SONG OF THE DAY: The Ruts - In a Rut (1979)

"In a Rut" was the debut single from The Ruts, a British group whose blend of punk and dub-reggae earned them a lot of praise from John Peel.  While the rest of their contemporaries were trying to play faster, The Ruts delivered brooding mid-paced tunes that were as ferocious as anything else in the burgeoning punk scene.  Unfortunately, this nihilistic anthem was a projection of singer Malcolm Owen's own internal struggles; he would die of a heroin overdose the next year.  "You're in a rut, You gotta get out of it - out of it - out of it - out of it - out of it..."

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Isabel's Dream - Monomara (2000)

"Monomara" is the only release from Isabel's Dream, the "blissbeat" project of Toronto-based musician Michael Ulrich.  Originally conceived as a solo ambient project, Ulrich eventually incorporated Drum n Bass elements to his ambient soundscapes, resulting in a remarkable blend of shoegaze and electronic music (hence the "blissbeat" tag).  Ulrich completed the transition to a more structured sound by adding the voice of Rachel Keeler to the mix.  This is a must-listen for fans of the lush IDM of Seefeel and the dreamy droning of loveliescrushing.

SONG OF THE DAY: S.M. Nurse - Frutta (1983)

"Frutta" is an archetypal "pulser" track from S.M. Nurse, a minimal wave group from Amsterdam who released a limited discography before disbanding in 1983.  The Dutch trio were influenced by disco and sound collage music, and soon developed their own minimal-synth approach to dance music.  S.M. Nurse most notably appeared on the incredible "Turkish Delight" cassette compilation, which also featured the Legendary Pink Dots, and most of their essential live recordings were released as a collection by Top Tape records in 1986.

Pump - The Decoration of the Duma Continues (1987)

Pump, who were known as MFH in the early 80s, were an English duo who produced some truly fascinating post-industrial music that has largely gone unnoticed until Belgian label Forced Nostalgia reissued "The Decoration of the Duma Continues" in 2011.  Pump's sound is reminiscent of L.A. industrial-leaning post-punk surfers Savage Republic, who also succeeded in blending grating chainsaw guitars with tribal ambient and world music.  Pump transition seamlessly between these juxtaposed passages on this genre-defying album that will please fans of Clock DVA, the Fall and everything in between.

SONG OF THE DAY: Martin Circus - Disco Circus (1977)

Martin Circus were a French rock group who evolved into a disco outfit and eventually created one of the pioneering tracks of the post-disco/proto-house genre with "Disco Circus".  This song marks a definitive leap from electronic disco into entirely new territory, with intricate arrangements and a signature 4/4 beat that would serve as the foundation for the Chicago house formula.  Undeniably funky and ahead of its time.  

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Yellow Swans - Going Places (2009)

Yellow Swans mastered their amalgamation of drone and dark ambient music on 2009s "Going Places", the final proper album from the Portland duo of Pete Swanson and Gabriel Mindel Saloman.  There is such an expertly dialed atmosphere on this record, and the vibe is appropriately summed up and reflected by the album's cover art.  "Going Places" is surprisingly "warm" for a "noise" record, thanks to the lush, subterranean ambient passages which lurk beneath the harsh surface.  Some of Tim Hecker's bleakest moments come close to this (or possibly Burning Star Core), but Yellow Swans are profoundly unique in their execution.  Imagine a radio transmission of William Basinksi's "Disintegration Loops" being picked up and reinterpreted by other life forms.

SONG OF THE DAY: Windy & Carl - Consciousness (2001)

"Consciousness" proves that guitars can be used as effectively as electronics when it comes to making ambient music.  Windy & Carl allow their swirling guitar loops to gradually build and ascend, transforming these 12 minutes into what feels like an eternity (in a good way).  This is the kind of song that one might consult in a desperate moment, as a deliverance from the abyss, a penultimate glimpse of illumination before redemption, and a proclamation that resounds, "Hallelujah! Blessed be Windy & Carl."

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Luomo - Vocalcity (2000)

Luomo is one of the many projects of Finnish producer Sasu Ripatti, whose other monikers include Uusitalo, Ripatti, Sistol and most notably Vladislav Delay.  The majority of these projects operate under the umbrella of the "Microhouse" genre, which means that the typical drum sounds of House music have been replaced by glitchy samples of static and noise.  While Vladislav Delay explores the more abstract ends of this sound, Luomo falls closer to traditional Deep House, relying on relatively straightforward 4/4 beats and soulful vocal samples (Uusitalo lies somewhere in the middle of this scale).  "Vocalcity" is a landmark album for the Microhouse sound, a pioneering release along with Ricardo Villalobos' early works.

SONG OF THE DAY: 16 Bit - Where Are You? (1986)

16 Bit are a Belgian New Beat duo who combine elements of EBM, darkwave and acid-house on their infamous 1986 single, "Where Are You?".  While the track itself follows the standard New Beat formula of creepy vocals and minimal Kraftwerk-style sequences, 16 Bit are mostly notable for the accompanying music video for "Where Are You?".  There's a lot to be taken in here; the dominant, brooding man behind the table tells tales of damnation and salvation, while his submissive slave-boy wraith dances helplessly for all eternity.  Deceptively ironic, shockingly relevant. 

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Jerry Paper - Carousel

Jerry Paper has successfully channeled Brian Eno's first three solo albums with "Carousel", an infectiously-weird MIDI-pop album from the Brooklyn artist whose real name is Lucas M. Nathan ("'Jerry Paper' is the entity that inhabits Lucas M. Nathan's body when he is grooving.")  This album is simply a lot of fun, and the stock sequencer sounds are somehow brought to life by the drooling Eno-esque vocal performance.  "Carousel" sounds equally indebted to 80s Japanese art-pop, which makes sense when you consider that Eno's incarnation of Roxy Music took Japan by storm in the early 70s, influencing their pop music for years to come.

SONG OF THE DAY: Sandwell District - Hunting Lodge (2010)

Sandwell District are a techno supergroup that features Karl O'Connor (Regis), Juan Mendez (Silent Servant, David Sumner (Function) and Peter Sutton (Female), all of whom have released outstanding solo and collaborative works that are well worth investigating if you're looking for dark, industrial techno.  All of these artists have taken ambient techno to new heights by incorporating factory rhythms with minimal dub and bleak aesthetics.  "Feed Forward" is the 2010 debut from the group, and this album as a whole is a colossal stroke of genius, a slow build that gradually gets heavier until "Hunting Lodge" blows the roof off of this thing.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Xeno & Oaklander - Sentinelle (2009)

Xeno & Oaklander have made it clear that they are analog-purists living in a digital age, and the payoff is an authentic and well executed interpretation of the French coldwave sound in the form of 2009's "Sentinelle".  The duo of Sean McBride (aka Martial Canterel) and Liz Wendelbo offer a reserved but effective vocal presence that never subtracts from the icy-cold essence of this record.  Martin Dupont are without a doubt the first influence that comes to mind, a welcome resource whose blend of minimal-synth and synthpop defined the 80s coldwave scene.  Instrumental tracks like "Toho Picture" prove that Xeno & Oaklander are not just another synth-revival novelty act.

