Komposi 002 is the 2nd electronica compilation from Chicago, Illinois based, Positron! Records. Industrial band SISTER MACHINE GUN record label that features known and unknown artists doing their own thing. Artists you'll find on disc are Sister Machine Gun, Amish Rake Fight, Beautiful Assassins, Micronaut, Christ Analogue, Manufactura, Impossible Recording Machine, Scanalyzer, Bizarbies, Self Defense Force, Die Warzau and Broken Fabiola. All types of electronic music can be heard here; industrial, techno, drum 'n' bass, trip-hop, ambient, and experimental. It' enough to soothe everyone's taste and worth listening to.

Limited as a 200 copies CD-r, SEQUENCE OR DIE 2 is a compilation of industrial music which explore different faces of the genre by bringing us twelve tracks / bands coming from Japan (Ordinateur,Timisoara, Gestalt, Artificial Lover and PTSD) and from overseas (Murnau, Cold Flesh Colony, Mono No Aware, Converter, Iszoloscope, Proyecto Mirage and Manufactura). If you are into the genre for sure you already know bands such as Converter, Iszoloscope, Murnau, etc as they have already released something for the most well known industrial labels (Hands and Ant Zen) but the cool thing about SEQUENCE OR DIE 2 is to be able of listening to new bands coming from Japan.You know, this land has always been a fertile ground for extreme experiences (music, movies, etc). Of the Japanese lot I liked Ordinateur (his "Clipping Dark Water Surface" is like a deranged '80s game tune brought to its extreme distortion), Timisoara (minimal organ layers create intricated and tense web of sounds) and Artificial Lover (here concrete music made of guitar cut ups are mixed with noises and distorted drums). All the tracks are worth the listening but I really appreciated the effort of the new bands that are trying to bring a new approach towards sound experimentation.

PTI- S.O.S. EP long awaited. This is by far one of the coolest EPS i have heard, liked this band so much I booked them right away from just downloading one track from their website. This is one of the better Chicago based bands. Consisting of Eric Dusik and Phil Fox who share equally in PTI's vocals and song writing. Eric Lucke rounds out the live performances and is given the high title of Live Eye Candy, these are the counterparts that make up this great band. We begin with Track two, "Icons" that is going to be a worldwide dance hit in the near future. Icons breathes life into the lifelessness of the same mediocrity we are used to with newer music. This track goes way beyond to keep your interest going. Hard agression wrapped around witty lyrics, singing, "you worship your false icons." with clever samples and a nonstop break beat that feeds your soul. We see this track having the potential of becoming an new electronic anthem for the near future. We proceed next with "Core" singing, "gave my life to the bottom line, no more lies as I make it mine", set to laser beams screaming at you denoting war is everywhere. The next track "Tunnel Vision (track five) was remixed by the one and only Tom Shear from Assemblage 23. Very moving track, nice electro soundscapes flowing as Eric sings, "My eyes tunnel vision, raging violence as far as I can see, what strength will pull me away." I found myself dancing in my chair typing this to this catchy tune and you will find youself dancing in motion, no matter where you are. Track 7, Smoke was the one that truely poked at my psyche. Phil sings, " one day the skies will clear, i'll find you , trust me, i'm sure you'll find me," a very dark love song sung under deep dark sequences that pull you in like a undertow, into another time dimension. This band was designed to put ideas in your head, never let you forget them and let them out sometime to try them out. By far one of the most innovative newer bands that are working towards becoming something truely great. Look for a full length album coming out soon and they will be playing at The Bottom Lounge, 3206 W. Wilton in Chicago, Illinois on February 11th, 2004 with 12 Stitches and Dixie Flatline. 4 stars

Gothic/New Wave band The Cruxshadows is back with a brand new cd titled "Ethernaut." I saw them last year in November, 2003 at the Highnote Lounge and their performance was a superb. They performed a couple of tracks off their current incredible release along with their previous "Wishfire." "Ethernaut" have a futuristic electronic feel. Some of the tracks are very keen and also lean on the ebm side. Alot of good songs that's able to attract attention from the club goers and underground radio listeners; "Into The Ether", "Cassandra", "Love And Hatred", "Winter Born (This Sacrifice)", "Citadel" and "East", which have an Egyptian atmosphere sound. The disc contains bonus hidden tracks. Since I have only the promo copy, the full version comes with a 24 page booklet full of photos and text. The Cruxshadows fans will not be disappointed.

Founded in early 90's, Dvar produced several releases but they haven't been really prolific as RAKHILIM is only their third full lenght album after "Dvar", "Raii", the retrospective "Piirrah" and several mini. I never heard of them but their is a particular style as they mix darwave, classical music orchestrations and something that could remember circus music. The result is really theatrical and the twenty tracks form an ipotetic soundtrack good for a freak show. Vocals are the most strange thing about this album as it seems there aren't proper lyrics or an usual use of vocals, most of the time is like there's a child crying and this underline the most dramatic passages. The titles of the tracks add some mystery to the whole work as I can't imagine what "Rakhilim", "Ieroh", "Naakhiil" or "Tavirim" mean. Doing a search on Google I found that Dvar is related to Torah and hebraism, so this could be a clue: a russian band interested in Kabbala which write their lyrics using yiddish language... If you have a chance and if you are looking for something particular in the Sopor Aeternus' vein, check this out!