Browsing Tag

Dark Wave

Steps From the Cliff modernised Magazine with their darkwave cover of The Light Pours Out of Me

Posted on 10 March 2024

In one of their most daring releases to date, Steps From the Cliff modernised Magazine’s 1978 single, The Light Pours Out of Me, bringing the seminal release in line with the trends in the darkwave synthpop domain while amplifying the broodingly dark energy of the post-punk staple.

It was a bold move to rework the original, given all of the scintillation that pours from the atmospherically ensnaring production, but the Santa Cruz-hailing outfit, fronted by Tim Knapp, succeeded in putting their own mark on the single. The sombre reflections within the harbingering downtempo lament become all the more affecting through the contrast of the shimmer of the crystalline melodies carved by the glassy synths and the whispered snarls which carry the lyricism with maximum conviction.

The Light Pours Out of Me features on Steps From the Cliff’s most recent EP, Knowhere Fast, which reached the airwaves on January 26.

Stream The Light Pours Out of Me on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Liya Shapiro delivered darkwave decadence in her debut single, The Thing

Posted on 25 December 2023

Fuse the dark decadence of Lydia Lunch, PJ Harvey, and Siouxsie Sioux with the electronic southern gothic beguile of Chelsea Wolfe, Interpol-esque guitar lines and the trip-hop aesthetic of Massive Attack, and you’ll alchemise a sound as scintillating as the atmosphere within Liya Shapiro’s debut single, The Thing, which officially released on December 15.

After a sequence of stabbing synths that could have been torn from a John Carpenter score, post-punk synthetics start to bleed into the hypnotism of the production which leaves discordant effects to linger in the shadows, harbingering a forboding energy, as striking as the avant-garde tones within Glenn Branca’s The Ascension.

Once you’ve torn yourself away from the grip of the instrumental magnetism, you’ll lock into the lyrical poetry as it elucidates the intangible nature of love. By using dark, almost nihilistically macabre, imagery between the sweetly abstract sentiments, dualism drives through the debut from the London-based singer-songwriter, whose lyrical ambiguity opens a labyrinth of corridors in the mind as you attempt to extrapolate meaning.

The abstractions within the poetry also serve to prevent the single from becoming a derivatively paradoxical debut. To speak of the unspeakable and pretend to possess a firm grip of an incomprehensible emotional and spiritual phenomenon would only cheapen the track which pays a true ode to the ephemeral and constantly in flux constructs of love.

We can’t wait to hear what Liya Shapiro has in the pipeline for her sophomore release.

Stream The Thing on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Oxford act Shaven Primates decimates those dark demons with inspiring single, ‘Answers’

Posted on 10 February 2022

After searching for help to rid the halls of those scary ghosts that can clutch onto you like poisonous sludge in the river, Shaven Primates join forces within and aim to heal from those mental scars which need to be remedied on ‘Answers‘.

Formed by Mark Elphinstone, Shaven Primates is an Oxford, England-based 5-piece dark-wave, art-rock, post-punk band. After a 17 year hiatus from music, Mark decided that he needed to fully heal from all the trauma from his tough childhood and has used music for therapy purposes, with results that are quite bone-tingling.

”Our music is a narrative of human emotion and experience: fear, love and anger resonate through the orchestration, giving our audience a deeply cathartic release.” ~ Shaven Primates

Bringing us their vivid story to life while sending a groovy ear-booster with some aplomb, Shaven Primates show us that you can indeed retrain your mind and destroy all past memories that are holding you back from doing what you love in life.

‘Answers‘ from the Oxford, England-based band Shaven Primates, is a breaking-the-walls thunderbolt that gets your eyes to widen and your thoughts to break those rusty bars with your mind so you can regain control of your destiny. Blending in with dynamic forces that is almost superhero-like, this is a must-listen for all those who have suffered from disgraceful abuse growing up. Music heals if you join together with those who get it.

