Italian ice-wave princess, Mushy gives up the delectable synth romance, ‘Breathless’, her second album on the Rome label Mannequin. Dark, post minimal wave electronix.
Mushy – Breathless [MNQ030LP]
dark wave
Nite Fields – Vacation [LRR004]
Nite Fields are Brisbane new-wave electro band who make cold, hypnotic tracks swimming in grim atmospherics. Recorded and mixed entirely by themselves, the new single “Vacantion” was released on Lost Race Records. The EP includes two tracks “Vacantion” and “Hell/Happy”.
Tropic Of Cancer – I Feel Nothing [SHP#5.2]
This year has seen Tropic Of Cancer stealthily plot a successful course for total infiltration of our affections, with some well chosen releases laying down the foundations of expectation for the band’s much vaunted debut album, slated for release on Blackest Ever Black next year. This eminently collectable three track release for Belgian imprint Sleeperhold will no doubt jostle for first place with that wonderfully atmospheric 12″ on Mannequin and split HTRK release on Ghostly for best Tropic Of Cancer release of 2012. It’s “Children Of A Lesser God”, the final exquisite track that will floor most people, capturing Camella Lobo and company at their most powerful. Spartan drum machines and nerve tingling guitars form the backbone of this stunning seven minute track as Lobo’s undeniably plaintive delivery sinks ever deeper into the murky recesses.
Silent Servant – FACT mix 349
Sam Rosenthal – Tanzmusik LP [MNQ029]
Reissue of one of the top minimal synth Holy Grails out of there. ”Tanzmusik” is the first LP from Sam Rosenthal, boss of the historic Projekt Records label and mind of one of the most influential dark wave acts coming out of the US, Black Tape For A Blue Girl. Originally released in March 1985 and completely recorded at home on a four-track TEAC-2340 with a super minimal setup (Korg Poly 61, Realistic Moog, Boss Dr-110 and some effects), the vinyl release was limited to 250 copies. The album continues in the “electronic mood-music” tradition established by Sam on the Projekt Electronic Amerika cassettes, with the added intriques of the drum-computer, exploring the realms of electronic music. Its signature combination of gothic, ethereal, ambient and neo-classical elements has explored existential themes of loves lost and passions yet to come.
HTRK / Tropic of Cancer – Part Time Punks Radio Sessions [GI168]
The Part Time Punks Radio Sessions 12″ by HTRK and Tropic of Cancer holds six sublime songs of desire. Comparable to a fly-on-a-wall Peel Sessions, the critically acclaimed Part Time Punks radio show is the sound of the LA underground, run by local icon Michael Stock. The limited split captures both bands live at the radio headquarters during HTRK’s first 2011 tour of the USA, accompanied by comrades in minimalism and melancholia, Tropic of Cancer. Flipping this vinyl sounds like two sides of the same cursed coin, and mirrors a high school dance playing an endless lustful waltz. BPMs bumped down to a psychic stalk. It’s a broken and beautiful memento.
Sumerian Fleet – Sturm Bricht Los EP [CREC012]
New release from Sumerian Fleet on Creme Eclipse. Big Menacing Darkwave with an industrial tinge from this mysterious West Coast super group, like someone finally removed those damn sunglasses from the Sisters of Mercy dude and showed him the world was an even sadder place than he imagined. Little was heard of him since.
Ssleeping desiresS – A Voice [FLEXI004]
Newclear Waves – S/T LP [DSR028LP]
Hailing from Rome – Italy, Newclear Waves is essentially the solo project of Alessandro Adriani, mind and boss of Mannequin Records, one of the most important synth wave / cold wave labels around, with contributions from Oksana Xiu, an academic russian musician devoted to analog synths. Deeply influenced by the works of the early minimal electronics sounds on Mute Records and 4AD, Newclear Waves is exploring droned out electro pop territories with an interest for a refreshing hyperactive 80s New Wave. Having turned out releases on Mannequin Records, the duo is now presenting a full‐lenght ten tracks collection of caliginous pure analog minimal synth on the way on Desire Records, french Cold Wave and Electro Wave label, focused both in new artists and stunning reissues from 4AD like Mass, In Camera and Dance Chapter.
Tropic Of Cancer – Permissions Of Love [MNQ023]
Brand new 12” from Tropic of Cancer, one the most important realities in the modern post-punk and darkwave scene. The band consists of Camella Lobo and John Juan Mendez. Though Tropic Of Cancer’s sound has been called gothic, cold wave and drone pop, the band’s take on their influences is anything but nostalgic. Lobo and Mendez have managed to imbue their own elusive gaze and craft a strangely beautiful and intoxicating sound in the wake of their predecessors. The three tracks on this new 12” take us gently by the hand into a slowed-down opium dream – it’s like watching the desert from the same stark corners where Lyciastood many years ago. This EP gathers the primal thrust of their bleak Post-Punk (think about Cultural Decay shaking hands with Section 25 in their psychedelic/buddhist years) and Minimal Wave aesthetics with this entirely new dimension in the music of TOC – heartfelt and deep. Cold waves have never been so warm.
Josh Cheon – Who are you Dark Entries?
UV PØP – No Songs Tomorrow [MNQ028/SBR3009]
Mannequin and Sacred Bones are honoured to join their forces to offer you one of the best UK New Wave reissues from the 80’s. UV PØP were an early post-punk group from the South Yorkshire region of England. Their sound was regionally bleak and they used staccato, angular guitars lines, with vocals ranged from spoken repeated mantras to whispered and shouted political poetics. ‘In the 1980s there was nothing to smile about. The person whom some called wrongly the iron lady brought vengeful spiteful selfishness and a narrow-minded out- look into all our lives. The sound of UV PØP has always been a sophisticated blend of sadness; with morose North Country sense and a humorous confrontational sensibility. UV PØP were as certain as anybody there was a strong possibility there might not be anything left with which to make a tomorrow…
The KVB – Always Then LP [CDRLP008]
“Always Then” is the second album from UK post punk band The KVB aka Klaus von Barrel. The album will be released on Clan Destine Records and is featuring 10 dark wave, new wave tracks.
The Hipodrome Of Music 