The Black Maria by Attrition

 

The Black Maria by British Darkwave pioneer group ATTRITION, is a haunting and immersive album that takes listeners on a journey through the shadows of the human experience. With a diverse range of styles, from industrial to gothic to dark ambient and a hint of nostalgia the album showcases the band’s versatility and depth.  The first track “The Promise” is an atmospheric track that lyrically delves into the themes of surrender and silence with whispered vocals adding to the overall sense of foreboding expectation.  “The Great Derailer” intertwines, snippets of political speech and the voices of disillusioned and concerned citizens. The juxtaposition of the dark, ambient melodies with the harsh industrial beats mirrors the conflict between hope and despair that often accompanies political discourse.  Delving deep into the intricate dynamics of human relationships “The Switch“ has a  hypnotic beat with seductive and provocative vocals.  “Pillars II” is an enthralling track that has melodic female vocals weaving beautifully with the layered ambient acoustic panorama.  The dreamlike mood and undulating soundscape of the song create a sense of introspection.    “The Alibi” is a daring and unconventional musical journey that defies expectations at every turn. The song begins with a childlike, almost off-kilter rendition of "Here Comes the Bride," setting the stage for what unfolds as a cacophony of sounds and delicious chaos.  The listener is swept up in a frenetic and confusing carnival-like atmosphere. The song, that is a riot of sounds, takes yet another unexpected turn, as a cacophony of vocals joins the mix, adding to the sense of chaos and confusion. The result is a wild and exhilarating musical ride that leaves the listener both exhilarated and slightly disoriented.  From the moment “The Reprisal” begins you get the sense of something lurking just beyond sight, something watching and waiting.  As the song unfolds, strange sounds and voices interject, adding to the sense of unease and paranoia evoking the notion of  the presence of something just out of reach.  The song builds creating a palpable sense of tension and suspense that is as thrilling as it is unnerving.  “The Zero Hour” hauntingly blends Darkwave ambience and industrial sounds with beautiful menacing  piano melodies and an enigmatic spoken soliloquy.  The mysterious ambience and vocals of the song  blur the lines between past, present, and future hinting at something just beyond the listener’s grasp.  The title track of the album “The Black Maria”  begins with chilling muffled industrial sounds creating a  sense of unease and foreboding.  Haunting high-pitched vocal floats eerily around the listener, creating a sense of disorientation and uncertainty. The gritty and dark male vocals seem to be giving a desolate sermon giving the sense of something lurking just beyond reach that is dark and malevolent.

The album The Black Maria sees ATTRITION founder Martin Bowes working with female vocalists including Emke from Black Nail Cabaret, Yvette from Vaselyne, Joanne Wolf and most notably the return of original ATTRITION vocalist Julia.  The album also includes special guest appearances from Alia Miroshichenko (Subterranea) Annie Hogan (Marc and the Mambas etc) on Grand Piano, Vancorvid and Marietta Fox on Violins, Ian Arkley (My Silent Wake, Guillotine Dream) on Guitar, Steve Clarke (Futumche/Octogoth) on additional guitar/bass, and Kris Force on Cello. 

The Black Maria is dedicated  to the Memory of Kerri Bowes (1982 - 2022)

The album The Black Maria  traverses the depths of the human soul and is sure to resonate with anyone  who has loved, lost and found beauty in the darkness. 

Links :

https://attritionuk.bandcamp.com/album/the-black-maria

https://open.spotify.com/album/0txU2xDGOrY8uyDcHQdPFV?si=n4uFT6PVT-iVpmh0htDNig

https://www.thecagestudios.co.uk/

Sirens of Light’s Nullus Margis Gothica MMXXI

 

“The inspiration for the album in 2004 was this, there was a complete lack of any new traditional style, high end, song based Goth rock....the cult had disappeared, Sisters of Mercy and   not doing anything new, Goth had turned into Metal and most other bands in the genre split up or zero output...so we decided that there was a yawning void for a theatrical epic Goth Rock band, proceeded to write and record the album on location in a converted church in Suffolk (my family home) and, when it was finished, promptly got busy doing all sorts of other things and never really promoted or made anything of it....spent next 17 years saying to each other...'we should do something with the sirens stuff...it was great!...' and then finally got round to it by chance as I found the multitrack which I genuinely thought were long gone”.

