Oráculo Records with a crazy compilation featuring 9 tracks by Italian band ZUG Zona Utopica Garantita. Includes also a remix by Unconscious.
Zona Utopica Garantita – La Aberranti Selection ZUG Super Compilation [OR139]
new wave
Plague Pits – Escalator To The Abattoir LP [YCR204]
Swiss coldwave DIY collective Plague Pits deliver their third full-length ‘Escalator to the Abattoir’ on Young & Cold Records. “One skill that you master while working at an abattoir is disassociation. You learn to become numb to death and to suffering. Instead of thinking about cows as entire beings, you separate them into their saleable, edible body parts. It doesn’t just make the job easier – it’s necessary for survival.”
Grauzone – Eisbær [WRWTFWW041]
The official reissue of Grauzone’s essential 1981 maxi single with timeless classic ”Eisbär”, proto-techno beast ”FILM 2”, and romantic synth ballad ”Ich Lieb Sie”, just in time for the 40th anniversary of the Swiss band’s formation. The three-track vinyl is sourced from the original reels, cut at 45rpm, and comes with its iconic artwork on a 350gsm sleeve.
Facets – Party Edits [BUMP-E001]
Blkmarket Underground Music Party Edits is a sub-label to the influential Blkmarket, an esteemed label and event series in New York. Contrary to what that catalogue number might indicate, this is actaully their second release and has Facets at the controls. First up is ‘Computers’ with its raw and snappy analogue drum sounds and late-night synth details. ‘Time Of War’ is another full-fat blend of analogue drum thump and driving synth motifs, ‘Talk To Me’ has crashing cold-wave synths and deadpan vocals and ‘Paranoia’ has loopy vocals and moody atmospheres for freaky dancing. ‘Lies’ and ‘Dub To Destruct’ shut down this varied and retro-tinged EP with jerking rhythms that will do plenty of damage.
Schulverweis – Chacha LP [OR137]
“Chacha” is the third album from one of the most groundbreaking European acts of the moment. Schulverweis, the collaboration between the prolific Levente Pavelka and the elektro enfant terrible Johannes Haas (aka L.F.T.), delivers an exceptional blend of eerie, lo-fi post-punk. This album breathes new life into an otherwise seemingly explored genre, making it an undeniable must-have for collectors drawn to the experimental edge of darkwave sounds.
Les Animaux Sauvages – Futurespective LP [OR136]
“Futurespective” is a remastered compilation featuring the very best releases from the iconic Bulgarian band Les Animaux Sauvages. For the first time ever, these timeless tracks are available on vinyl.
Parade Ground – The Hidden Side [DE329]
Parade Ground march back to Dark Entries with ‘The Hidden Side’, a compilation of B-sides and unreleased material. Brothers Jean-Marc and Pierre Pauly started Parade Ground in Brussels in 1981. Their Dada-laced brand of post-punk fuses propulsive drum machines and icy synths with skeletal guitar riffs and Jean-Marc’s distinct and powerful voice, pioneering the subgenre of emotional body music. In 2011, Dark Entries released ‘The Golden Years’, a compilation chronicling the band’s A-sides and exposing them to a new generation of EBM enthusiasts. ‘The Hidden Side’ continues this mission, illuminating lesser-known facets of the band’s oeuvre. The tracks here were written between 1982 and 1989, and showcase Parade Ground’s range of styles – all cold, dark, and brooding.
Marlon Lopez – Enjoy Discipline EP [ORIOR01]
Orior’s first release introduces Marlon Lopez with a record that boldly explores the boundaries of time and genre. This debut EP is as uncompromising as it is unique. Crafted in near isolation amidst the forest, Marlon’s work is untouched by the usual club influences, offering a refreshing, introspective take on new wave and 80s-inspired EBM. Featuring live bass, 70’s synths, and guitars, the tracks exude an uplifting energy – capturing the raw spirit of punk while steering clear of darkness. Orior (Latin for “I rise”) is the brainchild of LVCA. Born from a journey of resilience and creativity, Orior reflects a commitment to artistic individuality and is a celebration of rising through challenges with limitless vision.
Elektrokohle – Kalt Wie Du Bist LP [OR135]
Elektrokohle’s debut album has instantly become a legendary record due to the tragic loss of their incredible bassist just hours after its release. This album is a masterclass in future punk sound; it couldn’t be more powerful or punchy, being a great legacy to actual and future generations interested in furious music.
Yvgoslavia – Zairja [OR134]
Yvgoslavia is undoubtedly one of the best post-punk and minimal wave acts from Spain, and they’re returning to Oráculo with their second mini-album, following the highly sought-after “Vertebra”. Their frozen atmospheres and relentless, punishing beats immediately captivate any advanced darkwave enthusiast.
La Nuit Je Mens – Teatro Del Metapresente LP [RASLP002]
‘Teatro Del Metapresente’ is the debut album by La Nuit Je Mens, a duo hailing from the Parisian suburbs and southern Italy. Now based in Rome, the two artists (Asymetrical & Rawmance) have crafted a striking sound that merges their DIY ethos with raw, unfiltered energy. Driven by synthetic, minimalist rhythms created on a fleet of analog machines, the seven tracks pay homage to the sound of the ’80s – yet entirely forward-looking and embracing the dancefloor modernity. Blending genres such as EBM, synth-pop and minimal-cold-wave, paired with French vocals, the album delves into themes of underground activities, the slow decay of the club scene and the depths of emotional yearning.
