On their new album Red Mecca, a duo from Northern Sweden, successfully blend darkwave, post-punk, synthpop, and cinematic electronica. But it was far from certain that this album would see the light of day. Vocalist Susanne Jonsson’s sister was murdered, her relationship crashed and Jan Strandqvist fell back into drug and alcohol abuse. Release Magazine editor-in-chief Mikael Kahrle asked the creative duo about their painful journey, their genres and influences – ranging from Tubeway Army, Joy Division and Cabaret Voltaire to Massive Attack, why the former vocalist Frida Madeleine left and and receiving some remarkably honest and interesting answers. [more...]
Last year, Canada’s Artoffact Records signed Portion Control and plans to release new music and reissue the back catalogue as a series of remastered box sets with unreleased tracks included. This legendary British band influenced Depeche Mode, Nitzer Ebb, Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, Nine Inch Nails and Orbital, to name but a few [more...]
As you probably know, Dave Ball from Soft Cell and The Grid died at the age of 66 last year, in 2025. Dave and Soft Cell vocalist Marc Almond had been working on new material right before he passed away, and those songs are now getting a release. Apparently the album was finished two days before Dave’s passing.
Coloured Tears has just released not one, but two Twice a Man cover albums that are praised by the electronic and darkwave pioneers themselves. [more...]