When the Sun sears the surface of Venus – radiation turning everything into vapour or stone, eating away at matter with energy that can tear electrons away from atoms – this is what it sounds like. When your soul is pulled apart by pain, and consciousness is agony, this is what it sounds like. Hear it now without the need for interplanetary travel or psychic trauma.
Track of the Day
Malmö’s Måns F.G. Thunberg is best known for his work in film, but as a sideline he produces engaging and catchy electronic music. This song borrows its title from the famous declaration by US President John Kennedy, in a Cold War speech, that he is a yeast doughnut filled with jam and sprinkled with icing sugar. We couldn’t resist the song or the reference.
Gudrun Gut has been a force in Berlin’s music scene since the early 1980s. She was an early member of Einstürzende Neubauten and a key member of the groups Mania D, Malaria! and Matador. As a DJ, Gut continues to promote new music with flair. This track comes from her Wildlife album.
Soon to be released on vinyl through Stockholm’s FlexiWave label, Case Unclear is an ice-cold minimal synth track from Silent Em. New York’s Jean Lorenzo is Silent Em, and he strips down and dries out his songs until they are tense, fragile shards of sound. The crackle of snares in this track is set off nicely by the dark vocal line.
It’s the battle of the Visages: Steve Strange has pulled together a new album under the monicker, but band cofounder and DJ Rusty Egan disputes its authenticity as a Visage product, when it includes only Strange from the original line-up. This is a trademark dispute that can’t be resolved by music fans, but it is no contest when it comes to comparing recent releases – Egan has the edge. This track has been produced separately by both Strange and Egan, so fans can make their own comparison.
Television is a common reference point for electronic music. Mute Records’ Daniel Miller’s early projects often made critical points about its influence (for example, T.V.O.D. by The Normal or TV Playtime by Silicon Teens). Karlskrona’s Kord also have some thoughts, as revealed on this exemplary cold electronic track.
Dreamy, hook-laden pop from Julian & Marina, that would not be out of place on a Pet Shop Boys album. They’ll get tired of being told that; but, so long as the PSB are singing the newspapers instead of making elegant pop songs, this is the real deal.