Do you remember DEPECHE MODE’s live-album "101" and the road movie, which accomplished it? Well, this new COVENANT-release is something comparable to it. Not only an ordinary live-DVD which so many acts like to release nowadays, this one is rather different. Of course, the second DVD and the additionally CD offer only the live performance of COVENANT taken mainly from their past "Skyshaper" world-tour, but the outstanding and quite interesting work hides in DVD1 "In Transit – The Movie". This one features several details on the band members’ live and behavior on tour, live in action, but also asides of the stage. COVENANT and the band members itself have presented themselves mostly very reserved and a bit shy in the past – but this movie offers also unexpected jokes and shows Eskill and Joakim relaxing and coming up with some very private stuff, which this act has never before given to the eyes and ears of the audience. Unfortunately they also announce the quit with the third band member Clas, who seems to be lately as being a bit isolated. Eskill and Joakim are watching out for a new member and it seems, that Daniel Myer of the German act haujobb. will join this Swedish act for future activities. But back on this movie which shows the typically live on and asides the stage, the hard work behind the gigs, some parties, some interviews, but also the stressy run to catch the next town. Several pictures and impressions are available, because COVENANT have played the whole world. Europe of course, the USA, Mexico and South America – but I guess the most impressive detail can be named with the trip through Russia to the far Eastern city of Novosibirsk with the Trans-Siberian-Trail. 20 hours in a train after their last gig to do join the stages in this far-away based Siberian town in front of an audience of about 200 people and then 18 hours the same way back – this also means euphoria for the being of scene-players. Latest news: this DVD-set has entered some high sales Chart positions in Germany...

The German label giant Out Of Line signs on a Swedish Synthpop newcomer duo, well, already behind this news there seems to be hidden something special. And indeed, ASHBURY HEIGHTS can be called as being one of the best kept secrets which this relatively stagnant music genre has to offer. Consisting of Anders Hagström and Yasmine Uhlin, this debut album features 15 tracks with a strictly separation of each 5 tracks in a thematically frame of the past, present and future. Musically they present a huge 80ies Romantic/Wave-influence, but their music and the chosen sounds are fresh and right on target. John Fryer has done the production on this album and this fact already speaks for itself. Both, Anders and "Yaz" are sharing mutually the vocals, but they aren’t no longer a couple. They’ve been in the past and this album features several tracks drawing some reminiscences of the gone days ("Waste Of Love", "Smaller", "Corsair", "Cry Havoc"). Some ideal stuff to vanish heartbreak away is richly present, although all of the tracks are rather driving and straight-forward produced to offer a good dancefloor compatibility. With the cold and very mechanical sounding "Illusion" they prove also that they are capable to deal with some slight distortion effects on their synth textures. Best tracks besides the opener "Bare Your Teeth" and the final tune "Eternity At An End" is "Derrick Is A Strange Machine", the only one which fits likewise with the term ballad. Maybe here’s the point in which kind this band could be able to develop – to compose some slow and heart-felting stuff which touches also some sad souls. But anyway, this "Three Cheers For The Newlydeads" is an awesome and catchy-as-hell piece of quality Synthpop-music, and it still doesn’t seem to be clear, how far their train of success will drive. As you know, Out Of Line could lately place several releases like BLUTENGEL, CLIENT or AND ONE in official German sale charts, I therefore like to wish ASHBURY HEIGHTS a similar success.

