review: Vatican Shadow

Vatican Shadow... I have to admit this act was not known to me for some time... even though quite some tapes were released. It was only with the vinyl release of the 'Kneel Before Religious Icon' album I took notice.

Behind Vatican Shadow is the same person who runs the Hospital Productions label... who is also the same person as Prurient and the same person who is involved in Cold Cave... among many more projects and bands...

Cold Cave... only when I thought about it I hear it in the 'Kneel Before Religious Icon' album... like with Cold Cave tracks the basis is a minimalistic and continuous rhythm... a loop going on from beginning to end... but different as with Cold Cave the layers on top of this are much darker... also there is no singing which makes Cold Cave rather pop minded...

Vatican Shadow is not pop minded at all... it is dark and haunting stuff... like neo-folk/dark folk done with electronics... making all sounding rather industrial... the minimal raw rhythms and the dark, often heroic sounding melodies on top of it... marching tunes in a way...

But... at times it has this techno touch in a weird way... not your everyday trendy club techno... no much more off radar dark and raw techno played at some obscure party in an abandoned bunker... the hypnotic aspect is there... the minimalism works trance indulging... just like good techno does...

So yes I was more then happy with this vinyl... so I also bought the other two vinyls... as recently two 12"s came out... the first one with the title 'Iraqi Praetorian Guard'... featuring two dark ambient tracks which are okay but did not get me as jumpy as the album did... on the flip side a techno remix (!!)... so I was curious about that for sure... too bad this remix does not add anything at all... even worse... it kills the vibe of the track completely... the simple and not raw enough beats leave no space for the melodic part... this is not a track I would play as dj nor would like to dance to...

Maybe Vatican Shadow thought the same thing... who knows? Anyway, the 'September Cell' 12" just hits the right spot... this is Vatican Shadow as on the album BUT with spiced up rhythms that are less industrial sounding... more typical electronic but not simple techno beats... it has just the right balance between rawness and... and what? Dancefloor sensibility? Maybe... but without being commercial...

It refers to Autechre and Aphex Twin from with an industrial / dark ambient point of view... and maybe even adventurous dubstep fans might like it... I look forward to further productions of Vatican Shadow if this is the way the music is going and growing...

Here is the complete A side of the 'September Cell' 12"... so both tracks which are one piece anyway...

review: Blessure Grave - Judged By 12, Carried By 6

Release The Bats from Sweden began its activities with releasing some contemporary batcave and post-punk music. New and upcoming bands found their way to listeners through this label. More and more the label moved to more experimental music... music you could still file under post-punk but much more diverse in sounds and textures as before. With this LP by Blessure Grave the label shows it did not forget it roots and still has a good taste in more traditional post-punk sounds.

Blessure Grave from the USA is a relatively new name (they have some 7 inches out, among them a split with Cold Cave) around in the USA indie guitar/post-punk scene. Together with Swann Danger and Black Ice they are for sure among the most interesting bands around in this field of music.

Some people will complain they have heard it all before and yes it is all there... a bit of The Cure (Pornography LP period), touches early Death In June, some Jesus & The Marychain and so on... but even if this is the case Blessure Grave produced an album filled with quality songs that take you on a wonderful melancholy trip. For the fans of this music a real feast for sure.

Still for people not being die-hard fans of the style this LP could be the one to pick up as well. While many bands claim to be influenced by Joy Division and playing some sort of neo wave Blessure Grave truly goes into that territory. And, they do it with a touch of authenticity I do not hear that often with many of the guitar bands around today.

The best thing about this band is the lo-fi sound. Even though the guitars are quite clear the production is rather lo-fi. The vocals are a bit muffled as if they are coming from beyond the grave, but never annoying or anything.

If you are bored of all the fake Joy Division tributes but also are not looking for the typical goth bands then Blessure Grave is here to please you. Simply an excellent debut album! There are a few copies in the Enfant Terrible webshop here...

review: Former Ghosts - Fleurs

It is funny... Cold Cave has a good rumor going on, Former Ghosts is following close after them (mainly because of sharing musicians and performing together) and Agent Side Grinder is just around the corner. This "neo wave" is nothing new at all... as followers of my label know. It is right now maybe just (again) the next hype for some journalists and labels... well I hope not... I rather see this music to be taken seriously and getting the credits it deserves. It is much more daring as the music from the contemporary gothic scene (also a sort of neo wave). Which is often nothing less as simple and cheesy Garageband/Fruityloops dancefloor music with some distorted vocals.

Anyway... Former Ghosts... what a debut album they have delivered. Too be honest 'Fleurs' did not attract my full attention when I first put it on. But... after the album was finished I put it on again and again and again... The thing is that the first few songs are not outstanding... compared to the rest of the album that is. Maybe it will appeal to some peope who are looking for a not everyday but still dancefloor type of song in the 80's new wave / cold wave tradition.

My advice is to skip the first three songs and then plunge into the dark, moody and eerie sounds of Former Ghosts. The thing that sets this band apart from many other bands in the neo wave scene is that the electronic music sounds fresh and crispy. It has some cuts and clicks moments and quite clear and nice melody lines. Most bands who play this style of music have a dominating analogue sound (do not get me wrong... I like that) with lots of distortion all over it. So, not Former Ghosts.

The vocals are rather eerie and in the background a bit muffled too. The combination with the music is like an updated version of Trisomie 21 to give at least one reference.

My absolute favorite tracks are those that feature the singer from Zola Jesus. It gives me shivers all over. 'In Earth's Palm' and especially 'The Bull And The Ram' would fit perfectly in a David Lynch film. You know in a scene in some strange and run down or otherwise unsettling bar or roadhouse. With a singer on stage who seems to be half fainting or anything... well I guess you get the picture.

To conclude... wow! What a record. I should get some copies for my webshop soon...