Category Archives: Electronic

Electronic, New Wave

Life Is A Cut-Up – Clunk’s Psyche

“This is the first album by CLUNK. All the album deals with the concept of other dimensions… also the one we’ll go to when we’ll finish our days on this planet.”

After an EP in 2025 and 2 singles preceeding this one Maurizio Pustianaz’s latest project released it’s first album now : ‘Psyche’. Recorded between 2024 – 2026 in the Noisebrigade Studio, Turin, Italy produced and conceived with the aid of only Amarene as guest singer on the gorgeous ‘Levitate’ which has an unexpected irrestible summer groove..

While Maurizio is a well known producer, mastering engineer & musician in the post-industrial & experimental field f.e. as Gerstein here he moves farer away from any categories he is known for even than his synth-pop outlet A New Life does – he touches New Wave, House, Electronica and as he says also late 70’s Sheffield, Detroit Techno and EBM.

But what sounds a bit confused after reading the style assemblage is in fact a continuous flow of electronic tracks which supplement each other and build a listening with proper mood curves from ‘Shadows’ to ‘End Hits’.

Indeed this (W. S. Burroughs influenced) track is the most experimental, the overall sound is driving, melancholic but optimistic at once – which is a success hardly achieved. The sound picture overall works very well setting up a timeless zone so there is’nt anything stopping you to get lost in repeated listening – the essence of many years lived through electronic futures without getting stuck.

The album (and the dl) includes further liner notes and is also published as LP, black and in turquoise splatter which makes it an extra joy to listen to.

You can find it here in all available formats and digital also on the new subvert platform.

Dub, Electronic, Findings

24/7 Dub Techno, Deep Techno, Minimal | Cold Tear Records Radio

Just a cool breeze for days like these….. supplied from Lithuania and mixed from the huge catalogue of electronic music they released since 2010, which is mostly focused on dub tech, ambient some idm, electronica and deep tech with a highly enjoyable rooster.

If you like what comes to your ears they’re also well present on various other platforms like bandcamp, soundcloud and instargram. Not to forget they do have a real home on the net for a closer look.

Computer Blue, Electronic, Experimental

The Next Generation – SPK : THE SPKtR : SPKtR XXX

Another legend of industrial returned to music last year on the VOD Festival, Graeme Revell performed as SPK together with his son Robert. Now they released a single track in March which is meant to show one side of the new project mutation.

Graeme Revell had basically left the music business after he scored the Australian Thriller ‘Dead Calm’ which opened a new and successfull way for him of working in Film Music for movies like ‘Until The End Of The World’, ‘The Crow’, ‘Sin City’, ‘Tomb Raider’, ‘Dare Devil’, ‘Riddick’, ‘The Spawn’, ‘Dune’ and many more.

SPK had ended with the mixed up Nettwerk release of ‘Gold and Poison‘ and a poor but official live album. The backcatalouge of Side Effects / SPK was handed over to Brian Williams who licensed it to Mute in the 1990’s. During the last years various other recordings and reissues appeared, even their controversioal and most commercial ‘Machine Age Voodoo‘ album got an careful and loving remaster.

His long time partner and wife, Sinan who’s not involved any longer gave a rare Interview last year to Maurizio from Chain D.L.K. covering amongst other topics the story of ‘Metal Dance’.
As of now Graeme and their son have established a solid web presence and a basic concept involving two different directions – both are set for official live debuts this year – discover more here.

“SPK has always worked at the fault lines of new technology — from scrap metal and samplers to AI. The outrage is never the point; the diagnosis is.
Industrial culture taught us that humanity has always been hybrid — we are already technological organisms.
The sampler didn’t kill music. The drum machine didn’t erase drummers. They changed the terrain.
AI is simply the contemporary coal face. It isn’t a shortcut or a replacement for artists. It’s an instrument — one that exposes how patriarchy, power and spectacle are already algorithmic.
The real danger isn’t AI in art, but the invisible accumulation of power and money shaping an opaque technology. Perception and desire without scrutiny. By foregrounding it, we reveal the machinery.
If ‘The Last of Men’ provokes discomfort, that’s consistent with SPK’s history. We don’t avoid the technological fire — we step into it and see what it exposes.
AI is not the enemy of art. Unexamined power is.”

Electronic, New Wave, RIP

The long good-bye of Soft Cell

DAVE BALL PHOTOGRAPH: Mike Owen

When the news broke which reached me first through the official mailing list it made me really sad. Following Soft Cell it was no secret that he had been fighting with his health for some time now. But it’s forever the same – you keep up the hope for a better future until it’s gone.
So… Soft Cell will go out on a high – with forthcoming mixes, versions, the long in the works deluxe version of ‘The Art Of Falling Apart’, various limited 12″ singles and their now really final Album ‘Danceteria’ which Dave finished only a short while ago for a release in 2026. Hopefully the announced expanded reissue of his 1983 solo Album ‘In Strict Tempo’ will appear sooner or later too.

