Already out since a few months, I’m quite late to put my critical finger on this edition. At first I have to praise the initiative of the Canadian home-label of this North-German act, Artoffact, to watch out for foreign help to offer the band the best possible support, promotion and distribution. Artoffact have decided to give out a license agreement for MASSIV IN MENSCH and in this case, the rather small Spanish label Caustic Record got chosen to take care on the European marketing of this new studio album for this international renowned music project.
Caustic-Records is engaged, works hard and puts all of their possible efforts into the promotion of this album – let’s hope that the incoming sales prove right this initiative. After their boxer-storyboard "Clubber Lang" released in 2007, "Meanwhile Back In The Jungle" offers the latest compositions of this trio in their known dancefloor-compatible style - of course also including their approved "cheek-in-mouth"-like lyrics. We surely can’t report of drastically changes regarding the musically formula presented by MIM, a refining and a further development can be rather noticed in subtle dimensions – but why changing a nearly unbelievable story of success before this cow stops to give milk? Musically, "Meanwhile Back In The Jungle" consists of rather known efforts by this band. MIM still produce danceable – as they like to call it – Dark Rave tunes, which draw inspiration by genres like Futurepop and the recent state-of-art sound-design of EBM – generally not that spectacular that you would be impressed by their programming kind. MIM rather impress with their directly and humorous kind to include their cheek-in-mouth lyrical efforts, just check the German "Elitär" featuring an additional performance by the female band-member Anna-Maria Straatmann. Their last years’ smasher "Supermassive Gravity" which is a collaboration with Austria’s MIND.IN.A.BOX, got included too and will stand in the first line of appreciation asides the new tunes "Ikonoklast!", "Never Trust The Outline" or that delicious and slippery "Pink Dream". No stuff to get astonished by their programming abilities, but also no stuff to search for the one and only hair in the soup – MASSIV IN MENSCH offer their approved compositions, so there’s no end of the Friesian village-Electro/Industrial-project in sight!

In a two year span Screen Vinyl Image soaked themselves deeper in tons of analogue synthpop and neurotic disco/house basslines. Still there's a shimmering shoegaze root mostly in the use of delays and in the singing parts.The opening track is called "Synthetic Apparition" and it's an trance-inducing instrumental resembling the first Popol-Vuh records played at double speed ( or maybe Popol-Vuh on speed? ) - then we have "Cathode Ray" where you'll hear a simple catchy refrain under layers and layers of distortions. "Slipping Away" is a slow-paced track, imagine Slowdive's aesthetics produced by Adult. "Asteroid Exile" grants goosebumps to everyone into synths – a cold pop gem that will stand as the band's timeless testament. Personal favourite, as you may have noticed. Another standout here is "Until The End Of Time" with a killer postpunk guitar bass. All tracks on Interceptors are quite different but seem to morph into each other like in the most cohesive ambient albums or soundtracks ( John Carpenter and Tangerine Dream are stated among the influences ), a step further from the previous The Midnight Sun EP. Out on their own safranin-sound on a Vinyl/CD combo.

"Ego Tron" is the self titled release from this Electro/ IDM project from Portugal, the solo project of one Katarina Magalhães. There are 4 tracks on the album, with the total run time being a bit under half an hour. Each song has it's own unique personality, but there is certainly a theme of happy, melodic electro that blends 80's synth sounds, staple house beats, and a somewhat game/ 8 bit inspired aesthetic. There are also some interesting Latin elements, especially on the opening "egotout". All in all this is very nice, well produced solid happy fun electro. Imagine Kraftwerk hanging out in a dance club in Portugal, and you kind of get an idea of what this sounds like. It's worth checking out for sure.

This album was scheduled to be released earlier than it actually was. The reason for the delay was a defect of the hard drive. The problem was overcome and the long awaited album was released just before the WGT festival opened its gates of darkness. The Neussian synthpop-electro unit showed vital signs with a new exciting album and there is just one thing for me to say: I’m excited. It is still a riddle for me why Michael Roeder and Peter Kirchmeyer do not count to the greatest artist of the darker scene.
The compositions range from genius over danceable to "cannot-get-enough-of-it". The 12-track album does not pall even after the 10th listening to it. There is something new to find out every time. The catchy melodies have a strong potential to "haunt" your mind for the whole day and lift your spirits.
A synthpop fan will totally dig "Your eyes","Secrets"and "Chase" due to dreamy melodies and the lyrics that invite you to ponder. The DJs in their turn have all the reasons to embrace "Keener", "Reveal", "Reality" or "Not enough" and "I will" thus those possess a high potential to cause some behind-shaking in the darker clubs of the planet. The only German song "Stärke 10" certainly belongs to the strongest numbers on the album as well. What really makes A Spell Inside an outstanding act is Michael’s vocal manner which is unmistakable from swarms of other electro artists. The whole release sounds more electronic and more sophisticated than their previous albums and "Someone (is waiting)" makes this point especially visible; I mean audible.

All in all the album has a good chance to gain popularity beyond the darker scene as well, due to lack of immature lyrics about cyborgs, demons under your bed and aliens that come after you to grab your ass, like we get to hear from numerous other acts. As far as I’m concerned, A Spell Inside has got to keep it this way and I’m grateful for this album.

Released two years after their 12" "Take a picture", 13 HORRIBLE REMIXES is the first album by 3-1 and, strange for a first full length release, it contains twelve remixes of bands they like or they know (some of them are on the same label Basserk) plus a remix of their song "Take a picture". The track list is in balance from bands that have a sound similar to 3-1 (a sort of electro pop with punk attitude and use of distorted synth bass lines) to thing a little more techno or breakbeat (Nid & Sancy, Lilian Hak, Elecphonic or The Moi non plus). 3-1 did a good job by respecting the original tunes and at the same time personalizing them. Check how they changed Hotel's "Fool fool" by adding a cool distorted bass line to their flute/hammond based tune making it turn into a nice dance floor song. 13 HORRIBLE REMIXES is a good album to party with and also a good album to listen while driving, having the city lights as strobe lights. Here's the trackslist:
01. Nid & Sancy - My Rave remixed
02. Lilian Hak - What about it remixed
03. The Moi non plus - Hahaha remixed
04. Lucky Goat - Ooh yeah remixed
05. Fata el Moustache’ remixed
06. Hotel - Fool fool remixed
07. Detroit grand pubahs - Riot 66 remixed
08. three cheers for dirty feat. Blondin - Blonpeepee remixed
09. Krause - Outta yer mind remixed
10. Elle Bandita - New years eve remixed
11. Elecphonic - Freakin on a sneaka remixed
12. Transformer di Roboter - Ultramaximizer remixed
13. 3-1 - Take a picture remixed