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Paolo L. Bandera – Riconnessione Iconoclastica Sacrale

Raffaele Pezzella’s consistently astounding Unexplained Sounds Group is perhaps the best-curated label covering dark ambient and ritualistic music.  They present former Sigillum S member Paolo L. Bandera’s latest release, and present notes originally posted from the Bandcamp release site here:
“Paolo L. Bandera (a.k.a. NG5361) has been propagating unconventional sounds and deviated cultural streams for decades with SIGILLUM S, together with Eraldo Bernocchi and other various acolytes.

On top of this, he has been generating noise textures in solo configuration as SSHE RETINA STIMULANTS, besides supporting and participating in many mutant projects by friends (THE SODALITY, IUGULA-THOR, ENSEMBLE SACRE GARCONS, SIDRA and more).

SSHE RETINA STIMULANTS devastates post-industrial sounds with a hyper – intellectual twist, in an apocalyptic context with morbidly visionary features: it’s a space where the most antagonist and abrasive currents get crazy, while pursuing a limitless synergy between underground acoustics and nightmarish visuals…under this moniker tens of works have been released through the years, in parallel with live performances in a lot of geographies.

Most recently, Paolo has started releasing some works under his own name, in order to differentiate more conceptually severe and abstract electronic productions from the SRS harsh volume.

Collaborations with other similarly alien projects are an important driver, including those with Aube, Mark Solotroff, Bad Sector, I Burn, The Fortieth Day, Gerstein, MSBR, Terence Hannum, Neil Jendon, The Land Of The Snow, Uncodified, Macelleria Mobile di Mezzanotte, LCB, Satanismo Calibro 9, Lorenzo Abbatoir, Avamposto Malato e many others.

Paolo has also written for various magazines (on music and other topics ), as well as having curated the two Italian editions of the Industrial Culture Handbook and having collaborated to RUMORI SACRI, a reference book on the Italian post-industrial music underground.”
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Music

S.Ludenberg – Misfortune Soul’s

S.Ludenberg is a composer from Vyazma, Russia and he produces absolutely mournful, melancholic dungeon synth.  A heartbreakingly depressing record, but I think that that was the feel he was going for.  He succeeded.

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Music

Various Artists – Touch: Isolation

Touch Records introduced many experimental and post-industrial music fans to some of the most crucial artists of the past 40 years or so.  This compilation originally came as 28 single tracks which were available via subscription only, but since that option was shut down, the label thankfully compiled these tracks into one album.

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Music

Scott Lawler – Somewhere in Time (Reinterpreted)

I don’t remember Somewhere in Time as being a classic movie, but the film was enjoyable and starred Christopher Reeve (of Superman fame) and Jane Seymour.  It’s fun to hear a much darker take of the soundtrack coming from composer Scott Lawler.  This would have made the film a much more emotionally gloomy affair.

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Music

Shahin Souri – Liminal Space

Respect to Midira Records for publishing this work by Tehran-based composer Shahin Souri.  It is a most elegant take on ambient music.  There should be a better term for this, as the genre’s name is so badly abused these days, and this seems to transcend it.

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Music

Senyawa – Istana (Live)

Today is a workday for us in Beijing, so there is no review today, but I did want to point you to an Indonesian band called Senyawa, who is featured on Rafaelle Pezzella’s incredible Unexplained Sounds Group‘s digipak retrospective called the Far East Music Collection.  It is a reissue of three seminal compilations covering experimental music from China, Indonesia and the Far East in general.  The set looks gorgeous, and Senyawa‘s contribution is mind-blowing.

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Music

Anglachel – A Light that Shines so Bright

The first thought I saw with this lovely cover art from Greek composer Anglachel was, “good boi!”  It’s a heartbreakingly charming bit of cover art, but the main story is the music.  It’s dungeon synth, but perhaps a little meatier than what I am used to hearing.  The production value is quite nice.  The story about the release is recorded below:

“The purpose of this EP is to provide assistance in organizations helping stray animals in Greece. For that reason ALL earnings will be donated to such organizations. The donation will take place on the 8th of May, so contributions will be accepted until that day. After that, the EP will be offered freely.”

I’m happy to hear the release achieved its goal and left a good, dark legacy musically. Bravo to them.

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Music

Alphaxone – Dark Complex II

Alphaxone are a Tehran-based project who put out profoundly deep and lush dark ambient music.

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Music

Hiemis – Malleus Maleficarum

Hiemis are a project out of Spain, not exactly a mecca (yet) for dark ambient bands or dungeon synth, but this album is wonderfully bleak and enveloping.  It has the feel of a lo-fi Spanish or Italian horror soundtrack, but with a lot of warmth to it.  Eerie, of course, but accessible.

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Music

Lustmord – Much Unseen Is Also Here

The legendary Lustmord has a new album which releases on March 15, 2024.  Judging by the one track currently available to sample, this will be a creepy, heavy album with all the horror of watching a Bosch painting melt while on acid.  This will be that deep.