DARK NATION RADIO’S
“ON THE FRONT LINES”

—News and Goings On—

DRACULA’S BALL

On Saturday February 16th, I traveled to the City of Brotherly Love for my fifth appearance as DJ at the famed Dracula’s Ball www.draculasball.com. As always, the event exceeded my expectations! The bands were And One and Ego Likeness and the other DJs on the bill spinning in other rooms were Johanna Constantine and Vlad.

Somehow this event just seems to keep getting bigger and better! It was entirely sold out this time in advance of the doors opening – as in over 2000 people and no tickets available at all! Thankfully, Mother Nature cooperated with a clear and not especially cold night in mid-February and my flights into Philadelphia, while slightly late, ran into no real problems.

Shampoo, the current home to Dracula’s Ball, is a terrific space, with lots of different areas to explore. In addition to the main floor (where I was lucky enough to be spinning before, between, and after the bands), there is a loungey 21+ downstairs area, a smaller secondary dance space, and even a belly-dancing lounge!

My approach to a gig like Dracula’s Ball is to provide a range of material, from old school goth to new electro—with a few unexpected 80s tracks thrown in for good measure—so I planned out a trajectory for the evening beginning with goth and well-known tracks before Ego Likeness to get folks warmed up, upping the “axis of oontz” between the bands, and then rounding things out afterwards with an “anything goes, just have fun” post-And One set. A sampling of my playlist from the evening is below. My favorite moments were listening to screams of surprise and delight even over the music when I played Prince’s “Kiss,” watching the place almost explode when I went from “Kiss” into Noisuf-X’s “Hit Me Hard,” and an impromptu but very successful end of the evening mix from Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” into Suicide Commando’s “Hell Raiser.” The new track that blew my mind on the club’s giant sound system was Ayria’s recent release, “The Gun Song.” The bass on this track is amazingly wide and it just begs to be heard on a system that lets you feel the bass in your bones!

Both Ego Likeness and And One put on excellent performances and were kind enough to mingle with the crowd. Never having seen And One in person before, this was a special treat for me and I got a kick out of the fact that they played Project Pitchfork’s “Timekiller” (a song that lots of people probably think is an And One song anyway) and covered Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus”—which they mixed in and out of their song “Wasted.” They played a fair number of songs off of their latest album, Bodypop, but didn’t neglect their older songs.

It’s hard for me to praise Dracula’s Ball and the Philadelphia scene in general enough – while the rest of the country (and indeed the world) is constantly lamenting the dwindling of the goth / industrial scene, Phili—thanks in large measure to Patrick Rodgers, concert promoter and head of Dancing Ferret Discs—continues to rock hard! If you’ve never attended Dracula’s Ball, definitely put this on your list of things to do before you die (or get staked).

Selections from DJ cypher’s “Dracula’s Ball” playlist

@ Shampoo in Philadelphia; Saturday February 16^th, 2008

Set #1 (Before the Bands)

Panzer AG, “Monster”
Zombie Girl, “We Are the Ones”
Mindless Self Indulgence, “Straight to Video” (Combichrist mix)
Eisbrecher, “Phospher”
XPQ-21, “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”
Brainbug, “Nightmare”
St. Eve, “No Human Words”
Cleen, “Freezeout”
Cubanate, “Oxyacetaline”
Hanzel und Gretyl, “9D Galactic Center”
 
Set #2 (Between the Bands)
Psyclon 9, “Parasitic”
Angelspit, “Wreak Havoc”
The Revolting Cocks, “Beers, Steers, & Queers”
White Zombie, “Thunder Kiss ‘65″ (KMFDM remix)
Stromkern, “Stand Up” (Iris mix)
Prince, “Kiss”
Noisuf-X, “Hit Me Hard”
Alien Vampires, “Fuck Machine”
Combichrist, “Electrohead”
David Bowie w/ Trent Reznor, “Afraid of Americans”
Malign, “Skin & Lye”
 
Set #3 (After the Bands)

Lo-Fidelity Allstars, “Battleflag”
Pigface, “Sick asp F*ck”
Jane’s Addiction, “Been Caught Stealin’”
Bigod 20, “Like a Prayer”
H.I.M., “Wicked Game”
SPF1000, “Haunted House” (remix)
Grendel, “Soilbleed”
Ayria, “The Gun Song”
My Life w/ The Thrill Kill Kult, “Sex on Wheelz”
KMFDM, “Juke Joint Jezebel”
Poison, “Talk Dirty to Me”
Social Distortion, “Ring of Fire”
Covenant, “Dead Stars”
Soft Cell, “Tainted Love”
Suicide Commando, “Hellraiser”
Voltaire, “Hell in a Handbasket”

A DARK NATION RADIO CONTEST

The reasons I host Dark Nation Radio are all closely tied together: I want to share the music I love, promote the bands I enjoy, and help support the labels that struggle to stay in business and release material that, for the most part, never registers on muggle radar. With that in mind, I often try to come up with ways to attract attention to particular bands and labels and this includes the occasional contest.

From March 1st – 15th, Dark Nation Radio helped celebrate Projekt Records’s 200th release both with a program peppered throughout with Projekt artists and with a contest. The prize was a copy of Projekt’s special “Projekt 200″ release – a 3 CD set offering an overview of Projekt’s growth and development. The release, which is beautifully packaged and limited to 2500 total, features both favorite older tracks and some exclusive material and is a must for fans of goth and dark ambient music. Here is a link to the release on Projekt’s Web site www.projekt.com/projekt/product.asp?sku=PRO00200.

And these are the artists that were featured in the March 1st – 15th program:

Android Lust

Arcana

Audra

Autumn’s Grey Solace

Black Tape for a Blue Girl

Chandeen

Lycia

Melody Guild

Mira

Mirabilis

Tearwave

Trance to the Sun

Unto Ashes

Voltaire

—Reviews—

Three reviews for you this month, ranging from classically-informed heavenly voices to updated old-school goth to brain-numbing apocalyptic industrial!

MIRABILIS
Sub Rosa
(2008 Projekt)

Recipe: Medieval Baebes meets This Mortal Coil by way of Dead Can Dance and Miranda Sex Garden

Sub Rosa is the ambitious sophomore release from Mirabilis, the neo-classical collaborative effort of Summer Bowman of The Machine in the Garden and Dru Allen of This Ascension. The collaboration clearly has been fruitful for both because, while I’m a fan of both MItG and This Ascension, the work by Bowman and Allen on Sub Rosa clearly is more nuanced, varied, and complex than anything either has released separately (which is not at all to belittle their previous efforts—Sever from This Ascension is one of my favorite albums!). Working together seems to have librated their creative energies and challenged these two chanteuses to elevate their craft to new levels.

