Review: The Retrosic – God Of Hell

Review: The Retrosic – God Of Hell
By

THE RETROSIC GOD OF HELL Metropolis 4.5/5 Prepare yourself for another new act storming into the U.S. industrial scene. The Retrosic has already been named #1 in the German Alternative Charts, “Album of the Month” in several music magazines and the winner of several “soundchecks.” The comparisons are obviously going to be of Wumpscut (even

Review: Soul Magic – Yah Yah

Review: Soul Magic – Yah Yah
By

SOUL MAGIC “YAH YAH” Soulfuric Deep With releases on Swing City and Morehouse, this man can do no wrong. Soul Magic, a.k.a. Morten Trust, has been producing and DJ-ing on the international house scene for more than a decade. From an early age, Trust has played in bands and eventually progressed into one of the

Review: Strange Boutique – The Collection 1988-1994

Review: Strange Boutique – The Collection 1988-1994
By

STRANGE BOUTIQUE THE COLLECTION 1988-1994 Metropolis Faith and the Muse is certainly a fine band with their ethereal rock and theatricality, but I’ve always felt that Monica Richards’ best work was locked in a secret capsule called Strange Boutique. The sound isn’t all that far removed from Faith and the Muse; I always felt like

Review: Seek – Everafter

Review: Seek – Everafter
By

SEEK “EVERAFTER” (REMIXES) GoGo Music Seek originally released this album in late 2000 on Giant Step Records, this latest interpretation is right on target with the soul-disco era of house music. As GoGo Records continue to release more quality house, this adds a timeless vibe to the label’s catalogue. The “Ralf Gum & Crisp” mixes

Review: Rachel Goswell – Waves are Universal

Review: Rachel Goswell – Waves are Universal
By

RACHEL GOSWELL WAVES ARE UNIVERSAL 4AD Rachel Goswell: You might not recognize the name, but I’d have a hard time believing that someone who has any interest in my column wouldn’t have heard her voice in either Slowdive or Mojave 3. Her solo debut is as stunning as Neil Halstead’s (also in both previously mentioned

Review: Punto Omega – Self-Title

Review: Punto Omega – Self-Title
By

PUNTO OMEGA Self-Title Metropolis 3/5 The spread of industrial angst has reached Argentina and has brought with it Punto Omega (that translates to “Omega Point”). Viator and Pilgrim, the duo known as Punto Omega, only recently started this project in 2002. It took hardly any time for L’lame Immortelle’s Thomas Rainer to discover them and

Review: Peccatum – Lost In Reverie

Review: Peccatum – Lost In Reverie
By

Peccatum Lost in Reverie The End Records Norway’s Peccatum are back four years after their last album, Amor Fati, with Lost In Reverie. This album was written and performed by Ihsahn (Emperor) and Ihriel (Star Of Ash), with guest musicians providing additional drums, percussion and vocals on some of the tracks. This album covers everything

Review: Nicki Jane – Of Pigeons and Other Curiosities

Review: Nicki Jane – Of Pigeons and Other Curiosities
By

NICKI JANE OF PIGEONS AND OTHER CURIOSITIES Shaman Yes, it is comforting to know that there is still enough space in the world for a little dark cabaret. On Of Pigeons and Other Curiosities, Nicki Jane swings around her guitar or piano with a bitter assurance reminiscent of Nick Cave. Through restraint, she’s more subtle

Review: Midlake – Bamnan and Slivercork

Review: Midlake – Bamnan and Slivercork
By

MIDLAKE BAMNAN AND SLIVERCORK Bella Union Typically, Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins) and his lovely Bella Union record label release quality albums. Bamnan and Slivercork from Midlake is quite easily the worst lazy clone of a Flaming Lips release that you could ever imagine. It’s detached without any sense of purpose other than to remind me that

Review: Le Concorde – EP

Review: Le Concorde – EP
By

LE CONCORDE EP Space Kitty It is always a pleasant surprise when a CD bears a sticker telling of guest artists featured within and you ultimately realize the band sticker is underselling the talent and potential of the band. Sure, the appearance of the Psychedelic Fur’s guitarist, John Ashton, and their saxophone player, Mars Williams,