DOCUMENTARY: The Sound of Progress (1988)

I've been super busy lately, regular posting should resume next week.  In the meantime, check out this documentary about the early Industrial scene in England:

SONG OF THE DAY: Black To Comm - Hotel Freund (2009)

It's difficult to articulate the qualities that account for a distinguished ambient record, and yet when they are encountered, such experiences have a way of imprinting themselves on the subconscious, creating an impression that might be cheapened by reducing it to rhetoric; an appropriate response to a style of music that doesn't employ words at all.  "Alphabet 1968" is one such album, a droning, dark-ambient release from Marc Richter aka Black To Comm.  Richter has assembled a magical collection of deeply organic tracks that can be attributed to his expert use of horns, strings, and cryptic piano playing.  "Hotel Freund" is the concluding track of his opus, providing a much needed breath of fresh air after emerging from this abyssal work.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Harold Budd, Elizabeth Fraser, Robin Guthrie & Simon Raymonde - The Moon and the Melodies (1986)

"The Moon and the Melodies" is essentially a Cocteau Twins record featuring Harold Budd, though the album is credited to the individuals rather than the group.  This record was released between "Victorialand" and "Blue Bell Knoll", which should give you a good idea of what's in store; the Cocteau Twins had at this point entered into their darkest and dreamiest period, before sweetening things up for 1990's "Heaven Or Las Vegas".  Budd provides more ambience to the already ethereal sound that the group is known for, never overshadowing Liz Fraser's remarkable vocal presence and supplementing the instrumental tracks with an appropriate atmosphere.  Robin Guthrie and Harold Budd would later go on to partner up for several collaborations, most notably the soundtrack to "Mysterious Skin" in 2005.

SONG OF THE DAY: The Stranglers - Toiler On the Sea (1978)

"Toiler On the Sea" is The Stranglers at their best; the aggressive, overdriven bass is brightened up by twinkling new-wave synths and a revved up, blistering guitar lead.  "Black and White" is probably the darkest record in The Stranglers' catalog, and their most definitively-post-punk effort to date.  The driving surf-wave of "Toiler On the Sea" sounds like something off of Magazine's "Real Life", another 1978 classic that paved the way for future use (and abuse) of synthesizers by the post-punk scene. 

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Vessel - Punish, Honey (2014)

"Punish, Honey" finds Vessel moving away from the dubby-IDM sounds that earned him a lot of attention with 2012's "Order of Noise", the album that solidified him as a fixture in the Tri Angle Records agenda.  His 2014 effort sees the UK artist moving towards a heavier industrial sound and an overall more mechanical foundation that is reminiscent of Monolake's "Momentum" era.  The sonic landscape is certainly harsher on this album, but the despite the machine-beats and blasts, Sebastian Gainsborough succeeds in concocting some very satisfying and danceable tracks notwithstanding the album's cacophonous nature.

SONG OF THE DAY: John Talabot - When the Past Was Present (2012)

John Talabot created a remarkable sound with 2012's "ƒIN", blending deep-house with his native style of Balearic Beat, the form of dance music indigenous to Ibiza.  This record is percussively typical of that sound, with pulsing mid-tempo beats that are rooted in familiar deep-house patterns and vocal cadences.  Like Blondes, Talabot injects a tasteful tropical element into the mix, and tracks like "When the Past Was Present" are surging with lush intensity.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Global Communication - 76:14 (1994)

"76:14" is about as colossal as an ambient album can be, rivaled perhaps only by "Selected Ambient Works Vol II" in its range and ingenuity.  There has been an abundance of quality ambient music since Eno's genesis, and devotees of the genre already know that it often surpasses the superficial stigma of "background music".  In the case of "SAW II" and "76:14", the music has entirely transcended passive listening, and in fact demonstrates a form and style that is profoundly engrossing and emotionally evocative.  This album is without a doubt a pinnacle of the downtempo genre, and one that was understandably difficult for Global Communication to follow up.

SONG OF THE DAY: Massacre - Legs (1981)

Massacre was the short-lived noise-rock/no-wave group featuring guitar virtuoso Fred Frith and perpetual bassman-for-hire Bill Laswell.  Frith had largely been involved in fusion and progressive rock circles, most notably with the Rock in Opposition groups Henry Cow and the lesser known Aksak Maboul.  Frith was collaborating and hanging out around Arto Lindsay and the rest of the New York no-wave scene during the 80s, and it shows; "Legs" sounds right at home with James Chance and the other unlikely funky-noise tendencies that were possessing the downtown jazz-punk scene at that time.  If Devo had more soul they might sound like this.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Diät - Positive Energy (2015)

Diät have honed in on a very specific mix of post-punk and deathrock that was perfected (and possibly invented) by Crisis and has hitherto never seen its equal.  It may be true that Warsaw laid the groundwork for this sound, but Crisis carved their own niche by injecting peace-punk with dark, minimalistic goth and post-punk riffs.  A few others have tried to recreate this satisfying concoction in recent years, but only Diät have succeeding in sounding genuine in their efforts.  The tones, pacing, and vocals on "Positive Energy" are just perfect, occasionally summoning early Christian Death during the more driving moments.  It may be obvious that Diät's influences were painstakingly researched, but for once, it paid off.

SONG OF THE DAY: Stereo - Nowhere in the Island (1985)

Stereo were an French synthpop group who only released one album and a few singles before disappearing into obscurity.  The tracks were finally unearthed by the Minimal Wave label for a proper compilation of their best material in the form of 2009's "Somewhere in the Night".  Like all great synthpop, Stereo has their roots in coldwave and the darker side of minimal synth music, striking a balance between detached electronic riffs and catchy vocal melodies.  "Nowhere in the Island" originally appeared on their 1985 album "Assembly Line", a track that features a haunted saxophone lead and just the right amount of synthpop-hook from this esoteric duo.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Kemialliset Ystävät - Kellari Juniversumi (2002)

The late 90s and early 2000s saw a sudden emergence of psychedelic folk from Finland, made up of bands Kiila and Es, and largely centered around Fonal Records.  Kemialliset Ystävät are the standout group from this scene, with their 2002 album "Kellari Juniversumi" serving as the centerpiece of their fascinating and enigmatic sound.  The group supplements their Comus-inspired free-folk with psychedelic electronics and drone, and yet maintains a physical and organic atmosphere.  The songs are short and don't waste much time before moving on to another theme, and the result brings to mind the psychedlic-ritual soundtrack work of Alejandro Jodorowsky.

