Talking to Harald, the mastermind of Chandeen, on my messenger last week, he told me this CD would be a good bit more organic than "Bikes And Pyramids". So naturally, I didn’t expect another pop journey, given that and Harald’s massive palate of musical skills (hence my nickname for him, "Der PopMusikMeister"). The CD takes a much more classical approach to the Chandeen formula, yet still has that same beautiful kind of wave undertone. And Antje’s vocals are solo this time, no longer accompanied by Stephanie’s harmonious pipes. But that also helps give this CD it’s emotional edge, as the music would not quite mix in with dual vocals. It would simply overwhelm such delicate and fragile melodies, which are to be the full cast of actors, not hiding behind a curtain of vocals. Many ethereal groups make that mistake, yet Chandeen did their homework not to fall into it. Antje’s vocals have also improved, as if there was much more improvement needed! The more laid back tone of this music gives her more power to show off her real vocal talent, which is an effortless flow from key to key. It’s as if she sings scales on a wavelength rather than having to divide notes and separate them. And not one crack in her voice to be heard! Her voice is perfection, like a wine aged through centuries and centuries. Much of the keyboard work of "Bikes And Pyramids" you’ll notice has been replaced by piano and guitar, with the subtle keyboard-aided backdrop breezing on by like a playful ember on a cool spring wind. It could be safe to say Harald has learned his fair share of instruments through the years, and has perfected the one man band style (well one man if you take out vocals). The style reminds me of his Lowy/Javelin project gone through a classical filter, with a touch of Opeth’s folk moments. Literary fans will notice a song version of Edgar Allen Poe’s "A Dream Within A Dream" (oh if only Poe were alive he’d be a happy 160 year old man hearing this haha), as well as song versions of William Blake and Oscar Wilde. Could this get any better??!?! Well, if Anne Sexton poems were on there, but eh you can’t ask for the world you know ;-). Plus her poems would be a bit gruesome for this. Pretty solid CD throughout, as well as any of Lowy’s works. Rating: 10.

BTFABG="Million Tear Stained Memories" Shortly after their latest, "Scavenger Bride" comes a comprehensive intro into this incredibly gifted group. Their sound has never been an easy intake for even those in the gothic scene, for it’s disregard of rules in the genre and it’s sheerly overwhelming sense of heart-breaking, melancholy emotion that even defies some of the biggest emotion seekers. But for those who enjoy music for it’s emotions, this group holds a goldmine of them! The older material dwells upon very lonely, confused and emotional times in the life of founder/Projekt president Sam Rosenthal, covering times of unattainable love, crushing heartbreak, constant isolation with constant thought of escape, and even at times self obsession. Their newer material covers a more sculpted mode, taking that past knowledge and covering the state of love itself, combined with some Kafka influences. This is short is gothic for the thinking man, and songs in celebration of both love itself, it’s transience, Sam’s powerful love for his wife Lisa, and the female in all it’s forms. As you may remember, I mentioned Black Tape’s CD "As One Aflame Laid Bare By Desire" in the forum as being one of my 5 all time favorite CD’s as well. Haha and I’m coincidently wearing my Black Tape shirt as well! The CD includes a new version of "Memory, Uncaring Friend", which brings to my mind the sound of Audra, an acoustic and wonderous version of "Could I Stay The Honest One?", and a 2000 version of "Overwhelmed Beneath Me". This CD oozes out classic after dark classic, though I’m kind of sad that "Given" and "As One Aflame... ... ." Didn’t get on here, but eh everyone has different thoughts on best of sets as to songs. Gladly "Russia" made it on here, another favorite of mine J. Hardened BTFABG fans like me also get taken back down memory lane, to isolated times filled with such beautiful melancholy and self-searching, to one of my most pivotal times in lyric and poetry writing spending hours listening to their music and simply sucking up the inspiration. And for those more laid back times, the second CD is filled with all instrumentals any Black Tape fan could ever need. Hearing the vocals of Oscar Herrara also is a treat we now miss (he left right after "As One... ..") listening to this, but it also gives us a retrospect into his captivating and unique vocal style (check him out in El Deundo, his new project). Add that to Lisa’s trancey flutes, Sam’s masterful ambient layers, and a cast of players carved out of pure classical genius and you have a force that changed the landscape of both classical and gothic music forever. This is highly recommended, though it’s limited, to anyone curious to the group’s sound, Projekt’s ideas, and anyone tired of listening to corporate gothic tripe bands who wants to learn what real gothic is supposed to sound like. Not to mention one of the greatest fucking bands to walk this earth ;-). Rating: 10. Also recommended are the Projekt 100 compilation, In The Nursery and older Clan of Xymox. Well, Das Ich too if you’re up for a more chaotic version of this sound.