This is surely another Mexican sensation, because Helder Camberos, the man behind ISIS SIGNUM, has created his own label with Advanced Synergy and ISIS SIGNUM can be surely named being the flagship of it. There’s electronic music available aside the harsh EBM/Electro rush provided by the big names like HOCICO, both of their side-projects RABIA SORDA and DULCE LIQUIDO, plus AMDUSCIA. ISIS SIGNUM can be sorted into the Future- and Synthpop-genre, while Helder’s project likes to point out that this style is Future-Clash-Sound, and he has recently built a side-division of his Advanced-Synergy-label to bring out all related releases under this moniker. The music of ISIS SIGNUM can be named as a high-skilled form of modern Synth-Electronica, which also likes to play with different styles like Trance or Techno. While Helder likes to concentrate completely on the music and the compositions, he adds mostly female guest vocalists to accomplish his tracks. "Heartbreaker" is the first release of a series consisting of two EP’s (this one and the upcoming title "Communication") and the coming album "Electrosensual", which comes itself in a paper box-set and an additional CD featuring remix works. The complete set finally consists of four different CD’s which all have some good content to offer, on which I will refer soon. Coming back to "Heartbreaker", which features the guest vocals of the well-known German diva SARA NOXX, this EP offers 5 different versions of this track plus a specially produced video clip. That Helder is able to produce such multimedia-CD’s speaks for the growing meaning and professionalism behind his work. The track "Heartbreaker" can convince with its panned bass lines plus a nice doze of extra-percussion elements, while Sara’s vocals remain cold. Additional remixes got provided by the well-known Belgian institution IMPLANT (excellent work, Len!) and rather unknown artists like LIA ORGANA & ELECTRIC PRINCE out of Greece, ACCORDING TO PHILLIP and PELTON, both hailing out of Norway. "Symmetry" is another piece available in two different and remixed versions here, which work as teasers of the upcoming full-length album and features Sara’s vocals, while "Unrestricted" is an exclusively produced so-called b-side for this EP. I think that the often used comparison of SARA to the legend ANNE CLARK has never been that been provided that obviously like on this track. Finally the last track "Energy", originally available on the ISIS SIGNUM-debut "Sigma Infinite", which got remixed here by the Mexican FERMIN AGUILERA. A lot of modern Electronica music to discover, just check out and give it a try. Soon more about this act...

"Madeleine", the new single by The Mystic Underground is surely a super synth-pop record from their forth-coming 2008 release "It Really Shouldn't Be This Hard". The duo is back with a well crafted hard hitting club and radio track. Valette's voice display a serious matter what captures the ear about the woman he's singing about. An adorable love composition with the familiar sound of Erasure. The single includes a remix version called Dancing Queen. Ultimately enough to be equipped with a hard hitting dance club edge with enthusiasm and energy. Synth melodies gives off an intense feel. Kick off your shoes and get your dance on!

