“There is no Berlin Wall to defiantly dance on anymore.”
“We live in dark, confusing times and COVENANT wrote an album about how that makes us feel. In a world that has stopped making sense, we need to learn how to see in the dark, and 'The Blinding Dark' is a triumphant embrace of the strengths and resilience of the sould. It’s the dystopian, unforgiving music of the reflective shadows we all carry within us, but often lack the courage to take a good look at. It's implosive instead of explosive, fueled by cold fury rather than a roaring fire, as beautiful as a collapsed star.” (Joakim Montelius)
'The Blinding Dark', COVENANTs 9th studio album to be released November 4th, 2016, is exciting not only because of its compelling title, but also since it shows a remarkable development in style, something that COVENANT decidedly wanted to do with this record – and not least thanks to the subject matter they address. The Swedish/German outfit has perhaps just delivered their artistically most ambitious album yet.
The advance single „Sound Mirrors“ already insinuated that COVENANT are delving more deeply into their subject matter than on previous albums: Said sound mirrors were anti-aircraft installations made of concrete along the British coast between WWI and the mid-1930s, serving as a parable on the panic and denial of the tide of refugees that is manifest in Europe, including COVENANTs home country Sweden: However, the prophetic lines on the advance single were only the introducing chapter of this album, which is wholly dedicated to confronting the dark side of the individual self.
Watch the video “Making Of Sound Mirrors” here!
It’s also a new chapter for COVENANT. The trio that became a quintet (featuring Andreas Catjar, Daniel Jonasson, Joakim Montelius, Daniel Myer and Eskil Simonsson) hasn’t sounded this dark, moody and on target since their legendary 2nd album 'Sequencer' twenty-two years ago. Yet there is nothing nostalgic about 'The Blinding Dark'. It steers like a probing Nautilus through black waters, straight towards the future, never looking back.
“The Blinding Dark” will be available in four editions. Standard CD, 3LP (incl. download code for album and exclusive song material, printed inner sleeve, 180g PVC protection sleeve, limited to 500 copies), Artbook 2CD (hardcover, 48pages, incl. 6 bonus tracks, limited to 1.500 copies) and Complete Box Edition (incl. Artbook 2cd, 3LP, photo prints and signed certificate, limited to 500 copies).
FenixFire Records is a new label under the wings of the ASG Group. The ASG Group, which also takes care of AgeOfLove, Cherry Moon and many others releases, has become the parent label and the musical services provider for the FenixFire Records output. It is the first label will focus on new and unpublished work in the "New Beat" style. In addition to the initial and first release on Thursday November 10th, there will also be the first label night with main act Q'pNz Live, one of the artists who produced a track for this first release.
New Beat, a style that has his origins in Belgium, surfaced at the end of the 80s, as a true mix-style in iconic Belgian clubs like AB, Prestige, Boccaccio, LaRocca, Cafe d'Anvers, 55, Dixies … A style that conquered the world when is was transferred in to tracks and released on vinyl on a massive scale. A number of record labels even still owe their reputation and existence to that style and period. Think of USA Import, R & S, Target Records, Antler (-Subway) and NEWS.
In recent years, there is clearly a revival of this ancient style. The TSOB (The Sound Of Belgium) movie release some years ago has only confirmed this trend and since parties are emerging everywhere while DJs and clubbers who were even too young to have experienced this late 80’s vibe seem to dig the sound of New Beat. According to FenixFire Records this means there is a new generation that loves the sound and homages those old pearls. It also means that musicians and producers feel like reviving this almost forgotten sounds and style again.
So New Beat is back, as if it was never gone!
FinixFire Records is ready to fill the gab between audience, musicians and music industry.
That’s why they will release their first EP 'Fashion Victims' on November 11th.
We all know, back then, New Beat became out of fashion because many producers saw an opportunity to make easy money which resulted in what seemed almost a carnival joke.