SONG OF THE DAY: Todd Terje - Inspector Norse (2012)

"Inspector Norse" combines the best elements of deep house and Italo-disco (some call it "nu-disco"), and the sound succeeds at being both classic and relevant.  The Norwegian producer relies on relatively standard production, but what elevates this track (and any great deep house track) is simply the infectious melody; it's remarkable that someone hasn't already made this song.  Todd Terje has definitely gotten some mileage out of "Inspector Norse", releasing it as a single, on the "It's the Arps" EP, and on his his debut full-length, "It's Album Time".  Cosmically catchy and futuristically funky.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Ike Yard - Ike Yard (1982)

Ike Yard often gets the "no wave" label, but the debut album from this New York minimal synth group is essentially an EBM record; these tones, rhythms and beats have more in common with D.A.F. than James Chance or Mars.  In some ways Ike Yard slither through the same channels as early Swans, accenting their syncopated martial beats with abrupt bursts of noisy violence, commanded by a chilling voice that oscillates between shameful tenderness and frightening sexual authority.  A scary and arousing portrait of male hubris.

SONG OF THE DAY: Hieroglyphics - Oakland Blackouts (1998)

"3rd Eye Vision" was the first official release from Hieroglyphics, the West Coast "conscious" hip-hop collective founded by Del tha Funkee Homosapien.  Though the 1998 album was the first under the Hiero moniker, each member had already contributed to an extensive collective discography, producing and appearing on each other's albums since the early 90s (most notably Souls of Mischief's 1993 conscious manifesto, "93 'til Infinity").  "Oakland Blackouts" is a standout track featuring two of the group's strongest emcees, Del and Opio, who exchange highly dynamic verses that are threaded expertly into Opio's bouncy, high energy production.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Clark - Body Riddle (2006)

On "Body Riddle", Chris Clark secures his place among the forefathers of the IDM genre, undoubtedly recalling Warp's "big three" while successfully maintaining his own identity;  Autechre's urgent glitchiness, Squarepusher's acoustically sampled nu-jazz drum beats, and Richard D. James' enchanted melodies are all present here, yet "Body Riddle" most effectively establishes itself when taken as a whole.  The progression of these tracks enables the "growth" of its narrative in a lucid and profoundly immersive fashion, elevated by the impeccable production and vast scope of Clark's sonic landscape.  

SONG OF THE DAY: Ministry - I Wanted to Tell Her (1983)

Al Jourgensen may have disowned Ministry's synth-pop era, but tracks like "I Wanted to Tell Her" make "With Sympathy" an overlooked debut album.  Jourgensen displays his songwriting talents as well as his vocal abilities in this early period, before adopting an EBM sound for "Twitch" and eventually settling into his trademark mix of industrial and thrash metal.  Apart from appearing on "With Sympathy", "I Wanted to Tell Her" was also Ministry's second single, a funky and disco-inspired track that features soulful guest vocals from Shay Jones.  Here is proof that even Al's early tracks incorporate tough sounding beats and an aggressive vocal presence that foreshadows his work to come.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Voices From the Lake - Voices From the Lake (2012)

"Voices From the Lake" is the self-titled album from Italian producers Donato Dozzy and Neel, a duo who have produced one of most deep and oneiric ambient techno records in the history of the genre.  The textures on this album are dense and womb-inspired, each track bleeding seamlessly into the next; every time I listen to this album I find myself breaking the trance of what feels like one brilliant track only to discover that I'm half way though this masterpiece.  Submerged, aquatic ambient music with micro-nods to dub techno.

DOCUMENTARY: Harry Partch - The Outsider (2002)

I'll be out of town for a week, posting will resume when I get back.  In the meantime, enjoy this BBC documentary about Harry Partch:

And here is a link to website with emulations of some of the instruments developed and invented by Partch for his microtonal music:

http://musicmavericks.publicradio.org/features/feature_partch.html

SONG OF THE DAY: Chris & Cosey - Arcade (1987)

The demise of Throbbing Gristle engendered several projects, some of which were arguably as significant as T.G. in their range of influence and impact on electronic music.  Genesis P-Orridge and Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson went on to form Psychic TV, with Christopherson later forming Coil with his partner John Balance.  Coil would continue to explore industrial music until their transition to acid-house in the early 90s, but the remaining two members of T.G. quickly progressed into dance music.  Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti released "Exotica" in 1987, and songs like "Arcade" demonstrate their cold take on synthpop music that borders on EBM, with Cosey's erotic vocals swirling between post-industrial percussion and sharp, punchy synths.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Primal Scream - Sonic Flower Groove (1987)

Many have dismissed Primal Scream's debut as a second-tier Jesus & Mary Chain copy, before hitting their stride with the oft-praised 1991 opus, "Screamadelica".  True, singer Bobby Gillespie was the J&MC's drummer from 1984-1986, but upon closer inspection, his debut as vocalist on "Sonic Flower Groove" takes a lot less from the Velvet Underground and a lot more from the Byrds; in essence, the early phase of Primal Scream has more in common with the Church than the Jesus & Mary Chain.  Much like the Church's 1986 masterpiece "Heyday", "Sonic Flower Groove" is a satisfying blend of jangle-pop and neo-psychedlia that deserves a revisit by fans of the C86 and Paisley Underground sound.

SONG OF THE DAY: ロードスRhodes - Prysm

There is not much information to be found about ロードスRhodes other than the fact that they are part of the Sunrise Collective, a Baltimore based group focused on new and underground future-funk and vaporwave artists. ロードスRhodes makes high energy future-funk mixed with neu-disco, with a heavy influence from French House, the genre which was largely formed in the wake of Daft Punk's use of heavily filtered disco and funk samples.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Dam-Funk - Toeachizown (2009)

"Toeachizown" compiles 5 digitally released mini-albums from Dam-Funk (Damon G. Riddick), an L.A. producer whose back-to-basics approach has breathed new life into the synth-funk genre.  Despite clocking in at over two hours, this compilation sounds fresh from beginning to end, with a heavy dose of retro-synth sounds highlighted by Riddick's sometimes smooth, sometimes alien vocals.  There are no samples here; everything is played or sung by Dam-Funk himself, and the payoff is an incredibly cohesive take on Prince and Stevie Wonder, with an electro-edge and sonic palette reminiscent of the best days of Metroplex.  If you're looking for more, check out D-F's DJ mixes; this guy really knows his stuff.