Well, this is the dream of any DJ: why wasting the whole free time on some club events, instead to press the "Play"-button of this DCD set and to share more important things like smoking, drinking, lurking for chicks, etc.? Regarding the fact that this compilation got compiled by Inga Uphoff and Sven Enzelmann of the German Club-promoter Hardbeat, it may gives you the hint, that this DCD set presents some tunes of their represented acts, which are mostly some so-called scene-leaders. The second criteria is fulfilled if these acts can look on some "extended" versions – the idea to create extended versions like it was presented richly in the golden 80ies. So this DCD set collects and unites some alternative versions of some remarkable club-tunes, and generally seen, this comp also offers a good choice and diversity of styles. That newbies or greenhorns wouldn’t get any glimpse of a chance to take part on this compilation was to expect – if this is to rate positive belongs on your personal preferences for sure, but I must wonder, what kind of "music" nowadays played in the clubs can grab attention by any audience. Some appearances here are that retarded, stupid, plain and that sort of repetitive that they're causing tooth-aching – well, I rather like to point out the most outstanding works here.
ROTERSAND are that sort of elegant produced Futurepop-acts and "Lost" is for sure one of their highlights. It seems to become a kind of art not to fall into cheesy Pop music and they’re an outstanding example for remaining in an own identity. Same counts for the Electro-/Wave-artist DIORAMA and their Extended Version of "Erase Me" –always tasteful arranged, it slows down the speed a bit. LADYTRON, although mostly very Pop/Alternative-oriented, can impress with smashing bass lines and cold female vocals. The factor "coolness" also counts for SEABOUND, "The Promise" offers once again their enormous programming skills and features a slight Dark Electro influence which drives this piece completely away from any redundancy. "Exit" of DISMANTLED is definitively to old to get featured here once again, since it was already available on the now three years old "Post-Nuclear"-album. I suppose that the only one reason belongs on the fact that DISMANTLED couldn’t produce any comparable quality tune since those days... even if this sounds very tacky. "Japanese Bodies" by LEAETHER STRIP is originally much older – a classic for sure – but Claus Larsen currently works hard to re-release his old back-catalogue and he revamps all of his classic recordings and presses them in a new and updated sound design. This "Free Tibet Mix" is refreshing – a must-have and definitely better constituted than the millions of :WUMPSCUT:-re-re-re-releases.
CD2 opens with [:SITD:] and their 2007-Version on their classic "Snuff Machinery" – fair enough arranged but nothing too spectacular. SUICIDE COMMANDO offers an alternative version of his last smasher "Bind, Torture, Kill" and it is appreciated to offer something exclusive. But the sound quality and a failed mastering without any dynamics is out of any discussion – especially for an international renowned act. Boredom comes along and rules with SOMAN, 32CRASH, REAPER and IMPLANT with their musically similar TBM-try-outs. Unbelievable that this music style can really grab attention with those plain arrangements – although that these acts have a lot of prominent guest singers on board (32CRASH = J.-L. de Meyer/FRONT 242, REAPER = Mark Jackson/VNV NATION, IMPLANT = Anne Clark) these acts are failing, what a shame! In between we’ll find DISTORTED MEMORY and FROZEN PLASMA, whose appearance can be called decent but not flawless. I’m thankful to hear something more dark and harder-minded, although DISTORTED MEMORY have a lot of better tunes to offer than a Club Edit of "God’s Wrath". FROZEN PLASMA can point with elegant synth textures and clear male vocals – the only complaint can named in the always and ever repetitive use of "drill-instructor-voice-samples. Best track – although originally more than 15 years old – is definitely "Die Totgeweihten" provided by the German legend DAS ICH. This is of course a new and revamped version – but a harsh one taking influences out of Powernoise and Dark Electro, congrats! With FORTIFICATION 55 the re-animation of some German classics continues in a – how surprising – updated Futurepop sound-design. And any original version on CAMOUFLAGE’s "The Pleasure Remains" would fit much better than this useless Alternative-minded collaboration with WET FINGERS.
I’m in a good manner and will rate this compilation with three stars today, although some appearances are useless like ice-bears in a desert. Also I need to accept the fact that this release is driven by a lot marketing strategies and to strengthen the good collaboration between the presenting labels and the promotion agency Hardbeat. But only a little bit more of the so-called "Independent-thinking" which would allow the compilers to include some "real" underground artists would turn this compilation to more acceptance from the base of the scene.

CD 1:
01 Rotersand - Lost (12" Inch Version)
02 Diorama - Erase Me (Extended Version)
03 IAMX - Spit It Out
04 Covenant - Brave New World (Alternative Radio Version)
05 Ladytron - Destroy Everything You Touch (Vector Lovers Edit)
06 Grossstadtgeflüster - Ich Muss Gar Nix (Director's Cut)
07 Seabound - The Promise (Club Mix)
08 X-Perience & Midge Ure - Personal Heaven (Michael Bachmeier Remix)
09 Bermuda Triangle - Breathe Freely (Extended Electronics)
10 Boytronic - Diamonds & Loving Arms (Front Mix)
11 Melotron - Das Herz (Club Mix)
12 Purwien mit Witt - Alle Fehler (Clubmix von The Promise)
13 Dismantled - Exit (Long)
14 Leæther Strip - Japanese Bodies (Free Tibet Mix)

CD2
01 [:SITD:] - Snuff Machinery 2007
02 Suicide Commando - Bind, Torture, Kill (Extended Torture)
03 Soman - Mask (FMv9 Extended Remix)
04 32Crash - Lone Ranger (Punx Soundcheck Remix)
05 Reaper feat. Mark Jackson - Twisted Trophy Hunter (Caught Line Remix)
06 Distorted Memory - God's Wrath (Club Edit)
07 Frozen Plasma - Warmongers (Fuck Them All Remix)
08 Implant - Your World (Global Meltdown Mix)
09 Das Ich - Die Totgeweihten
10 Fortification 55 - Changing My Exist (2007 Mindworks Remix)
11 Camouflage - The Pleasure Remains (Camouflage vs. Wet Fingers - Club Version)
12 Trisomie 21 - Midnight Of My Life (Instrumental Mix By David Caretta)