If you read my review of the Yazoo's tribute CD you should already know David Mahr's name. There he covered "Mr. Blue" while on this three tracks single he gives his treatment to "Only You". David did a version similar to the original but at the same time he gave his freshness, succeeding in this way into the "update" of an important track of the synthpop realm. The other two originals are the beautiful "Sugar Candi (What Do You Mean To Me)" and "Century" where he shows his skills presenting two tracks with elaborated melodies and catchy atmospheres: it's almost impossible to forget "Sugar Candi"'s refrain once listened. The previous MCD was LOST & FOUND. On that one the sound was paying, on a couple of tracks (the opening "More Each Day" and "Rain"), the tribute to Vince Clarke's bands but this doesn't count when you have got a track like "Never Alone". I think that if released back in the 80's this song should compete with songs like "Take On Me" or Howard Jones' "What Is Love" and this is encouraging for synthpop fans. If you love these sounds be sure to check David's music along with The Agency X's one where he team up with Lars Wallden of Avante Garde.

This import CD compilation of Synthpop includes some of the biggest names in the genre and a few which most Americans consider EBM as well. Just taking one look at the roster for this compilation and you know you're in for a treat and Bloodline does deliver and cover all the bases as well. Amazingly enough this compilation though a German import begins with music by two Texas music students who began by playing cover tunes however their original compositions are anything but copies. This smooth synthpop band is known, like others on this disc, in the US by the indie label A Different Drum whose hallmark is the Synthpop soun and have sold thousands of CDs already. Perfidious Words have a slight industrial rock influence with a strong Depeche Mode like sound. Their song here "Mystify Me" comes out very much like a heavy D-Mode track but with a few minor differences. Stepping up the pace into a much more EBM territory we have Icon of Coil. To be honest I'm amazed they were placed on a Synthpop compilation but it mixes well afterall. Icon of Coil always pump up the dancefloors with their high powered beats and high energy melodies. This band has become one of my most recent EBM favorites and even hearing just this one track I'm sure you can easily see why. If you like this as well check out their newest release The Soul Is The Software. Changing pace a bit we drop down to the smooth harmonics of Echo Image. This particular track combines a small bit of acoustic guitar with some soft and nearly ethereal sounding synthpop melodies which quickly pick up the pace and become a pumping dance beat. Not sure what it is but Echo Image seems to be a favorite of the female persuasion but I like them alot as well. I think it's the soft male vocals, sort of Erasure-like, that must do it. Echo Image also has a bit of a Yaz overtone as well as far as old style comparisons go but I guarantee you nothing on this compilation truly sounds like any of this older music but is simply a younger spawn birthed from it. For more of Echo Image check out their full-lenth album Compuphonic. Next we have Neuroticfish which has always intentionally crossed the boundaries of Synthpop and EBM blending them so that the line is thoroughly blurred and has even made the bold statement 'Electronic Body Music Is Dead'. He is self-described as Industrial-Synth-Pop and the label seems to fit quite well. He often adds a bit of industrialized neurotic twitch beats in with synthpop melodies. He also tends to utilize elements of other forms of electronica like Drum-n-Bass to create his unique sound as well. Making another sonic jump in style we leap over to Statemachine, whose sound is more of an electro-rock pop sound. I hate to make the comparison but it's rather close in overall style to the short-lived EMF but with a more indie flair. Adding more electronics into the mix again we meet with In Strict Confidence, a hard and dark band from Germany. In Strict Confidence have attracted the attention mainly of Goths and EBM fans in the States as their music has a Darkwave feel to it and is less synthpop in my book that Icon of Coil is. It's more Darkwave/EBM than anything with Industrial influences. When most think of this band they probably imagine Dennis with 'white out' contacts on. Evil, evil children ;-) The compilation takes another sonic leap toward a slightly more Kraftwerkian form of synthpop by S.P.O.C.K. who are probably most known for thier Star Trek parody songs set to EBM music like "Never Trust A Klingon". This band has a sort of early sci-fi television influence set to modern dance music. This track is somewhat similar to the band NASA in it's overall pop tonality. This is followed by the Swedish band Elegant Machinery displaying a heavy Yazoo influence with early D-Mode Speak and Spell vocal styles. Merge has been compared with bands like Mesh or De/Vision probably based on the more straightforward approach they take. Merge combines both electric and acoustic guitars with synths to create a more harmonic sound. Much like earlier 80's bands Cocteau Twins created an ethereal blend of strings you can hear something similar in the background of the synthpop rhythms of Merge. Every song I've heard from The Nine has a sort of dark and brooding temperament to the vocals but the music combines many elements of rock, industrial and synthpop to create a sound that will one day catch the pop culture scene by