FenixFire Records tells us they will not make that mistake! The sound of Fenix Fire sits somewhere between early techno, house and EBM in. Some artists on the label coming out of the Electric Body Music scene while others come from the Techno scene.
So the New Beat style is back, in all its glory! The first release includes 4 catchy songs produced by these four artists: Shimanski Beats, Pakrac, Q'pNz and Human Nil. Shimanski Beats is a Ghent-based project dedicated to uniting the sounds of analog and digital synthesizers with a groove. Pakrac is a vinyl collector, DJ, promoter and producer who started in the EBM and New Beat scene, later shifted to (hard) Trance and Techno but now returning to his roots. Q'pnZ is a one man Techno project (Dendermonde, B) familiar with all forms of Techno but now specializes in old school New Beat. Finally, Human Nil is the reincarnation of the Industrial Electro band MDMA.
Next to the digital release, there will also be 300 red colored vinyls are on store shelves. ‘Fashion Victims will be available from December 2 in all major vinyl shops and local record stores and on all major digital download platforms.
So on the first FenixFire Records label night, November 10th, you can witness a live performance of Q-PNZ and dance to DJ sets of Double B, Max La Menace and Aimé Le Chevalier.
If you buy a VIP ticket you will not only get access to this event but you will also receive a goodie bag including the first release on vinyl!
The event takes place in the vaulted basement of the Arena (Deurne, Antwerp, B), a great location with a free parking close by. The number of places is limited.
Samples from the release can be listend to on Soundcloud.
FenixFire Records brengt New Beat terug tot leven!
Eerste label-night in de gewelfde Arena kelders, Deurne op donderdag, 10 november!
FenixFire Records is een nieuw platenlabel onder de vleugels van de ASG-Group. De ASG-Group die ook de releases van AgeOfLove, CherryMoon en vele anderen verzorgt, wordt het parent label en de musical services provider van FenixFire Records. Het is het eerste label dat zich zal toeleggen op het uitgeven van nieuw en onuitgegeven werk binnen de stijl 'New Beat'. Naast een eerste release, is er op donderdag 10 november ook een eerste label-night met als hoofd-act Q’pNz Live, één van de artiesten die een track leverde voor die eerste release.
New Beat, deze stijl van eigen bodem, is bekend geworden op het einde van de jaren 80, als een mix-stijl in iconische discotheken zoals AB, Prestige, Boccaccio, LaRocca, Café D'Anvers, 55, Dixies,... en later op vinyl uitgebracht met groot wereldwijd succes. Een aantal platenlabels is er mee groot geworden, of hebben hun reputatie te danken aan die periode. We denken aan USA Import, R&S, Target Records, Antler(-Subway), NEWS,...
De voorbije jaren is er duidelijk een revival van deze oude stijl. De film TSOB heeft deze trend alleen maar bevestigd en nu duiken er overal parties op waarop ook dj’s en clubbers die te jong waren om 'het' te hebben meegemaakt hun gading vinden. Dat betekent dat er nu een nieuwe generatie is die vooral als eerbetoon op zoek gaat naar die oude parels. Dat betekent ook dat er muzikanten en producers terug muziek maken met kenmerken uit de NewBeat. Nieuwe NewBeat. Want NewBeat is terug, alsof het nooit helemaal weg was.
Die open ruimte tussen publiek, muzikanten én muziekindustrie, probeert FenixFire Records nu op te vullen. Ze brengen in november een eerste EP 'Fashion Victims' genaamd op de markt. New Beat raakte vroeger uit de mode doordat ze haar ziel verkocht aan de platte commerce en uitmondde in wat bijna een carnavalsgrap leek. Die fout willen ze niet herhalen. De sound van FenixFire zit ergens tussen vroege techno, house en ebm in. Sommige
artiesten op het label komen uit die Electric Body Music scene en andere uit de techno.
