April Reviews



Hyperdex 1 Sect - Metachrome
21st Circuitry - 11 trk CD
Basically four songs and different remixes of them. Great instrumentation, but the vocals seem a bit tame at times. Still a good CD with dancefloor attitude. Very cool remixes by Empirion and New Mind. Download does a remix as well, but it is mediocore.



Lycia - Estrella
Projekt Records - 11 trk CD
Lycia continues their style of atmospheric, elegant, hypnotic, ethereal sound. Soothing and relaxing, this CD places the light beautiful vocals in front with a perfect blend of dreamy background wall of instrumentation.



DJ? Acucrack - Mutants of Sound (addtional information)
Slipdisc Records - 11 trk CD
Mainly a techno rave based CD. This CD blends techno,electronica, trance, rave, with drum and bass intelligently and incredibly. Not an industrial CD by far but certainly a unique and aggressive electronic multi-layered piece of art.



Insurgent - Supercollider
Subvision Records - 11 track CD
This CD is a good blend of electronic and guitar with well incorporated vocals. Heavy and hard, fast and pulsing. Dance friendly and aggressive. Deep growling clear vocals which are well done. Definately one of the better independent artist.



Various - Future Wave
Cleopatra Records - 13 track CD
Cleopatra's newest compilation contains a mixture of "new wave and darkwave giants" as indicated on the cover. The CD is kind all over the place. The songs are good but not very well linked, other then they are the more stronger acts of the label. Anyway the content includes Gary Numan, Spahn Ranch, Heaven 17, Switchblade Symphony, Leatherstrip, New Order, Electric Hellfire Club and more. There are some exclusive mixes. Overall the CD is all right. If you like new wave stuff and want to hear some new mixes get this one.



Soundtrack - Lost In Space
TVT/Wax Trax Records - 19 track CD
Catering to today's electronica movement Lost in Space provides the first 8 tracks of the newest upcoming electronica acts like Crystal Method, Fatby Slim, Death in Vegas, Propellerheads. The 9th track is a chessy goofy song by the band Space, and the rest to follow is score music by Bruce Broughton. The Cd is pretty good for those in elctronica. There are no huge sell out bands here, they are big, but not as huge as the movie.



Cubanate - Interference
TVT/Wax Trax Records - 10 track CD
Produced by Rhys Fulber, this cd has streamed away from the typical Cubanate song. Fans must be warned that Cubanate have changed their sound. Still definately as agressive with the powerful vocals of Marc Heal, the band have been influenced by the breakbeats of Drum and Bass. Definately something new and exciting. Be opened minded and check it out.



Hexedene - Choking on Lilies
Re-Constriction Records - 15 track CD
The awaited full length of this cd is no let down. With awesome female vocals and heavy EBM with guitars the result is a superb CD. The vocals are well blended with the intrumentation. It's rare to find have good agressive darkfloor music with female vocals in this male dominated music genre. This one does it all



Hellsau - Vain
Invisible Records - 15 track CD
>From Swamp Terrorist STR along with DJ Killroy and Bruno S. comes Hellsau, a blend of the most aggressive element of techno, hardcore, industrial, and drum and bass. Swamp Terrorist based this blend is insanely heavy, almost rotterdamn style. An extreme debut CD from this team.



Various - Mind Ripper
Van Richter Records - 8 track CD
Featuring the best on this label Van Richter comes out with this compilation which features their artists. Pretty cool CD except the fact that they are missing anything by DHI. Overall the compilation is a good taste to the label.



Various - News From Nowhere
Plan 11 Records - 12 track CD
This compilation features mainly independent acts in the Toronto area scene. The compilation is more on the lighter side darkfloor, more etheral, mellower style of music. A good blend of talent can be noticed on this CD. This CD is filled with melodies and emotion which is well put together with variety enclosed in a central theme. Something worth checking out.



Kiethevez - Opium
A Different Drum - 13 track CD
Electro-pop, male melencholy vocals with light elctronic background, similar styled music to that of Depeche Mode. New Wave like. Melodic and pleasent to listen to.



The Nine - Native Anger
A Different Drum - 10 track CD
A more aggressive poppy electro sounding CD. Elements of 80's style music is apparent. Some songs have a heavier sound that makes them a bit harder but the vocals are a little to tame. A heavy Pop CD.



Autovoice - A Living Death
Flaming Fish Records - 13 track CD
This CD is a little bit everywhere, from very heavy, to melodic, to mellow songs. There are similar elements such as it all being electronic based. It's hard to categorize this CD as it is industrial at times, ambient, sometimes poppy. Some songs sounded quite interesting but overall didn't quite get it.


Awaiting The Dawn - Awaiting The Dawn
Flaming Fish Records - 14 track CD
Ambient mellow natured CD with light vocals creates a dreamy soothing enviorment. Definately something to chill out to. A pretty cool CD very atmospheric, though could use more layering. It is a little minimal.





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