Sub Rosa is a Latin term meaning “secrecy” (literally “beneath the rose”—the rose in Medieval culture symbolizing a pact) and Sub Rosa seems aptly named. It is an album that spins a seductive spell, luring the listener spider-like into a dreamy web of classical influences, textured harmonies, electronic undertones, and acoustic instrumentation. Like a rose, the album is beautiful, fragrant, and seemingly delicate. Beneath the surface though, there are thorns.

The centerpiece of Sub Rosa clearly is the interplay of “heavenly voices.” At times, Bowman and Allen (and occasional guest vocalists Rebecca Colleen Miller and Cindy Adzuki Chang) sing separately; at other times, they weave together mesmerizing harmonies. In some cases, the vocal quality is dry and starkly rendered (notably on the cover of “Angel Eyes” which is treated to sound like an old AM radio broadcast, complete with scratchy vinyl effect); in other cases, the sound is full and lush and, through the marvels of modern engineering, Bowman and Allen can sing multiple parts and sound like a complete chorus. Some of the tracks are wholly a cappella; others feature minimalist instrumentation, including hammered dulcimer, flute, piano, and live percussion; while others are very full and cover the listener like a blanket.

As this overview to the album might suggest, another impressive feature of Sub Rosa is the variety of song and tonal structures it presents while at the same time managing to retain a consistent sweetly melancholic feel. Sub Rosa—in Miranda Sex Garden fashion—covers the gamut from sixteenth-century madrigals to a Beatles’ covers to contemporary electronica, all without ever sacrificing a sense of aural coherence. Standout tracks for me include the leadoff track, “World Indifferent,” which introduces us to the atmospheric world of Mirabilis’s complex harmonies; track 2, “The Journey” (sung by Chang), which is a dark lullaby featuring hammered dulcimer and flute; the ever-so-slightly off-kilter cover of “Angel Eyes” on track 10; and the fuller, more fleshed out sound of track 13, “Farce.” The only track that doesn’t come off for me is the very ambitious track 7, “Il est bel et bon,” which seems to have off-key moments (a problem of Bowman’s in the past that seems almost entirely overcome on this release).

Overall, Sub Rosa is a very impressive release. It is complex and nuanced, demonstrating real time, talent, and craftsmanship. It takes risks and is very successful. This is one to seek out and savor on quiet evenings.

Rating: 4 stars out of 4

Great If You Like: Unto Ashes, Miranda Sex Garden, Medieval Baebes, Dead Can Dance

Hanzel und Gretyl
2012: Zwanzig Zwölf
(2008 Metropolis)

Recipe: Ministry, Ministry, Ministry meets Feindflug

Like Bella Morte, another band that I once enjoyed who have moved in directions that I don’t particular care for, Hanzel und Gretyl have lost the appeal that they once had – notably on their terrific sophomore release Transmission from Uranus – and have evolved into a less interesting band. What Transmissions had, in addition to some kick-ass dancefloor tracks (”9D Galatic Center,” “Pleiades Agenda”) was a sense of humor and variety of levels (”Astronafti” is a terrifically fun deep-cut off this album). And while there is something vaguely amusing in an abstract way about Hanzel und Gretyl’s current apocalyptic “Wagnerian space-opera metal” approach, the joke wears thin pretty quickly. When the most creative thing you can come up with is a way to stutter the sound on-beat (which you then use again and again and again in a very self-satisfied way), it’s probably time to reassess your direction.

So, here’s the setup for this album: “Based on the Mayan prediction that the world will end in 2012, 2012: Zwanzig Zwölf offers the only way out to survive the pending apocalypse—an uber death party to end all parties” (Metropolis Press Release). Does that make sense to you? It doesn’t to me either. The press release also describes the album as “some of the heaviest, most brutal, death (defying) music the band has ever created.” That’s a fairly apt description.

The problem is this: as Spinal Tap so elegantly pointed out, unless your amp goes to 11, when you’re on 10, there’s no place to go. And this album starts on 10 and runs out of places to go real fast. Indeed, the whole album is present in microcosm on the introductory track, “Ubermensch, Uberfrau.” Here we get Hitler-rally-esque crowd noise, Hitler-esque samples, bass drum rolls, Ministry-esque guitar heroics, and a marchlike pace—get the picture? What distinguishes track 2, “Fukken Uber Death Party” (the album’s first single) is not so much any real variation from any other song on the album, as the use of a Speak And Spell to spell out F-U-K-K-E-N U-B-E-R (why, how clever!) and the aforementioned stutter effect on the vocals. The guitar is crunchy, the percussion is way up front in the mix, the vocals are harsh. If you stop here, you might find the album appealing.

Subsequent tracks replay most of the effects introduced on tracks 1 and 2 in various combinations, with the additions of air-raid sirens, explosions, and breaking glass. Track 6, “Number 1 in Deutschland,” for example, mixes all of these aspects together with the creative refrain, “I ain’t gonna stop ’til I’m #1 in Deutchland.” The tempo may vary a bit from song to song – track 10, “Heil Hizzle Mein Nizzle” is machinegun-fire fast while track 5, “Deathschlager” slows things down a bit – but the whole album is a miasmic mash of crunchy guitar, abrasive vocals, and rolling drums with very little to distinguish one song from the next. The only deviation from form is the final track, “Totenhead,” which is a spacey electronic number that sounds like a throw-back to an earlier incarnation of HuG—a more interesting time.

In sum: Ministry did it first and Ministry did it better. In small doses, 2012: Zwanzig Zwölf is appealing and I’m sure there will be people who will get a thrill from wearing a T-Shirt that has “fukken uber” printed on it. Taken as an album, however, it’s all surface with very little depth, variation, or musicianship to recommend it. Perhaps it’s time for HuG to stop worrying about their image and coming up with banal German puns and to get back to worrying about writing songs that don’t depend on sirens, explosions, and special effects for their impact.

Rating: 1.5 stars out of 4

Great If You Like: Ministry, White Zombie, Metallica

CELL DIVISION
Chymeia
(2008 Thunderdome)

Recipe: The Breath of Life combined with Sunshine Blind, seasoned with Gitane Demone and a dash of Courtney Love

Cell Division is a female-fronted guitar-oriented goth band from Switzerland with a languorous throw-back sound that will appeal to fans of Switchblade Symphony. The band, which formed in 1995 and has gone through several personnel changes, currently features the lithesome voice of singer Gelgia C., and boasts a background in dark rock, metal, punk, and jazz. While there are occasional jazzy and punk touches on Chymeia, the album is firmly centered on melancholic dark rock.

