It’s kept a few of us out of mischief, or in, depending.

Aside, of course, from various ghosts in the new machinery. To which I attribute much of the absence. Happily, the records keep coming.

Half way through, Duran rendered a version of Warm Leatherette. After that, for all I cared, the roof could have fallen in and the show would have rated:

2008 Thursday April 3 Jesus and Mary Chain (Palace Melbourne):

The gig lasted longer than 20 minutes and there was no riot. JAMC didn’t do anything at all, except walk on, play tunes, and walk off again. But what tunes they were.



(See also http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFrMcJpLr0Q courtesy of Fitzroyalty).

2008 Saturday April 5 V-Festival Melbourne: Jesus and Mary Chain, Duran Duran, Smashing Pumpkins, Presets, Didn’t see Glass Candy, alas…

2008 Saturday April 5 V-Festival Melbourne Duran Duran:

2008 Thursday May 8 John Foxx (The Corner, and ACMI)

Brilliant. Something to aspire to…

2008 Saturday June 7 Stephan Bodzin (Brown Alley):

The future came to Melbourne for one night. It’s name was Stephan Bodzin…

2008 Interpol (Festival Hall):

Great tunes, but a slightly flat gig, I felt…



2008 January 28: Big Day Out: (Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne): LCD Soundsystem (highlight of the day), Bjork, Pnau, Billy Bragg, Unkle, Carl Cox:

2008 January 28: Big Day Out: Bjork:

This gig seemed to be half about a large a rather entertaining if slightly anachronistic looking horn section, and half about touch screen MIDI controllers. Bjork somehow brought it all together.



2008 January 28: Big Day Out: Unkle:

Seeing Unkle was something like what I imagine it would be like to have seen The Cure circa Disintegration, if with somewhat more video projection…



2008 January 28: Big Day Out: Pnau:

It was as though several thousand Pnau zealots had suddenly dropped from the sky…



2008 January 28: Big Day Out: Carl Cox:

Suddenly, dance music cliches all seemed fresh and apt. Blinding force, pure energy etc… An auditory and visual spectacle…

2008 Friday July 4: Roland S Howard (Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne):

Continuing to play Ding Dong on a monthly basis. Melburnians should head down…

2007 November, Boys Noize (Abandoned Cinema Complex, Chinatown):

Producers are sometimes accused of being slightly over-shy, retiring types. Not so Alexander Ridha. Sometimes, you just have to have your camera out at the right moment.

2007 May 27, Ellen Allien (Volksbühne, Berlin):

EA in her home town…

Other notable recent gigs (video, photos anyone?)

2008, Friday March 7: Chicks on Speed (ACMI, Roxanne Parlour): A good gig, but their presentation at ACMI scored just a notch higher on the arty anarchy meter… Someone’s video from a couple of year’s back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1UtBiZ1My4

2008, The Bravery (The Corner): Scored a ticket after its original bearer couldn’t attend. Similar gig to the last one at the P.O.W. a couple of years back. Somehow, this time, they all looked younger. At We Love Sound festival, same week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfMFPwxfZiM

2008 Wednesday June 4 VHS or Beta (The Corner): Craig Pfunder did an admirable job of singing his guts out. The rest of the band seemed a little startled by the whole exercise. VoB performing Night on Fire in NYC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFzG-i7Wld0&feature=related

2008, Monolake (Miss Libertine): By most account, ML went a little too abstract on this night. This wasn’t perfect dance floor fodder, but may have worked better in a different context. MIss Libertine is neither dark nor atmospheric enough to house any kind of deep electronica. Monolake ‘Linear’ music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O4Qjeax7TU

2008 Sunday April 6 Nick Cave (Q&A at the Melbourne Arts Centre). Centred around Nick Cave taking shots at the slightly awkward host from RRR. Other than that, managed a good balance between studied nonchalance (and/or bewilderment) and artful use of the work fuck.

