THE MARS MODEL - FrancoBelga (CD/Vinyl) Founded at the beginning of 2019 by some individuals who have a musical past in a variety of styles. For instance singer Hans Verbeke who we already know from his work in the Belgian / West-Flemish hardcore scene with his band Liar. But don’t expect hardcore, metal, speed or grind-core on this release. Because here this fivemember band is showing off darker-tinted riffs, refined electronics and keys, fairly aggressive drumming and a no-nonsense message. From Gothic-Rock to Post-Punk. Curious? Well, take my advice, listen and be surprised, cherish the impressions and let them sink in. Nothing more, nothing less. This is their first EP FrancoBelga, which contains four tracks. What lays hidden in these songs? Sturdy guitars, vocals interspersed with some more desperate cries from deep down. The songs are firm with a greasy edge. Wild and restless, swirling in contemporary society, where we are connected more than ever, and yet more isolated than ever ... [JB] HARRY CLOUD - The Pig And The Machine (CD/Vinyl/Digital) (Wool-E Discs) (Whiteworm Records) The thing I didn’t expect from Harry Cloud – is being so flexible in respect to forms of self-expression. It’s probably the first thing you should know before listening to “The Pig And The Machine” – nothing is obvious. Even though some things would seem obvious to you – like the introduction to the opening “Fantasia”, it doesn’t mean that Cloud would keep on going through the same paths. He needs just a few seconds to transform himself into the ghost of Tom Waits badtriping in Lynch’s Red Room. And then – change the background. You’d hear the tonalities of rebellious youth in his vocals through “Momo Island” and “School”. Harry Cloud is a good actor. He could make you think that he’s a lonely teenager or a tough-tattooed guy singing in front of dozens of fans singing his live-track “Brain” while his vocal chords are bleeding. Or sludge-kind-of-guy writing hard riffs and singing through distorted microphone about sweet dreams. That’s probably the best thing about “The Pig Machine” – his artistic volatility makes Cloud a very special artist ... [DV] NEGANT - Schwarz (Digital) Negant is the project involving a number of ‘big’ names from the Danish electro music scene: Jens B. Petersen (ex-Neotek, ManMindMachine), Tommy B-Kuhlmann (In Absentia, ManMindMachine) and John R. Mirland (Am Tierpark, Mirland / Larsen, Mirland, M73). Negant treats us these days with a nice hot Glühwine, which we can enjoy while listening ti their new single ‘Schwarz’. And It can’t get more oldschool EBM than this. Short synth sounds, monotonous drums that sound bone dry but still so strong. For this single they opted for German as language, giving it an extra aggressive tone: “Schwarzes Bier, Schwarzer Gürtel, Schwarze Stiefel, Schwarzes Leben, Schwarze Seele … Und schwarze Süchte, Schwarzer Sex, in schwarzer Kammer, Full Kraft voraus, Kein Blick zurück, Wir sind die schwarze Armee! Full Kraft voraus” We feel the need for beer or rather for a couple of bottles of Glühwine? In that way we can go on for hours with this sort of EBM violence! [JB] (Læbel Music) 6TH CROWD - Самозванцы (Samozvantsiy) (Digital) Usually I don’t bother reviewing a single track digital single for various reasons. (Self Released) Firstly, I think it is just a little too easy to launch just one (killer) track in the world and, secondly, one could no longer see the wood for the trees due to the overwhelming (mediocre) single track releases. But sometimes one gets so overwhelmed by a song, you simply cannot stop yourself sharing this gem with the world. Apparently 6TH CROWD is the solo project of Dari Maksymova, an electronic producer and singer based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Best known as front-woman, synth and bass player of postpunk band On The Wane. Inspired by both instrumental and electronic music, 6TH CROWD combines grooves from rave dance floors, melancholic storytelling from 80’s alternative rock and melodic pop vocals. With this debut single Samozvantsiy, which can loosely be translated as pretenders or fakers, they bring to mind such artists as The Chemical Brothers, Boy Harsher and maybe even Front 242. [HH] www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be - 6 -
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