Latex Records

01. Televised
02. Reminders
03. Slow Cascade
04. Forgiven
05. The Debate
06. Ruin
07. Sentinel
08. Stand Up
09. Hindsight
10. Delete

Light it Up features guest appearances from Frank Spinath of Seabound and Victoria Lloyd of HMB, Monochrome and Claire Voyant. Founded by J. Ned Kirby in the early 1990′s, Stromkern (including Kelly Shaffer) have created a unique sound in the Electro-Industrial genre by combining hip-hop vocals and ryhthms with classical compositions and post-industrial rock.

One of the things that really stand out to me personally on this album is not just the danceable rhythms combined with the hard electro-industrial themes and styles, but also the addition of piano to this mix. As a fan of keyboard music in general, be it electronic or acoustic, I absolutely love the way Ned combines these elements. I’ve been looking at various tracks by several artists who have used piano in unexpected ways with music styles that it might not normally be associated with traditionally and find Ned’s to be one of the most appealing combination to me personally. There are not many in the Industrial genre who have done this and the first you might think of is Trent Reznor. However, Ned’s work does not become so melodramatic and instead is a smooth combination where the piano accompanies the Electro rather than taking over the mood of it. I hope he continues this with future releases as I’m a huge fan of it. The most melodramatic track, and also a great standout, is probably “Hindsight” featuring Victoria Lloyd of Claire Voyant. However, the softer side of the female vocals and piano is contrasted by heavy rock guitar. Love this track!!

This album is by far my favorite so far by Stromkern and is the one that turned me onto the band to begin with causing me to buy all his previous releases. However, this one stands out far and above his previous releases and I believe he will only get better. As for his use of hip-hop vocals, do not let this confuse you into thinking this is anything but pure hard electro-industrial because it is not some candy-coated hip-hip BS at all. Instead, think of Uberbyte as an example maybe. Though Stromkern’s “Stand Up” came first! Don’t forget it!

This is an excellent album for the Electro, Industrial, and EBM genres and is not only my favorite by Stromkern but is actually one of my favorite releases in the genre overall. This will likely go down as an all-time fave!! Definitely worth checking out!!! This is very well put together and the contrasting elements cleanly combined while maintaining a hard edge.

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01 Re-align (Seabound mix)
02 Re-align (cut.rate.box remix)
03 Perfect Sunrise (La Floa Maldita remix)
04 Armageddon (Infrastructure remix)
05 Re-align (Echo Virus remix)
06 No Release (Battery Cage remix)
07 Terrorist (Haujobb remix)
08 Anthrax

The first stand alone EP and second single from the highly acclaimed Armageddon album. Featuring remixes from Seabound, Haujobb, and cut.rate.box, Stromkern once again takes things to a higher level. This North American only EP contains 7 club friendly tracks and their own take on the Gang of Four’s track “Anthrax”.

The mastermind behind this elaborate project is the classically trained Ned Kirby (vocals and programming). Ned’s early experimentation with a 4 track and a sampler has laid the foundation for what Stromkern has become today. In its current form Ned has enlisted the help of long time friend and fellow musician Kelly Shafer (programming) to continue the bands progression.

Stromkern is a band that has their own style of EBM and Ned’s vocal style is quite unique in itself. He has a very distinct voice and singing style which combines smoothness with the strength of industrial. This EP has got some great club mixes by some great and rapidly rising EBM artists. The thump and pump of Stromkern’s sound is heavily addictive in itself. When combined with the talents of other great artists you get one awesome EP/single. However, to be honest I do not like what cut.rate.box did to the vocals on part of their mix. It seems to detract from Stromkern’s addictive pumping sound. The Seabound mix emphasizes the band’s sound and brings it even more to life instead. There is a lot to be said for interpretation though. You will find quite a bit of varied musical interpretations in the mixes here like the heavier guitar additives on “Perfect Sunrise” which takes it much further into a rock-n-roll zone instead of the usual EBM/Industrial arena. Reminds me of when even Skinny Puppy went rock for awhile. It also shows that this type of music can rock just as hard if not harder than typical rock-n-roll as well. The remix of “Armegeddon” is quite bizarre and nearly indescribable. Bleeps, blips, pipes and factory sounds mix in atmospheric tonality on this one. The Echo Virus remix is a far cry from the original as well and has quite a bit of a Synthpop feel to it and some twistd piano sound structures. It is not without Stromkern’s natural aggression and angst though and the pump of the beats remain with additives. “No Release” is a track I’m not familiar with but you can totally hear Haujobb all over this one and it has a sort of Techno-House overtone with a bleepy body and some almost Trance elements as well as some ‘noise’ samples – a bizarre mix for sure. Next is “Terrorist”. The beats here, while remaining rather Industrial-ish, have a ‘beat box’ element to their form. I never realized how Ned practically ‘raps’ much of his lyrics but in his own bizarre style so that it almost doesn’t sound like rap but this track makes it a bit more evident. This track, while containing mostly hard beats and noisey samples also has a bit of metal guitar and creates an odd assortment of chaos. Finally is the Gang of Four cover “Anthrax”. Combining heavy synths with rock rhythms Stromkern proves again that they are not just a synth band but that they can totally rock too.

