Thee Musick Ov Magick is thee second sampler release by Boston-based musician John Zewizz's label Inner-X-Musick (formerly known as XXX Records or Triple X Records and headquarters for the spreading of Sleepchamber at the moment, the renowned project founded and wisely run by John, its only permanent member), one of the most proactive and prolific one born from the ashes of Innersleeve Records, a small record store managed by John in Allston, Massachusetts, spreading many gemstones and "musickal" essays ascribable in the most "esoteric" and subterranean branch of underground electro-industrial scene including Psychic TV, Die Form, Current 93, Nocturnal Emissions, XTC and many more artists and sound manipulator which sometimes begun their massive productions from primordial experiments on tape looping , reversed recording and stuff like that, perfectly fits some standing arguments about magic by John himself. If we'd try to give a conceptual framework, we could quote his words about the so-called Magick (whose subsense has really nothing to do with superstition or fabulous creatures or sorcerers as well, normally the most immediate ideal association made with everything related to magic, but more intended to the awakening of spiritual or arguably mental powers and faculties), stating that it uses "metaphysical structures only to aid the conscious mind-(which iz a metaphysical structure in itself) in erecting an arbitrary form from the mind to the base itself around. Magick recognizes the conscious mind only az a tool with which to organize your creative potential, of True Will.".

Well'¦even if you're not interested in philosophical matters or esoteric issues, just like me as well (!), it's undeniable most tracks included in this selection are really well forged as well as carefully crafted and many episodes of this issue offer involving immersive listening experiences (even the most hermetical ones).

The first link of this enthralling musickal chain has been signed by FRzO, the collaborative project by the Norwegian experi/mental manoeuvrer Gird_09 and the entrancing and obscure singer Batcheeba, who, even if in the somewhat teaching opening it seems her nose was blocked by cold, perfectly sets the mood on Kali, by appreciable voice modulations calling up that goddess on an hypnotic set of tumbling noises and hopscotch-like sinister chiming. A rumbling metallic sound, some asynchronous tapping and an undefined monstrous snoring turn up on the trance-inducing tribal mantra of Psychonaut 75's Mountain Spirits which could remind some pieces by Master Musicians of Joujouka or some works by Raksha Mancham, one of my favorite track definitively by this Luciferian obscure project ' 75 is the cabbalistic number for Lucifer -, even if the other track included in the selection, In The Vein, is quite good as well as a slowed-electro danceable rhythm on a frightening prayer ' we imagine not so Christian as well.. ' induced me to imagine a sort of devilish remix of DAF in some recording studio hidden inside an hellish cave, whereas a similar fictional transposition (I thought about a possible musickal translation of the nightmares uneasing Orwell's or Derrida's sleeps'¦) came onto my mind while listening A Tortuous Congestion Of Topology Platforms. Tower In Flames (what a depictive title!), an impressive track by Sigillum S, where the musical soul by the esteemed Eraldo Bernocchi seems severing. Some reversed tapes on a disquieting but luminous sound set enlivens the anesthetic AQ 23 ZAQ by Grayghost, whose disfigured sculptures reappear later on the snider Lil featuring some interesting manipulation on chiming sounds.

Other effective tracks of the sampler are the disquieting Inch Allah by Phallus Dei (hey wasps, don't panic..it's just a piece of art!), (Moss)'s Anneliese ach Anneliese ' looking like an altercation between an exorcist and a demon possessing some poor human body (my compliments to this devilish creature'¦it seems really fluent in German!) on striving delayed beats -, De Lege Motus by Veil Of Thorns ' a cinematic anthem featuring some Beast-y beats'¦ -, Choronzon's Delusion of Security ' the link of the chain closer to some extreme goth-metal grey fields in particular for the vocal treatment'¦ - as well as Sleepchamber's excerpts in particular the nice sound-collage of Calling The Shaman. And yes! I have to ask for Shaman's telephone number to Mr.Zewizz'¦ definitively!

I was kind of surprised when I put this in the CD player for a couple of reasons. First of all, with a name like Purest Spiritual Pigs, I expected some kind of harsh industrial or power electronics kind of music. I don't really know how to describe it, but it isn't that. I suppose the best description I can come up with is college indie rock ' at least it would have been at home on the college radio station I worked at. The closest comparison I can come up with is Torcher. It isn't too bad, but it didn't really do much for me, with some notable exceptions. FPNOP PPL (which in the liner notes is deciphered 'For People Not on Phones) is the only one that really seems to move into the experimental realm with some distortion and heavily processed voice. But the standout track is 'Three Thieves Gone' with slow, mournful vocals over a slow, mournful bed of strings and percussion. 'Burnt Through' continues this trajectory with an even more stripped down accompaniment. Helena Thompson, the main vocalist and driving force on this project, has a sultry voice that would be right at home in a blues joint and this is showcased well on these tracks. This is in stark contrast to songs like 'You Inspire Me,' in which the emotion seems forced and the expression cliché. Overall, the disc was kind of hit or miss for me, but I do get the sense that it would be an interesting live show to check out. This disc weighs in at around 48 minutes.

