhumba
11. I Need Someone Tonite
12. Guess Who (Remix)

Next Wave: Neon Lights

Neon Lights is a Spanish post-punk group based in Murcia. The group was formed in 2008 and consists Javi Nieto (Vocals, Keyboards) Diego Monreal (Guitars, Keyboards, Backing Vocals) Edu Méndez (Drums, Percussion) Manuel Villalba (Guitars) and Dani Nieto (Bass). Their dream like post-punk rhythms are under a strong influence by The Cure, The Chameleons and Galaxie 500. Their lyrics tell about the passage of time and dreams that do not quite meet. The band have released several singles during 2012 and their debut album 'Late' is out this year. 'Late' is a collection of 9 songs all produced by Jose Marsilla & Neon Lights. To find out more and stream the album, check out the following links.

http://neonlightsgroup.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/neonlightsgroup

Soft Riot- Fiction Prediction Out Now

A London based Soft Riot is a project of Jack Duckworth a former Vancouverite who has clocked over fifteen years of musical output in various bands and projects. With origins from the mid-nineties in the vibrant art-punk/hardcore dominating the West Coast American/Canadian underground at the time, JJD followed a trajectory through to the revival of synthbased post-punk music just over a decade or so ago, which spawned a number of highly successful Canadian artists out of that scene. 

His new album is entitled 'Fiction Prediction' is a collection of songs selected for a first official LP release, these tracks being a confident advancement in the unique and engaging “Soft Riot” sound developed on prior releases. Drawing inspiration from synthesizer-based film soundtracks of yesteryear, drones, early EBM, minimal synth, a dose of psychedelic synthpop and a heavy dose of throbbing appregiated rhythms, Soft Riot is a science-fiction heavy soundscape that narrates the listener through today’s fractured, excessive landscape with hints of black humour Soft Riot, coming from a more punk rock pedigree, often places more focus than the norm on his lyrical content, bringing in detailed pictures and sometimes even linear narrative storylines to subjects such as modern living, technology, surveillance, environment, overpopulation, enlightenment, life elsewhere, forewarning about catastrophic events, vain people in gyms, and not having enough time. 

The influences come less from other musical artists but more so from written fiction and film —a future predicted by fiction. Where in past musical ventures the path would be aggression, stomp and noise; Soft Riot takes those energies and experiments more with anxiety of tension and unease. A number of these tracks were released in the spring/ summer of 2012 on the limited edition cassette “Hyperbolic Masses”, which was self-released is now completely out of print.

Mute Announces The Cabaret Voltaire Reissue Series

Mute are delighted to announce a series of Cabaret Voltaire releases, starting with the vinyl issue of Cabaret Voltaire’s iconic 1981 album 'Red Mecca' – out on 22 July 2013. Remastered and available here on vinyl for the first time since Mute’s reissue in 1990, Red Mecca features the line up of Richard H Kirk, Stephen Mallinder and Chris Watson, and is Cabaret Voltaire’s third album, and the final full album with co-founder Chris Watson. 

 The series of Cabaret Voltaire releases will continue with a box set release on vinyl and CD in the autumn. #8385 (Collected Works 1983 –1985) will collate four of the Cabs’ classic mid-period releases, remastered – The Crackdown (1983), Micro-Phonies (1984), Drinking Gasoline (1985) and The Covenant, The Sword and the Arm of the Lord (1985) – alongside bonus CDs and DVDs.

Mote info about the first reissue:
http://mute.com/cabaret-voltaire

Out This Week: Lust For Youth- Perfect View

Lust for Youth are back with new album which is out this week. This is the third full length album by the Swedish producer Hannes Norrvide which is announced to be warmer and more inviting than any of his previous work. The new album is entitled 'Perfect View' and is composed of largely instrumental pieces, focusing more on beats, samples and general ambiance. 

 The band will embark on their first European and us tours this spring and summer, joining Chelsea Wolfe in Europe this April/May and touring the Us in late May beginning with the Chaos in Tejas festival and ending with Brooklyn’s Northside festival.

http://www.sacredbonesrecords.com/releases/sbr093/

 

The New Chameleons' Reissues Announced for June 17th

Blue Apple Music, the official store for the music of the Chameleons has announced the reissue 'Dreams In Celluloid' and 'Why Call It Anything?'. Both releases are available combined and separate. 'Dreams in Celluloid' is a collection of rare recordings and this two CD set features newly re-mastered versions of classic early recordings, plus the ultra rare Tony Fletcher EP. The second reissue is Chameleons' fourth album 'Why Call It Anything' which also features two CDs. The first CD is the original album reissue while the second features the Chameleons live in concert at Manchester Academy, a sold out hometown show recorded in 2001, during the band’s brief reunion. 

Both releases are announced for June 17th and they were re-mastered in Spring 2013. 

  http://www.blueapplemusic.co.uk/chameleondetails

Next Wave: Engines of Malice

Engines of Malice is a French duo consisting of Roxy (Contre Jour) on vocals and Chris (The Glow Inc) on keys, programming and guitars. Their musical style can be described as Industrial/ethnic and they deliver a high-energy melting-pot of electro, ethnic, industrial, orchestral and rock influences, the sound of a fierce heart going into battle. This year sees the release of their self titled debut EP which will be out on July 9th. "Surrender", one of the songs from the upcoming EP and one of our favorites was already released as a single in February. A must for Austra, Zola Jesus and iamamiwhoami fans.

https://soundcloud.com/enginesofmalic
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Engines-of-Malice

WAW: Vår - In Your Arms

The Danish group Vår, originally known as War and the Iceage offshot have released their debut LP 'No One Dances Like My Brothers' this year. Their music is a mixture of coldwave, post-punk, industrial, and ambient music, with few stylistic boundaries in sight. This is the video for their song "In Your Arms" which was directed by Kristian Emdal. Their LP is out on Sacred bones Records.

 http://sacredbonesrecords.com/releases/sbr088

Dark Entries Release a Brand New Algebra Suicide Compilation

Dark Entries Records have released a new compilation by Algebra Suicide. The compilations is entitled 'Feminine Squared' and it is an 18 track song collection that collects all 8 songs from the first two EPs, 4 songs from the “Big Skin” cassette, 4 songs from “The Secret Like Crazy”, a song from the “Pas De Deux” compilation, and a previously unreleased song. Lydia and Don call their approach “Avant Garage” citing inspiration from Patti Smith, Frank O’Hara, Leonard Cohen and Lou Reed. All songs have been remastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. 

The vinyl comes housed in a glossy black and white jacket featuring the cut up faces of Don and Lydia from “An Explanation For That Flock Of Crows” EP. Each LP includes a newsprint zine with lyrics, photos, liner notes, and clippings. Also included is a full length DVD featuring a 12-song Algebra Suicide concert from 1984, recorded at the Noise Factory in Chicago. Though Lydia passed away in 2007, her genius lives on in these recordings. Please respect her decadence. 

More info and preview
www.darkentriesrecords.com/algebra-suicide-feminine-squared-lpdvd