Pop & Rock News

Don't expect pretty synthpop with bouncy rhythms, catchy melodies or cute Casio sounds. Vono's style is different. To say the least. It's unique. The album is full with short minimal purely electronic sounding sequences.

Diving Bell Recording Co. is excited to announce Silent Science', the debut solo release from B- R- A- U- N. Ben Braun has spent the last decade as one half of the synth-pop duo Mackintosh Braun, releasing three albums with the band. With Silent Science', B- R- A- U- N continues down the path he paved with Mackintosh Braun and brings his music even further from the eighties influences that first sparked his inspiration. The concept began for Braun as an awareness of the personal freedoms that he had sacrificed to live in the comforts of new technology. A longing for a more simple life pushes and pulls this album from past to present. From undeniable dance hooks, to sleepwalking chill-out, we meander our way from disco naps to lucid slumbers.

Third 12" release taken from the top 5 album The Punishment of Luxury. The band's first single with Paul Humphreys on lead vocals for over 30 years following 80's chart smashes Souvenir, Secret and (Forever) Live & Die. This 12" release features an 80's style extended 12" mix of the track as well as a brand new single version and non-album b-side "Ha Ha Ha". Limited to 1,000 copies worldwide.

The Green Child is the long distance musical collaboration of Mikey Young and Raven Mahon, who met in 2013 in when their bands, Total Control and Grass Widow played a show in Oakland, California. They started writing songs together in Australia in 2014 and the project has been on a slow burn since. Their self-titled debut album is the culmination of few years of putting ideas together internationally and periodically recording in Mikey's home studio. Some of the lyrical content and the band's name was inspired by Herbert Read's 1935 utopian, communist, sci-fi novel called The Green Child. 
 
With such a choice name, it's no surprise that The Green Child draw their sound from an illusory past as much as they stalk into pastures new. Broadly retro-futuristic in scope, verdant acres of lushly evocative synthesizers and blippy drum machines underpin most of their upbeat yet decidedly uncanny songs. Raven's calmly scenic and measured vocal flits like a will-o'-the-wisp throughout the tracks, proffering a guiding hand as she walks us through the often eerie, electronic concoctions.
 
'Traveler' opens the album all redolent, beat-minded and labyrinthine. Twisting melody lines swirl and envelop like a sandstorm, whilst Raven coolly projects on a solitary man' lost to green oblivion'. Similarly, 'Her Majesty II' glistens with its playful yet plaintive vocal and iridescent arpeggios, whilst 'Bertha' slows things down with tumbling chimes and stately use of space.
 
The Green Child are adept at atmosphere, their songs are refined from gently unfolding ideas that never fail to realise and build to their potential. Tracks like 'Walking Distance' (featuring Al Montfort on saxophone) and 'New Years Eve' are exercises in evolved composition with ideas budding off and blossoming into truly resonant dimensions. The band's cover of 'Marie Elene' (by Keith Pearson) and closing track 'Destroyer' are further crowning achievements, both pieces subtly handled with poise and ample melancholic grandeur. The Green Child fix their sights on the heights they want to reach within their songs and much like the project itself don't want to rush to the finish line. When it becomes more about the unfurling journey, why not take the time to enjoy the trip and burn slower

First ever vinyl reissue of this sought-after synth-pop /cosmic disco / funk / boogie album from 1983! Lots of Vocoder, analogue synths & keyboards, heavy drum machines, spacey vocals, bossa / Brazilian touches, cosmic effects...

The RAH Band was the brainchild of legendary English producer & arranger Richard Hewson. They debuted in 1977 with the cosmic glam hit The Crunch', on which Richard, an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, played all the instruments himself. In 1983, he released Going Up' the second RAH Band album, where he also played most of the instruments himself, helped by several drummers, a brass section and the sweet vocals of his wife Liz Hewson. Including massive club classics like Messages From The Stars', Perfumed Garden' and more.

A 1980's classic which has influenced everyone in the dance scene from Daft Punk and Goldfrapp to Richard X, Dam Funk or Cornelius.

Featuring newly remastered sound.

