Browsing Tag

Electronic Post Punk

The Tearless Life – Conversations with Angels: Heart-String-Tearing Post-Punk Transcendence

Posted on 14 August 2023

In the same way, Suicide, Joy Division, and Echo and the Bunnymen singles stir scintillating alchemy into melancholic souls, The Tearless Life’s seminal single, Conversations with Angels, is capable of the very same heart-string-tearing post-punk transcendence.

The cleverly intended imperfections in the production of the release from the East Lancashire outfit, which was founded earlier this year, only serve to add to the glitchwavey artfulness of the disjointed by dissonance single, which unravels as a lost-in-transmission call into the void.

While some howl into the void, others seek comfort in the realm of the celestial for comfort. If you can relate to the latter, your aural voyage into Conversations with Angels is guaranteed to be a visceral one.

Conversations with Angels was officially released on July 22^nd; stream the official music video on YouTube, or purchase the single with the B-Side, Your Just Touch, via Bandcamp.

To keep up to date with the band by following them on Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sean Grant & The Wolfgang synthesised dystopia in AI (Nothing Rests Everything Moves)

Posted on 3 August 2023

The age of the artist is playing its swan song, and it hums to the tune of the latest single, AI (Nothing Rests Everything Moves), by Sean Grant & The Wolfgang.

The diaphanous vocal lines cascading into the cinematically dystopic darkwave atmosphere constructed by clamorous industrial tones created an evocative juxtaposition that paints the vulnerability of sentience in contrast to the inexorable existential threat of artificial intelligence.

Sean Grant & The Wolfgang have metamorphosed a myriad of times since they introduced themselves on the airwaves with their critically acclaimed EP, 7 Deadly 7, in 2016; each evolution in their always sonorously synthesised sound lends itself effortlessly well to the discontent in the collective psyche.

As a complete antithesis to Grimes’ latest single, I Wanna Be Software, through which she willingly volunteers herself to a dark future of transhumanism, which still probably isn’t as cold as getting into bed with Elon Musk, this latest installation of transcendently discordant soul taps into the powerlessness of the average human as exponential technological progression threatens to tear away our purpose and replace it with inadequacy.

Admittedly, Sean Grant & The Wolfgang didn’t appear on my radar until I saw they were venturing into Manchester to perform with The Battery Farm and SOURDOUGH; all it took was one hit of AI to convince me to grab a ticket and get down the front for the live rendition of the obsession-worthy single released via their label, Vandalism Begins at Home.

Stream the latest single from Sean Grant & The Wolfgang on Spotify and give them a follow on Instagram and Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Prepare Your Playlists for the Phantasmal Candour in The Ninth Configuration’s Latest Single, Ghosts Around My Bed

Posted on 25 March 2022

Fans of Depeche Mode won’t want to let the latest single, Ghosts Around My Bed, from The Ninth Configuration pass them by. The monochromatic synth lines teasingly flirt with the post-punk and darkwave while the beats infuse the melancholic candour-swathed single with danceability.

With the pensive sting of the Verve’s earlier material and the no holds barred lyricism that cuts to the same core of fraught emotional disillusionment that we are all susceptible to during our lives, Ghosts Around My Bed is as unifying as it is darkly destitute. In the best possible way. The Ninth Configuration simply projected the sense of cold claustrophobic harrow that surrounds us in the wake of lost pieces of our lives.

The official music video premiered on March 9th. You can check it out for yourselves via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Poetry and Electronic Post-Punk Collide in The Ninth Configuration’s Latest Single, Love is a Want of Reason

Posted on 20 November 2021

If artists climbed the charts on the poetic intrigue of their track titles alone, the UK-based outfit, The Ninth Configuration, would never leave the top of the billboard charts with their latest single, Love is a Want of Reason.

Even before you hit play on the track, you’re desperate to hear what introspective gold is nestled inside. Hint, you definitely won’t be disappointed. The dark electronic post-punk single has exactly what it takes to win over Alex Cameron and Jack Ladder fans with the crooned indie post-punk vocals that effortlessly fall into the synthesised pool of relatable melancholia.

The official music video for Love is a Want of Reason is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Last Clouds take you to the sonic depths of dejection with their ethereal indie electronica track, Black Hole Lives.

Posted on 17 September 2021

With an intro that mashes The National-style tender piano keys with glitchy caustic electronica, the sense of duality starts resonating early in The Last Clouds’ latest single, Black Hole Lives.

There is an overarching sense of inescapable despair while the restive drum patterns epitomise our refusal to sit restless with ennui. Resonate with it, and you will find yourself consumed by the monochromatic tones, poetic lyrics and psychologically reflective rhythms as you’re taken to the sonic depths of dejection. I mean, do you really have anywhere better to go?

As the single progresses, the reverb that took the sting out of the naturally intimate, Paul Banks reminiscent vocals in the intro starts to slip away, allowing the emotion to ebb and flow with the crescendos, saving the most visceral for last.

