SEATTLE-BASED DARK ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC DJ
BEST OF 2023
GOTH, POSTPUNK & DARKWAVE
Black Angel
Lascivious
This was one of the more surprising releases that came through my inbox this year. The fifth studio album from UK goth rockers Black Angel blends modern darkwave and rock with classic deathrock and second-wave goth sounds that would hold its own against the usual suspects like Siouxsie, The Sisters/Mission UK, and early Gene Loves Jezebel (in fact, you could compare Corey Landis' vocals to the likes of either Wayne Hussey or Jay Aston). It even gets a little bluesy with "Bite It". "The Last Dance" was one of my overall favourites and has ended up in a few sets (including my latest Darkside EVT set on Mixcloud), which is uncharacteristic of a final track of an album. It's a solid goth rock release that plays to the old tropes while doing something new at the same time.
House of Harm
Playground
This one had another classic sound while still sounding like a breath of fresh air in a scene devoid of it for so long, presenting a new take upon the sound of late 80's/early 90's alternative guitar sounds and a 4AD-esque swirling atmospheric sound design all while each sound still stands well on its own rather than be drowned out by each other. They even worked a little 6/8 action into the middle of the record with "The Face of Grace", which explored a different dynamic while still remining true to the overall vibe, A must for fans of bands like Echo & The Bunnymen and "Disintegration"-era Cure (a quality that's really apparent in the first track "Before The Line").
Male Tears
Krypt
LA's dark electro-pop duo Male Tears have been everywhere, especially all over the internet. Riding the wave of the local darkwave scene's renaissance age and the European influences in which they grew up listening, their sophomore LP Krypt combines the old "new romantic" sound of the 80's and adapts them through the modern synthetic body music movement in a sea of crushed velvet, leather, and lots and lots of black eyeliner. This eight song LP has more hooks than a fisherman's front pocket, and the diverse influences of the duo (from Twitch-era Ministry to Lady Gaga and even Prince) reflect what you hear on this record. It comes out as eccentric and shameless as the duo's personality and TikTok presence, and that is a good thing.
Ringfinger
In A Black Frame
In this Best of 2023 category I've described a release as "Disintegration-era" Cure, and now I get to describe one as more "Pornography-era" as well. I've been hearing Bruce and Alex at I Die: You Die wax poetic about Ringfinger for a while now, as they had been an up and coming artist from the Vancouver BC scene that has played Verboden and other events. Now that I had a chance to listen to their debut LP In A Black Frame, I can see why. While I had only been following them for a short time, I did get to listen to a couple of their previous EPs Echos Fade and Out of Bones, and this LP shows me that this duo are seriously evolving. You can hear "An Apparition" in my Darkside EVT Mix, and "Familiar Placement" gets my spiderwebs cleared on the dancefloor...while at the same time you get some "swaying" and haunting grooves in "The Veil of Night" and "Behind The Web Of Ice" as well. Keep an eye on this band...and I can't wait to check them out at SINTH this February in Portland.
Snowbeasts
The Endless
My only real experience with Snowbeasts have been through different comps and smaller releases from their label Re:Mission Entertainment, so when I saw this drop into my inbox I was naturally intrigued. Immediately you get hit with pounding beats and a deep abrasive bass synth line and Elizabeth Virosa hauntingly distant vocals in "Hunt The Hunter", and it continues with "Let's Be Animals" which is just catchy as fuck. Considering that none of the ten tracks are under five minutes long, with the exception of the more downtempo "The Need and The Want" (and only by about seven seconds), they really cared more about letting the songs develop themselves through listening rather than just some quick Spotify plays. Additional textures thrown here and there keep this album from becoming too repetitive while still staying true to its identity.