In 2020 he published his memoir ‘Electronic Boy’ which is highly recommended, esp. as the picture of the quiet man behind the keyboards gets expanded in his larger view than being a part of Soft Cell – working with Cabaret Voltaire, Genesis P. Orridge / Psychic TV, Annie Hogan, Gavin Friday and The Virgin Prunes – his one off projects Other People, Ronnie B., English Boy On The Loveranch, plenty of guest appearences, remix and production work. And a bold step into the 90’s starting with the ‘Electric Head’ album leading to another career together with Richard Norris as The Grid.

Intergalaktische Abenteuer

I would like to use a very small quote which sums it up for me:

“Thank you Dave for being an immense part of my life and for the music you gave me. I wouldn’t be where I am without you.”
Marc Almond, Soft Cell

The full and fitting orbiturary can be found at their homepage.

Dub, Electronic, Post Punk, RIP

Memory Of You – Mark Stewart’s Surprising Return

mute recently announced to issue a complete unreleased Album by Mark Stewart; The Fateful Symmetry, which was completed shortly before Mark’s untimely passing in April 2023!

I can’t find the proper words to express my astonishment, in utter disbelief I had waded through all of his many collaborations of the last years including the hell of emergency hearts digital releases and remixes of the 2022 “VS” Album and tried to make my peace with this great loss at any cost. Never was there any hint of another Album and now I consider myself speechless but lucky as I’m sure it will grow on me whatever musical course he took at last.

Release is set on 11 July 2025 on mute in the usual formats – Digital / CD / LP (Red colored).

DIY, Electronic, Gothic, New Wave

Life Is A Lonely Path – A Prayer For The Worst

A few years ago, while still locked up with the internet at home I stumbled upon this one man project from Herr B., Paris, France. The artwork of it’s first release in tasty pink was surprisingly bizarre as the project title promising and I was lucky enough to get the CD so I realized the care which went into the sound design and the overall release easier then with a download.
In the meantime the return to Vinyl boom kept going and a reissue on fitting colored LP of ‘Lullabies For Babies’ is available, as will be the new work (in grey marbled) I heard about pleasantly surprised a few weeks ago.

a prayer for the worst

While the new cover art seems to be more fitting to the overall melancholic mood this time in fact he kept his style of subtle experimentation and painting careful shades of grey, instrumental and with added lyrics where fitting.
Once again this is a brilliant collection of temporary electronic neo gothic music consisting of slow and mindful movements and melodies setting a distinctive sign against the panic and hectic of modern everyday life…
A first track found it’s way pre-release to youtube, the full release in various versions and bundles will be available on March, 14th.

Support the artist’s own label ‘Lonely Demon Records‘ and get it – or both – directly on his bandcamp.

Anarcho, DIY, Electronic, Experimental, Klappstuhl Records, Reissues

Transgerman Mind Configuration – Solanaceae Tau


[Berlin Wall, pictured by Tomas Val, London]

25 years ago one of the most tumultous phases in German history reached one of it’s highlights with a call for Unity in East Germany (GDR) shortly after the Berlin Wall was open.

It took less than a year (November 9th, 1989 to October 3rd, 1990) until the German Democratic Republic dissolved – one year which caused plenty of emotions; the fear of German Third Reich fantasies, strong right-wing tendencies and the prediction of heartless capitalism, loosing wealth and security and more. 1990 was a very intense year for all, the feeling of living in historical times paired with big question marks. Many promises where made concerning a bright future for all.
Many decisions where made hastily and from some of them we still suffer today.
In June Solanaceae Tau released this tapework, now available in a new redesigned and remastered edition by the talented hands and mind of Maurizio ‘Noisebrigade’ Pustianaz.

Solanaceae Tau reflected most of these themes from Fascism, Opression to Industrial Production vs. Individual Human Needs (not for the first or last time) in their 1990 album including historical quoatatios and unfiltered lyrics and the imminent feeling of pressure and change.

Nihilistick Noise Archive proudly combined this reissue – which still feels very current concerning various global incidents and trends – with a 3 track single, featuring an exclusive edit and an L.H.D. Remix.

Electronic, Nostalgia, Pop

History Repeats Itself – The Lebanon 1984

I recall hearing this the first time, a very unlikely Human League single showing once more a different angle after the 1983 summer hit synth funk of “Fascination” which kept the audience waiting until they lost any well, Hysteria in 1984.
The guitar driven 80’s pop and the less polished nearly alt rock appeareance of one of the prime players of electronic New Wave was a shock in April 1984. It showed a successfull group on the road into nowhere which would lead to the statesided successfull Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Production “Crash” and the pairing down to the core of Philip Oakey, Susanne Sulley and Joanne Catherall.

Also the blatant political message coupled with an minimal cover artwork (?) was a first and to my knowledge last for The League. Now, 40 years on the Lebanon conflict started all over again. It’s so sad seeing the news ….Will there ever be a peaceful solution for Palestina, Israel and the Lebanon?