Zo staat het genre er vandaag in al zijn glorie terug. De eerste release bevat 4 aanstekelijke nummers van 4 artiesten: Shimanski Beats, Pakrac, Q’pNz en Human Nihil. Shimanski Beats is een in Gent gebaseerd project dat zich toelegt op het verenigen van de sounds uit analoge en digitale synthesizers met een groove en daarbij terugvalt op zowel de klassieke sounds als eigentijdse elementen. Pakrac is een vinyl verzamelaar, dj, promoter en producer die startte in de EBM en New Beat, later overging naar (hard)trance en techno en nu terugkeert naar zijn roots. Q’pnZ is een éénmans techno project uit Dendermonde dat alle vormen van techno omvat maar gespecialiseerd is old school New Beat. Human Nihil tenslotte is de reïncarnatie van de industriële electro band MDMA. Het wordt een digitale release, maar er zullen ook 300 roodgekleurde vinyls in de winkelrekken liggen. De plaat is verkrijgbaar vanaf 2 december in alle major vinyl shops en lokale platenzaken en de digitale versie op alle grote download platformen.
Op 10 november houdt FenixFireRecords haar eerste label-night met een Live optreden van Q-pNz en dj-sets van Double B, Max La Menace en Aimé Le Chevalier. Met een VIP-ticket krijg je niet alleen toegang maar ook de eerste release op vinyl in een goodiebag. Het event vindt plaats in de gewelfde kelder van Arena, een top-locatie met gratis parking voor de deur. Het aantal plaatsen is gelimiteerd!
Stukjes uit de release kunnen voorbeluisterd worden op Soundcloud.
Klik hier voor meer info over de FenixFire Records labelnight te Deurne op 10 November.
Pre-Front 242 project Underviewer releases first single form their upcoming album 'Wonders & Monsters'
As diehard F242 ranters probably well know, the Brussels-based artists Patrick Codenys and Jean-Luc De Meyer used to work together as a duo since 1978 under the UNDERVIEWER moniker, using a bass, synthesizers, rhythm boxes and a tape recorder… So before joining FRONT 242 in 1981 and devoting several decades to this band,
Dormant for over 30 years, UNDERVIEWER recently recovered tracks from their early 4-track tape recordings or even recreated some of them by meticulously reusing the same vintage machines, to prepare the release in December 2016 of their forthcoming full length album “Wonders & Monsters”.
Today they released “Nobody But You”, a 2-track single that will make you fall under the poisonous charm of UNDERVIEWER’s minimal electro pop-wave carried by the distinctive and matchless voice of Jean-Luc De Meyer and fueled by Patrick Codenys’ sharp and modern production style.
UNDERVIEWER will present their 'Wonder & Monsters' for the first time and live on BIMFEST XV - DAY 1 - Friday December 16th in De Casino (St-Niklaas, Belgium) )together with Suicide Commando, Dive and Super Dragon Punch!
Læther Strip releases new track 'Filling The Graves' (Official Video) taken from the upcoming new album 'Spæctator'
Song taken from the NEW Leæther Strip Album "Spæctator" that will be released by rustblade.com on Vinyl/CD/Digital worldwide November 18th 2016.
Video directed by Dustin Ferguson words/music by Claus Larsen
Websites: https://www.leaether-strip.com & https://www.facebook.com/LeaetherStrip/
Dependent releases 'Everything', the definitive collection of Seabound's work to date!
"Everything" is the definitive collection of Seabound's work to date. The deluxe box set contains every Seabound track ever released (incl. rare demo material) spread across fourteen 180g heavyweight vinyl LPs and collected as lossless digital wav files on a DVD.
The lavish set contains a 96-page hardcover book including lyrics, photos, artwork, personal notes from the band as well as a foreword by German cult radio host Ecki Stieg. Each box comes with a certificate of authenticity, hand-numbered and signed by Martin and Frank. "Everything" is strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide.
For more information, tracklist and purchase please click here.