Hear this rocking new track on Soundcloud and see more via the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

That Place: Manx Dreams longs for those stimulating evenings with ‘Nights and Corridors’

Posted on 31 August 2021
https://open.spotify.com/album/5tCZykLZJk9je7VgtBM8jL

With an electrically charged combination of electronic, post-punk, dark wave and industrial dance influences, Manx Dreams shows us what he has been working on through these cold pandemic-filled days on his latest track called ‘Nights and Corridors‘.

Ben Seymour aka Manx Dreams, is an experienced USA-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and music producer.

Returning after 2020’s ‘Hit Parade‘, this is a nostalgic-type of track which takes you to those wild evenings which you will never forget.

”Currently, Ben plays all instruments, provides all vocals and manages all production of Manx Dreams. This could potentially change on future projects.” ~ Manx Dreams

With a movie-like soundtrack, this is a beat-driven track with much to like from all angles. The driving energy keeps you hooked the whole way through and those haunting vocals, has you mightily compelled to use your vivid imagination during the whole late-night journey.

”In his first solo project, Manx utilizes analog, synth based textures, minimalist guitar and bass, and other elements to tell stories and paint mental pictures. After spending some time in Eastern Europe and other remote regions, Manx incorporates some of these influences and a prior lifetime, to fuel the first album. Prior to Manx Dreams, Ben played guitar for several Coachella and San Diego based artists.” ~ Manx Dreams

‘Nights and Corridors‘ from the USA-based music producer, vocalist and multi-skilled instrumentalist Manx Dreams, is the story about those long evenings out and about in town. They seem to last forever but before you know it, the sun is up and your heart beats real fast ,and your soul seems to drop a bit as the fun has ended. Sung with a deep tone and with an ominous soundscape, this is a true thunderbolt of exciting flowing energy through your veins.

Enjoy those nights while they last, otherwise you will truly regret not enjoying yourself more.

Hear this new single on Spotify and see more on his IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

On My Own: Szopa shows us strikingly into those evenings all alone on ‘Lore’

Posted on 24 August 2021

With his second album ‘Vital Organs‘ on the way in early 2022, Szopa drops a juicy electronica-filled trip-hop masterpiece with the drum-packed beats of mysterious intrigue with ‘Lore‘.

Damian Malecki aka Szopa, is a Polish-born Sheffield, UK-based post-punk/dark wave musician, audio visual artist and nature lover. He fuses a blend of innovative music creations which has your mind in a real state of excitement, as you feel that this is an artist who looks deeper at life than most.

”In his music, Szopa attempts to explore and highlight the dark, sinister thoughts that hide behind our words and actions, with an array of orchestral sounds, tribal drums and electronic loops. Being on the autism spectrum, Szopa’s music draws attention to complex, internal processes and a feeling of alienation.” ~ Szopa

Like a true storyteller, he skillfully wraps us in quickly before unearthing a truly sumptuously explosive track which captures your varied mood rather quickly. He has a terrific style full of wondrous fascination – which always seems to be totally imaginative beyond the norm – and with that utmost conviction of his smartly penned process.

‘Lore‘ from the Sheffield, UK-based dark wave/post-punk musician Szopa, is the story of finding the strength inside to venture outside in this rather odd world again. Those lonely nights alone have taken their toil and you are looking for more, as you stretch your imagination and work out what you do indeed crave, to awaken your sleepy senses.

Made with a fantastic beat with soothing vocals on a breathtaking beat, this is a absorbing track which will have you thinking of the vast possibilities out there in beautiful nature.

Hear this fine new track on Spotify and see more via the IG music channel.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Alternative rock at its best, THIRD REALM releases “When the Sun Goes Down”

Posted on 23 September 2020

Alternative rock at its best with hints of metal and synthpop throughout, “When the Sun Goes Down” is THIRD REALM at its best. It brings poetic lyrics to the table from the minute the first verse kicks in whilst switching into a sestain for the chorus.

