The Legendary Pink Dots are back with their highly anticipated new album. Chemical Playschool is a concept in which more then ever an indulgence in extended ballads and psychedelic improvisations allows Edward Ka-Spel’s voice to engage us with his unique brand of storytelling, and the use of synthesizers brings to mind vintage space rock adapted for the modern age.
The album opens with the beautifully epic “Immaculate Conception” where Ka-Spel transports us into a world of stars and planets surrounded by voices and distant echos. In “The Opium Den Parts 1-3″ we find a melancholy piece with classic LPD folk essence, arriving then at the ritual tribal ballad “Ranting and Raving”.
Chemical Playschool is able to surpass all of our expectations for a band always able to surprise as they lead us through their peculiar dream world. A truly inspired release representing one of the most beautiful concepts created by this eclectic and mythic band.
Historically, released in 2007, 'four' was the ep interlacing the last two albums Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio put out on cold meat industry, and an augury of the popularity the band would subsequently achieve with their quality blend of neofolk, martial industrial and melodic compositions - and the first time tomas pettersson would use his distinct voice to sing rather than recite.
'four' constituted the first output on the raubbau label, and upon its release the original vinyl picture disc edition almost instantly sold out. so it comes as no surprise that there has been a high demand to make these tracks available again to ordo rosarius equilibrio's ever-growing following, and raubbau now gives in to public interest and presents a fully remastered and largely expanded cd version of 'four' incl. remixes by Mikael Stastrand, Empusae, Arcana, Thirteenth Exile, Fredrik Leijstrm, Tarmvred, Geneviève Pasquier, Xotox and Spiral69!
'three times four' sets a fine example of what a rerelease/remix album should be about, adding surprising new aspects to the basic material. the approaches applied by the remixers are quite diverse, nevertheless there is a constant level of quality and originality that ensures a coherent, satisfactory listening. see, there are really more than just four shades of darkness
While the earlier Lustmord album 'Heresy' gave birth to the dark ambient genre, it is 'The Place Where The Black Stars Hang' that defines it. It's a work regularly cited by critics, audiences and musicians as being amongst the very best and most influential albums of its decade. Lustmord's sound investigations are exquisitely crafted manifestations of horror that balance sublime sound references with the body's natural queasiness about ultra-low frequencies.
His seamless treatments of acoustic phenomena encased in digitally expanded bass rumbles have the darkly ambient quality of nightmares that take you to the blackest of abysses. 'Black Stars' was perfectly remastered in 2006 and it is that version that is represented here.
The differences are subtle yet powerful, giving the album a more nuanced feeling of space and detail than ever before. Oft imitated, but never equaled, Lustmord: the power of sound.
Packaged in a heavy gatefold card sleeve with silver foil lettering.
On time for the release of Depeche Mode's 13th album "Delta Machine" in March 2013, Collapse Under The Empire shows their respect and covers the instrumental track "Stjarna", probably known only to fans, from the B-side of the single "Little 15". Collapse Under The Empire regards Depeche Mode as one of the most influential bands on their music, and present the atmospheric track in a new light.
The single including the B-side will be available in all online stores on 22th March.2013. Anyone who leaves their e-mail address can download the track "Stjarna" for free on the band's website or via the widget till the official release date. The track "'Stjarna" can also be heard on the 6-track EP "The Silent Cry", to be released on 2013-04-19. The EP can already pre-ordered on the band’s website.
Collapse Under The Empire thus shorten the wait time for the long-awaited second part of the concept work, "Sacrifice & Isolation", which will appear in October 2013.
Click here for the free single download.
EP PRE-ORDER: www.collapseundertheempire.com/shop/pre-order/
Moddi is Pål Moddi Knutsen. I am 26 years and come from the island of Senja in Norway. His debut album Floriography was released in 2010 and was nominated for two Norwegian Grammies. The same year he got a scholarship from the Norwegian pop group A-ha to spread the music around the world. After 250 concerts and two years of touring he took a break from touring while writing the new album.
Set the House on Fire is his second album, although he never really intended to make another. After his first, Floriography, he felt completely drained. Even more the two hundred and fifty concerts had worn the melodies out. Every day of touring was a routine. He was tired.
Moddi took a break – a long one. Between the trees of Telemark, as far away from both the continent and the sea as he could get, he found peace of mind. And with that the music he came back again. In the basement of the dorm he found a shower made out of concrete with a galactic sound. He made his first song in over two years there. He had to learn how to write again. Slowly, almost imperceptible, the melodies came floating, one by one. He scribbled the pages of his diary black. Every place, every day, every thought got its own song. And the songs kept growing: The last one was finished just the day before the recording started.
When he made Floriography everything was planned in detail. This time he had no idea about where he was going. Often he had to start anew, set fire to what he had built. Some songs needed care and silence, some needed play and laughter into the early hours. The band recorded Silhouette on their own – it was'nt even supposed to be on the album – while he was sleeping on the first floor, completely worn out.
From London came Kari Kamrud Jahnsen of Farao to sing on Run to the Water. The other voice (that which is not mine) on Silhouette belongs to Einar Stray. Everywhere producer Hasse Rosbach has scattered the sounds from his magical boxes and thingies. Together with them, and with many more, Set the House on Fire grew to be what it is: An album that first and foremost is about having the courage to find new ways. Moddi thanks you for listening!
Dates from Moddi in Belgium:
13/04 Genk, C-Mine
14/04 Brussels, Botanique