© Copyright 12/2002 TG Mondalf. All Rights Reserved

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01 thinair
02 ego
03 synthetic
04 brittle
05 radical (saint blaze)
06 zionsank
07 enigma (feat. Victoria Lloyd of Claire Voyant)
08 leave this world
09 dataseed
10 zionsank (Assemblage 23 remix)
11 brittle (Stromkern remix)
12 enigma (DJ Tony Estrada remix)

Originating from Florida and currently residing in party city of New Orleans, this American duo takes influences from everything, as the band claims, between the bizarre and powerful atmospheres of Coil to the dancefloor rhythms of Front 242 not to mention lots of newe influences as well. This latest release is heavily loaded with body rockin’ EBM and a bit of Synthpop influences as well. The last three tracks are remixes by the such EBM greats as Assemblage 23 and the hard hitting Stromkern. “Enigma” features the vocals of Victoria Lloyd of Claire Voyant.

cut.rate.box is the type of band that both heavy EBM lovers and fans of high-energy Synthpop can enjoy. Their style ranges from the harder Industrial and technological soundscapes of artists like Front Line Assembly built into heavy EBM dance rhythms like what you’d expect from more recent artists like Icon of Coil. Their sound is highly modernized and always energetic. Vocally they have a bit of a strange range that utilizes bizarre harmonies. Lyrically intelligent and emotionally vibrant cut.rate.box utilize every trick in the book from the gutteral/static industrial vocal and themes to the more soothing and emotional synthpop styles. “Brittle” is probably the most ‘static’ track on the album which fittingly also features a remix by Stromkern of the same giving it even more of an edge. I think the standout tracks on the release are “Brittle”, “Zionsank”, and “Leave This World” probably because of the stark contrast of style format of each track when compared to each to each other. “Leave This World” has what is probably the most synthpop melody for the chorus and I love the lyrics too, “I’m gonna take you for a ride and we can leave this world behind and everyone that’s so unkind gets swallowed by the tide”, a sentiment I’m sure many can relate to. This is an album that I’m pretty sure will simply continue to become more an more addictive the more I listen to it.

© Copyright 12/2002 TG Mondalf. All Rights Reserved

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01. In Strict Confidence – Kiss Your Shadow
02. HMB – This Fire
03. Melotron – Tanz Mit Dem Teufel
04. Stromkern – Perfect Sunrise
05. Trigger10D – Most People Don’t Forget
06. Beborn Beton – Peach 2002
07. Controlled Fusion – War
08. Regenerator – Take Me
09. State of the Union – Enemy of the State
10. Deceptio Mentis – In Absence
11. Arcanta – Lakshmita

WTII Records carries some of the newest top-notch electro, ebm, industrial, synth pop, gothic, and darkwave. This is the first compilation by this rising new label featuring some big names like In Strict Confidence who kick off the CD with “Kiss Your Shadow”, Stromkern, Regenerator, Beborn Beton and Arcanta to name a few. There is lots of new and great talent on this compilation worth taking time out for.