 

From these auspicious beginnings came the new album Nullus Margis Gothica MMXXI by London based Goth Rock band Sirens of Light.  Inspiration for the album has come from archetypes including gothic, feminine and those of pop song writing including structures applied to musical and sonic ideas.  The band are also interested in the archetypes of  political, social and religious organizations and the ways they influence the human condition in general, 

 

“Genitors of Luminarium” starts the album off strong with a mimicking ecclesiastical sound threaded with whispered and menacing vocals that reverb and create an ominous ambience. With a steady beat, wild guitar riffs and an undulating sound scape “Succubus Requiem” has growly dark vocals that lead the listener through a dizzying gothic landscape.  “Justine” has an almost delightfully disorientating ricocheting sound with a scything guitar and haunting vocals.  Beginning with a maniacal beat and pervasive guitars “Flames of Kane” has a somber arrangement with provocative lyrics.  “Planes of Sorrow” has a hypnotic beat and a teasing almost seesawing sound that gives the listener the feeling there is something just enticingly beyond their reach.  The vocals and lyrics add to the feeling of chasing something or perhaps being pursued through a existential musical landscape.  With the minacious lyric “from the other side of the mirror” “Rearrange” uses an echoing vocal that lulls and teases the listener in an evocative music soundscape.  “Ultraviolet” has a forceful beat and a stuttering ratchet sound that enhance the rumbling and brooding vocals.  With an almost light and airy beginning “Sirens of Light” beautifully blends a mounting air of tension as pitchy and heavy guitars, a crazed drum beat and whispered slow deliberate vocals build to a beautiful crescendo.  “Maria” has a satisfying beat which quickly fugues with crunchy guitars and delirious drums twisted with pensive ethereal vocals. With a light start “The Prayer” provocatively builds in layers with a haunting piano and gloomy vocals and lyrics.  “Ezy Rider” has a fast pace almost indicative of speeding down a highway with grimy, howling vocals. 

 

 

In terms of how the band would like the audience to interact with this amazing album they say

 

“We want people to get what they get from it...as long as it's provocative in some sense...in real terms, as soon as you put the art out there, the consumer decides what you meant and, in my opinion, that's all that's important....for example...Maria...someone commented (a woman) that's it's about powerful women....and that's fine for me, what was it  written about?....I'm not sure I remember exactly but I'm not attached as a lyricist (or as anything else in fact) to being understood, so it doesn't really matter to me, what is important is that it resonates with someone else and in some way broadens their experience .... not that they get my point!......so the album works on several levels...as a 'pop' record but also it was always meant to have a depth in it if the listener wants to go down the rabbit hole they can makes for themselves with it....or you can dance to it.....or rock out”

Links : 

Webpage: http://sirensoflight.com/

YouTube : https://youtu.be/8xhs1nXVk2Y

The Alluring Dark Beauty of Lisa Hammers Music

 

                                                  Photo courtesy of LisaHammer.com

Growing up in a musical family, with a mother that had a beautiful voice and could play guitar, musician Lisa Hammer explains “The family would have “Hootenannies”/singalongs when we gathered.”  With this background Lisa went on to study Medieval/Early Music, baroque, Opera, Choral, Experimental, Rock, Pop, Folk and Indian Classical Music.  “I ate up discovering new types of music and researched any era/style I could get my hands on” Lisa admits.  During her school years she joined various bands and even opened for Ministry when she was a teen.  

 

Attending college in Boston Lisa joined Requiem In White.  “The 80s Boston music scene was incredible”.   From there she moved to NYC and when Requiem In White split in 1994 her now ex-husband, Doc Hammer and her started Mors Syphilitica and the NCS.  In 2004 when her husband and her split Lisa moved to Hollywood and met her current husband Levi Wilson, and she started composing for film and theater.  Lisa also started a side project with her half brother, director James Merendino who directed American comedy drama movie SLC Punk!.  The siblings side project was called the “Terror Twins”.  After moving back to NYC and hanging out with childhood friend Steven Deal, who had been in indie Pop-Mod bands Bleached Black, Chopper and Absolute Zeros they both expressed admiration for the others work.  They “wondered why we had never collaborated! The rest is history” according to Lisa. 