Eight months after my review of their debut MCD, here are again the Strip In Midi Side with their first album. They got signed to New Model Label and they just released YOUR STRIPPING EXPERIENCE. On this album you'll find the five songs of the MCD (with the same running order) plus five new tracks. Well recorded and mastered (they chose Streaky Mastering, people who worked with Nitzer Ebb and Depeche Mode) the album shows well the multifaceted soul of the band: goth, industrial, new wave and pop are all elements that the four Strip In Midi Side are confortable with. On different tracks (for example "Art is insanity" or "I want") the band pass from rock industrial obsessive riffs/distortions, to British pop melodies creating an effective contrast where energy and irony coexist. "Bring me down", song that we already know, starts like a Apoptygma Berzerk tune just to turn into a melodic Peter Murphy one and follows playing with these influences adding a personal touch here and there. "You don't know" mix Nin Inch Nails to the best melodic moments of Foo Fighters (some melodies recall me "The pretender"). Like a giant sponge they four Italian guys absorbed the best sounds of those genres just to digest and spit them in your face. Upbeat, irreverent, energetic, YOUR STRIPPING EXPERIENCE is only waiting four your judgement...

If one of the oldest and best known Russian Goth-/Dark Wave-bands like PURPLE SIDE FOG (2 albums available on Shadowplay Records) decides to collaborate with Synthematik ' in no negative meaning a pure net-label ' then there must be growing a kind of sensible sensation in the minds of the responsible band-members. The certainty, that the days of the physical product, the CD, are counted, may can be taken as a reference, that this formation has documented the will to collaborate. On the other hand, Synthematik has made themselves a good name during the last half year, to be an excellent promoter by using multiple kinds of online resources to gain a maximum of attention, so why not to give it a try? This freely downloadable album consist of an experiment of PFS ' they have recorded all featured tracks in kind of a real-time mode, which means, that they have produced song by song in a strictly declared time window of 1 ½ months, starting all compositions completely from scratch. The band has used online communities and has uploaded any raw demo version of these tracks for their fans and listeners to start a mutual interaction. Completely remixed and mastered after this experimental phase, this 10 all new tracks (plus 3 remix contributions by ALPHA POINT, X-TI, and ELEKTRONNOE OBLAKO, plus an alternative radio version in Russian language on 'My Secret friend') are far away from being demos or uninspired stuff established out of a short expiration time. I am unable to draw comparisons to their Shadowplay recordings, as I am unfamiliar with them, but especially tracks like the already mentioned 'My Secret Friend', or 'Crystal Castle' offer enough potential to impress Goth-, Wave, and Electro-minded listeners completely. Especially the intended contrast between the raw- and dark-sounding male vocalist to the compelling, nearly angelic vocals of the female counterpart can be called exceptionally well-done. This album may needs 2 ' 3 spins more to disclose all good elements, but it is definitely worth to invest it. So there's only one thing I would like to know from the band: what is a 'PVC Slut'?

Another awesome release on Rome's Mannequin Records, this time it is a split EP that puts together French cold-wave (or brutal-wave) heroes Frank (Just Frank) and Soviet Soviet, Italy's most alienated postpunkers. FJF in a few months became a pillar of the new new-wave scene and personally i think that they are in a state of grace. The 5 tracks presented here are very close to perfection with a painstaking attention to details. Their 15 minutes side departs from the bleak and tipically cold-wave sounds of their debut album ('The Brutal Wave' on Wierd Records) towards a seamless fusion of analogue machines with an intricate guitar work. The vocal parts improved and reveal more of the emotional side of Chris and Kirti's lyrics. There are two astounding instrumentals, placed as intro and outro of their side - 'Saint' is my favourite and made me think about those simple and devastating Sisters Of Mercy's first instrumental sketches. 'Valerie' is a highlight here and the finest moments of Little Nemo come to mind. 'Do The Soviet' is dancey and steers away from the melancholic mood that usually pervades their compositions. The track is dedicated to Soviet Soviet's gig in Nice, at the beginning of this year and celebrates the friendship between the two bands. With Soviet Soviet is an entirely different affair as they deliver a personal take on the pitch-black side of post-punk and draw inspiration directly from the first Wire and Kiling Joke. In their side of the split, they take you by the hand in a modern tale of urban psychosis. Their sound can be described as howling guitars over a skull crushing-rhythm section, actually one of the best i've heard in years.'Lokomotiv' is the track that made me fall for them, an unstoppable aggression that gets everyone moshing, when played live . 'S.Y.' is a one-way trip to Death Valley 69, if you get what i mean. 'Cobretto' will suddenly make you dance and tighten your jaw. Be sure not to miss their live shows, some of the best in Europe. Limited edition of 500 copies ' Silkscreen ultra limited edition of 50.