Tom Ware is a Grammy nominated engineer, producer and musician from Omaha Nebraska. Throughout the 70s and 80s Tom was the drummer for many bands, including Norman & The Rockwells, Toy boat Toy boat Toy boat, and Hit N Run. Because of his love for electronics, mechanics, and machines of any kind, he was always the only one who truly knew how pa systems worked. Tom got an entry level job at a Rainbow Studios and would work at the recording studio during the day, play evening gigs till 2 in the morning, then go back to the studio and work on new ideas all night. During these teeth cutting sessions, Tom worked by himself, following his instincts and creating sounds he loved to listen to.

His reckless abandon approach and thrill to learn was a high octane fuel that resulted in his first solo self-titled album. The album's 10 songs were recorded and mixed between August & December of 1983 and self-released in early 1984. The album would be re-released in 1985 by independent Krautrock/Kosmische Musik label Sky Records in Germany and re-titled 'The Fourth Circle'. Some of the instruments used on the LP were a Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, & Pro One, Simmons SDSV electronic drums, Roland TR-606 drum machine, & Hammond B3 organ. While recording this album Tom was influenced by new wave sounds of Yellow Magic Orchestra, the Berlin and Düsseldorf schools of pulsing synth music and the celestial realms of Jean Michel Jarre. All songs have been mastered and lacquer cut by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. Each LP is housed in a replica cover with computer graphics by Lars Erickson and photos by Ken Mayer and includes a postcard with liner notes by Tom Ware.

Giant Claw is the sound project of visual artist and Orange Milk Records co-founder Keith Rankin. His new album Soft Channel builds on the intricate MIDI notation and sampling of previous works while blending dense high fidelity sound design with rich harmonic material to create an immersive composition.

The Vivien Vee project, an Italian singer discovered and produced by young duo Claudio Simonetti - Giancarlo Meo, has certainly been one of the first and best attempts to impose a clear European-style disco music. The first tracks, as well as the sequels, will be released from the banana records and the real big international success comes in 1983 with this album "with vivien vee", thanks in particular to the 2 strong singles "Higher" and "Blue Disease". This album, produced entirely by Giancarlo Meo, contains, in this rare special edition, 6 tracks in extended original versions, very rare to be found individually. Featuring a sound that is still up to date, it also meets the most demanding palates for the finest style of the best disc, all in one single vinyl: From the powerful and robust funky electronic to "Destiny" and "Wanna Feel" reminding of the best production of Change and Peter Jacques Band, still transmitted by milano international classic, "Gotta Go" in pure Imagination style, to the absolute pearls in "Higher" (cult of disco-disco) and "Blue Disease" explosive electro break synth-pop. Particularly important is that the texts are signed by the great Rossana Casale. Basically a vinyl that is unmissable for any collector or fan of the best Italian productions in the 80's.

LIMITED, DELUXE EDITION 180G VINYL GATEFOLD 2LP, WITH BLOOD RED GEL OUTER SLEEVE. INCLUDES 2 POSTERS + DOWNLOAD CARD

Giant Claw is the sound project of visual artist and Orange Milk Records co-founder Keith Rankin. His new album Soft Channel builds on the intricate MIDI notation and sampling of previous works while blending dense high fidelity sound design with rich harmonic material to create an immersive composition.

Electronic Emergencies is thrilled to work together with brand new New York label Sangron Records on the 10-track compilation album 'Sangron Volume 1'. Compiled by Skeleton Head's Leo Torres, the compilation draws from the U.S. underground with songs from minimal synth pioneers Crash Course in Science and Mark Lane, alongside contributions from Skeleton Head, Revival Times, M/A/N/O/S, Ortrotasce, Minima Moralia, Silent Em, Horoscope and Paper Music. Moody, dancefloor-friendly and rebellious, this is "music for dissidents".

Filip Nikolic and Jeffrey Paradise are good friends who are inspired by California, mezcal, dancing, good food, and friends. Filip is a Danish producer now living in LA who plays bass in Ima Robot, Jeffrey throws the infamous Blow Up party in San Francisco and used to be in the hardwave band the Calculators with Luke and Vito from the Rapture. Poolside's debut single Do You Believe' was charted by Todd Terje, Dimitri From Paris, and The Magician, and Dazed & Confused praised the song for its pop-tinged disco, brimming with optimistic vocals and retro acid synths,' while NME lauded its supremely casual decadence.' Take Me Home,' Poolside's second song to be released, was the first song on Aeroplane's In Flight Entertainmentcompilation.

