Yet another (I got 5 CD’s at once to review from these guys) strange excursion into ambent and industrial territory from Flesh Made Word, this time by Starving Cell. After the onslaught by the Antigen Shift/Detrirus CD, the opening calm is a weird shift of mood, but it switches over to an odd paced breakbeat rhythm ala Hexer (Haujobb side project), with a strange echoed reverb through the back mixing in with it. The sound kinda reminds me of a heavier version of Autechre’s "Confield" both having an odd time signature and rhythm pattern. The whole CD has a weird cross between from drum n bass striahgt and true to rhythmic noise, sometimes crossing and crashing into one another within seconds. That is one thing I learned to love about Haujobb, and now in the Flesh Made Word sound: that these artists have the same rhythm and drum lines for no ore than 20 seconds. Rating: 9.

Completely ambient journey of sound from yet another Flesh Made Word artist, this time focusing on atmosphere. The atmosphere through this whole CD is very laid back, focusing on just reverbs and a rather melancholy atmosphere, all washing over you after the first few listens through a comfortable set of repetition and drones. I’d advise waiting until sundown before you put this in and relax a bit. Track 3 would have to be my favorite, with it’s game of ‘watch the little blip run through these different atmospheres". It reminds me of the cloud sequence in the anime Robot Carnival. Rating: 8.

Even if the title of this compilation is referred to a Depeche Mode's album fortunately this ISN'T a tribute CD. This compilation presents sixteen bands that you may not be aware of but for sure if you are a synthpop lover this low price CD (at the moment the label is selling it for the ridiculous price of 4.16$!) could mean somethig. In this years synthpop bands are growing and are releasing valuable songs even if it's tough to get exposure they keep on struggling. There are some labels you can count on if you love these sounds and Ninthwave is one of them because they love these sounds as much as you do. I liked each of the sixteen bands/songs which sounds are going from Erasure (see Shane Savant or Mark Lane with his minimal "The Walloon Love Song") passing to electro pop with ebm veins (The Sepia with their frightening "Stutter" or the Low Technicians with "Random Event") just to arrive to New Order (the voice of the Macondo reminded me about them). The quality of the tracks is really high and I'd like to invite you to purchase this release because: the price is absurd, you could know sixteen new cool bands, you could support the underground scene and finally you could please your ears with sixty five minutes of electronic delicatessen!

Hehe I always love data tracks, esp. when they have videos on them, as is the case with this one (do download a Quicktime Player if you don’t have one though). Add to that it being a video with yet another deadly gorgeous Italian lead singer (they’re everywhere around me nowadays. I’m not one to complain though ;-) ! ), all set to a gorgeous black and white Euro style video, and I am a happy man. Their sound to me is akin to La Floa Maldita, which is no small compliment considering that LFM is one of my fave groups. The classical style of playing though in this is just as apparent, if not totally by sound. And the lead singer’s voice has a cool, relaxed tone to it, not trying the harpy call of a lot off ethereal style singers. Track 4,"Space White Roses" is my favorite on the CD, with a laid back ambient feel to it, ala Chandeen, and it’s whispered and reverbed vocals. Even some sax in this already healthy mix. Track 5, "Daphne" has more of the same cool night ambience, with some sax and sensual vocals layered on top of it. Pretty good CD,overall. Rating:8.

The latest from Shikhee and her band of merry men dives, as you could tell from my interview with her (my first ever!), into more organic territory versus the infamously cold and desolate world of AL. At times compared to Oneiroid Psychosis, this can be quite misleading, as her atmosphere is not as dense or as desolate as that of Oneiroid, but more danceable. Live drumming is the most obvious addition to the sound as well as untreated vocals this time around (I actually found her distorted vocals quite charming! uuurrrgh). I’m still bigger on the older work of AL, but this is not a bad choice, though. If you complained before about them being too cold (which I love about them), then this is a good start to converting you over to their sound. My favorite on here is "Another Void" which is the darkest track on here, following with Shikhee’s innocent sounding screams of pain. Rating: 9.