This focus is immediately evident on the album’s lead-off track, “Jaded,” which features mid-tempo guitar, acoustic drums, old-school goth bass, and Gelgia C.’s seductive Gitane Demone meets Courtney Love voice. Track 2, “White Pain,” offers a slower, more sensual approach with a dark Switchblade Symphony edge. Punk notes are evident on track 3, “Wasteland,” which features a pulsing base, tribal drums, and a Dinah Cancer-esque vocal delivery at moments.

The ensuing tracks vary from more languorous pacing and delivery to a harder rocking sound, but all fall easily into the category of female-fronted guitar goth—with the possible exceptions of tracks 8 and 10. Track 8, “Uberdimensional,” is a loungey track showcasing some jazz elements, and track 10, “Twilight,” is an acoustic ballad.

Overall, Chymeia is a solid release from a talented quartet that produces very competent guitar-based goth rock. Give this one a shot.

Rating: 3 stars out of 4

Great If You Like: The Breath of Life, Switchblade Symphony, Sunshine Blind, Gitane Demone, Courtney Love, Autumn

—Dark Nation Radio—

Dark Nation Radio, as regular listeners may be aware, updates with a new 6+ hour program chock full of all that’s new and interesting in goth and industrial music on the 1st and 15th of every month.

“I am a ultra tall, sarcastically crass, swank classy dame of the creative persuasion. I am also highly uncoordinated (hence the title Miss Destructo), somewhat of an insomniac with a slight addiction to caffeine and the wikipedia.

Amber is an accomplished student, writer, photographer, radio DJ and band promoter. She says “I’m currently in a love/hate musically driven relationship with my IPOD. Other than that I am a “normal” 22 year old college student from New Port Richey, FL with dirty old combat boots under her bed, a stinky Chihuahua, a love for travel and anyone who doesn’t mind being an improper dancer on the road which is life.”

Tell Us About Yourself:

So how did this whole Goth thing start? Unlike many in the scene that have been introduced in later teenage years to the music and the culture. It was under the influence of my older sister that was the catalyst to the present. She was one of the early members of Goth scene in Tampa and she took care of me after my mother’s passing from cancer in ‘93. I grew up listening all different genres of music from Neil Diamond to Bluegrass, but my sister was a great influence on my budding interest in all things Goth. She would frequently listen to many different types of music herself but out of everything I loved the sound of the electronic beats and pulses that I had never heard before and even though I was still young I found deeper meaning in these songs than in any radio sugar coated junk that many of my peers were listening to.

As I got older, I grew to love the visual aspects of the Goth culture… the artistic nature of the culture, clothing, the makeup and the pretty artistic boys in the clothing and the makeup.
And then there was the 18th birthday outing to the local Goth club… The Castle in Ybor City, FL. I didn’t know what to expect, I had heard crazy stories for years from my sister and her gaggle of Goth friends.

Upon entering, I was hit with a barrage of sights and sounds. Everyone was kind and welcoming, I didn’t feel like I was out of place (I was wearing jeans… yikes!) and I didn’t get harassed once by some random male. Four years later, my sister is now known as “Amber’s sister” and everyone there that is a “regular” is like a second family to me.

Some of my favorite bands in the genre are Diorama, Ien Oblique, and Necessary Response. Of course, my favorite all time artists are David Bowie, Peter Murphy and Gary Numan.

You’d think I’d have enough Goth points already to last me till next Halloween but last year I won a Honors travel grant from my school to document the Wave Gotik Treffen festival in Leipzig, Germany to bring back my experiences in the Gothic culture and to show the tolerance of the culture in other cultures compared to the united states. This is the second WGT I have attended and I recommend to anyone to get yourself over there to check it out. I also have just attended the Dark Star festival in CT and I have to honestly say this festival was one of the best weekends in my life. The band lineup was fantastic, the location was perfect, and the people were more than friendly…this festival is a must attend on anyone’s list!

Currently, I am one of the founders and DJ for Perpetual Darkness Radio at the University of Tampa, among working as a DJ for school events; this all adding to my musical background of working in promotions for a multitude of record labels and musicians for many different genres for about ten years now.

Next year I plan on attending college in the Netherlands, and I hope to get a gothic/industrial radio show started there also. I don’t know where the future will take me but I hope there will always be people like us and a good music festival with a table of friends awaiting me.

AMBER’S GALLERY
Click Any Image For Full Size

Since the beginning of the Goth of the Month Feature, we’ve had reader letters requesting to archive the past Goth of the Month Features or, at least, have an ongoing Top 5 or so always featured within the Goth of the Month area. Recently the number of those request increased and became more constant so, you speak, we listen!

From this point on, for starters, we will have a TOP 5 Goth of the Month
Appearance Area. However, the models profile won’t appear, just their name, location and their pictures. If you, our readers, want more information, let us know and we’ll figure it all out!

Now, Carpe Nocturne is proud to present our…

TOP 5
GOTH of the MONTH MODELS!

#5 TRYSTE
Hamburg, Germany

TRYSTE’S GALLERY
(Click Any Image For Full Size)

#4 WICKED MINA
Los Angeles, CA USA

WICKED MINA’S GALLERY
(Click Any Image For Full Size)

#3 WEDNESDAY
San Antonio, TX / Hollywood, CA. USA

WEDNESDAY’S GALLERY
(Click Any Image For Full Size)

#2 AMARANTH
Southampton, UK

AMARANTH’S GALLERY
(Click Any Image For Full Size)

# 1: Nadia
London, England

NADIA’S GALLERY
(Click Any Image For Full Size)

Started back when Carpe Nocturne was still but a Feature itself in Indie IN-TUNE E-Zine, the Goth of the Month was a sub-feature within that feature. From its inception it quickly became a popular area and generated numerous hits within the publication. Now, with Carpe Nocturne being its own publication for some time now, we’ve continued the feature and its popularity has continued to grow!

Originally not intended as a Gothic Glamour Section, Goth of the Month started as an area to spotlight people who stood out within the Gothic / Industrial / EBM / Cyber / Fetish community with their work for and in the scene. However, as time went on, it seemed, although still interested in those who contributions stood out, the readers wanted to see and read about the fashion and “beautiful people” within this diverse culture.