Das gefeierte, zweite Album des Female-Electro-Pop-Erfolgsduos Marsheaux erscheint als limitiertes lila Doppel-Vinyl (3 Seiten Musik, eine Seite mit edler Zier-Ätzung) im edlen Gatefold Sleeve.

Galten die beiden Griechinnen Sophie und Marianthi mit ihrem Debüt-Album - E-Bay Queen noch als Geheimtipp, so etablierten sie sich spätestens mit - Peek A Boo zu einer nicht mehr wegzudenkenden Größe der elektronischen Popmusik und zu einer der populärsten Bands des Female-Electro-Subgenres. Luftige Melodien, der Minimalismus der frühen Achtziger, sowie eine gehörige Portion Girlie-Charme wird von den beiden mit einer druckvollen, modernen Produktion zu kleinen Club-tauglichen Song-Juwelen vermischt, denen man sich nur schwer entziehen kann. Nun erscheint dieser moderne Klassiker endlich auf Vinyl!

Mit - Lumineux Noir findet nun endlich auch das dritte Album des Female-Electro-Pop-Duos Marsheaux seinen Weg auf Vinyl. Das Album erscheint als limitiertes, blaues Doppel-Vinyl (3 Seiten Musik, 1 Seite mit einer edlen Zier-Ätzung) im edlen Klappcover.

Mit Hits, wie - Breakthrough , - Ghosts und - Summer und ihrem, von Presse und Fans gleichermaßen gefeierten, dritten Album sicherten sich Marsheaux endgültig ihren festen Platz im Electro-Pop-Olymp. Straffe Beats, geradliniger Minimalismus, starke und doch verspielte Melodien und die bezaubernden Gesangsduette von Sophie und Marianthi geben den charmanten Pop-Songs des Duos ihre unverwechselbare und unwiderstehliche Note. Durch die starken Frühachtziger-Anklänge fühlt sich die Musik von Marsheaux auch wie geschaffen an, für das - schwarze Gold . Nun kann man den elektronischen Wohlklang der Band auch endlich auf Vinyl genießen.

Having sold 700k units to date in the UK.
The LP is 12 tracks and is pink sparkly vinyl. National TV ad campaign up to Xmas. Press ads & reviews. Radio ad campaign & spot plays. Online & social media activity. Poster campaign.

Since the 2014 release of Philly outfit Death of Lover's acclaimed debut EP Buried Under a World of Roses', many wondered if a full length follow-up for the band was even possible - largely due to the extensive touring schedule of Domenic, Nick, and Kyle's other band: Nothing. But between 2016 and 2017, the four piece band (that includes keyboard player CC Loo) was able to find the time to focus, demo, write, and carve out a stunning new direction and polished sound for the band. The Acrobat' represents that labor of love, and Death of Lovers have created one of the most eye-opening alternative records we've heard in years.

Thoughtful compositions weave driving synths, drums and guitars through lock-step rhythm and nostalgia before shattering into intricate and spacious instrumental breaks. There is a welcome complexity and depth to the tracks, which dance between moody and sweeping to sparkling and bright - creating a beautiful contrast to the honest and dark lyrics.

On the album single The Absolute', Domenic's vocals (accompanied in harmony by drummer Kyle Kimball) take on the topics of selfishness and greed - All in all is trembling fear - bound to fall on bludgeoned bell rung ears. A senseless world of worth, deceived by needing, and the crow who perches on your tongue - reminding you it won't be too long.'

Lowly People' is the band's answer to PULP's Common People', cast through the lens of their own upbringing: the streets of Kensington, Philly - where Broken glass shimmers like the stars, summer air breeds a certain violence.'

Somehow, The Acrobat achieves warm familiarity while sounding completely new. While the tracks could easily have been included on the soundtrack to every one of your favorite 80s films, there is a fresh perspective and process evident in the songwriting that rewrites the post-punk' rulebook.

