Yesterday I read the post-punk.com’s best-of-the-last-decade list with big interest. I quite liked their collection of music. Then I thought about how my own personal top-list of dark alternative music of the last ten years would look like, and before I realised it, I was already working on it. Here is what I came up with, 40 great releases (LP or EP) to remember. It was a pleasure to look back, reminisce and relive the 2010s.
Synthpop was never only big in the English speaking world. Almost every European country has developed an interesting synthpop influenced scene in the 80s and 90s, some even “their own personal” Depeche Mode similes.
It’s time for a list of synthpop pearls from East-Central and Eastern Europe, focusing on songs not sung in English. The choice was hard, as the selection is vast and gorgeous. Come with me on a time travel to re-visit a music which once meant the future. Read More →
Just finished watching the recently released second season of Stranger Things on Netflix. As long as the impressions and images are still fresh in my mind I am trying to put my thoughts down here. In case you haven’t watched the series yet, I warn you to do so before reading further, I am trying not to spoiler too much but one or the other thing might slip.
Ever since I was the first time in Ukraine in 2005, I fell in love with the country, its people and its language. It was so different to everything I knew before. The normative basis is not unity, but diversity. Add a rich history with lots of glorious, but also painful moments, add the right amount of poetry and melancholy. Add some music. While most of this music belongs to the pop and folk sector, in the recent years alternatives are on the rise.
Let me introduce to you some alternative bands from Europe’s biggest – yet to many unknown – country.
Kriistal Ann from Rhodes, Greece, became one of the figureheads of synth music in Europe. Active in the darker kind of music since 2007, Ann has a discography of which others can only dream. This busy lady persuades not only her solo career, but part-takes of several other projects and collaborations, most notably Paradox Obscur. Let us hear what Ann has to tell us. Read More →
2016 was in many ways a strange year that will most likely become a marker of big changes, like 1989. We were facing severe geopolitical and sociological changes and lost a whole series of inspiring people like David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Greg Lake and Pete Burns.
But there were also moments of light in 2016. Considering new music it was, actually, great. Like every year I compiled a list of extraordinary songs for you – in no particular order. Read More →
I am very honoured to have today the possibility to chat with two very important music protagonists who are involved actively and passively in the wave movement since the 1980s:
Jeff Gallea from California, known as mastermind behind darkwave/synthpop project Eleven Pond (1986-1987), which he reformed in 2011 due to rising interest of contemporary music fans in their back-then only album ‘Bas Relief’ (1987) – by now this album gained cult-status. Beta Evers from Germany, who has founded several music labels – Kommando 6, Bodyvolt, Venus Noir – and is known for her solo efforts in synth-based music as well as for collaborations with other musicians.
One of these collaborations recently caught my attention, namely the EP ‘Chasms’ by Black Pond which is the common project of Beta and Jeff. Their next record ‘Deepest Chasms’ (Electronic Emergencies) is scheduled for December 5th 2016 – in a few days – which makes this the perfect moment for a little talk. Please enjoy with me the first-ever official interview with Black Pond! Read More →
July 2016 – finally I could make my dream come true: Travel to Northern Italy and meet all the great bands, about which I have been writing for years, in person. Through these I also got to know other musicians from that region.
On July 16th I picked up Cyrene in Ljubljana and together we started our road-trip towards Bologna. The next seven days were filled with meeting fascinating people and listening to their awesome stories. We enjoyed the company of Caron Dimonio, Two Moons, European Ghost, Temple of Venus, BeStrass, Dade City Days, Schonwald/Shad Shadows, Tetrolugosi, Modern Blossom and The Black Veils. The result is the following recording of over an hour. Nothing was scripted, you will see the musicians how they really are. Enjoy! Read More →
Can you imagine a hybrid between Marlene Dietrich and Annie Lennox? A music between the sounds of the Weimar Republic and synthpop? For a short while such a blend existed, in style as well as in music. Most pioneers of synthpop in the late 70s/early 80s were eager to surround themselves with a fog of mystery, but one woman managed to become totally obscure. Perhaps you have never heard of her. Her name is Ronny. Read More →
Wow! 2015 was a great year for alternative dark music. While spending my New Year’s eve in the German capital of Berlin I managed to compile a solid best-of list for you – not without a little help from my friends – thank you!
As there were so many good songs this year I decided to split these into two categories: synth/electro-driven and guitar-based. At this point I want to express my deepest admiration and respect to the featured musicians and their music. Read More →