SONG OF THE DAY: Hooverphonic - Plus Profond (1996)

Hooverphonic released only one album with vocalist Liesje Sadonius before beginning their tenure with Geike Arnaert, 1996's "A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular".  The Belgian group, originally called Hoover before changing their name, integrate dream-pop vocals with trip-hop beats, and the result is a delicate and unpretentious sound, often sultry and humbly sophisticated.  "Plus Profond" showcases the sweet vocal presence of Sadonius, who recalls Elizabeth Fraser's angelic pipes, despite lacking the unparalleled vocal range of the latter.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Grauzone - Die Sunrise Tapes (1998)

"Die Sunrise Tapes" is actually a reworked version of Grauzone's 1981 self-titled album, with a rearranged track order and a few songs added, most notably "Eisbär", their biggest and most accessible single.  The Swiss group play post-punk infused with minimal-wave, typical of the Neue Deutsche Welle sound and right at home with the Danes featured on the superb "Somewhere Outside" compilation, worth investigating if you're looking for more synth-heavy post-punk from Denmark.  Grazone offer a varied and multifaceted collection on "Die Sunrise Tapes", at times sounding as punky as early Joy Division and at others, akin to D.A.F. in their role as precursors to EBM and techno.

SONG OF THE DAY: Kuedo - Boundary Regulation (2015)

Kuedo (Jamie Teasdale) caught a lot of people's attention with the release of his 2011 album "Severant", which offered a unique blend of progressive electronic music and "footwork", a style that employs busy and often very dry drum machine sounds.  Kuedo has been known to feature prominent hi-hat sounds, resulting in beats that recall trap music and even chopped & screwed in their unnerving tempos and rudimentary production.  "Boundary Regulation" appears on "Assertion of a Surrounding Presence", an EP released by Kuedo in 2015 that further expands upon his dark, beat-based electronic music and succeeds in sounding both mystical and distinctly urban.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Urban Tribe - The Collapse of Modern Culture (1998)

Urban Tribe is the project of Detroit producer Sherard Ingram, who brought in an impressive ensemble for his debut, "The Collapse of Modern Culture".  The expansive album ranges from dub-techno to downtempo and deep-house, strengthened by contributions from Carl Craig, Kenny Dixon Jr. (Moodyman) and Anthony "Shake" Shakir, all of whom lend their distinctive flavor to the atmospheric tracks.  In many ways, Urban Tribe is a supergroup of second-wave Detroit techno icons, though the group's leader, Ingram, is probably the least-known of the bunch.

SONG OF THE DAY: Revolting Cocks - No Devotion (1986)

The sound of Revolting Cocks in 1986 was not a far cry from Ministry's sound at that time, with "Twitch" offering a comparable mix of EBM and post-industrial music fronted by Al Jourgensen's snarling vocals.  Ministry would soon begin to incorporate metal into their sound, but RevCo continued to serve as party band and tongue-in-cheek outlet for Jourgensen, exemplified on their debut album, "Big Sexy Land".  "No Devotion" is an intense track with a groovy bassline, world music samples, and double-tracked creepy vocals that bring to mind the paranoid industrial-funk of Cabaret Voltaire's mid-80s sound.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Airiel - Winks & Kisses (2004)

"Winks & Kisses" is a compilation of EPs from Airiel that were originally released as four separate CDs by Clairecords between 2003-2004.  An inordinate number of marginal shoegaze and dream-pop groups have surfaced in recent years, but Airiel are one of the most consistent groups to have remained relatively obscure.  This collection delivers track after track of tasteful and ethereal tunes that still sound fresh despite obvious influences; sonically, the group derives equal influence from the holy-trinity of shoegaze, evoking MBV's textures, Slowdive's dreamy post-rock climaxes, and Ride's Britpop-leaning vocal presence.

SONG OF THE DAY: Saint Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart (1990)

Saint Etienne released an unlikely cover of Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" as their first single in 1990, and the track also appeared on their debut album, "Foxbase Alpha".  The effortlessly light and lovely UK trio transformed this song into a bouncy indie-house track, a far cry from the dirgey ballad of the original.  Sarah Cracknell's sweet vocal melody mostly stays true to the original, but the dubby bassline and proto-triphop beats would engender several deep-house versions based on Saint Etienne's incorporation of "Balearic Beat", the Ibiza-inspired style of dance music that also infatuated New Order at the time.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Kode9 & The Spaceape - Memories of the Future (2006)

Hyperdub founder Kode9 collaborated with enigmatic dub-poet The Spaceape for "Memories of the Future", resulting in a record that, along with Burial's heart-wrenching early EPs, would lay the foundation for the Hyperdub sound.  Kode9 (Steve Goodman) provides a sparse, bass-heavy backdrop for the monotone poetry voiced by The Spaceape, who sounds like a dystopian replica of Linton Kwesi Johnson in his cool, ominous delivery.  "Memories of the Future" encompasses dubstep, dark ambient and beat poetry in its apocalyptic scope, a worthy soundtrack for a dark drive at night or a bedroom sojourn with a view of the sprawl.

SONG OF THE DAY: Jah Wobble - Today Is the First Day of the Rest of My Life (1980)

"Betrayal" is an apropos title for Jah Wobble's debut album; the infamous dub bassist "borrowed" several of the tracks from Public Image Ltd's "Metal Box" album for his solo project, a betrayal which allegedly caused a rift between he and John Lydon, resulting in Wobble's departure from the group.  In his defense, Jah Wobble both played and wrote the basslines and arguably laid the foundation for PIL's early sound along with Keith Levine, and tracks like "Today Is the First Day..." demonstrate his masterful blend of dub and post-punk .  But alas, the circle of betrayal brought things back around when Flipper stole the bassline of this track for their classic "Sex Bomb" one year later.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Jan Jelinek - Loop-Finding-Jazz-Records (2001)

What makes "Loop-Finding-Jazz-Records" so remarkable is the fact that Jan Jelinek created the album entirely from jazz samples, a technique that could account for the warm, organic palette of this uniquely hypnotic record.  Jelinek uses samples of piano, organ, and strings, layered with glitchy pops to create an ambient "techno" record that barely qualifies as such, as far as traditional "beats" are concerned; these gentle taps add just enough structure to this delicate and patient album that gorgeously unfolds upon each listen.

RARE PUNK SINGLE OF THE WEEK: Gasoline - Killer Man / Radio Flic (1977)

French punk group Gasoline are most known for appearing on "Killed By Death #1" with "Killer Man", the blistering ripper which also served as the A-side for their intense 1977 EP.  The band released only one other single before their breakup, the bizarre "Sally", which sounds like it wasn't even recorded on the same planet, let alone the same year, as Gasoline's debut.  But before the noisy, freakish glam of "Sally", Gasoline solidified their place as the bad boys of lo-fi French punk with these two relentless cuts.