Toronto-based songwriter, vocalist, producer, and multi-disciplinary artist Maylee Todd is best known for music that incorporates elements of disco, funk, soul, electronic, and experimental sounds. Her previous two albums Choose Your Own Adventure (2010) and Escapology (2013) brought her on tour across North America, Europe and Asia, charting worldwide, and establishing her as a breakout Canadian indie artist.

Her third studio album Acts of Love sees Maylee wholly embracing technology and taking on the role of producer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist, recording and playing the bulk of the music in her home studio. From a sonic standpoint, the new album marks a departure from the harder-edged sounds of her previous work, boasting a more stripped down, synth-based production approach, with hypnotic beats and undeniably poppy hooks. The 17 track album covers a wide range of timely, topical and universal subject matter, including gender bias ("From This Moment"), addiction ("One of These Days"), solitude ("Lonely"), forgiveness ("Eye To Eye"), polyamory ("Goat Wut U Need") and virtual reality ("Virtual Life").

"This record is a bedroom record. I spent the winter writing and learning software, so creating can be limitless," explains the self-professed augmented reality nerd. Acts Of Love is essentially a tale of Maylee's metamorphosis, of constantly mutating and evolving musically, with the ultimate goal being to enlighten listeners on the symbiotic relationship between music, technology, performance art and human nature.

Meaning all things magic and supernatural, the root of the word occult is that which is hidden, concealed, beyond the limits of our minds. If this is occult, then the Occult Architecture of Moon Duo's fourth album - a psychedelic opus in two separate volumes released in 2017 is an intricately woven hymn to the invisible structures found in the cycle of seasons and the journey of day into night, dark into light.

Offering a cosmic glimpse into the hidden patterning embedded in everything, Occult Architecture reflects the harmonious duality of these light and dark energies through the Chinese theory of Yin and Yang.

Following the Yin (feminine, darkness, night, earth) represented on Occult Architecture Vol. 1, Vol. 2 presents the Yang. Yang means the bright side of the hill' and is associated with the male, sun, light and the spirit of heaven, and as such Vol. 2 explores the light and airy elements of Moon Duo's complex psyche.

In production we referred to Vol. 1 as the fuzz dungeon, and Vol. 2 as the crystal palace,' guitarist Ripley Johnson explains. The darkness of Vol. 1 gave birth to the light of Vol. 2. We had to have both elements in order to complete the cycle. We're releasing them separately to allow them their own space, and to ensure clarity of vision.

For a year, friends and producers Jean-Gabriel Becker and Susumu Muka have been meeting for collaborative recording sessions at Sounds And Sons studio in Shoreditch.

Susumu Mukai, originally from Kanagawa, Japan, has been involved in diverse projects such as Zongamin, Stalactite and Off World as producer and multi-instrumentalist. Mukai is also a member of bands including Fimber Bravo, Vanishing Twin and Floating Points. Jean-Gabriel Becker, originally from Paris, France, has been writing music under various names and in numerous projects, from Jeanga And George and Economy Wolf to Lux Prima to name only a few. He also composes extensively for films and television under his own name. The sessions for Eyes, their first EP together, unfolded as a musical dialogue between the duo - open-ended, discovering the sounds as they revealed themselves in an organic way. Although some influences can be heard, from acidhouse to krautrock, to jazz and psychedelia, the otherness of Eyes EP refuses to be categorised easily.

Split 7" by LA synth weirdos Part Time and Drinking Flowers. Stereogum's 2011 Band to Watch, Part Time has put out acclaimed LPs on Mexican Summer, Burger Records, and Plastic Response, and their next LP is due out on Cult Records, run by Julian Casablancas of the Strokes.

Award-winning Swiss producer, electro-innovator and cycling enthusiast, David Langhard celebrates the rhythmic rush of life on two wheels with the release of HOGOFOGO. A four-strong live band, a 15-date UK and European Tour, including a date at The Social, London is announced to coincide with the release.