Now the Goth of the Month Feature leans more toward the diversity of the fashions throughout this multi-faceted culture each month. We still try to keep it open to anyone who “tries” to fit the image to the best of their ability as, we know, everyone can’t afford the costly wardrobes and photography.

Carpe Nocturne’s “Goth of the Month may actually be the wrong name for this popular feature as we don’t focus “only” on Gothic Fashion. We’ve has models from all areas of “The New Dark Culture” and Fetish community. From the Cyber and Punk image to the Victorian Gothic look to the Industrial, Steam-Punk , Fetish and other related fashions. If what you like to wear fits and stands out within this wide and super diverse culture, you are welcome to drop us a line with a few pictures.

WHY SUBMIT To or APPLY FOR “GOTH of the MONTH?”

Mainly for the fun of it! It’s a non-paid gig that just lets the world get to see that original look that you’ve worked so hard (and spend so damn much money) on! Some do it simply for fun and exposure while others who are aspiring models do it for the exposure and to build a portfolio. We’ve had some professional Gothic and Cyber models Submit to Goth of the Month just to support the feature and add to their portfolios too! Most of all we’re told, only 1 Goth of the Month is chosen each month so, many submit their material just to see if they can get chosen for the feature.

If you are interested in being in out Goth of the Month Feature, on the Goth of the Month main page, click on “Want To Be Our “Goth of the Month” article for rules and submission information.

When I was 14 my mother’s friend had snuck me into a bar in New Mexico claiming I had forgot my I.D. and they let me in. I don’t recall the DJ Spinning the exact night but after seeing him spinning and getting the whole room moving I knew that music was what I wanted to get into…

For several years before that I had listened to Industrial music and was always interested and well oriented into the so called Goth scene. After I arrived back home in Las Vegas after a really weird drug experience out there I started speaking with a good friend of mine, DJ Parasight/Wes, and from then he would help me remix and get the stuff I needed to pursue DJing.

I am 20 now and have DJ’ed a few clubs here in Las Vegas but I got recognized by the strange remixes I had made using a Microkorg and Electribe ER-1 and a set of pioneer cdj 100s. :Later on when I was 16 or 17 I started going to a place called City Lights where I met DJ Pierrorist. Ever since then him and I have been friends and I would spin there when they were short handed.

Would you like to mention any clubs you spin at regularly and/or any upcoming events you’ll be spinning at? If so, please list below:

Right now I’m booking hopefully Diverje, Vertigo Venus (Both great DSBP bands) along with Bedlam Emotion, The Industrial Complex, and Hardwire the Industrial Tech.

Tell us a bit about yourself:

Favorite Bands: Depeche Mode to Gridlock I listen to everything that has a nice upbeat electronic tempo and awesome vocals.

Movies: Do I dare so und cliché? Blade Runner, The Dark Backwards, Dune, Event Horizon, Terminator, The Breakfast Clubs, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Fear
and Loathing… I basically watch anything obscene, offensive, or completely mind twisting.

Likes: Friendly people, Good atmosphere when working with music, I love my fish and ferrets so much I am practically raising a zoo in my house. Also I love experiencing new music or new books

Dislikes: People coming up to me asking “what the hell is this” in offensive manors (one night I was spinning a power-noise set and someone walked up and actually asked me what the hell I was spinning. I guess she had never heard Power-noise before so after awhile I had to completely scrap my bad-ass playlist and spin oldschool like siouxsie and the banshees and The Bauhaus)

Hobbies/Interests Other than DJing: Breeding ferrets is really cool; I breed fish and anything I can really. I guess I enjoy watching things created; that or I’m sick and like watching animals have sex haha just kidding.. I sit around most of my day emailing and trying to set up gigs or throw out new remixes sometimes I’ll just plug in my synthesizers and play till my fingers are sore I really don’t do much other than that and party but how many of you can’t say you do similar things?

Interview Questions:

[Carpe Nocturne] What got you started as a DJ and when?

[DJ Protokol] I first started at 15 or 16 at local hookah bars for cash and air time money was never an issue which is why this scene is perfect for me

[Carpe Nocturne] How did you choose your name?

[DJ Protokol] Music has always been a priority in my life. I guess I chose it to remind myself to follow my own protocol….

[Carpe Nocturne] Where did you learn your craft?

[DJ Protokol] I can’t say truly that I learned it all on my own but the biggest influence has been my close friend DJ Parasight

[Carpe Nocturne] Do you have any preference in decks that you use and why?

[DJ Protokol] I prefer to use Pioneer equipment it plays everything I love using the Effector 700 or even the 500 both are cool. I like something that calculates the bpm right in front of me so I can put together a great sounding show.. of course it all goes through mixmeister pro before I’ll ever throw it into the mix its awesome tells you the key and bpm has some pretty cool features

[Carpe Nocturne] What are your preferred music genres to spin and are you known for a specific style?

[DJ Protokol] Terror EBM, Synthpop, Futurepop, Powernoize, Hellektro: ,whatever brings the OONTZ!!

[Carpe Nocturne] Do you get to spin at many events and, if so, where have you traveled to in the past year?

[DJ Protokol] Just this past year have I really started booking my own events. It’s really hard in this town but we all are desperately working on our scene out here. Las Vegas is a somewhat small scene but we sometimes appeal to crowds in California as well so those gigs always go over well.

[Carpe Nocturne] What is the furthest you’ve traveled to spin your material?

[DJ Protokol] New Mexico

[Carpe Nocturne] What are the biggest events you’ve spun at?

[DJ Protokol] Wow! I am not really sure they all were great experiences. I wasn’t even old enough to be spinning in the clubs I was in at the time so it was really hard doing anything big. But I’ve only just begun.

[Carpe Nocturne] What are your favorite large events?

[DJ Protokol] Blacksun Festival, Meraluna, LA Industrial Festival at the Avalon was cool. My all time favorite show was seeing Covenant live in the Key Club with Melotron down in LA. I’ve always been a huge Covenant fan..

[Carpe Nocturne] Do you have any favorite venues/clubs to spin at and why?

[DJ Protokol] l spin anywhere and everywhere so long as the right crowd follows!

[Carpe Nocturne] What do you feel the state of this scene is today and, in your eyes, has it changed much (and how) since you first started spinning?