SONG OF THE DAY: A Certain Ratio - Shack Up (1980)

A Certain Ratio thankfully answer the question, "What would it sound like if Ian Curtis sang for a funk band?" What we have here is a cover of the 1975 funk track "Shack Up", originally recorded by Banbarra, a short-lived group from the states.  A Certain Ratio, one of the first bands on Factory Records, began their career aping label-mates Joy Division, but quickly developed their own style, equal parts dancey post-punk and white-boy funk.  "Shack Up" was a hit at the Haçienda and beyond, providing a lot of sample-worthy material despite Jez Kerr's icy-cold and detached vocal presence.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Oppenheimer Analysis - New Mexico (1982)

"New Mexico" is a true gem of the minimal-wave genre, one that might have been doomed to obscurity had it not been for a recent reissue by Minimal Wave Records in 2015.  Oppenheimer Analysis released their one and only cassette in 1982, a melancholy album that is elevated from its own bleak depths by the angelic voice of Andie Oppenheimer, who presents his man-underground, future-shock vision with an unmatched tenderness.  The catchier tunes like "Don't Be Seen With Me" are perfectly juxtaposed with the slower, deeply emotional and crestfallen songs like "Modern Wonder" and the sombre title track, "New Mexico".

SONG OF THE DAY: SPK - Breathless (1987)

Australian group SPK underwent several profound changes throughout their career, evolving from harsh, noisy industrial music (Auto-da-fé) into ritual-ambient and neo-classical (Zamia Lehmanni).  But between these two distinct eras, the group took a sudden excursion into synth-pop for "Machine Age Voodoo" and the singles surrounding it, which feature SPK leader Graeme Revell's wife Sinan Leong as vocalist.  This era was largely rejected by both fans and critics alike, and thus resulted in Revell taking SPK into even more obscure territory than before the diversion.  Nevertheless, singles like "Breathless" are incredible examples of the magic that can happen when pop music is made by those who cut their teeth on industrial and post-punk.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Forest Swords - Engravings (2013)

Tri Angle Records has harnessed a definitive vibe that permeates all of their artists, an atmosphere of spectral eeriness that transcends each release and in turn contributes to a cohesive catalog that succeeds in translating a specific vision.  After initially expanding on the witch-house genre, Tri Angle has widened its scope to include many unique and esoteric artists on its roster, including Forest Swords, the alias of UK producer Matthew Barnes.  Barnes released his debut full-length album "Engravings" in 2013 after two well received EPs, and the long-play format has lent itself well to his haunting mix of dark ambient, mystical world-music and ambient-dub.  This record has as distinct "forest" vibe, in the same way that Bo Hansson and certain black metal records can capture the essence of the magical and malevolent woods; it also manages to incorporate many different world music themes, pulling influence from Celtic, Arabic, South American, and Eastern music, all of which are blended effortlessly into the enigmatic tapestry that is "Engravings".  

SONG OF THE DAY: Kirk Degiorgio - Track Ten (2004)

UK producer Kirk Degiorgio reworked "Track Ten" for "Back To Basics (Part 1)", a 12" single released by Detroit Techno godfather Juan Atkins.  The title reflects a return to form for Atkins, who reemerged after a relatively inactive period during the early 2000s.  While the A-side, featuring the original version, is a stellar blend of Detroit techno and electro, the B-side finds Degiorgio taking the track to its full potential.  Structurally similar, the rework has a crispier production compared to Atkins's lo-fi palette, and the result brings "Track Ten" into IDM territory; this sounds like it could be an early track from Plaid or even something off of "Selected Ambient Works".

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Cheena - Spend the Night With... (2016)

Cheena have created one of the most exciting guitar-centric albums in a long time, managing to incorporate a refreshing dose of slide guitar into their snotty, glammy brand of country-punk.  "Spend the Night With..." immediately brings to mind some influences, though whether or not Cheena were actively pulling from these sources is another story.  The album stomps along with the grinding punk-blues of feedtime, the weird-western twang of Country Teasers, and the morbid flamboyancy of Christian Death.  The band seamlessly fuses this sound with a glam-punk strut, topped off with Walker Behl's snarling mutant-vocals that recall the best howls of Stick Men With Ray Guns' Bobby Soxx.  Like all great power-pop, Cheena present their tunes in a way that make you wonder if these incredibly catchy hooks were conceived accidentally; or maybe they've somehow succeeded in redefining "hooks" by presenting ones that are both infectious and unsettling.

RARE PUNK SINGLE OF THE WEEK: Cheetah Chrome Motherfuckers - 400 Fascists (1981)

Cheetah Chrome Motherfuckers were probably Italy's first hardcore band, and like their early 80s American counterparts, they did it sloppy, fast, and without much thought.  They way it should be.  "400 Fascists" is part Void, part Germs, and thoroughly vile throughout.  The lo-fi production and choppy beats must have been an influence on modern NYC mutant-punk; CCM sound as urgent as Crazy Spirit and as belligerently primitive as Dawn of Humans.  Their follow up, "Furious Party", is a slightly more polished piece of mysterious-guy hardcore, but this debut EP is dripping with the the kind of energy that has only recently resurfaced in the form of Toxic State Records.

SONG OF THE DAY: Mr. Fingers - Can You Feel It (1986)

"Can You Feel It" is one of the first and still one of the best deep-house tracks ever recorded, released in 1986 by Mr. Fingers (Larry Heard) on the "Washing Machine" EP.  Everything about this goosebumps-inducing track is exemplary of the Chicago deep-house sound, with layer upon layer of dry beats that build and subtract to the point of ecstasy; there is just something about this one that can't be denied, it takes you to places and demands that you groove.  You have no choice.  My God, that snare drum!

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Front 242 - Geography (1982)

Front 242 coined the term "electronic body music" with the release of their vastly influential 1982 debut, "Geography", though the term was technically first used by Kraftwerk in the late 70s.  "EBM" was popularized on a larger scale by the Belgians as a proper descriptor for their mix of industrial and Kraftwerk-inspired minimal-synth.  "Geography" takes the tones of post-industrial and organizes them into danceable, beat-driven and structured songs that border on synth-pop, while maintaining a cold and alienated essence.  Front 242 never matched the brilliance of their debut, but nonetheless continue to inspire hordes of imitators.