Inevitable comparisons with Kraftwerk aren't shyly rejected, but recognised and warmly embraced by Langhard, who cites the band's 1981 album, 'Computer World' as one of the best albums to cycle to, alongside up-tempo tracks by Pixies, The Specials and the canon of classic 1950s rock and roll. Renowned and praised for his work underpinning the recordings of fellow Swiss export, Klaus Johann Grobe, Langhard's work as an innovative producer is matched by his own, artistic restlessness. A diverse and energetic career has seen Langhard awarded the Winterthur Kulturpreis, acclaimed by city officials in September 2017 for being an experienced, stylish and versatile musician, whose influence and charisma reaches far beyond Winterthur.'

Touring Europe as a member of Howlong Wolf and Admiral James T, Langhard's work on the fifth studio album from Neutral Zone extends a trip into synthesised sound that started in 1995 with nothing more than classic Casio SA-5 and Intersound PK-380 keyboards and a tape recorder. The growth of his own DALA Studios in his home city, alongside an ever-developing collection of vintage, analogue recording equipment (alongside the racing bikes) has seen a personal side project take to the fast lane and now, 22 years later, he presents an underground masterpiece.

The first full length LP for this collaborative project between Jon Brooks (The Advisory Circle) and Jim Juapp (Belbury Poly). John Foxx features on vocals and syanth on two tracks, Trees and Forgotten Towns, reprising his appearance on The Belbury Circle's debut EP, Empty Avenues in 2013.

Brooks and Jupp go back to their musical roots with this release, but there's no weird children's TV or haunted soundtracks here. It's a joyfully re-imagined soundworld that draws heavily on late 70s and early 80s synth pop and library music. An exciting transitional era that first saw the pair taking up synths as kids. With interlocking analogue sequencers, driving rhythms, soaring lead lines, primitive sampling, and its themes of travel and return, the album evokes the eve of the digital era, when "Tomorrow's World" was still an exciting possibility.

Today Danish/Finnish band Liima (featuring all three members of Efterklang) have announced details of their second album, '1982', to be released on November 3rd 2017 via City Slang. They have shared the album's title track and have also confirmed Autumn European tour dates with Grizzly Bear, whose bassist Chris Taylor co-produced this new record.

In the year 1982, Time Magazine chose the first ever non-human person of the year', the Personal Computer. It's also the year that Liima's Casper Clausen was born, with the other three band members born in the surrounding years. Though '1982' is not an album that tries to mimic the sounds of that year, it is an album borne of influences and circumstances that stem back to that point in time. It's an album that sees the band questioning the concept of identity and our place in time - as much an album of existential questioning and of looking forward as it is of nostalgia and reflection.

I think our collective memory and consciousness as a band is shaped from being born in the beginning of the 80's' explains Clausen. It's a time and place that I keep returning to, to understand and make sense of. It has a lot of personal relevance and so little at the same time, because in time and space it is far away... Everything is changing all the time, nostalgia is looking back, but I'm on the run, even when I stand still.'

The video for the album's title track, shared online today, was created by director and visual artist Baby Duka: "Liima reached out to me while I was in the middle of developing a computer game - the melancholy world of synths and wet drums fit perfectly with an idea I've been toying with for a while: to mix the pixel graphics of the Atari and C64 with a 3D camera. I saw it as a cool opportunity to visualize an Orwellian dystopia where the dream of being in another place is always present in the human individual.

Liima was born as much of breaking old habits as building new habits, and their second album, '1982', provides a masterclass in pushing beyond one's established comfort zones.

Like its predecessor, '1982' was written during four residencies, beginning in January, 2016 - before Liima's debut 'ii' was even released - at The London Edition, where Casper Clausen, Rasmus Stolberg, Mads Brauer and Tatu Rönkkö worked in a club in the hotel's basement, sometimes watched by small crowds, much as PJ Harvey was during the making of The Hope Six Demolition Project at London's Somerset House.

They reassembled at another hotel in Copenhagen before embarking upon tours of North America, South America, and Europe. Even then, they'd reconvene between trips to continue work, first in the less glamorous surroundings of a music conservatory in Viseu, Portugal, in July 2016, then, finally, in August, at Berlin's Michelberger Hotel. By the time they gathered in Mankku Studios in Porvoo - again in the Finnish countryside - Liima were more than ready to begin recording with Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor as co-producer.