[DJ Protokol] It’s changed dramatically but a lot of things will always remain. The difficulty and originality has changed and evolved so much it’s hard to find now so I usually look at DSBP for my cds or music. The web and MySpace has also changed the scene bringing people closer together opening opportunities for booking and promoting bigger events and finding harder to access bands. The good ole days with Front 242 and Nitzer Ebb are much different from today’s Grendel and Combichrist; but that never takes away from the past and it all still sticks in OUR clubs

[Carpe Nocturne] Have you ever appeared in any other publications or on the radio?

MILF HUNTER WITH MATT FROM CAUSTIC; haha, I called Cyberage once but I think Tommy T hung up on me haha!

[Carpe Nocturne] Do you have any specific bands whose music you really enjoy spinning and why?

[DJ Protokol] Here’s a few shout outs to some bands rarely spun out here; Bedlam Emotion!, Asmodeus X, Iris, Terracorpse, MirrorMan (From our beloved Lights of Euphoria), Provision (who I heard may have broken up), SLP, Pittersplatter, Diverje, Vertigo Venus, Encoder, Derma Tek,, Bio-mechanical Degeneration, and so much more!!

[Carpe Nocturne] I imagine you’ve met many of the artist’s whose music you include in your set. DO you have any favorites and why?

[DJ Protokol] Yeah of course; Jimmy from Lights of Euphoria is great! Remzi from Obszon Geschoff, Daniel Myers from Haujobb, Jesse Edgar from Bedlam Emotion, Matt from Caustic, Paul from Asmodues X; There’s a lot of great people I would love to mention and they all have great sounds! OH, and I almost forgot, Tommy T from DSBP (Frontman of Diverje); he works so hard to keep that label up and they have so many great acts.

[DJ Protokol]
[Carpe Nocturne] Are there any bands you’d like to meet?

DEPECHE MODE

[Carpe Nocturne] Are there any Venues/Clubs .Events you’d really like to spin at anywhere in the world?

[DJ Protokol] Slimelight, DasBunker, Batcave, anywhere and everywhere

[Carpe Nocturne] Any other DJ’s you admire and like to spin with?

[DJ Protokol] DJ Parasight, DJ Pierrorist, DJ Rust Ryu. I like to stick with my pals; they make it special

[Carpe Nocturne] What direction do you think our “scene” is going and do you feel it’s positive?

[DJ Protokol] I honestly couldn’t foresee where we will be or where the country will be haha! But, I’ll always be positive and optimistic for a future full of music and new generations of listeners “new ears for new music.”

[Carpe Nocturne] Are there any parts of the country/world where you would rather be based and for what reasons?

[DJ Protokol] I don’t know… would I still even be the same person? I guess I couldn’t ask for anything to change my life other then what cannot already be controlled.

[Carpe Nocturne] What is the scene like in your area and, if you travel, how does it compare with other parts of the country/world?

[DJ Protokol] Our scene isn’t very large but we are doing our best out here. I’ve travelled to several other cities and saw the scene thriving and only have hopes to bring that same great feeling everywhere I play.

[Carpe Nocturne] Do you have any new music you are spinning and how is it being received?

[DJ Protokol] I broadcast a lot overseas to a lot of people in several different countries and they all seem to love it. They all come from different worlds yet all can come together and enjoy this music.

News and Reviews

Special Feature – Mirabilis

In 2001 we were introduced to Mirabilis on Projekt Records’ holiday album Excelsis 3 - A Prelude maxi CD with their rendition of “Riu Riu Chiu”.  With this introduction, the stage was set for this spectacular new project.  Summer Bowman of The Machine in the Garden and Dru Allen of This Ascension form this group with a goal of including other talented guest vocalists and musicians for dynamic Neo-Classical project.

The name Mirabilis is Latin for something that is wonderful, miraculous, or unusual.  This describes this unique project perfectly with the unique combination of ethereal vocals, classical and traditional instruments.  The music is grounded in the vocals, often harmonized and creating a unique instrument as accapella songs often do.  While the overall style is based on Neo-Classical, the range of genres present include some of the dark and mysterious Gothic tones, Ethereal siren-songs and Ambient soundscapes.  There is definitely something in Mirabilis for fans of any of these genres.

Since 2001, this duo has been busy working on material which has been released in the form of a self-titled 7″ on The Fossil Dungeon and in early 2004 Pleiades was released on Middle Pillar Presents.  They also had an exclusive remix of “In The Dark” appear on the Eclectica compilation which is a dance-friendly, yet beautifully rendered mix, truly something that shouldn’t be missed.  These two releases along with the compilation appearances set the stage for what could be a long and promising career for this duo as well as any additional artists that join their ranks.  This became more of a reality with their sophomore album Sub Rosa and a re-release of Pleiades released jointly between Middle Pillar and Projekt. We’ll continue to look forward to even more from this duo. In the meantime, be sure to catch selections on the Gothic Paradise radio shows

Sub Rosa - Review

Ahhh… it’s great to finally have the follow-up full-length album from these angelic muses. This album is everything that we could have hoped for from these two and more. The music is accompanied by a beautiful package of lyrics and info, photos and artwork. On the disc we get no less than 16 stunningly beautiful tracks hearkening back to old-world medieval and folk songs of ages past, though many are original pieces written by this duo and a couple of guests.

From beginning to end the music is haunting and captivating as they spin their web of subtle synths, old-world instruments and lush vocals. Starting with “World Indifferent” the percussion is moving and the music is stunning on this piece as it immediately sets the stage and gives way to the haunting piece “The Journey”. Mesmerizing vocals become the solid foundation for the album, especially on mostly accapella tracks like “Nature Boy” and “The Flowers Pressed Down” amongst others. Though this foundation remains true and an anchor on others when the percussion and instruments kick in.

The album has a nice range and depth to it as we drift through these pieces and musical styles. I think it’s apparent they had fun on several songs like the accapella track “il est bel et bon” which is a fun little play on the vocals, or “odyle” which is more of an ancient treasure and then the piece “angels eyes” sounds like an old record playing on an old phonograph player from the 40’s. So it’s not only a beautiful work, but fun and enjoyable in many ways.

As the album winds down we’re featured with a cover of “Because” from The Beatles which isn’t exactly something you would expect to hear on an album of this style. With that we’re left in much the same way we began the album with subtle percussion and synths accenting the lamenting vocals on the title track “Sub Rosa”. This provides a nice finale in and of itself, but it’s not over yet as we get a great dance-friendly remix of “World Indifferent” to wrap up the album in style. I love medieval ethereal music like this duo does, but I have to admit that when you throw it together with some modern electronics and a dance-friendly beat, it’s really hard to do better than a remix like this, or the previous remix from this band “In The Dark”. I hope it’s not ironic that my favorite tracks from this duo are their two remixed pieces. But when you start with something excellent and add a nice mix to it, it can really be something unforgettable.

