Sister Machine Gun - The Future Unformed (2015)

 

This is a very solid EP from Sister Machine Gun. I love industrial, have always loved it and Sister Machine Gun has been a band that whilst never at the top it always succeeded to create solid albums. After a long hiatus this is a welcome addition to their discography and one that I’m already addicted to.

The only complaint? It’s too short. I want more!

You can The Future Unformed through BandCamp here

Covenant - Leaving Babylon (2013)

Originating from Sweden, Covenant have been around since the early 90s. Leaving Babylon is their eighth album and despite its ups and downs there's certainly a lot to like here.

The album opens with the title track Leaving Babylon, which is a repetitive and hypnotic song. It's a decent song that walks you into the album and acts as an intro.

The second track, Prime Movers, leaves the introduction behind and suddenly the album comes to live. From then on, the album has its ups and downs but generally delivers excellent beats and melodies. 

Prime Movers and Four Our Time are great examples of simple, hypnotic and fascinating future-pop. There's a little harshness to the beats but a very gentle and mellow side to the music that creates a perfect balance to the songs. 

But the two standout songs of the album are Ignorance and Bliss and Last Dance. Both of them are really powerful songs that manage to combine classic and retro synth sounds with very solid future-pop beats. Both tracks are perfectly crafted and memorable; the kind of song that I can't get enough of and I know I'll be coming back for again and again.

Overall, this is a very uneven album with some decent tracks, some good tracks and some of the best electronic music this year.

Rating: Good Vibrations

Ayria - Plastic Makes Perfect (2013)

Originating from Canada Ayria's music is a mix of future pop and EBM with hints of electro-industrial aggressiveness here and there. Plastic Makes Perfect is her fourth album and it's a pretty solid release.

The highlights of the album are, at least to me, her more aggressive tracks, particularly opener Hunger and Plastic Makes Perfect (see video below). On the lighter, more melodic side I'd highlight Three Months, Missed the Mark and the particularly danceable Big City Lullaby. 

The album has it's ups and downs but there's plenty to enjoy here and the mix of future pop, EBM and more aggressive moments is well balanced.   

Rating: Good Vibrations

Neuroticfish - Limited Behaviour EP (2013)

Originating from Germany, Neuroticfish is an excellent future-pop/EBM, one man band. 

The four songs in this EP are very danceable, with strong beats and great melodies. The focus here is on danceable future-pop beats and all four songs are incredibly infectious.

I honestly can't wait for Neuroticfish to release the new album because if this is a sign of things to come it's going to be a killer.

Rating: Heavy Rotation

Autodafeh - Blackout Scenario (2013)

Originating from Sweden Blackout Scenario is Autodafeh's fourth album. They describe themselves as making hard pumping EBM/Electronic music with glorious sing along lyrics and I certainly don't intend to argue with their words.

The album starts strong with Exercise Your Brain. The song is classic EBM at its best, with strong drums and percussion, vintage synth sounds and strong bass lines. In fact the song, sets the sound for the whole record and despite a couple of lower moments, the album never falters. 

Other highlights in the album include Getaway and Emerging Sadness, which follow Exercise Your Brain for a very powerful trio of songs right at the start. The Pain That We Feel, a slower, moodier tracks with simmering tension. The powerful, danceable, angry, and yet sing-a-long Lessons to Learn. And the energetic final two tracks that end the album on an absolute high.   

Personally, I love the classic EBM sound and always count Front 242 as one of my personal favourite bands (of all styles of music), so I really enjoyed this album. Does it reach the heights of Front 242's classics, no, but it's one hell of an album that Autodafeh have put together with some really outstanding tracks that have nothing to envy to the classics.

Rating: Good Vibrations

Mesh - Automation Baby (2013)

Mesh is a seasoned synth-pop band and their latest release is arguably one of their best. The album starts strongly with Just Leave Us Alone, an incredibly catchy, infectious, dance tune and, from that point, it never lets you down.

Automation Baby delivers great song after great song. The band have managed to write a good number of very varied songs that flow between synth-pop, electro-rock and little touches of EBM. In fact, considering the CD packs 14 songs, with eight tracks more in the bonus CD, this is an incredibly generous offering. Mesh were clearly inspired in the making of this album.

The band really has gift in creating catchy hook and anthemic choruses that never feel obvious nor formulaic. An excellent album that has a huge number of potential singles.

Rating: Heavy Rotation