1. Bisclaveret– Album: Theu Anagnosis, Song: Humani Sanctus
2. Oil 10– Album: Modularium, Song: Eternal Sunshine
3. Hologram_ – Album: Geometrical Keys, Song: Holy Haunted Box
4. Anthroprophh– Album: Outside The Circle, Song:Outside The Circle
5. Näo– Album: III, Song: Into
6. Mlada Fronta– Album: Polygon, Song: Polygon 1
Daemonia Nymphe is a Greek band created by Spyros and Pandelis Giasafakis in 1994 and since then, they have inspired their audience in Europe incessantly, by offering a unique combination of strong and dynamic melodies, interesting rhythmic and stylistic alterations within their compositions as well as unforgettable live performances. Daemonia Nymphe are collaborating with a dexterous manufacturer of traditional music instruments in Greece, Nikolaos Brass, who is providing them with hand made ancient greek instruments which are resurrected through the band’s music. Thus the band is offering a unique experience to their audiences to see and listen to these instruments on stage. To those of you who will listen to this band for the first time, I can only say that the sound is unique, drawing inspiration from traditional greek music, world, eastern and balkan music traditions and creating an original sound with unending inspiration with the contribution of various collaborators throughout their career. Their previous performance at The Lexington of London which was dedicated to their latest album called ‘Psychostasia’ has been registered as an emotionally strong one by this ethereal/ethnic/traditional but overall authentic band, Daemonia Nymphe. Daemonia Nymphe have presented ‘Psychostasia: The Performance‘ on 23/3/14 at Riverside Studios in London which was very well attended and offered a complete picture of what the homonymous album is about. Since we cannot have enough of this band who offer a visually, musically and artistically interesting performances, I encourage all of you to attend this live at the Garage.
Just before this very interesting musical year is over, Nox Arcana and Qntal offer us many reasons to remember 2014 !
Nox Arcana, is a band which is inspired by fantasy worlds, Gothic literature and aesthetics as the sleeves and the subjects of the stories in their albums reveal. Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft along with the music tradition of the Middle East are just a few of the sources of inspiration for this band. Choral vocals that make reference at the early Gregorian choirs are transformed into melodical labyritnhs guided by the band’s imagination. Using bells, unusual percussion, synth and the fascination for composing music that trigger our imagination as well, Nox Arcana never disappoint their audience since the release of their first album in 2003. If you like ethereal and neoclassical bands such as Ataraxia and Collection d’Arnell Andrea, then Nox Arcana should be in your list of favourite bands. For me this band’s music had a similar effect with opening a music box, only more complex and darker than usual. Following last year’s festive season release called ‘Ebonshire Vol.1’, Nox Arcana released this year ‘Ebonshire Vol.2‘ which contains three new songs for us to enjoy. Since one year has passed since the release of their latest album called ‘Legion of Shadows’ this release increases our impatience for the band’s next album. (more…)
‘Input comes from the outside; my music comes from the inside…’ (extract from a recent interview of Coph Nia)
In the vast uncivilized world, when a ‘beast’ awakens and leaves its den, there’s always a very important reason. Likewise, if there is some truth in the idea that meaning is created where things exhaust all the possible different directions that they can take, then the release of the 12” EP called ‘Prelude To Lashtar Dance’ by Coph Nia, in Raubbau, proves that the time was right for Coph Nia to formulate a meaning in the form of sound.
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Seven years have passed since the release of their last studio album called ‘The Jewels’ and one year from the release of the 12” called ‘Interpretations‘ with Perc a.k.a Alistair Wells. Einstürzende Neubauten is the band which, since 1980, embodies the essence of musical experimentation in such a way that each note that comes out from their custom built musical instruments, seems to make some sort of personal, emotional and ideological statement on the altar of experimentation. The band’s members have been far from idle in the meantime with Blixa Bargeld releasing outstanding EPs (‘ Still Smiling‘, ‘Spring‘) together with Teho Teardo. Alexander Hacke is being involved with The Crime and The City Solutions (‘American Twilight‘ was released in 2013) and The Ministry of Wolves (debut album called ‘Music From Republik Der Wölfe‘ was released in 2014) and has released the 12” called ‘C’Est Si Bon‘ with Iris Berben in 2014. Jochen Arbeit has been releasing solo albums and in 2014 the album called ‘Propulsion‘ was self released together with Scanner a.k.a Robin Rimbaud. Finally Rudi Moser released two solo albums and the last one called ‘Piano Arpeggio‘ was a limited release available through the online shop of Einstürzende Neubauten.