With that we wrap up the album and the listener is left breathless from the stunning beauty on this album. I think this will go down as yet another classic from this group to be remember for many years to come.

Rating: 5/5
Blue Birds Refuse To Fly – Xenomorph Angel

Hailing from Greece, this band got their start a few years ago originally as the solo project of Kyriako P, but was joined by vocalist Eva K. and George P. for a solid, futurepop band. This album shows the fresh direction of this band with Eva’s siren-like vocals leading the way over a tapestry of solid, pounding elctronic music. The album is presented with cool artwork and the music on a dozen tracks.

The album actually kicks off with something of a mid-tempo industrial feeling with harsh, heavy layered electronics slowly building to form “Crashed”. This piece moves along with Eva’s sweet vocals taking the edge off the music and setting the stage for the rest of the album. After this first piece and the short interlude that builds up to the title track, the harshness is thrown to the wind and pure, powerful futurepop is brought out on most of the rest of the album with driving beats and techno influences. When I first heard the vocoded vocals of “Xenomorph Angel” introduce this piece, I wondered what we were in for since so many pop bands use this same trick on their vocals. Luckily my fears were put to rest as I held out hope after “crashed” and the excellent futurepop style came out.

In general the album remains somewhat homogenous with the pounding beats and layered electronic loops with a techno influence. It’s a nice mix that synthpop and futurepop fans will love with the slight edge to the beat and music, softened by Eva’s beautiful vocals. Piece after piece moves along from the dance-friendly “burning” and the fun “want you there for me” and on through to the final piece. You’ll be moving and dancing along no matter where you are listening as the music is catchy and addictive. As each piece starts you almost feel like it might be a mid-tempo piece and then the heavy beat kicks in for something powerful and fun. Then something unexpected is even presented with “h.e.a.t.” with some slight distortion on the vocals and a very powerful mix of music.

After about an hour, the album wraps up with “elegy”, the only true down-tempo ballad, featuring male and female vocals for a beautiful duet and perfect way to finalize the disc. This is an excellent work that will please synthpop fans around the world.

Rating: 4/5

Here are just a few of the new and upcoming releases that are really worth checking out. You can hear many of these now on the Gothic Paradise radio shows and as the upcoming releases become available, tune in to hear those as well.

Arcana – Raspail

Projekt – 2008 Sampler

IWR – Cold Asylum

Jack or Jive – Kakugo

Soil & Eclipse – The Mirror

Gothic Paradise Radio Top 10 Listings

Club Radio Top 10
March 30, 2008

1. The Last Dance - Nightmares - Whispers In Rage
2. Soil and Eclipse - Violin - The Mirror
3. The Dreamside - In Longing - The 13th Chapter
4. davaNtage - Cold - Diva X Machina 4
5. Corvus Corax - Saltarello - Dark Awakening Vol. 1
6. IWR - Black City - Cold Asylum
7. Qntal - Indiscrete - Qntal IV - Izymandius
8. Covenant - We Want Revolution - Northern Light
9. Blutengel - The Oxidising Angel - The Oxidising Angel
10. Zentriert Ins Antlitz - Defense, Pt. 2 - Mutilate

Ethereal Radio Top 10
March 30, 2008

1. Sumerland - Circle Dance - Sivo
2. Diary of Dreams - Tears Of Laughter - End Of Flowers
3. Irfan - Invocatio II - Seraphim
4. Grendel - Dream II - Soilbleed
5. Unto Ashes - Lesson - Grave Blessings
6. Swans - Trust Me - Various Failures 1988-1992
7. Falling You - No Voice - Mercy
8. Mira - It Happens Anyway - Unreleased
9. John Alexander Ericson - Black Clockworks - Black Clockworks
10. Chako - Silver Screen - Ebb & Flow

This month, The Body Art Feature, once again, heads to the west coast and focuses on a very talented artist in Southern California. Artist KIRK ALLEY has been tattooing for over 12 years. He works alone at his single artist shop in Studio City, CA. Located ten minutes north of Hollywood, Kirk’s shop is not open for walk-in business and all work is by appointment only. Potential clients may phone (818) 506-6046 for directions.

The BODY ART FEATURE is a syndicated feature appearing in Indie IN-TUNE and Carpe Nocturne E-Zines. Again, the Body Art Feature would like to thank the sponsor of this feature, The Body Art Web, for providing us with yet another great interview. Check out The BODY ART WEB online: http://bodyartweb.com/

ARTIST PROFILE:

Kirk Alley
Studio City, CA
Years In the Biz: 12
Website: www.fkirkalley.com

HOBBIES & INTERESTS: Music & Art

[BODY ART WEB] What or who inspired you to want to become a Tattoo Artist?

[KIRK ALLEY] I was actually asked to tattoo by an artist named Mike Smith in Sunland, CA. He had tattooed many of my designs and/or drawings on people at this time and wanted to know if I would like to learn the art and maybe work at his shop for a year in return for his teachings. This is how I started out.

[BODY ART WEB] Who are your influences and who do you trust with your own ink?

[KIRK ALLEY] That is a very tough question for me. I haven’t really received much tattoo work in several years. I don’t think it’s for lack of trust; it’s more that I have a very hard time choosing the right images for myself. I tend to do the things that I warn my clients not to do, such as rushing into it and being a bit too spontaneous. All the work that I do on my clients is very thought through and well planned, for myself it just hasn’t been. So lately, I get my tattoo kicks purely from the work I perform rather than receive. I will say that there are many tattoo artists out there that do some very nice work. Jason Schroeder at Incognito Tattoo in Pasadena is really good at some of the more traditional Americana type work and I hope that he will be working on me in the future. My friend Joe Schmoe is also very talented, but he is always on the road, I think he’s currently working in Canada right now. I also had a few sittings of fix up and re-work by Greg James at Sunset Strip Tattoo about a year ago. He is awesome at very delicate grey wash Japanese style work.

[BODY ART WEB] Do you have a particular artist you would be interested in working with or meeting?

[KIRK ALLEY] There are too many to list. The talent that the business has spawned in the past five years is astounding. I am however, hoping to go out to DC and do some guest work at a shop that my friend, Frankie Orange works at. I will list the location and dates on my website when those dates are chosen.

