DJ Boxer - Track of the Week

Götterdämmerung - Left Hand Rapture

Recently coming from the same label (Strobelight Records) as such notorious Darkwave/Deathrock acts as “Last Days Of Jesus” and “Pink Turns Blue”, this track from the album Kin-Birst 9104, is probably my favourite from Götterdämmerung . I would also recommend listening to the album “Of Whores and Culture”, especially the track Vibroboy.

Album review: Christ vs. Warhol - Dissent

Post-Punk/Deathrock

Album released 2010

★★★★
Review by DJ Boxer
Favorite Track:     Paper Dolls

It was a warm summer’s day at Wave Gotik Treffen back in 2010 when I found myself and a few friends waiting outside of the Felsenkeller venue. As usual at WGT, it was a difficult decision to make (as Pink Turns Blue was playing at Werk II) however, Sex Gang Children were playing at Felsenkeller too and that became the deciding factor for our choice of a venue for the day. By a stroke of luck, there was another band we’ve had yet to hear of set to play early on in the day called Christ Vs. Warhol. Their performance throughout which we originally intended to sit around and drink beer while waiting for Sex Gang blew us all away and from then on, I was instantly hooked.

The Californian group came together in the studios of William Faith (Faith and the Muse) to produce their debut release, "Dissent". The album is 45 minutes of political and emotive Deathrock lined with Post-Punk elements and a few melancholic tracks for good measure. The instrumental composition is not overly complicated which helps to not only keep the listeners feet tapping to the songs, but to also compliment the lyrical arrangement.



The first track, "A New Model of the Universe" pulls you out of whatever world you're currently in, and lines you up for the onslaught of the following tracks. You're suddenly hit with "Cross of Lorraine", "Paper Dolls" and "Dissent" with Eveghost's aggressive vocals really helping to emote their politically charged and – at times – mocking lyrics.

"...They label healthcare akin to fascism
As they kowtow to the gods capitalism
Force-feeding images of prosperity
They feed you what you want to hear, so comforting
When the corporations shell out the big money
They got one thing right: freedom isn't free
There's a price on each and every politician's head
And a corporate logo on their sleeve..."
- Secret

As the album weaves its way through its political and social commentary to the tune of Scarlet Remains-esque guitars together with a driving bass and drum line, the tracks take a seemingly personal turn with "Fade" and "And If You Forget". Instrumental effects become softer with Eveghost's vocals now constantly within a higher vocal range complimented by a few lines in french as if to juxtapose with their more political overtones on the rest of the album.

"...But when you said "Could we kiss?",
And petals came to spread,
In a heart long wilted and dead..."
- Fade

The album ends with "Robin Hood In Reverse", a commentary on the current economic crisis engulfing the USA and the Government’s inability to balance their social responsibility with the corporate greed from the banking sector. This is an interesting track for Christ vs Warhol to finish with, but helps to remind the listener why this album was written, and in fact, what most of this album is about, dissent.

Line up:

Eveghost - Vocals
Steven James - Guitars
Marzia Rangel - Bass
Geoff Bruce - Drums

Website: http://christvswarhol.bigcartel.com/

DJ De Ville - Track of the Week

This week I decided to choose one of my favourite Gary Numan tracks 'Before You Hate It' taken from the album 'Jagged' released in 2006. One of his more powerful tracks which builds to pulsing heavy synth outro thanks to the then new band member and collaborator Ade Fenton.

Gary Numan's new album 'Dead Son Rising' will be released September 5 2011. The album is co-written and co-produced by Fenton.

1334Bats Podcast Volume: 2

Mixed by DJ De Ville

Roxy Music - In Every Dream Home a Heartache
Peter Murphy - Disappearing
Dead or Alive - Flowers
Pink Turns Blue - Missing You
The Smiths - London
The Dark - The Masque
Christian Death - Face
Feeding Fingers  - Detach Me From My Head
Eva O - Children of the Light
The Faces of Sarah - All That is Divine
The Vanishing - Skin
My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult - A Daisy Chain 4 Satan (Extended Single Version)
The Electric Hellfire Club - Mr .44
Principe Valiente - The Night

DJ Boxer - Track of the Week

This week's track of the week comes from Frank the Baptist's first release, "Different Degrees of Empty". Initially founded in San Diego, California, frontman Frank Vollmann initially found success in the Darkwave/Deathrock scene in North America before finally signing with Austrian's Strobelight Records. A move which helped the band break into the Europen market. After releasing a further two albums through the label, a relocation to Berlin and a line-up change, Frank the Baptist are continuing to earn their place within the Darkwave community.

1334Bats Podcast - Volume 1

1334Bats - Volume 1 by 1334bats on Mixcloud

Mixed by DJ Boxer

The Wake - Nazarene
UK Decay - UK Decay
The Birthday Party - Loose
Spizzenergi - Where's Captain Kirk?
Psychic TV - Hookah Chalice
The Cemetary Girlz - Reflection
Cinema Strange - Aboriginal Anemia
Christian Death - Cervix Couch [One by One]
Alien Sex Fiend - Stress
Akira Yamaoka - Killing Time
Xmal Deutschland - Augen-Blick
Rosetta Stone - An Eye For The Main Chance
Mary Goes Round - Kiss Me Love
Miguel And The Living Dead - Graveyard Love Song
?13th Moon? - Under The Mask
Christ vs. Warhol - Dissent
Virgin Prunes - Caucasian Walk

DJ De Ville - Track of the Week

My choice this week is Dead or Alive's first 7" single "I'm Falling". The release came out just before Wayne Hussey (The Sisters of Mercy/The Mission) officially joined, and years before the band changed to create more pop orientated material such as 'You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)'
'Flowers' was featured on the B-side and the video showcases a punk/tribal version of frontman Pete Burns.