 

When it comes to her creative process Lisa explains “I hear songs in my head and sing them into my phone recorder.  I then open up Logic Pro and start tapping around on the keyboard.” Lisa writes the song on bass and then finds a tempo drum loop and replaces it later with a drummer.  Lisa works with collaborators from bands Wheatus and Late Cambrian, Paul Ash from Unto Ashes and also her husband Levi Wilson who plays many instruments.    

 

By exploring themes through her music that allow her to express herself as a woman with a disembodied soul searching for answers as well as someone that has been through traumatic experiences Lisa believes she is helped to process grief and anger.  “Many themes involve destruction and regeneration, loss, sadness, loneliness, the spirit world and most importantly love”. Lisa says.

 

Transcending traditional music genres Lisa describes her music as a mix of influences and a hybrid of Classical, olk, World Music, Experimental and Ambient Sounds.  She was influenced early on by 60s Pop to Classical and Punk and she learned to sing opera by initially imitating Klaus Nomi, Lene Lovich, Nina Hagen and opera singers like Marilyn Horne, Marian Anderson and Joan Sutherland. 

She explains “I think a lot of artists these days are experimenting by combining styles and I love it.”

 

Of her new album Lisa says “I was approached by The Circle Music, and they offered me color vinyl double albums, so how can I say no?” The new album was a difficult time inspired be deep emotions with Lisa loosing her beloved mother, Roberta Stockton and her guitarist and oldest friend, Steven Deal, a founding member of Radiana.  The album reflects what Lisa describes as “the deep well of unending grief and the feeling of being rudderless, like a ship with no direction.”

 

When considering the cover art for the album, with an adoration for Symbolist Art, Lisa chose a Jean Delville painting as well as a talented graphic designer at The Circle Music who transformed it into something more beautiful then she could have imagined.  

 

Although she used to love live performances Lisa’s film work has taken front seat to performing.  She also explains “The amount of work and expense to put a live show together is staggering.  I will however, most likely perform in Greece where my record label is.  Maybe from there it will reignite my flame.”

 

With her music heading in a darker direction Lisa attributes this transformation to “I feel like the losses just keep coming.  But suffering is the human condition and I am merely documenting it.  There is so much beauty in raw emotions, whether in grief or in joy.”

 

The Circle Music will be releasing a follow up to the album Dakini, which is almost completed.  They will also be releasing all of the Requiem in White on vinyl and perhaps Mors Syphilitica. Lisa is halfway done with a new Radiana album that she says “without Steven Deals Indie Pop sensibility, is going to be much darker and Post-Punk-Shoegazey then the bands debut album.” 

 

“If you want to just lie down in the dark and be transported to another time”or you would like a soundtrack for Dungeons and Dragons play, have a listen to Lisa Hammer’s music.  It’s a dark and transformative ambient musical journey with an otherworldly feel.

Links :

Webpage : https://www.lisahammer.com/

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/artist/4dQQTdGPkdHk16uLwJL5Fl?si=92CllLmWSo-TVxTaGh_Mqg

 

 

 

The Beautiful Sanctuary of HAEVN

 

                                                  Image Courtesy of Facebook

Indie Pop Ambient band HAEVN explain that their name is a combination of the word Heaven and Haven. “When we first started making music people said it sounded like heaven and like coming home.  So we combined the word heaven and haven where you feel like you come home after a long boat ride.” The Amsterdam based band was founded in 2015 by singer-songwriter Marijn Van der Meer and film soundtrack composer Jorrit Kleijnen.  

 

Marijn’s music journey started at the age of eighteen with a guitar.  Even a three year illness that kept him bedridden did not stop his passion for music and playing his guitar.  What he did develop during those challenging years was an appreciation and understanding of the healing power of music.  Jorrit’s grandfather gave him a piano and this gift had a huge impact on his life.  He had a passion for capturing emotions on the screen and translating what he saw and translating it into music. 