[BODY ART WEB] What is your favorite style of work?

[KIRK ALLEY] Another tough question; I admire so many styles. I really don’t have a favorite as long as it is well planned and executed. As you can see by my work, I do a lot of very colorful tattooing, however this does not mean that I don’t like to work in black and grey or do work that is more graphic in nature. I like a challenge. I really enjoy doing work that is out of my norm. I think that doing work that’s different keeps me on my artistic toes and forces me to expand my skills and mentally add images and styles to my imaginary library.

[BODY ART WEB] Tell us about the first tattoo you gave?

[KIRK ALLEY] To tell you the truth, I can’t remember the very first one. I can remember one that I did about two weeks into it though, it was an ornate dagger with a Paul Booth inspired skull on the handle. I still have a photo of this piece in my portfolio. It’s the oldest tattoo in my books and I still like it.

[BODY ART WEB] What is your most memorable / outrageous tattoo given and why?

[KIRK ALLEY] I have been asked to do some pretty weird things through the course of my tattoo journey, most of which, I turn down due to lack of taste, racism or plain lack of interest. I have done some very pornographic in nature work that is pretty wild. I don’t have photos of those types of work in my portfolio though. I just don’t think that everyone would appreciate them. Those type of images are better left viewed in private if you ask me. I did enjoy doing them and gave my best effort to portray them in an artistic manner. To tell you the truth, it’s just damn fun to do. But I try very hard to instill a bit of class into this stereotypically classless art form and that kind of work just doesn’t fall into that category.

[BODY ART WEB] Have you ever inked anyone famous and what type of work did you do on them?

[KIRK ALLEY] I really don’t get much in the way of celebrity tattoo work. Even though I work in the movie studio capital of the world, I believe that my work is just not what they are looking for. Usually, most celebrities will venture more towards the smaller side of things. They will go to the nearest “walk in” type of shop and get a rose or heart or superman logo. I just don’t do that kind of work. When I worked at Studio City Tattoo, we used to get a lot of movie people in there. The owner at that time always took the work because for some reason it was really important to him to mingle with stars. Some of the tattoo artists in LA are under the impression that the more stars you tattoo and pose in pictures with, the better you are. That has nothing to do with talent to me. I prefer to do the work I do on the people that seek me out. After all, how many celebrities do you see with sleeves and back pieces?

[BODY ART WEB] What could you say was or is your greatest technical challenge in the business?

[KIRK ALLEY] Technical challenge? Ahhhh; the mystery of the never changing tattoo machine. That has to be it. This device had been practically unchanged since the day it was invented. Hell, we’re still using rubber bands to keep things from bouncing around. There is no way to describe settings and adjustments on these buggers. The artist must just learn mostly by feel and many years behind the machine, just how it works. Very challenging!

I’ve had machines that work beautifully for a period of time and then like a stubborn child, just stop performing and in their own little annoying way, told (me) to buzz off. All the adjusting, changing of springs and coils, and even throwing at the wall won’t get it running again. It’s a damn mystery to me! Correction, sometimes throwing it at the wall will work.

[BODY ART WEB] Is there a part of the body you won’t Tattoo and why?

[KIRK ALLEY] Oh yes, absolutely. Fingers, toes, palms and foot soles, all because they just cant hold pigment and age very quickly, leaving the client with a sixty year old tattoo in about six months or so. Also the face; I see a lot of the facial tattooing going on now and I am not one to judge but I prefer not to work on people that are out to shock the world.

[BODY ART WEB] Do you support supply co. that sells to the public?

[KIRK ALLEY] Oh now we are talking politics. Hmmmm. Well, first off, I do know that I couldn’t have made it without the supplies that I purchased from some of the more lenient supply houses. Non-professional tattooers will always be able to purchase or conjure up their own supplies. I don’t thing it’s possible to regulate who receives and who doesn’t. I mean tattooing has been going on for centuries without mail order tattoo supplies. The things that do make tattooing seem more like kids’ hobbies to me are the tattoo kits in the magazines. I find that kind of funny and would laugh at anyone who was using one of those things. But hey, we all have to start somewhere, and not everyone can afford a five thousand-dollar apprenticeship. I know I couldn’t when I started.

[BODY ART WEB] Do you feel that there now should be mandatory schooling for soon to be tattoo artists?

[KIRK ALLEY] As far as sterility and disease control; yes. As far as art; no; Who can be the judge of who is artistically qualified? There is a market for the sixth grade level of artist right on up to the fine art and classically trained. No-one can make that call.

[BODY ART WEB] Do you feel Tattooing has changed over the years, and if so why?

[KIRK ALLEY] In the past six or seven years the popularity of tattooing all over the world has produced an overwhelming explosion in the numbers of new tattoo shops. There is practically one on every street corner in every city. By the way, I am one of those so I am not implying in any way that I have a problem with this. The abundance of talent in this field has also gone through the roof. Tattooing just isn’t what it was ten years ago. The work that is coming out of these gifted artists and onto the hydes of the very lucky indeed, is just amazing. I look around at other artists’ work and am floored every time I open a new tattoo mag. I don’t think it has a thing to do with new colors or needle configurations; it’s just that the business has become lucrative and attracted major talent to the body art ring. And a ring it is, this is a very competitive business, and I have a feeling that in the next few years we will be seeing more original work and less numbered flash designs being done. The tattoo collector is becoming very wise and many are appalled at the idea of picking a generic design off a wall. In a nutshell, I would predict that the serious artists and talent will survive the overpopulation as do conventional artists, and the more ordinary designers will fade away. Some may have to starve like most artists do before making a descent living at it if ever at all.

[BODY ART WEB] Do you think it is important to do as many conventions and shows as possible and if you do attend do you make it a point to attend guest lectures and seminars?

[KIRK ALLEY] I have worked only one convention in my life. And to tell you the truth, I’m not sure if it’s in my cards to do it again. I enjoy the conventions as an audience member, but the tattooing side of it is what I consider to be “combat tattooing”. Some can work under those conditions but I have selected to work alone for a reason. It is much easier for me to give my total attention and dedication to a piece if I am not on display like a zoo animal. That kind of atmosphere is very distracting to me and I’m very happy doing it the way I am. This however does not mean that I won’t ever hop on a plane and work a convention; it would just have to be very laid back, maybe just a few hours of work each day, and just mingle the rest of the time. As far as seminars, I’ve never been so I can’t really comment on their value or importance.

