Probably a good time to note that Terminus, followed by our summer hiatus is just on the Horizon, with next week’s Tracks post being the last one ’til we return in Mid-August. The podcast will continue uninterrupted, but otherwise we will be taking some time relax and catch up on all the music we’re behind on, hopefully so we can enter the last third of the year without feeling like we’re way behind on everything. Will we succeed? History says no, but hope springs eternal.
Unwoman
Ashbury Heights feat Ulrike Goldmann, “A Lifetime in the Service of Darkness”
The announcement of Ashbury Heights’ long-awaited The Ghost House Sessions vol. 1 has us hype for a lot of reasons; firstly because its a massive 25 song double LP that includes the last run of singles, but also because it means more of the well-written sticky Swedish electropop that we’ve long been enamored with. And hey, if we get more cuts like “A Lifetime in the Service of Darkness” which features Ulrike from Blutengel doing a classy guest turn, we certainly won’t be unhappy. One of our most anticipated releases of the year.
Ewiges Feuer, “Kuumeuni (Fever Dream)”
Finnish newcomer Ewiges Feuer makes his debut with New Dark Beat. It’s an EP which certainly carries with it the retro Belgian body music feel you’d expect based on the title, but there’s a surprising amount of subtlety tucked into the corners of a pretty all-encompassing approach. Check the way some rock-solid post-punk bass is worked into this bouncy but slightly melancholy number, almost suggesting a radical reconsideration of early Agent Side Grinder.
Bill Leeb featuring Shannon Hemmett, “Terror Forms”
What does a Bill Leeb solo record sound like? It’s a question we’ve asked ourselves in the days since the announcement of the Front Line Assembly mastermind’s debut record under his own name, Model Kollapse. Debut single “Terror Forms” doesn’t entirely answer the question, although it does provide some clues; yes you are getting Leeb’s classic vocals and lyrics, and some FLA style programming (as is to be expected), but the guest turn from Shannon of Hemmett of ACTORS and LEATHERS, some of the specific textures and bits of production feel different than anything in recent memory from the venerable artist. Can’t say we aren’t intrigued.
Filmmaker, “Rodent Dreams”
It’s a day which ends in “y”, so of courses there’s new Filmmaker music to talk about. Faunes Efe remains one of the most prolific producers in the game, but thankfully Grim Encoders isn’t showing a drop in the quality of his shuffling, blurry, lo-fi style of body music. Check the flashes of electroclash and acid house which ping and echo off the long, stony corridor of this nodder.
Human Trophy, “Tears Of Eros”
There’s been a bit more deathrock around ID:UD of late, but thankfully in enough shades and sub-styles to keep things fresh. Reuben Sawyer (The Column) has a lot of irons in the fire but his still relatively new Human Trophy project has a tight, compressed, overdriven take on deathrock which seems to connote both crossover thrash and the most theatrical of original SoCal deathrock. This cut from Human Trophy’s forthcoming sophomore record has us remembering Turn Pale in their more chilled out moments.
Unwoman, “Mamas Please Let Your Babies Grow Up”
Finally, a cut from Unwoman taken from the massive two volume compilation Guts and Glory assembled by Steve Saunders of Skull Cultist, pay what you want releases whose proceeds benefit LGBTQA+ causes the Trevor Foundation and Marsha P. Johnson Family Foundation. Lots of good stuff to dig into on both volumes, with this lovely missive from Unwoman setting the tone for the whole affair. Nicely done by everyone involved.