 

The two met when Jorrit was creating a piano piece for a movie.  Marijn was asked to sing over the piece  of music.  The alliance resulted in the songs “Where The Heart Is” and “Finding Out More” which went on to be used in a BMW commercial.  The soothing tones of Marijn’s voice combined magnificently with the instrumental soundscape created by Jorrit and so they began their collaboration, HAEVN.  The band also includes guitarist Bram Doreleijers (Ape Not Mice, Celine Cairo), bass player Mart Jeninga (Celine Cairo) and drummer David Broeders. 

 

Some sources of inspiration for the band are other music and film scores as well as singers and  songwriters like Hans Zimmer, Sting and Leonard Cohen.   “Life inspires us” the band admits. 

HAEVN is also very inspired by moving images which they enjoy working with when composing new music.   They explore themes such as found and lost love and hope.  

 

When creating new music the band says “we start with sound and the words and the melodies come from our subconscious.”

 

Involved in every aspect of the band they work with a talented group of people to create the artwork and the aesthetic for the band.  All of their efforts have resulted in the creation of their own musical world with specific melodies and lyrics and evocative soundscapes.  

 

Enjoying live performances very much  the band see them as “an adventure with a great group of people and we get to meet our fans after every concert which is also very nice.“ 

Having recently toured Germany and Switzerland they are looking forward to having a European Tour.  Initially they plan to play in twenty five theaters in the Nederlands before working on European dates.  

 

For new listeners to their music Haevn says “our music combines songs with filmic scores.  We heard it can give peace of mind, hope and uncover emotions.  This is for us a great compliment.”

As someone who has been lucky enough to attend a virtual concert held by HAEVN during lockdown, in the midst of the pandemic, I can personally attest to the evocative, transcendent beauty of their music and being allowed into that oasis of a soundscape carefully cultivated by the band. 

Links :

Webpage : https://www.haevnmusic.com/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/haevnmusic

 

Dutch Dungeon Synth Band Nortfalke

                                                                        Image from Facebook

The band name Nortfalke represents an interest in the mysticism of the Middle Ages and “nature and dark energy”, according to the band.     Using the word Nort meaning North in the local official language of Schiermonnikoog, and Falke, the word for the falcon, Nortfalke is a name that expresses both the band’s Northern European culture, the winter and harshness of that season as well as the power and stature of a bird of prey.

 With a grandfather that was a great local jazz pianist Nortfalke founder explains “I think he inspired me a lot to make music and get lost in the world of sounds”.  Having taken piano lessons from around seven years of age, by thirteen he was playing music in a band. By fifteen years of age he was performing Doom Metal and Black Metal.  Influenced by bands such as Norwegian Black Metal band Burzum and more recently non-commercial music styles such as the Berlin School and Krautrock. 

 “I am writing soundtracks for nature, at least this is how I see it” is how Nortfalke founder describes his music.  Finding endless inspiration in heavy clouds, the stormy sea and the forest by night, he also incorporates spirituality and mysticism into his music.  “There must be something hidden within the music.”  Inspired by old and obscure movies from the 70s and 80s, sword and sorcery movies such as “Hawk the Slayer” and “Conquest”, Nortfalke creator also cites French filmmaker Jean Rollin’s films as a source of inspiration.

 The sophisticated ambient Dungeon Synth music created by Nortfalke involves “analogue synth bass or nice cosmic sequence, a big wide pad with a great strymon hall/delay”.  Once the first tones are heard Nortfalke finds the inspiration flows. Dutch recording engineer and musician  JB Van Der Wal has helped with the mixing of most of Nortfalke’s albums

 When describing his creative process Nortfalke founder explains “First I get a global idea of the direction and atmosphere.” Once he has decided what synths to use he says “the magic happens”. Although he has endless inspiration time is always a limiting factor on how much he creates.

 Nortfalke is very involved in the aesthetic and style of the music produced by the band.  “I did make the frames for the debut and made the artwork of Schijnsel by old school cut and paste.”  Nortfalke founder explains that he makes most of the band photographs himself .  For Seefonktjuenderee, Frank Verhulst did the band photo and helped out with some of the band’s artwork.  Several individuals have also helped bring aesthetic and artistic aspects of Nortfalke to fruition.