Cetu Javu – Por Que? [BASIX134]
Reissue of this fantastic 12 from 1994. Pure European techno pop with Spanish vocals. Includes the English version ‘Don’t Leave Me’, and the original remix from 1994.
Nicolas Balmer – Nein Nein [LXRC51]
Nicolas Balmer hails from Zürich and he is an integral part of the underground alternative music scene there since forever. This record was entirely written, produced and recorded by Nicolas at Zimmerlistrasse in Zürich, between the 21st and 29th of December 2023. A time where everything that could have happen just happened. He poured all that pain and drive into this. The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.
SZOP – Plama [SHADES01]
Shades Of Blur is a newly unveiled secret label by one of the most esteemed artists in the scene offers a unique blend of New Wave and Post-Punk flavors on its inaugural record.
OP-ART – The Final Act [CITI032]
Citirax introduces the debut LP from the Los Angeles-based duo OP-ART, a project born out of the creative isolation of the lockdown era. The band, the brainchild of Andrew Clinco – known for his work with Drab Majesty – was originally named using the acronym “Oblique Pleasures Amidst Rough Times,” a nod to the challenging times that inspired its formation. In Andrew’s own words, the album “represents a sonic analog to the visual art movement of the 1960s,” meaning it is both densely layered and psychedelic, yet aims to capture a sense of minimalism in its tradition, theory, and conceptual approach. OP-ART’s sound is heavily influenced by the New Wave genre, drawing inspiration from artists such as John Foxx, Martin Dupont (with whom Andrew has collaborated on a track), Experimental Products, and early OMD. True to their commitment to authentic analog sound, OP-ART eschews digital plug-ins in favor of a wide array of analog synthesizers and outboard rack effects units. The album features a diverse collection of synthesizers including the EML 500, Arp Odyssey, Arp Omni2, Jupiter 6, SH-02, SH-101, Moog Rogue, and Roland Promars. Each piece of equipment contributes to the album’s lush, rich soundscapes, creating a tactile and immersive listening experience. ‘The Final Act’, the title of the LP, is a testament to the duo’s ability to blend catchy melodies with profound emotional depth. The album offers an introspective journey through themes of time passing, romantic entanglements, and existential reflections on an apocalyptic scale. With its evocative sound and thoughtful lyrics, ‘The Final Act’ promises to resonate deeply with listeners, making it a compelling and significant debut from OP-ART.
Konstant – Unbändige Kinder [STRD-XIX]
Subject To Restrictions Discs and Default Mode Records are joining forces to release “Unbändige Kinder”, the debut album by Angelo Repetto and Nicolas Balmer, under the alias Konstant. Both have been active in the Zurich scene for a long time and have come together to create their own language. “Unbändige Kinder” blossoms from the burdens of days gone by and describes their world in a phase of change and new beginnings. They define their own musical form by constantly looking ahead, driven by New Wave, Kraut and Post Punk. The album is characterised by rawness, bluntness and the syllables from the heart.
Tout Debord – Burning Love [DR134]
Detriti Records presents another release by Frech artist Tout Debord.
Eleven Pond – Bas Relief LP [DE-001R]
Dark Entries celebrates its 15th anniversary by returning to where it all started, the initial darkest entry: Eleven Pond’s masterpiece ‘Bas Relief’, an ultra-obscure album from 1986 that would become a definitive dark pop holy grail. Eleven Pond was James Tabbi (vocals, acoustic guitar), Jeff Gallea (drum machine, synthesizer, vocals), Jack Schaeffer (guitar) and Dan Brumley (synthesizer, samples, vocoder, melodica). They met in Rochester, NY, while attending art school, brought together by their shared love of 4AD and Factory Records. Taking cues from acts like Joy Division, Fad Gadget, and For Against, Eleven Pond’s infectious basslines, churning guitar riffs, and atmospheric synths will charm all fans of moody music. But what really makes Bas Relief shine is the timeless songwriting on classics like “Tear and Cinnamon”, “Portugal”, and the anthemic “Watching Trees.” With only 500 copies in it’s initial release, ‘Bas Relief’ resurfaces with a fresh remaster that corrects a pitch shift from previous reissues. ‘Bas Relief’ is a true lost relic of the cold 80’s and an essential piece Dark Entries history.
Cetu Javu – Southern Lands LP [MEC087]
Javier Revilla and Chris Demere, both from Hanover and inspired by electronic music of Kraftwerk and Jean-Michel Jarre, started to experiment with sounds since the late 70’s. The arrival of New Wave with bands like Heaven 17, The Human League, Soft Cell and Depeche Mode influenced these teenagers to began Cetu Javu in 1984 with Javier on vocals, Chris on synths, guitar, programming, Torsten Engelke on keyboards and Stefen Engelke on bass. Like their compatriots Camouflage, Cetu Javu were unapologetically Depeche Mode-like in their sound, but with a fairly original twist on their synth pop formula. The band signed a contract with Records and released their debut album “Southern Lands” in 1990. “Southern Lands” is re-released including all original songs plus some extended versions, remixes and bonus tracks from the accompanying singles “Situations”, “Have in Mind” and “So Strange”.
Plague Pits – Bukolik [TNP06]
Plague Pits is a Swiss synth collective from Bern Inspired by the D.I.Y. electronic tape underground of yore, they play disco dirges for the Anthropocene – cold wave for a heating planet. ‘Bukolik’ is their new cassette release on Transnecropolitan.
The Hipodrome Of Music 