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PLAYLISTS: |
MY RECENT PLAYLISTS
Dear Underground Music Fans,
Happy New Year and welcome to my annual "best of the year gone by" review! As has become my habit, in this post I identify my top 10 goth/industrial album releases and top 25 songs of the previous year.
2003 will go down in my book as the "year goth struck back." To understand what I mean, consider 2002, which gave us album releases from electro-industrial mainstays Covenant, VNV Nation, Apoptygma Bezerk, Neuroticfish, and Assemblage 23 among others, as well as impressive debuts from Dismantled, Ivory Frequency, and State of the Union.
While 2003 had its share of electro-industrial releases, including in my opinion rather tepid offerings from Front 242, Hanzel und Gretyl, and Suicide Commando, and was marked by the Bruderschaft collaborative effort, it seems most notable to me for the slue of gothic-oriented releases from bands including Bloody Dead and Sexy, Astrovamps, Scary Bitches, Faith & the Muse, The Creatures, The Last Dance, Sunshine Blind, Phantom Vision, Unto Ashes, Oneiroid Psychosis, and Qntal. As always, it will be interesting to see what the year ahead has in store...
But let’s get on to the lists. As I do every year, I need to preface this with the following disclaimers:
(1) These selections represent solely my own idiosyncratic tastes.
(2) As with any reviewer or critic, I can only select from what was available to me and I don’t have access to everything that comes out.
(3) The selections are presented in no particular order
O.K., here we go...
***DJ CYPHER’S TOP 10 GOTHIC/INDUSTRIAL RELEASES OF 2003***
(presented in no particular order)
1. ONEIROID PSYCHOSIS, _Stillbirth_, (COP Int’l).
"Oneiroid Psychosis" is a pathologic state in which the subject has difficulty differentiating between reality and dreams, and the music on _Stillbirth_ aptly reflects this nightmarish confusion. This is deliciously creepy darkwave. Recommended for fans of Sopor Aeternus and perhaps Lycia.
2. TERRORFAKT, _Terrorfakt_, (Tinman).
This is straight ahead, merciless power noise. Get your Ant-Zen fix for the extremely nice domestic price! Recommended for fans of This Morn’ Omina, Asche, Tarmvred.
3. ILLEGAL TEENAGE BIKINI, _I Am Not Job_, (Precipice)
Fronted by Pat Ogle of Thanatos fame, this is a cerebral, intriguing project with Pink Floydish overtones, lots of atmosphere, and a lovely acoustic cover of Billy Bragg’s "Between the Wars."
Like the Oneiroid Psychosis and ThouShaltNot on this list, this one is hard to categorize. Recommended for fans of, strangely enough, Pink Floyd and darker Peter Gabriel
4. CLAN OF XYMOX, _Farewell_, (Metropolis)
Xymox is one of the most dependable bands in the business. While never achieving the same visibility as The Sisters of Mercy and Bauhaus/Love & Rockets, the band consistently turns out quality gothic rock and their latest release, Farewell, is no exception. Recommended for fans of, well, Xymox and the Sisters of Mercy, as well as Audra.
5. ASCII.DISKO, _Ascii.Disko_, (Metropolis)
This one has been characterized as "electro-clash." It’s dancefloor-oriented electro with a cold, quirky feel that suggests XPQ-21.
6. I, PARASITE, _On This Cold Floor_, (DarkVisionMedia)
The third release from I, Parasite is a bit less aggressively industrial than the preceding albums, but no less complex or disturbing. This is a smart synthesis of electronics and emotion with multiple levels to it. Skinny Puppy fans will groove on this, I ’spect.
7. THE LAST DANCE, _Whispers in Rage_, (Dancing Ferret)
O.K., so this album out Cruxshadows the Cruxshadows. The sound may not be startlingly original, but virtually every song is a gem. Buy this if you like the Cruxshadows.
8. LARVAE, _Fashion Victim_, (Ad Noiseum)
This was a late edition to the 2003 list--intelligent electronica with drum and bass and ambient touches that will appeal to fans of trip-hop.
9. QNTAL, Qntal III, (Vielklang)
Any release from Qntal is a treat and Qntal III is no exception. A fusion of medieval and baroque influences with electronics and ravishing female vocals. If you like This Ascension, Medieaval Baebes, or even Faith & the Muse, you really should have Qntal in your collection.
10. THOUSHALTNOT, _The White Beyond_, (Dancing Ferret)
Classically-trained musicians create literate, intelligent "dark synthpop." Comparisons are very tough--the DF Web site notes The Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode, each of which captures some of what ThouShaltNot does. However, the lovely piano work and the thoughtful lyrics go well beyond 80s New Wave. The Dream Academy’s "Life in a Northern Town" probably is better comparator, as is Human Drama.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
BLOODY DEAD AND SEXY, _Paint It Red_, (Alice in...). Old school goth!
UNTO ASHES, _Empty Into White_, (Projekt). Ethereal goth.
LIQUIFACTION, _Chrysalis_, (DSBP). Female-fronted electronic act.