[BODY ART WEB] Do you support artists that can not technically draw but can trace and shade a tattoo stencil?

[KIRK ALLEY] I think that there is a market for every level of skill in this business. I have yet to see a tattoo shop close down because the artists only did flash. As a matter of fact, some of the more successful shops thrive on flash. I accept everyone in this business as long as they are tattooing responsibly.

[BODY ART WEB] What advise can you give to someone who is starting or looking to get into the tattoo business?

[KIRK ALLEY] Seek out and absorb all the information that you can get your hands on. Go to shops and make friends and learn, learn, learn. Don’t rely on just one artists’ views, and don’t be afraid to get inspiration from published work by other artists. If you like a piece that you find in a magazine, try to imitate it. Don’t copy it, just try to emulate techniques. Also, keep a mailing list of your customers. Only work at a shop that will allow this as you are surely to move around a bit when you get started in the business. This will ensure that you can keep track of and inform clients of location changes. This business is very much like a hair stylist, the more clients that you bring in, the better your take home percentage will be.[BODY ART WEB] Please share any other comments or views or questions to the public you might have.
[KIRK ALLEY] Once, my grandmother asked me if I was still doing tattoos on people for a living. I said, “Yes I am” and she said, “What a shame, you are such a talented artist, why don’t you do art for a living?” I think that I would like to see the day when tattooing is considered an art form by the world as a whole. Until then, all we can do is stay creative and challenge ourselves in this medium. One day the art form of tattooing will be considered fine. I can only hope that I will be included. Thank you.

The life of a musician is an amalgam of experience and passion. Through my time working as a reviewer I have seen bands and musicians come from every walk of life but one thing many have in common is a love of music. So it only seems right that many of the best musicians are also DJ’s, record label producers and/or music shop/night club owners. For Adam X the path was clear, electronic music and the Big Apple needed him. In 1990 Adam X and Frankie Bones, fellow techno artist, created The Sonic Groove a record store which became a haven and blood line for DJs, not only in the newly arisen New York scene but all over the world. Adam and Frankie began to slowly immerse New York with “Storm Raves” which introduced electronic fanatics with performers who could produce the new sound they were looking for. Thousands of people came to the Raves as well as to other musical endeavors put on by the Sonic Groove. In 1995 Adam created The Sonic Groove Record label which spurred the electronic genre by publishing many great and talented artists, such as Kevin Saunderson, Blake Baxter, Dave Clark and Oliver Lieb. Slowly but surely Adam, Frankie and The Sonic Groove were cementing their places in electronic history.

Adam X has managed to be at the beginning of many musical changes to the electronic genre. From the dark sounds of the early 90’s to the acid sound of the mid 90’s Adam was there ever evolving ever changing and never allowing his music to become a stale definable object. At the turn of the century Adam was inspired by the insipid similarity of music and endeavored to go beyond modernity into a new sound and he discovered the transformation in EBM and Industrial. Adam has managed to cross the barrier and return by blending his roots in Techno with his new adoration of EBM and Industrial.

In February, 2008, Adam X released State f Limbo on Italian label Rustblade. State of Limbo is another honorific reminder of Adam X’s amazing talent and refusal to be pigeon holed. From the rhythmic “noise” of “Shifted Gears”
to the whispered flow and “heartbeat” of “State of Limbo” Adam has once again managed to create a new and stupendous sound. As a new wave begins to crest on the musical horizon one can only wonder what amazing compilations this prolific performer will arise with next.

Revitalizing the sound of industrial music is something that a lot of bands in the past few years have strived to do. While many bands seem to only go half way, others are able to realize the idea. Ministry, Skinny Puppy, Wumpscut…these are just some of the few names that helped shape modern alternative electronic dance music. From KMFDM, Bile Einsturzende Neubatauten all the way to Combichrist and Hocico, the Industrial scene has covers a wide range in music. However without such bands, there would be no modern industrial scene. Even in today’s ever growing underground scene, there are some people who remain settled in the ways of old producing music that’s just as danceable as the next industrial group while maintaining the true industrial spirit. Godkomplex is one of those bands.

Formed in 1998, members Mr.Pamik and Download set out to bring back hard industrial music while using original sounds of Industrial music while tapping into the music’s ancestral roots. Together the produce and mix a style of music incorporating elements from music genres such as power noise, d&b, various forms of techno and cold wave. Their sound lies somewhere in-between modern industrial and early industrial music making for a fresh sound that’ll keep the new kids dancing while the older rivet crowd smiles happily as they crush the dance floor underneath them!

Involved in the industrial music scene since the mid 80’s, Download (along with members of Kavorkian Death Cycle) played alongside many bands including Servo Sector. In addition to GK, Mr. Panik also works on his own side projects: Chaos Frequency and Skinprobe. GK release their first album ‘World Below’ in 2003. With the addition help of two new band members joining up (Reload & the Loch Ness Monster) it would be another three years before their next release ‘Audial Apostasy’ would make it to store shelves. The wait however was well worth it and GK stayed true to its original sound. The album was released through Artificial Noise. Since then there’s hasn’t been any recent activity for the band.

After listening to Headscan’s music, I finally got an idea of exactly what my brainwaves sound like as they twist and turn throughout the gray matter in my head. This sound is what their music is made of. With music that is easily identified with EBM, IDM, and electro, it is simple to get lost in the atmosphere that their music creates between body and mind.

Headscan is made up of Claude Charnier (music and programming) and Christian Pomerleau (voice and visual). Both men have been active in Montreal’s local alternative scene for some time now. As co-founder of the band Insurgent, Claude made the music for two of their cd’s before leaving in 1999 to focus on an electronic side project. Christian became the singer of Insurgent before joining forces with Claude to create Headscan.

The band signed to Artoffact records in 2001, releasing their first album, “Shaper and Mechanist” to great reviews worldwide. With a mixture of futuristic synths, electronic voices, and bouncing beats, this band is poised for action.

Their music is inspired by the science-fiction writings of author Bruce Sterling. They like to explore the vast dimensions of the human mind and translate their findings through their songs. They see new technology as an influence on society transmission of ideas. These concepts are evident throughout their music. Headscan is also inspired by different artistic movements such as futurism, abstract art, and techno-industrial culture, as well.

Headscan’s latest release, “Pattern recognition,” is based off their need to artistically create a synthesis of their observations and reflections pertaining to human behavior, the process of creation, cultural evolution, and the impact of informational technologies on each. In order to truly grasp this sonic soundscape, all you have to do is listen.