'1982' finds Liima - musically and lyrically - exploring themes that shaped their youth while looking forward to a future in times that feel as uncertain as they ever might have been, and in which we all struggle to find our identity. Finding values of life, giving up on values of life... Our civilisation, our way of life and our liberal thinking is threatened and challenged...' Clausen muses. I say our time, but could it be MY time, MY age. Was it like that for my father when he was 35 years old I'm wondering, I guess the album is wondering.'

Here, amidst the contemplation and questioning, the musicians stake their claim firmly to both their new band and their new sound. For a band originally founded upon enthusiastic acts of spontaneity, '1982' represents a huge, sophisticated leap forward. The decision to form Liima may have been as bold and radical as their new sound, but the consequences speak for themselves.

Solo project by one Lise Sutter who has been active in the Geneva/Leipzig axis that includes Couteau Latex and the Staches, an all women band with two bass mixing very early New Order and screechy synthed ESG. They have the energy. They have the spit. We have seen them play, in disguise, smiling at us as they were pulsing thru their short melodic punk outbursts like watching Malaria or the Bush Tetras or maybe even Prag Vec.

This long awaited deluxe special edition, originally recorded and released on cassette in 1982, sees a timely release after the success of Cosey's recent autobiography 'Art Sex Music' (pub. by Faber & Faber). Available now for the first time on vinyl this deluxe special edition has been remastered and edited from the original audio tapes for this exclusive vinyl release. It is presented on super clear vinyl, in a gatefold sleeve incorporating a foil block title and is accompanied by a 16 page full colour 12' booklet containing the original cassette transcripts and photos plus many new and updated statements and colour photos.

The band's breakthrough record It's My Life saw the arrival of producer and multi-instrumentalist Tim Friese-Greene, who became a significant creative force in the band and an unofficial fourth member for the remainder of its existence.

It's My Life saw the band seek a less synthesized sound and less New Romantic image, which included keyboardist Simon Brenner leaving the band. The new sound gave the band commercial success, with the title track becoming a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. It went on to be covered by No Doubt in 2003 reaching number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and remaining on the chart for 28 weeks.

The album also contained the single "Such a Shame" (a song inspired by the book The Dice Man) which became a Top 10 hit across Europe. A third single, "Dum Dum Girl", was also a success in Europe and NZ in particular.

'Break at Home' is the collected recordings of the mysterious group '2 Katara' which was formed in Athens, Greece in 1978 by George Theodorakis (keyboards, percussion, vocals) with his close friend Dimitris Papangelidis (bass, guitars, percussion, vocals). TIP!
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This musical-duo recorded quietly over a decade between Theodorakis' family idyllic home studio in the Philopappou hill of Athens and the nearby studios Theta and SR. For some part, the tracks seem like adventurous experiments or even unfinished samplers or riffs the band starts to develop, but at the same time there are productions that are clearly meant to be the backbone of an album that never came out.

Into the light proudly presents 14 sun-soaked productions from the above-mentioned sterling material from 1981 until 1991 where the band split. This sixth installment is meant to be enjoyed as a journey from proggy pop to TR-909 drum driving compositions to Mediterranean disco-not-disco and further futuristic synth-scapes.

The many elements from the Greek traditional folk music - especially in 'I Can Not' which is an ambient take on a folk lament song from Epirus area and the reverse play recording of a Greek orthodox priest chant on their last ever recorded epic 17min track 'Greek lady' -, the unusual but clever combinations of colorful styles and the intense improvisation put the group in the first line of Athens' best kept secrets

