Not so long ago we've reviewed their live vinyl + dvd, it was nothing but a morsel of a forthcoming banquet and here is the new full-length, it's the last episode of what so far can be defined as a lucky career. They've always had beautiful recordings but this time the production is incredible, so tip of hat for the sound engineer has shaped this diamond so brilliantly, it's impressing since every frequency is so boombastic you can't even believe the band is just a drum and voice/guitar duo, at the same time it's not too loud but just crystalline. The fact is that after a series of incredible releases this' just good, or at least I think despite some killing tracks this time the whole product is a little bit less ass kicking than the last two records. For those who still don't know the band we're talking about a duo mixing heavy depressive blues, Nick Cave, post-rock, some alternative noise rock influences from the nineties and influences from the best italian songwriters from the past. Maybe it's just a suggestion or just the inflection of the singer's accent, but for the first time I notice some similarities with Paolo Conte (by the way, they're coming from the same area), sure here the lyrics are more cynical, more bohemienne, but the sour/bitter view of the world is quite similar they just like of Conte's irony. Despite my comment on the fact this' just a bit less brilliant then the last two records, it features some incredible songs like in the case of 6, 2, 5 and it shows how writing simple tracks with just two basic instrument and a voice can be a display of talent for a craftsman and that's the case. Just a couple of piano notes added for the arrangements, and some additional feedbacks to complete the recipe. As I've said I prefer their previous materials but still a great band.

After two years of silence (their previous release was Blastromen's "Blasteroid" EP), X0X Records is back with a new solo release by Sero, member of Sektoid. INTERCEPTION SYSTEM EP contains two versions of the original tune and three remixes done by Dj Overdose (he did two of them) and Morphology. The original track is an upbeat new electro tune with space atmosphere inserts that couple dark lead synths and vocals, creating, in this way, a mysterious atmosphere while syncopated 808 beats make no prisoners. Synth layers alternation, great sounds and fast rhythms will make fall in love the electro audience. "S.I.S." Dj Overdose remix, focus the sound on the a new rhythmic pattern (which recalls the original one), adding a mid tempo bass line and melodic synth lines. I liked the contrast created by the fast drum beats and the synth pads. The second remix by Dj Overdose is the "Poser remix". On this one we have an upbeat syncopated drum coupled to menacing lead breaks and few melodic parts. Mophology, for their remix, decided to go straight to the bone of the original tune and reworked it totally, keeping the vocals (that have been filtered) and adding a nice dry bass line (almost funky) and a new rhythm (it is always upbeat but it sounds more classic electro). After a while, pads and lead solo phrases enrich this cool mix. The closing track is a 2' short one and resume the original tune. I really liked the release, so I give my welcome back to X0X Records!

As the title suggests, FOLLOW ME REMIXES is a collection of remixes of Capacocha's "Follow me" song. On this release we have 13 version of the track and the peculiarity is that each remixer worked on the track of the previous one. I'll try to describe them. Ricky y Rulo made a great mix of electro and dance with stop and go. Petr Passive, did a mid tempo retro gaming version with distorted synth lines and filtered robotic vocals, focusing on melody and 4/4 rhythms. Rawfare, made a distorted syncopated dance track with raw vocals. Ray, focused on clean vocals (that recalled me LCD Soundsystem), upbeat dance rhythms and distorted bass lines. Sjammie the Money, after an intro made of synth chords and 80s dance atmospheres, turned the song into a nightmarish electro dance song just to switch between the two. Cepi, de-structured the song and made two different parts (the first almost techno with repeated vocal samples and the second a sort of grime techno mix). Fantastadon, remixed the tune making it turn into a great cinematic mix of ambient dub and grime. Ikki, focused their mix on an hypochondriac blend of synth wave and techno. Bronstibock, chose 4/4 distortions alternating grime, techno and dance. Aux Raus, mix sounds like a upbeat blend of gabber and synth wave. Jack Lomo, did a seducing mix using dance syncopated atmospheres and distorted bass lines with the original vocals on evidence. De Grote Vinnie, Donnie En Sjakie Show remixed the track keeping the essential and adding distorted filtered synth leads. Rufus Baxendale, kept the original vocals adding sweeping synths, distorted 8 bit bass lines and upbeat dry drum beats. Nice release!

In musical terminology, the Italian word "andante" is normally referred to a moderate pace. A part of being the title of Mystigma's new release, following the appreciated Universal Surrender, Andagony could be considered a new way to introduce the conceptual score of the new album coming from this German gothic-rock band, formerly known as Tears of Mystigma, and could maybe refer to the general stepping of mankind as the musical tempo looks more like a brioso one, more vigorous than andante one, going ahead towards agony in the dark-tinged imaginary of its inventors. Well, don't expect to listen something astonishingly revolutionary from the somewhat seraphic hooded character presumably coming into a crypt and possessing the souls of the players, as even if Andagony is a collection of genuine and efficacous pearls of melodic gothic-rock, Torsten Baumer (singer and frontman of Mystigma) and his musical fellows rarely manage to ford the stylistical torrents already waded by big names of the German scene such as Dreadful Shadows and some attempts of spotting their formula with Depeche Mode-like nuances whose pulsations seem to be more perceivable in tracks such as Vision Incomplete or I Don't Need You could increase accessibility to the masses (or just bikers club or pool tables' goers...they will surely be entertained by the essential melodic structures, the rockish hooks watering the whole album as well as the faultless rolling guitar riffs - whose peak in power has been reached in Close To You, maybe the best track of the album -), but it doesn't really add anything new to the scene. That's why in my modest opinion Andagony, produced by Dieter Steffan at Lunatics Studios and audio-mastered by Vincent Sorg at Principal Studios, is a pleaseful and well-intentioned release and shows out some skills, but Andagony seems to be nothing but a good collagist manufact with appreciable cut'n'paste puzzles.

One year after "The Horn" EP, Bronstibock are back with their second release (which is more an album than an EP, since it has a length of 44 minutes). SJAFRAS contains nine new tracks that are in balance from melodic dance mid tempos characterized by grime bass lines and 4/4 rhythms (like the opening "Patta of gewoon" or "Bullerslug", songs that have two guests on vocals, Don de Baron and Aux Raus), a bit of dub and hip hip (check "Yabyamma"). Of the lot "Game on" (track that you can find also on "Some Tunes III"), "Beasty" (a great dance floor killer) and the closing "Hotter then hot" are the most immediate one, thanks also to the contrast between distorted sounds and clean vocals. The whole EP is nice. It don't bring on the table new ideas to the sound we already know but this isn't mean that you won't be able to enjoy it.