Album review: Feeding Fingers - Wound In Wall

★★★
Album released 2007
Review by DJ De Ville:

I was first introduced to dark wave band Feeding Fingers, after seeing a short film by vocalist Justin Curfman entitled Zugskin.
It's after watching his films that you understand the surrealist lyrical compositions behind the songs (made originally as soundtracks) which would later make up the debut album Wound In Wall.

The album starts with 'Mouth Filled With Sand' a track that is similar in sound of The Cure track 'Lullaby' in bass lines and keyboards. Curfman's voice cries out like a mixture of Robert Smith and Gary Numan in his early punk days. It's followed by a simplistic acoustic arrangement 'A Bag of Broken Hands' which is reminiscent of the Bauhaus classic 'All We Ever Wanted Was Everything'.

A range of effects and heavy echoes on Curfman's distorted vocal ranges lead well through to the title track 'Feeding Fingers' with it's perfect combination of organs and slow paced guitar feedback.
Two instrumental tracks 'Theme For a Saw Tooth Hula Hoop' and 'This is Yours' are equally dark and beautiful in their own way, the latter I could easily imagine being included in the video game Silent Hill.
'Manufactured Missing Children' and 'Where Mimes Come to Say Goodbye' are also stand outs and continue the dark journey through the album with the lyrics:

Facedown in the snow
And broken ice
I removed my mind
So that I could always
Always
Be wrong

My favourite song would be the final on the album: 'Fireflies Make Us Sick', which sounds the most polished of all 14 tracks. With a pounding drum rhythm and pronounced simplistic vocals, it's a perfect choice to end the album on, and one of those songs you want to keep on repeat, even with the dark surreal lyrics:

I don't care how you got in here
With this jar full of fireflies
Just let me crush and smear
Their glowing asses
Across your mouth

And when I turn out this light

I only want to see your face
Coming closer
To kiss me
Until the smell of this
Makes us sick

Wound In Wall is must listen for fans of The Cure (especially the albums Pornography, and even Disintegration), Joy Division and Echo & The Bunnymen. Overall a prominent debut album, although you can hear the inspirations it's not at all a copy, more an experimental follow on.

Fireflies Make Us Sick:

More info: www.feedingfingers.com

The Sisters Of Mercy - Sonisphere Festival 2011 - 9th July

As the sun descended over the crowd on the 3rd day of Sonisphere and the day's line up came to an end, there was one more band left to play to the anticipating crowd. Those who thought ahead of time and headed to the front of one of the few enclosed stages were thanking themselves as the stage quickly filled up after the previous band - Paradise Lost - finished their set.

At 11:15, the lights dimmed down and and an endless amount of smoke filled not only the stage, but the majority of the large blue tent which was to be the stage for The Sisters of Mercy show that night. As the stage lights perpetrated the smoky air and lit up the tent, Simon Denbigh (Of "The March Violets" fame), Ben Christo and Chris Catalyst appeared out of the thick smoke and onto the stage. Andrew Eldritch's haunting voice in the "Afterhours" covered the crowd and drew everyone in to what was to be an exceptionally well produced and unforgettable show.

The setlist which stretched well over an hour, was an eclectic mix easily described as something from a "Best Of" album (Indeed many of the songs were from "A Slight Case Of Overbombing") and the crowd's reaction reflected the band's energy and dedication in every way; Many 'Sisters' fans, young and old, joined in the mosh pit and sang along to their favorite songs. Indeed, there were particular overriding chants for classics such as "This Corrosion" and "Alice" but as with their other performances, they included a few tracks not on any of the studio ablums. Responses to tracks such as "Arms" and "Will I Dream?" were well recieved by the crowd with many two-stepping in the mud in the little space that they had.

Overall, the show was well presented, well organised and provided a mood that would see any 'Sisters' fan returning for more. After an abscence from UK festival line-ups for 20 years, the band really did seem to enjoy themselves so hopefully we will see them at more festivals in the future.





The Sisters of Mercy are currently on a 30th anniversary world tour with several festivals and concerts lined up over the remainder of 2011 with appearances set for Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, the Soundwave Revolution festival across Australia in September/October as well as - what is building up to be an exciting appearance - at the London Roundhouse in Camden on November 13.

Review by: DJ Boxer
Sources: www.the-sisters-of-mercy.com

Setlist:
Afterhours
Ribbons
Train / Detonation Boulevard
Crash and Burn
A Rock and a Hard Place
Amphetamine Logic
Arms
Dominion / Mother Russia
Summer
More
Will I Dream?
Alice
Anaconda
Lucretia, My Reflection
Vision Thing
Pipeline
Temple of Love

Encore:
Something Fast
First & Last & Always
This Corrosion

Happy Birthday Peter Murphy - 54 Today