surprise. Imagine when Michael Hutchins of INXS sings a moody track, a similar emotion seems to follow The Nine. There is something lucid about this band that is difficult to place your finger on. Beginning with bleeps and sung with German lyrics Melotron give us the smooth melody of "Alles Von Dir" (Everything for You) - very smooth, digital, and unique. However, not all of Melotron is so melodious. They have also been known to do some darker, heavier, EBM oriented tracks like their recent "Tanz mit dem Teufel" (Dance with the Devil). Close Encounters is headed by the female vocals of thier sultry singer. Clsoe Encounters has all the temperament of Annie Lennox with the sensuality of Rhea's Obsession but the ethereal dance music that only Close Encounters could create yet mildly similar to Delerium. This seems to be a band to watch for the future, who knows where they may appear next. While basically synthetic in nature it's not overly so and could easily get standard radio airplay as well as it masterfully combines various musical elements and instrumentation. In one word - 'Lush'. This German-based EBM band gives us a more down-tempo track with "Welt In Scherben" a melancholy synth melody however their full-length album Bis der Arzt kommt is said to also have some club power tracks as well. Enforce is Robert Enforsen, the former lead vocalist and frontman of Elegant Machinery and you can tell by the sound of this Scandinavian solo project. Covering a wide range of territory in the Synthpop scene and bringing some hot names and some rising stars as well New Forms... is a more than worthy addition to any Synthpop addicts collection.

WTII Records carries some of the newest top-notch electro, ebm, industrial, synth pop, gothic, and darkwave. This is the first compilation by this rising new label featuring some big names like In Strict Confidence who kick off the CD with "Kiss Your Shadow", Stromkern, Regenerator, Beborn Beton and Arcanta to name a few. There is lots of new and great talent on this compilation worth taking time out for. In Strict Confidence begin the CD with some great EBM that is a bit of an industrial/darkwave mix. This is followed by HMB a male/female duo whose unique combination of EBM, trance and techno put them in a class by themselves. It's said that they recently enlisted Dennis Ostermann (vocals and programming for In Strict Confidence) so who knows what will come of this project in the future. Melotron, a synthpop trio from Germany, is up next with their more EBM sounding "Tanz Mit Dem Teufel" (Dance with the Devil). You might a find a few mild similarities between Melotron and Beborn Beton. One of my favorites on the label is Stromkern. Their blend of electro/EBM is a sound that is rather fresh and new while still somehow familiar to fans of the original industrial scene memebers. They create highly energetic dance rhythms using modern technology and some interesting mechanical clicks and whirs they've created. Most recognizable is Ned Kirby's original singing style. Imagine an eclectic mixture of trip hop and techno combined with a little bit of noise and goth and you'll have Trigger10D. Sort of like the No Doubt of electro. The first to really catch my attention thanks to an earlier review I've done is Beborn Beton. I 'highly' suggest checking out that review for Tales From Another World. If you have not heard him yet and you are into electro, synthpop, industrial, and/or any type of dance music he is a must hear. This particular track, "Peach 2002", is actually one of his slower tunes but the smoothness of his style is very evident. If you like this wait to you hear his more upbeat stuff. Controlled Fusion could rightfully be considered an In Strict Confidence side-project with lead vocalist Dennis Ostermann collaborating with programmer Steffan Schuhrke. Controlled Fusion seems to signify a unity of fusing the sounds of the 80's with modern electro. Don't think this means it sounds like wave music because it doesn't. It's hard and busy. Regenerator are already becoming known for their blend of Dark Electro. This male/female duo is comprised of Patrice Synthea and Wrex Mock. Alfa-Matrix states, "Wrex's sombre melancholic growling vocals indeed always enter in perfect duality with Patrice's sensual breathy vocals. Her vocal performances confirm she has a greater vocal range than many of her contemporaries...Their music combines harsh electronics and dark themes with melodic vocals and synaptic soundscapes." What you get from them is a contrast of the lush and beautiful with harsh mechanics blended into syncronicity. State of the Union combines industrialism with the more accessible sound structure of EBM. State of the Union comes off as sort of EBM sounding Darkwave politicalism. Deceptio Mentis' "In Absence" is a highly vocoded transient dance rhythm with a riding hook. The band seems to combine elements of Trance and EBM in similar ways to DJ culture club tracks but with a more dark and industrialized feel to it. This unique style seems to set them up for airplay by trance dj's as well as industrial nightclubs. The compilation ends with Arcanta which sounds very much like something you would expect from Projekt Records. It has the tonality of Dead Can Dance and has been described as mysterious, majestic and intense. Founded by Thomas-Carlyle Ayres Arcanta combines wordless hymns and Sanskrit text with hand drumming as well as ambient electronic textures and middle-eastern instrumentation. "Combining elements of world, religious, and classical music, Arcanta has a style and sound that is truly unique."