SONG OF THE DAY: The Urinals - Hologram (1978)

"Hologram" is the second cut on The Urinals' debut "Dead Flowers" EP, a 7" dose of lo-fi weirdo perfection.  The drums are sloppy, the bass is barely in tune, and the vocals sound like they were recorded in one desperate take.  "Hologram" has to be one of the most demented sounding "punk" songs out there, mostly because it feels like it's ready to fall apart at any moment.  Could this (accidentally) be the first black metal song?  The angular and dissonant chords are practically overshadowed by the creepy baby-monitor vocals, which have this to say:

I said I needed you 

You said you needed me 

Mutual selfish desire 

I had a hologram 

Now that it's all over

I rarely see you any longer

I plug myself in

I am a hologram

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Immune - Night Visions (2014)

"Night Visions" is another incredible release from the Dream Catalogue label, which after an overflow of forward-thinking releases in 2014, has seen the trend has shift from plunderphonic-based vaporwave to dark, ambient techno and trap music.  Immune has created a noisy, somnambulant album with "Night Visions", and tracks like "Dystopian Love Poem" incorporate the kind of pitch-shifted trap vocal samples that invoke a hazy, urban feel into a genre that has typically opted for the cyber-Japan aesthetic.  Compared to Immune's 2016 release "Breathless", this is a busier album that moves more quickly than the slow-simmer of the former, but it nevertheless succeeds in executing its arcane concept of a spectral neon city at night.

SONG OF THE DAY: John Leyton - Johnny Remember Me (1961)

The tragic story of British producer Joe Meek begins with a promising string of hits including the oft-covered space-age classic, "Telstar".  But a few bad decisions early on, including a dismissal and thus lost opportunity to work with the Beatles and David Bowie, resulted in a forlorn and depressed life that was only magnified by drug use and paranoia.  Joe Meek was convinced that Buddy Holly and others were communicating with him from beyond the grave, and that Decca Records had planted hidden microphones in his apartment in order to steal ideas.  The madness culminated in the murder of his landlady with a shotgun, before taking his own life, marking a morbid end for a producer who equalled Phil Spector in his misguided brilliance.  "Johnny Remember Me" was produced by Joe Meek, featuring a powerful vocal performance from British actor John Leyton, a haunting track that is illustrative of Meek's trademark ghostly wall of sound.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Chakra - Satekoso (1981)

This is a bizarre and multi-faceted album from Japanese art-pop group Chakra, a bubbly and complex work that brings to mind fellow Japanese new-wavers Yellow Magic Orchestra.  But while YMO pulled most of their influence from Roxy Music and Ultravox, it's not so clear where Chakra derived the basis of their sound; as a whole this is profoundly alien-sounding.  Mishio Ogawa's vocals exist in the same cartoon-thespian realm as Kate Bush and Björk (also aliens), at times sounding "cute", and at others, sufficiently demented.  Each listen will reveal something new from "Satekoso"; don't be fooled by its jubilant exterior, there is a much to be discovered here.

SONG OF THE DAY: Andy Stott - New Romantic (2016)

Andy Stott has managed to stay ahead of the pack, constantly reinventing himself in an era that has proven to be quick to judge an artist's new work as "disappointing" or "dated".  Since his emergence in the mid-2000s, Stott has consistently been an innovator and driving force in electronic music, developing a number of styles that have been labeled "UK bass", "microhouse", "post-r&b", etc.  "Too Many Voices" was released in April 2016, and may be the UK producer's most accessible work to date, and his strongest work since 2012's "Luxury Problems".  "New Romantic" demonstrates Stott's recent progression from sparse, brooding and atmospheric r&b into a more urban sound, with a fat and dirty bassline accented with crispy, sparkling synths.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Essential Logic - Beat Rhythm News (1979)

Saxophone has managed to lend itself surprisingly well to post-punk, and it served as the focus for Lora Logic's post X-Ray Spex band, Essential Logic.  "Beat Rhythm News" was the only full-length album released by this rambunctious sounding group of musicians that straddle the line somewhere between The Cravats, Pere Ubu, and The Slits.  Lora Logic's vocal presence is far less irritating than the ear-piercing shrieks of X-Ray Spex's Poly Styrene, opting for a range more aligned with the powerful and creepy croon of Siouxsie Sioux or Ari Up.  There are a lot of layers to "Beat Rhythm News", making room for dark and artful moments that are expertly juxtaposed with the hyper-active danceable zaniness. 

SONG OF THE DAY: Robert Wyatt - Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road (1974)

The prolific career of Soft Machine drummer and Canterbury Scene stalwart Robert Wyatt could have come to an end following an accident that left him paralyzed and in a wheelchair; inebriated at a party, Wyatt fell from a 4th floor window, leaving him without the use of his legs and in a state of depression.  One year later, the mad genius reinvented himself with "Rock Bottom", a genre-defying album that moves away from the boisterous art-rock and jazz fusion of Soft Machine for what is ultimately the pinnacle of an already fantastic discography.  "Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road" is an intimate and tragic track, with droning trumpets, gorgeous and revealing vocals, and most impressively, a percussive performance by Wyatt that is done entirely without the use of his feet.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Hyetal - Broadcast (2011)

"Purple Sound" emerged as an offshoot of dubstep in the late 2000s, incorporating influences from 80s synth-funk and grime.  The genre is generally less-glitchy and "wobbly" than dubstep, opting for a retro vibe that still relies on the dark and moody beats common to future-garage.  Bristol producer Hyetal released "Broadcast" in 2011, an album that sounds like 16-bit music that's been intensified for the club, with sparse but effective vocals and even fewer vocal samples that add just enough funk to this hazy and mysterious record.

RARE PUNK SINGLE OF THE WEEK: Geza X - We Need More Power (1981)

Quote from Geza X's "Power Pal" club:

Learn telepathy!  Learn how to bend reality!

Here's how you become Geza X's personal "Power Pal"......

Finally it's happened!!!

Today you can join the ranks of a club with secret information so powerful it will bend reality!!

How would you like to help Geza X unlock the secrets of time and space??

Sounds Crazy?  You bet!!

But it will be done, and only you can help, by becoming his personal "Power Pal".

Help Geza X take over the world, with your telepathic mental energy.

Learn how to unleash this awesome new force.

The future begins now - Don't miss it!!!

Join the Geza X official "Power Pal" club today, while reality is still intact!!

SONG OF THE DAY: I-F - Space Invaders Are Smoking Grass (1997)

I-F stands for Interr-Ference, which is, along with The Parallax Corporation, one of several appellations adopted by Dutch producer Ferenc E. van der Sluijs.  I-F blew open the doors of "electroclash" with the release of "Space Invaders Are Smoking Grass", reinventing a sound that combined electro with modern heavy-techno influences.  The style employs throbbing beats and basslines, trashy and often low-quality synth patches and tones, and often vocoder-treated vocals such as those used by I-F for this definitive track.  "Space Invaders Are Smoking Grass" was initially released as a 12" EP, and also appears on I-F's debut full-length, "Fucking Consumer".