To most, Arcana was the lyrical equivalent of the darkest feelings and our darkest thoughts. This band offered a lyrical and engaging ritual atmosphere based on a lot of instruments ( i.e. Cabasa, Darabouka, Caxixi, Timpani, Shekere, Udu Hadgini, African Shell Shaker, Tambourine, Chimes, Cymbals, Sleigh Bells, Djembe, Hammered Dulcimer, Accoustic Guitar, Egyptian Oud, Egyptian Finger Cymbals. These are just some of the instruments they have used over the years) coupled with choral ethereal female vocals and capturing male vocals. (more…)
Sieben or else music as a sound maze in three dimensions
This is a band that has traced a path in music since 1999 with the album ‘Forbid The Sun’s Escape’ now out of print and sold out as are most of his earlier albums. Even though the atmosphere and melodies of this first album were never to be evolved or reappear, Sieben has continuously evolved its sound, unveiling, with each new album, different hidden aspects of the band’s personality. The looped nature of Sieben’s music and the dexterous layering of vocals and instruments create invisible spaces with infinite depth filled with multiple and complex meanings. Even though the use of the loop brings to mind a closed circular shape, the music of Sieben is a very open shape resembling the spiral of the golden rule. With the themes of most of the songs revolving around existential matters and paganism (‘Ogham Inside The Night’ was one of the albums where paganist influences were more prolific), Sieben has always advocated a love for nature.
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We would like to draw your attention to this one- off special promotional event ahead of the release of Scott Walker + Sun O)))‘s album entitled ‘Soused‘. It has been organised by 4AD , the label that was set up in the 1980s by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent and financial help by the label Beggars Banquet on the record store of which, the duo was working . In the 1990s the label signed a distribution deal with Warner Bros Records and until the beginning of the 2000s it had a unique identity with signed artists such as Dead Can Dance, This Mortal Coil, Cocteau Twins, Bauhaus, Pale Saints and The Birthday Party. After 2008, significant changes were apparent as the label changed management team and expanded its portfolio of signed musicians by including artists as The National, Zomby, St Vincent.
‘Soused‘ is the third album by the avant gard musician Scott Walker that is being released by 4AD after ‘The Drift’ , ‘And Who Shall Go To The Ball? And What Shall Go To The Ball?’ and the excellent and dynamic ‘Bish Bosch’. Sun o))) is an american band from Seattle focused on drone, ambient, noise, metal music with ‘dirty’ electric guitars and distorted sounds. They take their name from the logo of the Sunn amplifier. They have released 18 full lentgh albums since their debut in 2000 and have also collaborated with Nurse With Wound. Taking into account the strength of Scott Walker’s performance and Sun o)))’s doom atmosphere, this album is more than promising!!!!
What follows is the official press release from the label:
”Ahead of its release 4AD present a unique opportunity to hear Scott Walker + Sunn O)))’s collaborative record, Soused, at a special London event next Tuesday evening, the 14th October. The 5-track, 49-minute record will be played on a specialist sound-system provided by McIntosh Labs, creating the perfect environment to soak up this vital creative pairing. The event will take place at St John at Hackney church, East London, as part of St. John Sessions…Soused will be released the following week of 20th October, and pre-orders for all formats (2xLP, CD and digital download) are now available. The vinyl edition consists of two heavyweight LPs, housed in a tip-on sleeve. The artwork was designed by Sunn O)))’s Stephen O’Malley, featuring photography by Gast Bouschet. which you can pre-order here. You can also order a limited Scott-O t-shirt and LP bundle through Sunn O)))’s webstore here.”
Blaue Rosen 
Blaue Rosen is waiting impatiently each year for the release of Tympanik Audio annual compilation. The rest of the compilations so far have never disappointed the fans of this label’s releases. Emerging Organisms have always successfully summed up the overall atmosphere of each album released throughout the year by each of the individual bands of this label. Featuring tracks by Zinovia, Displacer, Atiq&Enk, The Empath,r.roo, Dirk Geiger et al this is a compilation that will definitely be included in this years best releases in its category. (more…)
The new album releases for the period July-October 2014 that have gained Blauerosen‘s attention with positive and very negative ways are:
July 2014
Die Form– Rayon X, Out Of Line
Total Control– Typical System, Iron Lung Records
Empyrium– The Turn Of The Tides, Prophecy Productions
Nurse With Wound with Graham Bowers – Excitotoxicity, Red Wharf
Hecq– Conversions, Ad Noiseam
Oil 10– Modularium, Funkwelten