 The joy of playing live music is enhanced for Nortfalke by meeting new people and catching up with old friends.  “My music is very layered so it's not possible to re-create it exactly like on the record” explains Nortfalke founder and this as well as technical difficulties can cause some stress but playing live allows Nortfalke to visit new places and go out beyond the recording studio.

 Having just completed a tour with Swiss Extreme metal group Bölzer,  Nortfalke’s future plans involve making more records,  “I hope to create music like this for a long time.”  While currently working on a spiritual, ambient album Nortfalke also plans to create a Berlin School or Krautrock style album.  Nortfalke has lots of future ideas including “a total old school ds album” and “an album with only casio’s” as well as album “without synths but with other instruments such as piano and organ.”  A film score is also a future ambition of Nortfalke.  In the near future Nortfalke will be featured on an upcoming compilation of Dutch Dungeon Synth via Heidenshart Records with other bands such as Old Tower and Vetus Supulcrum. 

 For those who have never listened to any of Nortfalke’s music the band suggests “take your time to listen to it, you really need time to get into it.”  Nortfalke founder says “I make music for myself” but “if others like it that’s a big bonus.”   If you enjoy stylish ambient Dungeon Synth music with a provocative spiritual twist Nortfalke are for you.

 

 Links :

Spotify : Spotify – Nortfalke 

Facebook : (1) Nortfalke | Facebook

Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9HB2cI_BD20L96fK6ZdTMg

 

Strange Days by Voicecoil

 

The theme of loss was a huge inspiration for the new album by Denver Futurepop group Voicecoil.  During the pandemic the uncertainty of not knowing what was going to happen made everything around Voicecoil lead man Mark Sousa seem terrifying. “Then people started to die and I thought my whole world was ending” explains  Sousa  

 For most of the time during the pandemic Sousa couldn’t write.  When he was finally able to create music again he was very inspired.  “I also thought about the course of my life, what I wanted out of it and what I owed to those who believed in me when I was alive” , he says.   

The cathartic effect of music and music production have helped Sousa express how he felt after such a tumultuous world event. The songs “If/When” and “Vesterbrogade” reflect that point in particular.  The idea that you keep going as long as you can and make your life what you want it to be or die trying became a focus for Sousa.  He was inspired by a woman that he cared for very much who suffered a lot pain in her life all the while enduring it with courage. “No matter how much she hurt she had words of encouragement for me.  That will always stick with me.”  Both “If/When and “Vesterbrogade” take the listener on an almost frantic music journey with riveting beats and haunting lyrics.  

During the pandemic people Sousa loved dearly passed away in the span of a year and a half.  According to Sousa these people were the kind of people you only get to meet once in your life and he was devastated by their loss.  “For Katie”, “Why” and “Drift”, are songs all written by Sousa for people that he lost.  “For Katie” has a persistent and nostalgic sound with melancholic lyrics.   “Why” is a layered music journey with imploring lyrics and vocals towards the end of the song   “Drift” takes the listener on a musical odyssey with a tinge of hope afloat upon a beautiful melodic soundscape.  

 Engulfing the listener into a pervasive soundscape of evocative trance beats “Witness” has hypnotic vocals.   “Speak In Sine” has a techno dance orientated pop structure with retro sounding vocals. “Above The Static” instantly transports the listener into a fast paced technoid environment with dark lyrics and undulating, entrancing vocals.  Using repetitive bass lines and factory ambience “Line in the Sand” is filled with ominous lyrics and cautionary vocals.

 

“No Easy Reply” “is focused on the instant judgement of the internet age and the court of public opinion, often armed with no evidence making a judgement and decision about something.  Sousa describes this phenomenon  as “the mob mentality, cloaked in a veil of righeousness.”  He goes on to say that “that kind of thing always seemed to terrify me.”  “No Easy Reply” has foreboding lyrics adrift in a fast and retro beat.

The album Strange Days is a compelling pilgrimage through the soundscape inspired by Sousa’s personal experiences throughout the pandemic and is well worth a listen.