In Strict Confidence begin the CD with some great EBM that is a bit of an industrial/darkwave mix. This is followed by HMB a male/female duo whose unique combination of EBM, trance and techno put them in a class by themselves. It’s said that they recently enlisted Dennis Ostermann (vocals and programming for In Strict Confidence) so who knows what will come of this project in the future. Melotron, a synthpop trio from Germany, is up next with their more EBM sounding “Tanz Mit Dem Teufel” (Dance with the Devil). You might a find a few mild similarities between Melotron and Beborn Beton. One of my favorites on the label is Stromkern. Their blend of electro/EBM is a sound that is rather fresh and new while still somehow familiar to fans of the original industrial scene memebers. They create highly energetic dance rhythms using modern technology and some interesting mechanical clicks and whirs they’ve created. Most recognizable is Ned Kirby’s original singing style. Imagine an eclectic mixture of trip hop and techno combined with a little bit of noise and goth and you’ll have Trigger10D. Sort of like the No Doubt of electro. The first to really catch my attention thanks to an earlier review I’ve done is Beborn Beton. I ‘highly’ suggest checking out that review for Tales From Another World. If you have not heard him yet and you are into electro, synthpop, industrial, and/or any type of dance music he is a must hear. This particular track, “Peach 2002″, is actually one of his slower tunes but the smoothness of his style is very evident. If you like this wait to you hear his more upbeat stuff. Controlled Fusion could rightfully be considered an In Strict Confidence side-project with lead vocalist Dennis Ostermann collaborating with programmer Steffan Schuhrke. Controlled Fusion seems to signify a unity of fusing the sounds of the 80′s with modern electro. Don’t think this means it sounds like wave music because it doesn’t. It’s hard and busy. Regenerator are already becoming known for their blend of Dark Electro. This male/female duo is comprised of Patrice Synthea and Wrex Mock. Alfa-Matrix states, “Wrex’s sombre melancholic growling vocals indeed always enter in perfect duality with Patrice’s sensual breathy vocals. Her vocal performances confirm she has a greater vocal range than many of her contemporaries…Their music combines harsh electronics and dark themes with melodic vocals and synaptic soundscapes.” What you get from them is a contrast of the lush and beautiful with harsh mechanics blended into syncronicity. State of the Union combines industrialism with the more accessible sound structure of EBM. State of the Union comes off as sort of EBM sounding Darkwave politicalism. Deceptio Mentis’ “In Absence” is a highly vocoded transient dance rhythm with a riding hook. The band seems to combine elements of Trance and EBM in similar ways to DJ culture club tracks but with a more dark and industrialized feel to it. This unique style seems to set them up for airplay by trance dj’s as well as industrial nightclubs. The compilation ends with Arcanta which sounds very much like something you would expect from Projekt Records. It has the tonality of Dead Can Dance and has been described as mysterious, majestic and intense. Founded by Thomas-Carlyle Ayres Arcanta combines wordless hymns and Sanskrit text with hand drumming as well as ambient electronic textures and middle-eastern instrumentation. “Combining elements of world, religious, and classical music, Arcanta has a style and sound that is truly unique.”

© Copyright 9/2002 TG Mondalf. All Rights Reserved

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Disc 1
01 Another World
02 The Colour Of Love
03 Poison 2002
04 Mantrap – A Wish Come True
05 Deeper Than The Usual Feeling
06 Life Is A Distance
07 Lost Little Robot
08 Peach 2002
09 Ambush
10 Earth
11 Spawn
12 New Born King
13 Eisplanet
14 The Edge Of Wisdom
15 Mantrap – The Seduction
16 Elaine

Disc 2
01 Dr. Channard (Funker Vogt Remix)
02 Peach (DJ RAM Breath Away Mix)
03 Another World (FAP7 Classico Mix)
04 Genauso Wie Ich (Future Pop Remix)
05 Im Innern Einer Frau (APB Remix)
06 Poison (El Presidente ‘Jetlyzer’ Remix)
07 Too Emotional (DJ RAM Sensuality Edit)
08 Another World (World-Beater Mix)
09 Vorbei (FAP7 Remix)
10 Im Innern Einer Frau (Spice Remix)
11 Eisplanet (California Sunplanet Remix)
12 Peach (cut.rate.box Remix)
13 Another World (Ephemeral Rage)

This is actually a review based on the demo copy I received from WTII Records and not the full release. The demo has 7 tracks on it which are tracks 06, 01, 02, & 03 from Disc 1 and 05, 03, & 12 from Disc 2 in that order. I had not had the chance to hear Beborn Beton before but the name had passed by me once before last year sometime and I was very excited to finally get the chance to hear what the rave was about.