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Alison's Halo - Eyedazzler 1992-1996 (1997)

Arizona in the early 90s might seem like an unlikely setting for a thriving shoegaze scene, but it turns out that a series of "Beautiful Noise" festivals featured an abundance of worthy groups that have largely fallen under the radar.  Perhaps the most tragically overlooked of these is Alison's Halo, whose limited discography likely accounts for their obscurity.  "Eyedazzler 1992-1996" compiles most of their EPs, cassettes, and random tracks recorded during that period, a collection that starts off sounding like the riff-based alt-rock leaning shoegaze of bands like Catherine Wheel and Ride, but quickly evolves into a dream-pop sound that definitely took a few cues from Slowdive.  Singer Catherine Cooper brings a strong presence to Alison's Halo, with a sweet vocal style not unlike Hope Sandoval's dark-but-innocent essence.

SONG OF THE DAY: Cybtotron - Alleys of Your Mind (1981)

"Alleys of Your Mind" was the first single released by Cybotron, the collaborative project of Detroit techno legends Juan Atkins and Richard Davis.  Upon its release, the Detroit scene was largely consumed with electro, hip hop, and disco, but the Metroplex sound would quickly move things into the techno world.  Atkins and company took the funky grooves of disco and merged them with the dark, robotic elements of Kraftwerk, and the "proto-techno" that resulted bears striking resemblance to a lot of the "new beat" and minimal wave happening at that time.  There is much debate about whether "Alleys of Your Mind" or A Number of Names' "Sharevari" was the first techno track, both having been released in 1981.  Regardless, this track is dark, groovy, and a milestone for electronic music.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Loscil - Plume (2006)

Vancouver ambient artist Scott Morgan has made consistently great albums as Loscil, sculpting some of the most penetrating and transformative minimal music of the last two decades.  Morgan's day job is work as a sound director in the video game industry, which could account for his incredibly forbearing and restrained approach to albums such as "Plume", which was released by Kranky in 2006.  Minimal droning melodies are gently accented by inconspicuous beats, provided by washed-out static pattering and soft xylophones.  Loscil cunningly presents his work as background music, until, without notice, one finds that they are enchanted and fully committed to the experience that is "Plume".

SONG OF THE DAY: Roedelius - In Liebe Dein (1979)

Hans-Joachim Roedelius was a member of of Cluster and Harmonia, both of which, along with his career-spanning partner Dieter Moebius, were pioneering groups of the ambient music genre.  The Cluster/Harmonia style was considered part of the Düsseldorf School of electronic music, a sound developed from Kraftwerk's rhythmic tendencies as opposed to the darker, spacier sound of the Berlin School, which revolved around Klaus Schulze, Manuel Gottsching and Tangerine Dream.  Roedelius stepped out on his own several times, most notably on 1979's "Selbstportrait", an introspective ambient record that largely features minimal pieces performed by an artist who would go on to influence techno, hip hop, industrial, and countless other genres.  "In Liebe Dein" is a lonely, sentimental track that sets the mood for this deeply personal album.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Sensations' Fix - Finest Finger (1976)

Italian progressive/space-rock group Sensations' Fix began as a predominantly electronic outfit, led by prog-guitar legend Franco Falsini.  The band's blend of psychedelic instrumental passages and experimental rock would have earned them them a Krautrock label had the group been from Germany, and many consider Sensations' Fix to be Italy's version of Pink Floyd or King Crimson.  While their debut "Fragments of Light" is often regarded as their strongest effort, 1976's "Finest Finger" finds Falsini dialing his songwriting for what proves to be his most cohesive album, and his most successful attempt at vocals after his first string of three mostly-instrumental albums, all of which were released in 1974.  "Finest Finger" is a far-out record that borders on proto-metal, not unlike the heavy space-rock of Hawkwind and Krautrock greats Amun Düül II.

SONG OF THE DAY: Curve - Clipped (1991)

"Clipped" originally appeared on the "Cherry" EP, but was eventually included as a bonus track on the North American versions of Curve's 1992 stunning debut, "Doppelgänger".  This track is a perfect representation of Curve's dynamic sound, which takes the aural landscape of My Bloody Valentine into overdrive by incorporating trip-hop beats and heavy basslines provided by the brilliant and elusive Dean Garcia.  But the real star of Curve is Toni Halliday, whose dark and powerful vocals resonate with the same goosebump-inducing passion as Garbage's Shirley Manson and even Madonna during her "Erotica" era.  Curve hit harder than any of their shoegaze contemporaries, and "Clipped" is a chilling track suitable for both bedroom and dancefloor.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Richard H. Kirk - Virtual State (1994)

Richard H. Kirk released a number of solo albums parallel to his work with Cabaret Voltaire, but it was 1994's Warp Records release "Virtual State" that saw Kirk reach his creative peak apart from his partnership with Stephen Mallinder and The Cabs.  This album presents a varied and intricate mix of tribal-techno, ambient and IDM, a sound that brings to mind the recent work of Blondes in its ability to merge world music samples with electronic beats.  "Virtual State" starts off slow but eventually hits its stride with a cluster of hypnotic tracks, embellished by Kirk's future-shock aesthetic, in what amounts to an outsider techno album that is still eons ahead of its time.

RARE PUNK SINGLE OF THE WEEK: Negative Trend - Negative Trend (1978)

Negative Trend's only release is a furious 4-song EP of raw and raunchy punk with a dose of pub-rock that brings to mind T.S.O.L. during their sleazy "Revenge" era.  This is also reminiscent of a tougher version of Gun Club's brand of punk-country-blues, with a darker and more masculine vocal presence as opposed to Jeffrey Lee Pierce's flamboyant wailing.  Negative Trend most notably spawned San Francisco noise-punk group Flipper, but before disbanding managed to pump out this nihilistic classic.

SONG OF THE DAY: The Art of Noise / PFM - Opus 4 (1996)

"Opus 4" originally appeared on The Art of Noise's 1986 album "In Visible Silence", and was remixed by PFM (Progressive Future Music) for "The Drum and Bass Collection", a compilation that features some remarkable interpretations.  While The Art of Noise's highly influential career has provided an abundance of sample-worthy material for such a project, PFM's version of "Opus 4" is barely discernible from the original.  This remix is typical of the "atmospheric drum and bass" genre, with slower beats compared to those typically found in traditional drum and bass or jungle, and a focus on ambient and downtempo melodic aspects that make for a deep and opulent track.  

