Anka Wolbert is known best to be the co-founder and songwriter for the new wave goth band Clan of Xymox. Like her counterpart bandmate and friend, Pieter Nooten, she left Xymox for music differences also. Now signed on new label I-Rain along with Pieter who helped her by co-producing her debut release. Anka's voice still sound so beautiful, despite her disappearing from the music scene. Her cd is an exceptional with collection of unique and impressive tracks that's indie pop with electronic and guitar dynamic layers, which can be played on mainstream radio stations. A variety of emotions that is sung in a mood setting moment. To listen to the cd will be perfect by sitting by the sea all alone or just go to the park and watch the sky by gazing and thinking. Favorite tracks are "A Storm", "Already In Me", the trip-hop "Seven Slow Hours", the ambient "Crystal Clear", "Elusive" is a beautiful haunting instrumental track with the sound of a melancholic piano, "Dark Dreamer" is a slow reggae composition and "Don't Weigh Me Down" is an hypnotic masterpiece. Anka's songwriting skills has proven to be the best even since the Xymox-era of what she had display.

Every Goth should know Pieter Nooten from the band Clan of Xymox. He was one of the original members who played synthesizers. He left the band in the early 90's because of music differences. Pieter Nooten is now signed to a new indie label and back in the music scene making music. Beautiful music that is. His debut release is classified as electronic, ambient, and experimental. "Ourspace" is enchanting with heart, beauty and essence. Not only this ex-Xymox keyboardist can make mind relaxing and driving music, he can also sing. This is a magnificent electronic album that will take you on a peaceful journey. Rich synth textures and electronic soundscapes. Excellent production & mellow abstract complex compositions that is challenging. A superb album for abysmal thoughts and when you're alone when you want to close your eyes and go away to another world. Hypnotic, dreamy with tranquility and diverse mood setting that's appealing. The album is co-produced by Anka Wolbert, another ex-Xymox member. A brilliant unique collaboration between the two ex-Xymox members who still have that gifted talent.


Tracklistings

1. So Much Easier
2. Lo Down Valley
3. Rain Down
4. Head Circles About The Body
5. Stop Time
6. Sight Return
7. Ship Leaving
8. Surface
9. Red Glint
10. Sanctuary

In the 80's during the US President Ronald Reagan and England's British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher era, New Wave proved to be breathtaking in its scope--it was hard to perceive where it all began and ended, both chronologically and musically. The venture that new wave music occupied the era from 1978 to 1986. Musically, new wave should not be pigeon-holed, or written off simply as "skinny ties", synthesizer geeks, new romantics, and pretentious, fashion-as content bands. Movements and styles such as Synth-pop and New Romantic were, too many, the defining styles of New Wave. New romanticism, on the other hand, never managed much of an impression in the US-it remained very much a Europen and Canadian movement. Despite the general inadequacy of pigeonholing, there were the other requisite, defining styles from the era: Goth, Postpunk, Ska, Rockabilly and Power Pop.

The video revolution changed everything as well. Coinciding with-more fueled by-the new wave movement, music video added a whole dimension to music as an art form. MTV can certainly be attributed to the exposure and subsequent rise and fall of many fleeting new wave artists. Without the exposure that music video provided, America could well have slept through the entire movement. The visuals these bands presented to their audiences was intoxicating, astonishing, and added to their mystery, rather than dispelling it. The fashion, the make-up, the narrative of videos made even the most insignificant of bands look larger than life.

On this double disc 80's collection compiled by Los Angeles label
based, Cleopatra are some of the bands who invaded the radio and MTV with their glitter and glamour fabulous music and pretty boy and girl look. These songs on discs from the artists who made them had a greater impact on us brings back those wonderful and beautiful memories what we all used to sing and dance to. Disc 1 contains the original song version from the likes of punk ex-Generation X member Billy Idol "White Wedding", Duran Duran "Girls On Film", the Australian one hit wonder Men Without Hats "Saftety Dance", David Bowie "Ashes To Ashes", Chicago based synth-pop act Ministry "Work For Love" who is now doing aggro-industrial music, The Cure "The Walk", Soft Cell "Tainted Love", Psychedelic Furs "Love My Way", The Fixx "Red Skies", and ABC "The Look Of Love".

Disc 2 contains the tracks by some of the other other artists in 2.0 format. In other words, the artists re-recorded their songs in a new version or by extended it by making it longer. A Flock Of Seagulls "I Ran (So Far Away)" and "Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You)" is re-recorded and the singer's vocals sounds totally different than what he used to sound back then. Berlin re-recorded two of their hit singles "Sex (I'm A) and "The Metro". Missing Persons redid "Walking In L.A." The song is done in an electronic music format featuring an unknown rapper rapping. Power pop sensation Tiffany re-recorded her "I Think We're Alone Now". Information Society catchy synth-pop "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy) still sounds good as the original version. The Specials featuring Jane Wiedlin from the all girl band The Go-Go's performed "Our Lips Are Sealed" in ska. Other 80's cult bands included are goth band The Mission UK "Deliverance", "Gene Loves Jezebel "Desire", The Untouchables "Free Yourself" and rockabilly The Polecats "Make A Circuit With Me". The bonus track feature New Skin "Hey Baby...So Bad". Over 2 hours of non-stop ultimate club 80's hits. The eighties will always be a remarkable decade where good music & fashion took the world by storm. These retro 80's songs are testaments to the pioneering days of the medium. Relive the past that will be an unforgettable lifetime!

This six song ep is a re-release production recording, which was originally released back in 1987. New Jersey based quartet Screaming For Emily is one of the 80's underground synth-pop bands who started out listening to music like Depeche Mode to The Cure. Then the four good friends formed a band together. Their first debut "Scriptures" ful-fills the ghastly nightmares of what underground pop represents could be achievement. The band used some of Depeche Mode music structure technique from "Construction Time Again" to "Some Great Reward" and gave it a more darker twist by adding their own original ideas to it, which is a good combination. Lance Redaelli deadpan vocals is a reminder of Gene Loves Jezebel vocalist, Michael Ashton. Like all 80's new wave bands, they sport a weird hairstyle, but indeed a good looking keyboard all boy band. "Scriptures" is described deep, thought-provoking, cold, and dark. Yes, it's that good. This ep is flawless. Outstanding tracks
are "The Love", "Another Girl", and "Just A Lie". Polished with sophistication and inspired.

Emox is the long lost brother and sister duo of Lance and Anne, held out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The cd represents a ten song untitled demo they recorded together. An impressive crafted demo you can take and listen to during a nice long drive on the countryside in the season of cold winter and the drifting of the snow. The songs are composed with a guitar and a drum machine that have a slow and mid-tempo rhythm. Some of the songs have a melancholic feel, but indeed catchy. The lyrics are written in a beautiful poetry form in a Robert Frost setting style. And the vocals of Lance contemplates in a dark manner, as Anne's vocals falls in a softly ethereal, which have that ghostly haunting feel. The cd demo is flourished with musical heart and charm. Not bad for a band who just getting started with their music career. Hearing the band playing live acoustic will be a perfect great fit and acceptable because of the guitar dynamic arrangements of how all the songs composed. Outstanding tracks are "Hopeless", about a shy boy who's in love with a girl, but doesn't give his heart to her; "Patience", "Bridges", "Night Snow", "Autumn Voices" and "Never Too Late". Emox has potential and maybe the long lost brother and sister who found each other will maybe get a chance of being signed to a label.