Ok, I realize how psyched up the scene is about this CD coming out, since it is the first F242 in over a decade (not counting "ReBoot" the live CD). But also realize some changes within the group, which may leave some of the hardcore fans who thought ?ReBoot" was just a phase a little disappointed. Gone are the hard rhythms of "Tyranny For You" and the industrial danciness of earlier work, replaced now with a much more technofied edge, loaded to the brims with MIDI in and erratic patterns. This CD is very... ... ... ... .unique... ... .unpredictable... .and is up to the hype that this is a CD that will keep others in the electronic scene scrambling to keep up. You have to remember most of this band’s peers are bands they inspired thoroughly, so not too many people can give F242 a run for their money outside of Frontline Assembly. Gone also are the most of the vocals of earlier work, this time relying much more on just base structure than anthem tracks. Also it seems as if half the CD is one track with some sharp turns and some time shifts, to the point where you wonder how track 1, "SEQ666" suddenly became track 5 "Beyond The Scale Of Comprehension". After that comes, ummmmmmmmmm "Song", where Jean Luc DeMeyer’s vocals pop in, and the olden industrial rhythms (yeah!!!!! Rivet stomp time!) in the chorus. Good old school F242 shining through! Then comes the slow track, "One", with it’s plecking drum line and subtle backdrop of multiple soundlayers, all over Jean Luc DeMeyer’s softened vocals, ala C-Tec’s "Darker". Still seems like he has that same emotional juice left from that project, which I’m anxious to see if it’s in Gaiden and MorF. "Matrix" pops into the foray with it’s laid back grooves, and simplistic analog synth lines all layered over top of vocals and subdued, dubbed layers of sound. I absolutely love the faded drum line on this one, it kind of reminds me of a tap dance rhythm! And just when you think you got the last track on here, and the hardened 242 fans start to sob... ... ... .. welcome to hidden track heaven!!!! It’s simply hidden track after hidden track of whole complete, thought out songs, practically enough for most labels to shove onto a second CD and charge more. All in all, over 20 tracks, and too many strong ones to name here in detail since I’ve blabbed enough... ... .. So, all in all, if you’re looking for rivet stomping gold like the old days, may wanna stick to your older stuff and C-Tec. But, all generic bands that have been passing themselves off as EBM, be prepared to be like sickle before the grain! This CD is an odd combo of that and thick-ended techno, with a hint here and there of industrial, but overall done with a severe addiction factor and a danceable factor that may just leave many newer so called EBM bands (and Future Pop bands that pass themselves off as such) either tossing out their instruments in surrender or starting to upgrade their synth and programming skills. The masters are back and the sound is like a million mile totem pole looking down on all others in electronic with a loud ?fuck you’! Rating: 10. Very highly recommended.

Wumpscut doing electro pop?!? Any Wumpscut fan would cringe at the thought, but don’t worry it’s Rudy’s old stuff on here. The song being "All Cried Out", which is bouncy, but me being used to Wumpscut’s rivet stomping industrial-goth gold, it’s kinda odd. This double CD set is an examination of his older days and some new goodies for the Wump Troopers out there, along with a completely German version of the classic CD "Music For a Slaughtering Tribe". You may remember the German track for ?Soylent Green" from the ?Electropolis 1’ compo CD (another classic) not too long ago, it of course being a more in tune version versus the English version. The German seems to fit the track so much better! You get all the essentials on this set, from a German version of gems like "Die In Winter" and the hidden track from ?Bunketor 7’ now revealed as "Red Water", written I’m guessing in memory of a lost friend of his. It’s always been one of Wumpscut’s most beautiful and entrancing tracks, and seems to have even more potency as a eulogy. One tends to forget that under all the Teutonic, blistering tracks Wumpscut does, Rudy also has the undeniable power to make cold yet emotional music, as well as his powers in programming and sequencing. I could go on forever about all this CD has... ... ... ... ... ... ... .A cover of Dive’s "God", the previously unreleased "Crang March", a good deal of his remix work (including the hard to find remix of Cleen’s "The Voice"), complete versions of tracks from ?Bloodchild’, and much more! Perfect for the newbie rivethead on your block, the ones curious to Wumpscut’s magic and even some goodies for the hardcore :W: collector. This and anything from Wumpscut is essential in any industrial collection, this is the evolution from the old Leatherstrip sound everyone was copying around the time this group started (they are strongly Leatherstrip influenced, but it definitely has it’s own edge and style). It can well be argued that this group saved industrial, as well as laid roots for bands such as Hocico and Cenobita. Bring the kids, and come feel the love and warmth that is Wumpscut! Haha! Rating: 10. PS, also watch for my interview with Rudy now underway. Also check our Issue #5 for an in depth interview with him.

Putting the CD in and hearing the opening vocals of "Lilith", all I can do is simply stand back with my jaw hung open, knowing I’ve seen something that has passed my musical comprehension and imagination. Carmen’s vocals are that dream blend of Portuguese folk singing meets ethereal atmosphere. Think of Portuguese folk great Tonicha meets Dru from This Ascension, all over top of very controlled and meticulous guitar lines and drum lines. The drum lines pave on with a patter, like an artist painting in full detail with one bristle on a brush head. And the guitars strum along softly in an never overbearing way, bringing to mind some of Opeth’s best moments. All of this makes for a very entrancing mix and every song just rolls along like a lullaby, with Carmen’s angelic vocals stealing the show. Her vocals are some of the finest ever heard in my life, and all I can think of upon hearing them is that feeling I got hearing the Cocteau Twins for the first time ever. That exact same feeling where all you can do is just stand back and at the end say "D-A-Y-A-M!" as you hit that repeat button. This girl could sing about folding towels and I’d sit and listen attentively to it! The atmosphere of the whole CD shifts between a thin gossamer of melancholy and rises up to a skillfully controlled level of joy, not to surpass a certain point to becoming too epic and ruining the flow. Everything about this CD oozes constraint and thoroughness, like they spent days just making sure one note was perfect before moving on to the next. Extremely skilled and powerful work from this new group, a very rare accomplishment even from veterans decades their seniors. This is one of those few bands that is music not for the sake of music, but music that simply transcends music itself! Easily the best CD I’ve heard so far this year, and very well might remain so at the end of the year, unless they put out another one! Rating: 10.