I created the FRAGMENTS column for the summer months when there tends to be less movement with new releases. However, I would like to highlight some notable new records this summer row. These are the records that I’ve played on the radio and that we enjoy featuring in WL//WH Music Webzine. It is our responsibility to mention these artists who send us their new works, as they have produced some excellent recordings.
- KOCAZE – “D’Or & de Sang” EP [Dune Altar]
On July 11, KOCAZE from Liège, Belgium, released their brand-new long-play album, D’Or & de Sang, which contains 6 new and ideally adventurous pieces in the spectrum of doomgaze (somehow). This album is a musical marvel and an amalgam of many things that are all arranged (orchestrated) with unique talent and incredible musicianship – throughout. Upon my first listen to the album, I realized it would be one of my favorites of the year. As time goes on, my opinion has only strengthened. While there are many other amazing albums, each time I listen to their music, it becomes clearer, better, and more complete in every aspect of their artistic existence.
“unexpected collision between two creatively opposite artists. Where Elsa leans on classical training and theory, Olivier moves by instinct and is unbound by convention. Their contrasting forces merge in tension and harmony, crafting haunting compositions that feel both intimate and immense.”
- BEIGE BANQUET– “Ornamental Hermit” LP [Just Step Sideways Records]
The madness this spring came from London with a crazy album by a “looney” band! On March 13, Beige Banquet (punk quintet, London) released their sophomore explorations in their brand new Ornamental Hermit LP through Just Step Sideways (DIY label). Loud and clear, this album is a killer on many levels as it features ten new songs created by a band that sounds seemingly punk…and the “issue” starts here. In these 10 songs, you will embark on various adventures and explore diverse landscapes, reminiscent of your neighbourhood “book” in both the past and present. Each song offers a fresh experience and often combines elements that may seem incompatible at first ear-glance. Punk meets post-punk meets no wave meets krautrock meets art-punk…all these on the stellar perspectives of the band on the new ways of punk music. I am simply amazed!
“Beige Banquet are a London-based five-piece playing a bleak yet high-powered style of dark punk. Underpinned by a propulsive and motorik rhythm section, they combine robotic and percussive vocal deliveries with industrial textures and abrasive guitars to create frantic and driving sound”…open a beer/ press play!!!
- BLACK RAIN – “Black Rain” LP [Self-Released]
From Sunderland (UK) comes Black Rain with their debut S/T LP (July 14) that is fully armed with 9 intense, killer songs in the likes of gothic rock…punk music. “Too goth to be punk/ Too punk to be goth”, they say, and all this leads them occasionally to deathrock. Loud music, raw sound (good sound by the way), the passion, the fury, and with a strong will towards the Batcaves of the world. Half of the album is recorded in the studio, while the tracks from 6 to 9 are recorded live @ The Bunker (good recording), and the result nailed me; when you have great material and are part of a talented band, the outcome is always sensational, whether in the studio or on stage. With Black Rain, the energy is like dynamite that only needs a little spark to explode. I’m considering sending them a letter suggesting that they only record live, yeah.
“Black Rain exists in the space between the aggressive raw energy of punk and the brooding dark intensity of goth. Too Goth to be Punk. Too Punk to be Goth. They are the sound of the outsiders, a sonic storm of raw energy, brooding atmosphere and razor-sharp intensity.”
- DEATHFAUNA– “This Dream is a Nightmare” LP [Self-Released]
On July 8, DeathFauna (L.A.) released their new work as they cast their new spell, which is the new old sound of the darkwave in the album This Dream is a Nightmare. The album is instrumental, which seems fitting given its themes of legends, “landscapes”, and manifestos. It features impressive darkwave music that captivates listeners with its haunting melodies and myriad shadows, revealing wonders that resonate with the senses. Even without lyrics, the music invites a dialogue, allowing listeners to connect deeply with their emotions. This isn’t just a remarkable album; it’s a necessary one.
- GOD IN A BLACK SUIT – “Thresholds” LP [Self-Released]
On May 16, God In A Black Suit (Matera, Italy) self-released their brand new, and very ambitious, Thresholds LP. The album features 13 new tracks that are firmly rooted in post-punk, infused with a deep appreciation for new wave, and enriched by some delightful touches of indie rock. With these 13 songs, God In A Black Suit aims to make a strong statement with their music, and they succeed. It is a well-crafted album, showcasing professional playing and production that clearly reflect a sense of purpose and emotion. It’s rare for such a large album to avoid feeling tiresome, but this Italian band seems to be in an exceptional creative moment.
“The album explores, in a personal and deeply felt way, the theme of inner growth: a path that involves crossing a series of emotional thresholds.”
I’ll see you again soon in the summer in the Fragments Vol. 7.