I never listened to Aenima's debut album, "Revolutions", so I've got to write my impressions basing them only on the six tracks of this release. In the past the band have been compared to bands such as Cocteau Twins, The Gathering, The Third and the Mortal, Faith and the Muse or Dead Can Dance and somehow you can find traces of these sounds in these tracks. I read that their debut album was based on etherial atmospheres. NEVER FRAGILE instead is more rock based with some technological inserts (treated drums and synths) on the opening and the last tracks "Intro To End All Intros" and "Rapture". The tracks I prefer are the first two along with "Light" because along with the interesting sounds of the intro, on "Forlon" the femal voice is more intimistic (it reminds me Frazer's voice) and I prefer it that way because when it goes etherial I think female voices seems pretty all the same. Musically the tracks are a little similar and maybe it's due to the musical changement the band had. I don't love too much these kind of sounds and I'd wish Aenima will explore more their dark side instead of basing their sound on "baroque rock" compositions and on Carmen's voice. As always I remind you that if you love these kind of sounds read between the lines and you'll make up your own verdict. ;)

Seven 13, previously known as Coven 13, were initially known for their gothic-pagan structure. In broadening their spectrum and becoming more open to alternative spiritual perspectives they have changed their name to Seven 13 to represent the balance and unity evident in their music. While always about the love and magic of life their music has a rock-ballad tone to it. Passionate and dark they open this release with the song "Drink" which is purposely vague about it's focus. The complimentary video which the band is sending with purchases for this CD leaves me with one main thought and two words, 'Acid Flashback'. The video is very cleanly produced and is filmed with that same liquid look and evidence of tracers that LSD can give you. Combined with the red and blue stage lighting the effect is only hightened while Kenneth Michael sings, "take a look and you'll see nothing is quite as it seems, reality, reality." All I know is this combined with the strong vampiric overtones and personal passion make this a powerful live video. Drugs, Vampires, Spirituality? The band leaves you to guess on this one. Fans of the band will recognize "Haunted" from their previous album Book of Shadows however the performance here is a bit stronger and harder than the original. Seven 13 is obviously after a theatrical response here. This was one of my favorites from the previous album and it is not repetitive here in the least but redone with more impact. This is a song which brings to mind the imagery of one driven mad by the light of the moon. With this and the newer track "Outcasts" as well as others the band deftly portrays how smoothly they combine piano melodies with rock rhythms and guitar while other tracks combine acoustics with electronic guitar such as "Whenever You Close Your Eyes". This seems to be a song about not letting go of hatred and jealousy and the lonliness that it brings. Such is the case with many songs by Seven 13, a bittersweet lesson in life. "Venus" seems to be the prime love song on the album. "If You Want Me" is a 70's rock grind with a small twist. Seven 13 as you'll note combines many elements of 70's rock ballads as most every track is fuzed with rock heavy guitar, tinkling piano keys, and melodramatic vocals whose lyrics could only be compared to a theatrical Steve Perry with pagan and gothic overtones. However Kenneth's vocals are a bit more gutteral and strained at times as he belts out the band's unusually etheric rock anthems. "Diane" is a love/hate relationship. Something I really found enjoyable was the inclusion of Cello on "You Could Be Mine" by Jacob Shaprio. "Falling" ends the album with it's lustfull desire that leads to loss of self. Seven 13 / Coven 13 is the type of band you either really like what they are doing and you understand it or you simply aren't interested and find it as nothing more than nearly childish theatrics. The band has acquired a bit of polish since the last release and I think they are on to something unique and personally I'm one of those who likes them. Musically it's not my favorite style of music but there is some obvious talent here which is continually growing with time. For those who don't like them, well keep watching them, they are sure to do some interesting and amazing things in the future. The band is full of great ideas which are not always easy to pull off, the most difficult is will the audience get it, some do and some don't. The only disappointment I may have with them is they seem to have lost some of their spiritual focus and are more focused on the elements of sexuality. Also, while understanding why they changed the name I don't see it necessary and only further confusing for fans and will make them look a bit 'watered down' to many older pagans. However, with all that in mind the main single "Drink" and accompanying video are a sure sign that the band has much to express and we can expect them to continue expansively in the future. Lastly, love that Jack shirt Justin! ;-)