SPEKTRALIZED, _Elements of Truth_, (Accession). File under Icon of Coil.
SYRIAN, _De-Synchronized_, (A Different Drum). Dance-floor friendly "future pop."
BEST COMPILATION ALBUMS:
Three absolutely fabulous compilation albums to note from 2003:
1. COP Int’l’s _Dark Awakenings, v.3_. This 2 disc comp. continues COP’s series of pairing one industrial disc with one goth disc. The selections, as on past comps, are inspired. The industrial disc introduces listeners to Nebula-H, NamNamBulu, Flatline and Interlace, among others. The goth disc features Scary Bitches, Avaritia, Bloody Dead and Sexy, and The Ghost of Lemora.
2. Parametric’s wonderful 3 disc _QFG_ compilation is a remarkable survey of experimental electronic work. If you like bands like Mlada Fronta and bands on the Hymen label, this is a terrific collection to pick up.
3. Middle Pillar Presents’ _Eclectica, v.2_ compilation is a delightful survey of bands on the Middle Pillar roster and features many exclusive cuts and mixes from bands including Mirabilis, Aenima, Zoar, Sumerland, Kobe, and Loretta’s Doll.
***DJ CYPHER’S TOP 25 GOTHIC/INDUSTRIAL TRACKS OF 2003***
(again, in no particular order)
* indicates a song currently rotating on Dark Nation Radio Online.
*1. Syrian, "No Atmosphere," _De-Synchronized_, (ADD).
2. I, Parasite, "This Cold Floor," _On This Cold Floor_, (DarkVisionMedia)
3. Phantom Vision, "The Darkest Skies" (myth mix), _Traces of Solitude_, (COP Int’l)
4. Emergence, "Blue Muse" (RiB mix), _Scarred_, (Emergence)
*5. Faith & the Muse, "Srevdni Vashtar," _The Burning Season_, (Metropolis)
*6. The Last Dance, "Nightmares," _Whispers in Rage_, (Dancing Ferret)
7. Razed in Black, "Visions" (A-23 mix), _Damaged_, (Cleopatra)
8. Bozo Porno Circus, "Surrounded" (Pigface mix), _Regenerate_, (ToneZone)
*9. Bloody Dead and Sexy, "Sick Six Minutes," _Paint It Red_, (Alice in...)
10. Unto Ashes, "The Spider Song," _Empty Into White_, (Projekt)
11. Wolfsheim, "Find You’re Gone," _Casting Shadows_, (Metropolis)
12. Qntal, "Name der Rose," _Qntal III_, (Vielklang)
13. Spektralized, "Allied," _Elements of Truth_, (Accession)
14. Illegal Teenage Bikini, "I Am Still Not Job," _I am Not Job_, (Precipice)
15. Unit 187, "Anger Management, pt. I," _Capital Punishment_, (COP Int’l)
16. Bruderschaft, "Forever" (pick a mix!), _Forever_, (Alpha Matrix)
17. Liquifaction, "Are You My Enemy," _Chrysalis_, (DSBP)
*18. UV, "Dementia" (Terrorfakt mix), _Refractions: Remixes in a Different Light_, (UV)
*19. Collide, "Slither Thing," _Some Kind of Strange_, (Noisplus)
*20. Kobe, "Lotus" (Slippers in the Snow mix), _Eclectica v.2_ (comp), (Middle Pillar)
21. Oneiroid Psychosis, "Menarche," _Stillbirth_, (COP Int’l)
22. Faith & Disease, "She’s Got a Halo," _Passport to Kumming_, (Projekt)
23. Larvae, "Kelvin" (Genetic mix), _Fashion Victim_, (Ad Noiseum)
24. Ascii.Disko, "Immer," _Ascii.Disko_, (Metropolis)
25. Hypefactor, "The Sweetest Soul," _The Distracted Lover_, (Tinman)
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Melotron, "Kein Problem," _Sternenstaub_, (Metropolis)
*The Creatures, "Say Yes!/Around the World," _Hai!_, (Instinct)
Aenima, "Pale" (remix), _Sentient_, (Middle Pillar)
*Astrovamps, "Zombie Dance," _Manifesto_, (Alice in...)
Clan of Xymox, "Courageous," _Farewell_, (Metropolis)
*Spray, "He Came With the Frame," _I Am Gothic Remix Project_, (9th Wave)
Diverje, "Red-Eyed" (Data Raper mix), _Amphibian_, (DSBP)
*Hanzel und Gretyl, "SS Deathstar Supergalactik," _Uber-Allies_, (Metropolis)
*Desade, "Desperate Need," _The Suicide Lounge_, (Desade)
*Codec, "Ism," _Tension_, (Component)
Whew! And there you have it. Questions and feedback may be directed to me at <cypher@bound.org>.
All the best for a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year!
Best Wishes,
cypher
Dark Nation Radio Online:
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ContemptNY/BOUND
Electrogarden Homepage: <http://www.electrogarden.com/djs/cypher/?>
The Dark Wave Lounge: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at Kaya in Mt. Pleasant, MI
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