The first track “Life Is A Distance” begins with a slightly Voltaire like combination of strings and electronics but is very very smooth. The vocals are also very well performed and overall while this could be a darkpop song it is very catchy. However, the very next track “Another World” has become an instant all-time favorite of mine. This song has a very strong and very well produced Synthpop feel but with a darker edge to it. It’s a very danceable track and the lyrics are nothing short of haunting and ring like the words of someone who has ‘crossed over’. The lyrics begin something like: “There is no use in dying when still I seem to be undone. There is no use in trying to find again the love of someone. Why have I gone and come so far when I’ve been headed nowhere. I have been walking quite a while love, feeling lonesome.” The chorus continues: “Don’t you worry, they won’t find my body. I want you to know I found peace in another world. Don’t keep digging, I want you to leave back away from the place where my ashes are buried.” And all of this set to dance music! Anyway, it reminded me of circumstances like that portrayed in the story of James Van Praagh which aired on TV awhile back in which he communicate with spirits. I’ve always found topics like this and movies like The Sixth Sense very interesting and putting a piece so nicely produced to great dance music with a bit of Synthpop and maybe even EBM influence is really great.

Every song on this little demo is simply awesome. “The Colour of Love” is like a more modernized version of New Wave with a harder edge to it but with all the European smoothness of Modern English. “Poison 2002″ is more EBM influenced but with a solid song structure. I just can’t get over this guy’s voice not to mention the music. “Im Innern einer Frau” utilizes a more techno-ebm combination and it’s all in German and I can’t quite catch all of it as my German is ‘nicht so gut’ but the title roughly translates as “In the inside of a woman”. There is also a synth effect they use on one of the backing vocals which is sort of buglike in the sense of the bugs in Nightmare Before Christmas when Oogie Boogie gets unravelled. There is a very cool remix of “Another World” by Apoptygma Berzerk which I think surpasses much of their own work. It’s more dance/club oriented and less EBM but they created a harmony to the chorus track using effects on the vocals which is pretty amazing sounding and adds an interesting touch to the track. Lastly, there is “Peach” remixed by Cut Rate Box. This is a very dark sounding track but not without the strength of technology which all of Beborn Beton’s work seems to have.

I think I found a new favorite! I can’t wait to hear the full release of this album as well as more of Beborn Beton. If you are a fan of either Synthpop, EBM, or just good dance music this is an absolute MUST. I’ve had this demo for quite a long time now, about a month and half I think, debating whether I should write a review on this fragment of the release or not. It has barely left my CD player since. This fact alone has convinced me that I had to write this review because people simply NEED to know about Beborn Beton’s music.

© Copyright 8/2002 TG Mondalf. All Rights Reserved

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01 Herzattacke (Extended Version)
02 Herzattacke (Club Mix) by Olaf Wollschlager
03 Into Ashes
04 Kaleidoskop
05 Herzattacke (Clan of Xymox Remix)
06 Herzattacke (C.P.R. Mix) by Chris Peterson of FLA/Delerium
07 The Final Embrace
08 Herzattacke (Single Version)

This EP contains remixes of “Herzattacke” from their upcoming album Mistrust the Angels. It contains mixes by Olaf Wollschlager, Clan of Xymox, and Frontline Assembly, and three previously unreleased tracks. In Strict Confidence prove yet again that they can hold their status as pioneers in the electro music scene!

Being a remix whore I love the Club Mix of this track and the orignal is awesome too and is full on EBM. I was actually a bit disatisfied with the Xymox mix because I didn’t feel this track was condusive to the Xymox sound. The Club Mix pumps though. Teh CPR Mix by Chris Peterson of FLA/Delerium is a bit more esoteric and incorporates some of the styles used by his experience with these other projects and comes of rather clean.

The additional tracks are pretty cool too though. “Into Ashes” has a dark feel to it that reminds me a bit of some early FLA stuff. “Kaleidoscope” is ambient and beautifully dark. This helps display some of the flexibility of the band and is a nice inclusion. “The Final Embrace” also includes some more melodramatic elements as well and fits well into the more Darkwave influenced harsh electro.

For a remix EP this is not bad at all and the extra tracks are interesting and do not fall easily into standard classifications. Combined with the various mixes, especially the club oriented dance tracks, this creates an environment in which this release can stand alone in as any full length album release, unlike most maxi-singles. It also has a total running time of over fifty minutes. This EP – along with others which are forthcoming – tends to work as an excellent teaser for the eventual full length CD release when it finally gets here.

© Copyright 5/2002 TG Mondalf. All Rights Reserved

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