A gothic love song that makes an impact to the listeners from start to finish, with founder of the project, Nathan Reiner, twisting elements of different genres into this song to intrigue and alter the perception of the listener. Creativity galore, THIRD REALM thinks outside the box and fuses together a brilliant track that shouldn’t work yet it does.

Click here to listen on BandCamp https://thirdrealm.bandcamp.com/track/when-the-sun-goes-down

Blondmodel – WEIGHT: Emotively Warm, Tonally Glacial Alt Indie

Posted on 3 April 2020
Blondmodel

Shoegaze, Post Punk and contemporary Indie converge in the hauntingly sublime standout single WEIGHT from Alt Indie trailblazers Blondmodel.

The experimental mix even finds room to lay down sonically caustic blasting synth notes into the soundscape which offered nothing but accessible accordance up until the track neared the outro.

Despite the palpable authentic creativity which went into the single, there are familiar hooks to ensure that it’s not just an easy track to slip into, it’s a track which wholly consumes your consciousness as you listen to the sheer emotion which doesn’t just come from the absorbingly soft vocals. The pensive yet soft instrumental melodies also possess the ability to crawl under your ribs.

Any fans of the National, Editors, Frightened Rabbit and Idlewild will undoubtedly want to check out WEIGHT for themselves.

WEIGHT is just one of the singles which features on Blondmodel’s 2020 EP “Neon Lights, Lonely Nights” which was released on March 27th. You can check it out by heading over to SoundCloud or Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Pop Meets Darkwave in Skull Smith’s Latest Single “The Ghost of Mr. Hyde”

Posted on 12 March 2020

There were many saccharine love songs released on Valentine’s day. Up and coming artist Skull Smith’s Gothically romantic release “The Ghost of Mr. Hyde” certainly was never in danger of falling into that category.

With lyrics revolving around the ghost of someone’s shadow-side, naturally, the single was a darkly tantalising tale.

The Ghost of Mr. Hyde doesn’t fall into the usual realms of Industrial or Synthwave. Instead, through Skull Smith’s Pop-style vocals mixed with the progressive instrumentals, you’re treated to a soundscape which is far more theatrical.

From ethereal organs to sonic blasts of almost psychedelic synths which would be fitting in a Rock Opera you’ll find a smorgasbord of influence in The Ghost of Mr. Hyde. Evidently, Skull Smith isn’t an artist who concerns themselves with genre constraints.

The instrumentals may be consistently progressive. Yet, one thing which remains as a constant is the captivating nuanced draw of Skull Smith’s effortless vocal harmonies. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but those with darker aural inclinations will undoubtedly appreciate what Skull Smith has to offer.

You can check out Skull Smith’s latest single for yourselves via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Burial Grid – Guaraparinga 1998: Anachronistic Dark Wave

Posted on 30 April 2018

With a name like Burial Grid, you’re never going to expect a tame sound, are you? As soon as the beat kicked to the Synth Wave artists latest single Guaraparinga 1998 I found myself in a lucidly pioneering soundscape of eccentric effects which certainly didn’t disappoint.

The clear-cut beats are riddled around the heavy bassline, as the instrumental composition thrashes and pulls in every possible direction in a delightfully macabre fashion. If anyone is looking for a soundtrack to a horror film, Burial Grid may just be the modern-day equivalent to Bernard Hermann who created the Psycho soundtrack. Yet, Burial Grid likes to keep his beats old school with 80’s inspired Dark Wave synth created by vintage machines for a pioneeringly anachronistic sound.

For fans of Big Delta Wave, you won’t want to miss out on the dread distilled aural alchemy which the artist may describe as ‘nostalgia gone wrong’, but from where I’m sitting his music is heading in exactly the right direction.

You can check out Brutal Grid’s latest single Guaraparinga 1998 on SoundCloud now

Connect with Burial Grid via Facebook and keep up to date with his delightfully dissonant new releases.

Review by Amelia Vandergast