I don’t make Paul Banks comparisons lightly, but if any new single is going to leave you an emotional wreck, it is Black Hole Lives and I can personally vouch for The Last Clouds when I say they pour plenty more into their live performances than Interpol.

Black Holes Lives is the second release from the Cheshire-based synth duo’s upcoming album, English Melancholy. The single was officially released on September 17th; you can check it out via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Vex Message slams the surveillance state with their darkwave earworm, ‘Data Regime’

Posted on 13 April 2021

If you share Vex Message’s hatred of our surveillance state, you’ll definitely want to introduce yourself to the earworm which resides in their latest darkwave post-punk release, ‘Data Regime’.

Vex Message may be fresh on the scene, but founding member, Derek Meins, was formerly part of Rough Trade-signed Eastern Lane, The Famous Poet and The Agitator. They brought all of their rhythmically astute professionalism to Data Regime; an unforgettably catchy hit that allows their enigmatic personality to shine through.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Peter Murphy embraced his playful side and brought funky gothy grooves into his sound, you’ll get an idea of what is on offer in the danceable mix that will be a hit with any fans of Talking Heads and The Wire.

Data Regime officially released on April 9th. It is available to stream and download via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

LA indie darkwave duo Darkplay have released their latest single ‘Only You’

Posted on 28 March 2021

Ahead of their forthcoming album, LA indie darkwave duo, Darkplay unleashed their entrancingly atmospheric synthpop single, ‘Only You’ which takes the listener on a trip to the murky depths of 80s post-punk while never sacrificing the melodic gravity of the single.

With a similar revivalist nature to bands such as Spector, Darkplay succeeded in teasing nostalgia while putting a brand-new spin of a familiar sound. Each crescendo comes laden in reverb for the ultimate psychotropic effect, and to sweeten the track, the perfect balance of light affability and dark despondency was found. Just imagine what it would sound like if Joy Division and the Human League had an aural lovechild.

Only You can be heard on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Borealis – ‘Nichtclubbing’: Not a typo, but a dystopian trip through a hypothetical Germany

Posted on 7 February 2021

Siemensdream by Borealis

Ok, kids, grab some dayglo clothing, a glowstick, and a tub of Vicks, and dive into ‘Nichtclubbing’, the new single from Brazilian ambient afficionado Borealis. A one-man ‘noisy electronica’ project from Rio de Janiero, orchestrated by Marco Barbosa, since 2015 Borealis have released four albums, two EPs, and a separate single; now, released as part of the ‘Siemensdream’ album – a conceptual electronic ride through a theoretical Germany – ‘Nichtclubbing’ is a proper, old-skool lapgaze slice of sparse, echoey Krautrock, all bleeps, swooshes, and reverb-heavy beats. If the Berlin Wall itself released an album, mixed at Oktoberfest, and played loud from the back of Trabants at Checkpoint Charlie, then ‘Nichtclubbing’ is what it would sound like.

Hear ‘Nichtclubbing’ on Bandcamp; check out Borealis on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

LearningToDive prescribes Alt Electro catharsis through their superlative sophomore single ‘Falling Leaves’

Posted on 15 December 2020

‘Falling Leaves’ is the entrancingly melodious sophomore single from New Zealand-based Alt Electronica artist LearningToDrive, if it doesn’t leave you transfixed, you may want to check if you’ve still got a pulse.

The artist, composer and producer used an intoxicatingly sublime blend of Alt Rock, 80’s Pop and Post Punk within their expressive sound to create an absorbing platform for their introspective-laden lyrics to fall into.

Their ability to connect the dots of the human experience while quashing malignant emotion under swathes of lush reverb and searingly reverberant bass is unparalleled.

With a debut EP in the pipeline for 2021, you’ll definitely want LearningToDrive on your radar.

You can check out Falling Leaves for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bow ‘N’ Arrow – Heavy Snow in Colorado: Atmospherically Entrancing Alt Indie Pop

Posted on 11 April 2020

Heavy Snow in Colorado is just one of the entrancingly atmospheric singles to feature on singer, songwriter and producer Bow ‘N’ Arrow’s second EP (H.2/4).

Darkwave, Indie Jangle Pop, and EDM Pop all intoxicatingly converge in the powerfully soulful stylistic soundscape. The haunting melodies possess the rare propensity to crawl under your ribs as the arrestive layers of reverb ensure that you’re well and truly locked into the romantically moody Alt Indie Pop earworm.

There isn’t an ounce of assimilation in Heavy Snow in Colorado. If you could imagine what it would sound like if Calvin Harris embraced his shadow side and started producing darkly immersive tracks, you’ll get an idea of what is in store when you hit play.

You can check out Heavy Snow in Colorado for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Keep up to date with new releases via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast