Dark ambient act IN THE ABSENCE OF WORDS has announced the release of the first of two compilations, A Collection I.

A Collection I is a compilation of six long-form dark ambient works by IN THE ABSENCE OF WORDS, which have been carefully selected to complement each other and to create a single immersive listening experience. Each track was originally released individually on Bandcamp between 2017 and 2019 and each has been remastered and assembled specifically for this compilation.

A Collection I was released on April 23, 2021 on Spotify and Bandcamp. A Collection II will be released towards the end of 2021, comprising the more melodic, song-oriented works from the catalog.

"There are certain experiences, moments, and feelings which I cannot describe. Whether it's stark and dramatic landscapes, the serenity and solitude of the forest, connection with another human being, or the grief of losing one, sometimes it's hard to find the words to express the feeling."

“Inspiration always comes from a feeling or an emotion, which is then transmuted and expressed through music as a way to process and ultimately transcend it and gain a deeper knowledge of self. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the original 12 chapters, which were recorded over one year, represented an inner journey. The first chapter was recorded during the most challenging period of my life, while by the time I recorded the final chapter, I arrived at a place of peace and solitude. Though personal, the themes and their associated emotions are also universal.”

www.facebook.com/intheabsenceofwords

On this day, 39 years ago, the Virgin Prunes released the stand-alone single Pagan Lovesong. It was originally released as 7” and 12” only by Rough Trade Records on 30 April 1982. Although it was a relative succes, reaching the UK indie chart’s 13th position, the songs of this release were not included on their upcoming debut album If I Die, I Die (November 1982). It was not only until the re-release of that album on CD (1990) Pagan Lovesong was included on the album. For the 12” and almost 7 minutes lasting version of Pagan Lovesong, the so called ‘Vibeakimbo’ version, and b-side ‘Dave is Dead’, the fans had to wait until the single was re-released as an CD single by New Rose Records in 1993. Then again, this CD-single didn’t fear the original single version edit but instead a slightly longer ‘Tormentallama’ version, exclusive to this release until today.

Pagan Lovesong (Lyrics)

Heathen, a pagan
No sun shines for me
Savage but gentle
The animal within
And I see it now
And I see it now

I had a weird dream
Watch but don't touch
I had a weird dream
I'm taking it away

Put it in a bag, hide it in a tree
Put it in a bag, hide it in a tree
I want to steal your heart, your heart
With these eyes I cannot see
And this cold heart never bleeds, never, oh no, never
Sweet smell this poison, the colour you bring
Tongue swollen venom, to touchâ?¦to love

And I see it now
And I see, see it now
I had a weird dream
Watch but don't touch
I had a weird dream
I'm taking it away
Put it in a bag, hide it in a tree
Put it in a bag, hide it in a tree

I want to steal your heart
I want to eat, eat your heart

I reach for the sky but never, never can touch
It seems so easy, easy to me
Still I cannot, will not take this thing

Hearsay, this heresy
A victim to sin
Eternal the torment, the answer lies within

I had a weird dream watch but don't touch
I had a weird dream I'm taking it away

The love you give is the love, the love you get, you get

Songwriters: David Kelly / Trevor Rowen / Richard Evans / David Watson / Gavin Friday / Derek Rowen

Pagan Lovesong - 7" single (RT 106)

a. Pagan Lovesong – 3:28
b. Dave-Id Is Dead – 4:17

Pagan Lovesong - 12" single (12 RT 106)

A. Pagan Lovesong (Vibeakimbo) 6:49
B1.Pagan Lovesong 3:28
B2. Dave-Id Is Dead 4:17

Pagan Lovesong - CD single (New Rose Records - 1993)

1. Pagan Lovesong (Tormentallama) 4:51
2. I Like the Way You're Frightened 8:25
3. Pagan Lovesong (Vibeakimbo) 6:49
4. Dave-Id Is Dead 4:18

DISCOGS

Canadian DJ & Multi-Instrumentalist JHNN has unleashed his highly-anticipated new album, StereoTYP.

StereoTYP is a personal dark album redefining the definition of what it means to be a walking "StereoTYP" who enjoys different kinds of music.

For fans of: NINE INCH NAILS, BOY HARSHER & DANIEL AVERY.

JHNN says regarding the album:

"Basically the album was made from 2016 - 2020 and it's about my biggest pet peeve of society which is the existence of StereoTYPs. It only scratched the surface of what I like to talk about; what it means to be a black man who just likes, is not afraid of experimenting, and making synth pop without being too expressive. I wanted to have fun as well and I wanted to get the point across. I also wanted to show all my sides of trying to cope like in the song "Darkness Will Always Be There", the fact that all the people in power won't matter; "Children Are The Future", dealing with being anxious "The Warning/Warfare" and some views on religion "Greatest Lie."

www.facebook.com/JHNNbook

A new era is about to dawn for Blutengel with "Erlösung - The Victory of Light". Blutengel and their music is an individual attitude and confession of belief - almost a religion of its very own! Never before did Blutengel release so many German songs on an album as this time. Allied with the artwork of Stefan Heilemann (Heilemania), Blutengel will seduce you entirely into their world. The light is followed by the darkness and the darkness by the light. An eternal cycle ignites in "Erlösung (Redemption) - The Victory of Light" and takes the listener into the realm of Blutengel.

Already in the gripping first single - sung in German and English - "The Victory of Light" the light shows us the way. Electronic sound, raw, futuristic - in combination with the irresistible appeal to dance and epic rousing choruses, the album reveals a true anthem potential. By the time we can fully enjoy the album, we are called to hit "Repeat" for the single(s), which conveys the prevailing message, especially at this time.

Watch the first music video "The Victory on Light" from the upcoming album "Erlösung - The Victory of Light" at the bottom of this page!

The concept and the story were penned by Chris Pohl.

The music clip was filmed and edited by Annie Bertram.

_____________________________________

Auf in die Zukunft

Auf ins Licht

Wir werden kämpfen – Tag für Tag

Denn das ist unsere Zeit!

This is the Victory of Light

_____________________________________

"We are the light! The light will win!" says Blutengel mastermind Chris Pohl. "The light can also be interpreted as redemption in the sense of death - you see the light into which you shall leave...", taking this into account, Chris describes the collective transition into infinity herein.... Be it as it shall be: In the end, there is the LIGHT!

The brand new Blutengel album "Erlösung - The Victory Of Light" will be released worldwide on July 16th, 2021, via Out Of Line Music as a CD and as a double CD in a digipak with 8 bonus tracks. For vinyl enthusiasts, there will be a double vinyl in the colors turquoise and transparent. As a collector's item, the double vinyl comes also as a 180g "glow in the dark" (a vinyl that illuminates in the dark) and is exclusively available in Out Of Line's store. All Vinyls come including a download code and are strictly limited. For the very first time, a Blutengel album will also be available on a limited cassette (MC). For the authentic cassette retro feeling. And to fight the tape clutter, there will be an imprinted pencil to go with it (exclusively available in the Out Of Line Shop). And the highlight is a limited box set. Besides the double CD in digipak the box contains the exclusive bonus CD "A World Beyond", the photo book "Erlösung - The Complete Story" (a book with the complete lyrics & excl. pictures by Annie Bertram) in a DIN A5 format, a keychain with a LED flashlight and a very special hologram sticker with the Blutengel logo.

On this day, 18 ago (28 April 2003), Wire released their tenth studio album Send. It was their first recording, with the original four piece line-up, since the Manscape (1990). Drummer Robert Gotobed quit after the release of Manscape because he felt the musical direction of Wire increasingly relied too much on drum machines and loops. It was also the first full-length release by any incarnation of the group since 1991! The album contains seven songs previously released in 2002 on the EPs Read & Burn 01 and Read & Burn 02, and four songs exclusive to this release.

The initial first 2000 mail-order copies of the album came with a bonus live album WIRE - Metro, Chicago, 14 September 2002. Reportedly this inclusion was made to boost the sellings since the majority of the tracks on Send had already been released as the two Read & Burn EPs.

The album was critically acclaimed by many music magazines and received an overall 4/5 star quotation.

The British music magazine Mojo ranked Send at 10 on their best albums of 2003 list. The album also scores 84/100 on the Metacritic website, signifying "universal acclaim".

Send (Original 2003 Digi-Pack CD tracklist)

DISCOGS

Wire

Colin Newman
Graham Lewis
Bruce Gilbert
Robert Grey (aka Robert Gotobed)