Side-Line Music Awards 2010: get your favourite band nominated
Make sure to cast your vote
The time has come to start compiling the best of 2010! In this first round we’ll shortlist the nominations for each section. Our staff will then collect the votes of the 5 most chosen releases, bands etc to launch the final voting on December 6th. Readers have exactly 5 days left now to enter their nominations.
Visit our Side-Line Music Awards 2010 page to cast your vote!
Nominations will be made in the following categories:
- Best band
- Best album
- Best single
- Best label
- Best concert
- Best print magazine
- Best online magazine
- Best e-shop
EkoBrottsMyndigheten to ElectriXmas 2010
Swedish EBM act EkoBrottsMyndigheten (“Economic crimes Investigation Authorities”) will join this year’s electriXmas. The secretive band plays classic EBM music ála Nitzer Ebb, a video below. Unfortunately for most of you readers they sing in Swedish 
Not overly impressed, but what the heck they may be better on stage
Alfa-Matrix continues to expand
Belgian label Alfa-Matrix has just signed its 12th artist this year: Siva Six, an electro band from Greece. Their third album “The Twin Monsters” is scheduled for 2011. Siva Six was previously on the Italian label Decadence.
The other Alfa-Matrix signings are Pouppée Fabrikk, Armageddon Dildos, amGod, Halo in Reverse, Alien Vampires, Freakangel, HausHetaere, Kant Kino, Razorfade, Schwarzblut and Studio-X. They also release Nitzer Ebb in their region.
Want and the german mastermind Daniel Myer
In connection to Alan Wilder’s US Recoil tour a new product is out now. “Want – The Architect Mixes” is a digital package, available for free from Mute Records. We are served with three new versions of “Want”, put together by Daniel Myer, the man behind Architect, together with another remix, a digital book and a movie.
Architect is joining Recoil for the US tour after some shows together in Europe.
Architect is the creation of German mastermind Daniel Myer. In 1993 he founded the legendary electro-industrial/EBM project Haujobb. Since then he has made a name for himself within the electronic scene and initiated many other projects such as HMB, Newt and Destroid.
Since 2007, he has been a permanent member of the renowned Swedish EBM band Covenant. Created in 1998, Architect and can be easily described as the most fascinating of Daniel’s projects. Focusing primarily on minimal techno, powerfully distorted sequences and razor-sharp breakbeats, he manages to create a unique hybrid of electronica with smooth ambient soundscapes, rendering the results suitable for both listening and dancing.
Go here to download : http://www.mute.com/recoil_want
New stuff from i:Scintilla
Chicago’s female-fronted act I:Scintilla returns with their new album “Dying & Falling”. This new CD marks the band’s 4th straight collaboration with Wade Alin (The Atomica Project, Christ Analogue) and his slick production style. The band has been one of the fastest growing acts from the States in the dark wave scene and has also succeeded in crossing over to other scenes in no time, the dream of many bands so to speak.
The album is the follow-up to the “Prey on you” EP released one year ago.
Dying & Falling” will also be available as a limited edition box set that features the “Resuscitation” bonus disc containing exclusive new tracks, alternate versions, and club remixes by acts like Iris, The Dramside, Essence Of Mind, DJ Ram and Freakangel.
Via SL
Here’s the video for “Ammunition
Exclusive interview with the Lightbringers – Covenant in the Studio
Last week I had the opportunity to spend some time with Eskil and Joakim from Covenant in their new refurbished studio. Covenant is definitely Sweden’s number one export in the electronic music scene, with numerous ground breaking synth/EBM albums behind them, i.e. Sequencer, Shyshaper, Northern Light to name but a few. However, although I was curious on their new EP coming out in a couple of weeks, titled Lightbringer, my main purpose were to explore their working methods and their gear.
My first impression when I entered the studio was overwhelming. The first thing that came to my mind is the old saying – “the one who has the most gear when you die, wins”. Look like the Covenant boys is aspiring for the final. Korgs, Prophets, Moogs, Viruses, Emus you name it, it´s all there stacked neatly on racks across the studio. Check out the pictures below to delve in to some pure synth porn.
The new album and the state of the Synth scene
Even before Lightbringer is released we know it will be something different, since collaborations with other artists is not something that we are not used to. Lightbringer actually came as an idea from Necro Facility, rather then from Covenant, with the intention to have Eskil to sing on it. However it turned out to be something more. Eskil tells me that we will experience a different melody build up, then we are used to and that it’s all about fear and loathing in Helsingborg, Sweden. I guess you cannot be more cryptic then that!
As Lightbringer will be released as a limited edition we came to discuss how vibrant the Synth scene is today and happily enough I can conclude that, although still a niche scene, Covenant has not slowed down on touring (note: Eskil just came back from a Gothic Cruise in the Caribbean). They say that the globalization that has come as a result from a better infrastructure (read Internet) in markets like South America and Eastern Europe really has resulted in that bands like Covenant continuously finds a new audience, and adds that they really find it exotic with synth music, creating a foundation for new sub cultures in those countries.
Speaking of sub cultures it was logical for me to ask about their various side projects like Cement (Eskil’s noise project) and Joakim’s joint venture with Ronan Harris (VNV Nation) exploring classical music from an electronic perspective. Eskil tells me that Cement actually came about, apart from the fact that he really enjoys noise music, as a wish of entering (and travel to) the Japanese music scene, where noise is big. But also to somewhat alter the common public image of himself, showing that there are more sides then just Covenant. Although Joakim’s classical endeavor didn’t continue I am pleased to inform you that Cement is alive and kicking. Major noise inspirations are Brighter than death, White house and Geometric, of course.
Skinny Puppy album delayed again
The new Skinny Puppy album “In Solvent See” is already delayed and now we hear that it is moved to February 2011. The next releases from their label SPV is the new Funker Vogt album and Covenant single on October 22.
Bodyfest Stockholm 2010
If you missed the Bodyfest at Fryshuset in Stockholm here’s a glimpse of what when on this weekend:
Front 242
Pouppée Fabrikk
Tyske Ludder
SPARK
No Sleep By The Machine
Stockholm Wrecking Crew
Autodafeh
Coincidently after the show, the Pressbyrå outside Fryshuset sold out on Läkerol when the bands went home…
New stuff from Dupont this fall
Following their last album “Entering The Ice Age” the Stockholm-based duo Dupont (Rickard Svensson and Daniel Jonasson) return with a new EP called “Dope Of Love”. The EP will hold a totally re-recorded version of the titletrack as well as an exclusive B-side and remixes. A video for the track “Dope Of Love” has been directed by Le Monde de Leo who also did the video for the last Dupont video “New Dawn”.
Disco beats and punk rock energy
What do you get if you mix DAF with Einstürzende Neubauten? You get Liaisons Dangereuses.
Liaisons Dangereuses was founded by Beate Bartel (Mania D, Einstürzende Neubauten) and Chrislo Haas (Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft) together with vocalist Krishna Goineau in 1981. Their only album was recorded in 1981 was mixed at Conny Plank’s studio in Köln. As a part of the Neue Deutsche Welle scene (especially electropunk) in Germany they pioneered Electronic body music. I read once an interview with the DAF guys that they wanted to cross the beats of disco with the energy of punk rock. Looking at this video clip it’s a pretty accurate description.
DATAMASKIN