Hot on the heels of the co-release between Especial and Cocktails d'Amore Music of the Sfire Remixes EP (EES023/CDA013) comes an accompanying release with a pair of deeper, stripped back remixes from the inimitable Timothy J Fairplay and Willie Burns. Well known as producers, DJs and label managers with their Crimes Of The Future and WT Records respectively, as well as appearing on a who's who of electronic labels including Pinkman, Unknown To The Unknown and L.I.E.S, they have appeared in various guises on both Emotional Response and Especial. Here then are 4 remixes - 2 each per side - that take the unique original to new dance floor extremes. Timothy steps up first with his take on Sfire 2 via differing vocal and instrumental versions. His trademark, echo laden rolling percussion and "Carpenter" key lines take the original Synth-pop homage to the dark room. Adding Arps, a lifting, hedonistic breakdown and the scatter-stepper drums and claps found on the Instrumental version and this is pure COTF territory and the better for it. Willie meanwhile has long followed his own path for his take on Sfire 3, offering one of his deepest remixes to date. Thudding kick, brooding pads and dark strings force the vocals to go down, way down for examination. The distorted vocals of Remix 1 are countered by Remix 2 letting the track shine via a seemingly endless 4/4 beat. Psychedelic, trance inducing, pulsating, this is an ever growing mind expanse.Presented in sparse Hand Stamped sleeves, this one off Limited Edition pressing is a unique EP, taking Sfire to a different sphere that warrants investigation. It was only

Last few copies of this refreshing concoction of dark pop songs, from bands that played at the Palais Chalet nights in Brussels in 2012. Showcasing a lively cross-section of new wave, synth-pop, hard beat, and quirky electronic experimentation.

Meaning all things magick and supernatural, the root of the word occult is that which is hidden, concealed, beyond the limits of our minds. If this is occult, then the Occult Architecture of Moon Duo's fourth album - a psychedelic opus in two separate volumes released in 2017 - is an intricately woven hymn to the invisible structures found in the cycle of seasons and the journey of day into night, dark into light.

Offering a cosmic glimpse into the hidden patterning embedded in everything, Occult Architecture reflects the harmonious duality of these light and dark ener­gies through the Chinese theory of Yin and Yang.

In Chinese, Yin means the shady side of the hill' and is associated with the feminine, darkness, night, earth. Following this logic, Vol. 1 embraces and embod­ies Moon Duo's darker qualities — released appropriately on February 3, in the heart of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

According to guitarist Ripley Johnson, the concept of the dark/light, two-part album came as we were recording and mixing the songs, beginning in the dead of winter and continuing into the rebirth and blossoming of the spring. There's something really powerful about the changing of the seasons in the Northwest, the physical and psychic impact it has on you, especially after we spent so many years in the seasonal void of California. I became interested in gnostic and her­metic literature around that time, especially the relationship between music and occult qualities and that fed into the whole vibe.'

Adds keyboardist Sanae Yamada, the two parts are also intended to represent inverted components of a singular entity, like two faces on the same head which stare always in opposite directions but are inextricably driven by the same brain.'

Vol. 1 was mixed in Berlin by the band's longtime collaborator Jonas Verwijnen.

Meaning all things magick and supernatural, the root of the word occult is that which is hidden, concealed, beyond the limits of our minds. If this is occult, then the Occult Architecture of Moon Duo's fourth album - a psychedelic opus in two separate volumes released in 2017 - is an intricately woven hymn to the invisible structures found in the cycle of seasons and the journey of day into night, dark into light.

Offering a cosmic glimpse into the hidden patterning embedded in everything, Occult Architecture reflects the harmonious duality of these light and dark ener­gies through the Chinese theory of Yin and Yang.

In Chinese, Yin means the shady side of the hill' and is associated with the feminine, darkness, night, earth. Following this logic, Vol. 1 embraces and embod­ies Moon Duo's darker qualities — released appropriately on February 3, in the heart of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

According to guitarist Ripley Johnson, the concept of the dark/light, two-part album came as we were recording and mixing the songs, beginning in the dead of winter and continuing into the rebirth and blossoming of the spring. There's something really powerful about the changing of the seasons in the Northwest, the physical and psychic impact it has on you, especially after we spent so many years in the seasonal void of California. I became interested in gnostic and her­metic literature around that time, especially the relationship between music and occult qualities and that fed into the whole vibe.'

Adds keyboardist Sanae Yamada, the two parts are also intended to represent inverted components of a singular entity, like two faces on the same head which stare always in opposite directions but are inextricably driven by the same brain.'

Vol. 1 was mixed in Berlin by the band's longtime collaborator Jonas Verwijnen.