review: Group Rhoda - Out Of Time - Out Of Touch

I have always looked at 80's new wave music and subculture as a replay of 60's neo-romanticism... the 60's where the first replay of the Romantic era... which was in a way the first youth subculture in Western Society.

The 60's pre-hippie subcultures starting with The Beat Generation (even though the surfer subculture was also an early youth subculture which even adopted LSD) transformed the central idea's of the 19th century movement centered around the anti-rational and the emphasis on the subjective experience into the context of the new era. In the late 70's/early 80's this was given a new twist again fitting the changed world... I would claim that 80's new wave is nothing more as dark version of the neo-romantic movement of the 60's...

In new wave music psychedelic touches or even psychedelic music as such is not difficult to find. 'The Top' by The Cure is filled with references to psychedelic music. The Fields Of The Nephilim played psychedelic rock... but very dark... resulting into something more ritual therefor. The music by The Legendary Pink Dots and Edward Ka-Spel is as psychedelic as it gets. Just to name a few examples... and let's not forget some of the minimal electronics outfits... like Monoton for example... who where on the more experimental side. They often hinted to Minimal Music... which is also a 60's thing...

And... now in this endless 80's revival it is also there... Moon Duo are somewhere in between psychedelic music and Suicide related synth punk. Bronze is like a post-punk outfit spiced up with acid rock. And there is now this debut album by Group Rhoda... which is really close to 60's music... to be more clear... it sounds like The Great Society equipped with 80's instruments like a drum machine and synths... and a voice like that of Grace Slick... coming very close at least and singing in a typical 60's style...

So, no this is not daring new adventurous music... but what is today? Group Rhoda delivers a sound I have been listening to for many years but still untill now I have never heard this typical 60's sound done with 80's musical equipment... and done so well... so yes I love it!!

Even though this is yet another product of our age of recycling I prefer this way above all the cheap re-issues of so called lost gems, cult bands and classic albums from the 80's. Same goes for all these contemporary copycat bands who just sound like it is 1982 all over again... no, I will just put on this Group Rhoda album again and again... as compared to all of that this is daring new adventurous music!

Here is one track from the album...

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...