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Alain Goraguer - La Planète Sauvage (1973)

Alain Goraguer is mostly known as the composer and arranger who provides the mysterious psychedelic backdrop for the notoriously pompous yet brilliant French singer Serge Gainsbourg.  One of Goraguer's lesser known contributions is the soundtrack for the 1973 animated cult film "La Planète Sauvage", a bizarre acid-cartoon about a planet where humans either live in the wild or are kept as pets by gigantic blue beings that communicate telepathically by means of deep meditation and astral projection.  The surrealistic nature of the film is heightened by the apropos soundtrack provided by Alain Goraguer, an eerie psych-funk score that includes several variations on the title theme, and even borders on no-wave during some of the more driving sections (see: "Mort de Draag" for a riff that sounds uncannily like Sonic Youth).

SONG OF THE DAY: Marsen Jules - La Digitale Pourpre (2006)

Marsen Jules brings neo-classical music into an ambient context, executed with a certain beauty that has consistently made him a stand out on the Kompakt "Pop Ambient" series of compilations.  The electronic artist and composer made his mark with 2005's "Herbstlaub", a minimal ambient album that demonstrated his ability at crafting eloquent, droning pieces.  "Les Fleurs" followed in 2006, with a similar feel accentuated by an overall more organic palette; the sounds here are so lush and three-dimensional that one cannot help but be swept away into the private worlds that Marsen Jules has created for us.  "La Digitale Pourpre" is a gorgeous track that exceedingly summons such a vision.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: The Goslings - Grandeur of Hair (2006)

Imagine if Japanese heavy-psychers Mainliner decided to make a shoegaze album.  Or better yet, if Les Rallizes Dénudés put Grouper on vocals for a collaborative doom-garage project.  The Goslings encapsulate all of this and more on their 2006 album "Grandeur of Hair", having carved out a niche entirely their own, with a sound that can trace its roots back to My Bloody Valentine's droning dreaminess while falling just short of being categorized as harsh noise.  Buried beneath the abrasive production you'll find some surprising garage-strut grooves which, cunningly inserted between the droning passages, practically breach White Stripes territory.

SONG OF THE DAY: Front Line Assembly - Iceolate (1990)

Front Line Assembly was formed in the mid 80s after Bill Leeb left Vancouver EBM legends Skinny Puppy to start his own project.  FLA went through numerous stylistic changes over the years, most of which unfortunately could not match their creative peak from 1989-1992.  During this period, the group released three of their most crucial albums, "Gashed Senses & Crossfire" (1989), "Caustic Grip" (1990), and "Tactical Neural Implant" (1992).  While "Tactical Neural Implant" is widely regarded as their best, the hard hitting "Caustic Grip" is where Front Line Assembly manages to catch up to and possibly even equal Skinny Puppy.  "Iceolate" appears on "Caustic Grip" and was also released as an extended 12" single, an aggressive mix of industrial, electro, and cyberpunk aesthetic that can appeal to the metal crowd without being as heavy-handed as Ministry in the process.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Vatican Shadow - Remember Your Black Day (2013)

Vatican Shadow is the culmination of the prolific output of Dominick Fernow, the Hospital Records mastermind who is most known under his Prurient moniker.  His vast breadth of his releases have progressed from harsh noise and power electronics to industrial, black metal, and in recent years, minimal techno.  "Remember Your Black Day" finds Fernow fully realizing the aura of his Vatican Shadow project, with a sound that injects industrial techno with militaristic and religious themes, the result of which sounds like it could have been the soundtrack to a more haunting version of Contra.  Pulsing industrial beats are layered with detached ambient textures and black metal melodies, invoking images of helicopters and gunfire amidst temple ruins.

RARE PUNK SINGLE OF THE WEEK: Bags - Survive / Babylonian Gorgon (1978)

The B-side to this single by The Bags, their only release apart from their contribution to the "Yes L.A." compilation, is one of the most powerful, ferocious and relentless cuts of hair-raising punk I have ever heard in my life.  "Survive" is a great tune that features a blood-curdling scream from wild frontwoman Alice Bag, but it pales in comparison next to "Babylonian Gorgon".  All in all an incredible single that was essentially hardcore punk before that term existed, with some intensely dark and antagonistic lyrics:

"Don't need no false reasons for why I'm out of place,

I don't goose step for the master race.

I don't scream and twist just for the fun of it,

I have poison blood when I'm pissed."

Wow.

SONG OF THE DAY: Strawberry Switchblade - 10 James Orr Street (1985)

Some might see a disconnect between Strawberry Switchblade's image and their sound, but this dynamic is in fact what makes the synth-pop duo stand out from the hordes of bubblegum new wavers that over-saturated the 80s.   The duo, consisting of Jill Bryson and Rose McDowall, released their one and only self-titled album in 1985, one that has become a cult classic in both new wave and goth circles.  "10 James Orr Street" is one of the darker tracks off of "Strawberry Switchblade", a delicate, mid-paced song that sounds less like twee-pop and more along the lines of Lush's melancholic dream pop.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Twice A Man - From A Northern Shore (1984)

Swedish darkwave/synth-pop group Twice A Man were one of the first minimal synth acts from their country, forming in 1981 out of the electro-punk group Cosmic Overdose.  They are still active today, after transitioning into a more ambient sound in the 90s, which ultimately resulted in the trio's involvement in soundtrack work.  "From A Northern Shore" was released in 1984, a deeply evocative record that benefits greatly from its pristine production; this isn't lo-fi minimal-wave, but rather sounds as polished as Depeche Mode during their "Music for the Masses" era.  And like Depeche Mode during that period, Twice A Man uses a little to accomplish a lot.  This album has a vast amount of space, leaving plenty of room between the glistening synths for punchy basslines and dark, bending guitars.

SONG OF THE DAY: Peter Van Hoesen - Dystopian Romance (2010)

Belgian producer Peter Van Hoesen slowed things down a bit for his 2010 album "Entropic City", a magnum opus which followed the string of well-received EPs and 12" singles that had already earned the techno artist a lot of attention.  This album takes you places, and as Resident Advisor points out, the techno genre has always lent itself to the shorter 12" format, and not since Shed's 2008 masterpiece "Shedding the Past" has a full-length techno album been so immersive.  "Dystopian Romance" is one of the more conspicuous tracks, one that stands out as energetic amidst the album's more subtle moments of minimal and dub techno.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: feedtime - feedtime (1985)

This is an incredible dumb-genius album from the group often described as "Australia's Flipper", a lazy comparison that might actually be doing a disservice to feedtime.  True, the group does exist in the same muddy, detuned landscape as bands like Flipper and Drunks With Guns, but the trio from Sydney offer a brand of noise-blues and gloom-rock that triumphs in its raw simplicity.  At a first glance, feedtime's 1985 self-titled debut kicks off with an obvious appeal, thick and romping along with grinding guitars and pounding drums, sounding like revved-up desert pub-rock made my drunken post-punks.  But the buzzsaw chaos gives way to unforeseen gloomy moments that inject some genuine and profound substance into this album despite all its snarling rottenness.