2008 Monday March, Control Q&A with Anton Corbijn. Control + Anton = Greatness.

2007, Franz & Shape (DJsAintRockStarts): (@ Bash, not my video): F&Z played a great set of dark EBM electro to a bunch of somewhat gormless South Yarran young fashionables. Where, as Douglas McCarthy once said, is the youth?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHn2ygzsFjA

2007, Peter Christopherson video seminar (Toff in Town): World weary was Pete’s angle, but it was all a beautiful and entertaining mass of Ice T and NIN videos punctuated by the questions of a handful of TG obsessives.

2007, The Cure, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne: I am not sufficiently impartial to be able to capably review a Cure concert. Key observation is the general change in the feel of the tunes with this lineup, which seems to be reflected in the new singles. As is well know, keyboards are gone, drums are almost entirely unprocessed, style of drumming is looser, jazzier and more chaotic, guitars are fuzzier, and Robert’s vocal delivery seems somehow more ‘relaxed’, somewhat chirpier and less angular than in the past. Simon’s bass is more buried in the mix, as are more percussive, dance driven elements; the mix is bright and mid-range dominant. Atmospherics and tension are still there, if a little less pronounced. An interesting taster for the new album, 4.13 Dream, now only weeks away.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFksnRiD-wc

2007 August 4, The Cure, Challenge Stadium, Perth: (not my video): I am not sufficiently impartial to be able to capably review a Cure concert. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEaydcpxz8w

2007 October, Grinderman (The Forum): The bushrangers came to town. Then they went backstage, Nick popped out, and asked, ‘what do you want to hear?’. People yelled things out, then NIck sat down and made it up for himself. Nick made a joke about Google, then the bushrangers reappeared. NIck spend the rest of the gig sipping water and glancing furtively at Warren Ellis, who seemed to struggling to maintain verticality. A good night. (Not my video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsa2TrBaERs

2007, White Rose Movement (Brown Alley, Melbourne): White Rose Movement seemed to be living a dream I once had. If they don’t end up dominating the world, it may only because they end up being too cool to be understood far beyond the bars of Hoxton. But if only there were more music like this. A Sydney gig (not my video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQmP5QRzK7I

2007, Rex The Dog (Bootleg, Geddes Lane Melbourne): No one turned up. The whole thing, including Rex, seemed a little perfunctory. Still, when he gets the ingredients right, what a producer. At Future festival, same weekend (not my video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC6zI0cFMR4

2006, Black Strobe (Lounge, Melbourne): Just when it seemed like they might spearhead a new wave of alternative music, no one turned up. Well, enough to make for an appreciative audience, but not to add up to an event. Serves them right though, I spoke to Arnaud Rebotini, who was less than responsive. No Ivan Smagghe. The rest of them seemed humble and genuine. A Sisters of Mercy t-shirt on the keyboard player. Here’s hoping they make it back some time. An Edinburgh gig (not my video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJaPE8hkZ3g

2006 September, Nitzer Ebb (Evelyn, Melbourne): Heroes came to town. Turn out was mostly goths. First two rows of people clearly went to heaven. Aviator wearing Douglas McCarthy looked slightly like Robert Patrick in Terminator 2. Bon Harris and a female accomplice each on percussion. The period of separation has given the time to pinpoint the parts of Nitzer that work best. Ascetic, synthetic, cutting, controlled. Join in the chant. A London 2006 gig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwZCftAT31E&feature=related

Gigs Coming Up: Friday September 26 The Faint @ The Prince Bandroom (been waiting for this one since missing them last time round), Thursday October 2 Ladytron @ The Corner (been waiting for this one since always), and not least, Sunday October 5 The Futureheads @ The Corner.

Digital Versicolor - Original Mix Glass Candy 100 5:57 Beat Box 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/1140474 Autobody - Original Mix Perspects 128 4:26 Motorskills 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/654023 Hands - Original Mix Gd Luxxe 135 4:08 Make 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/548116 Nanotubes - Original Mix Xenia Beliayeva 127 6:59 Ultra Glamour 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/1187663 Good Sluts Factory - Let It Cia Mix Kiko & Gino’s 129 6:46 International Deejay Gigolos CD Nine 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/1332553 Eyes Like Knives Feat. Kill Memory Crash - Original Mix Franz & Shape 130 4:52 Eyes Like Knives / Forgotten Days 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/1145864 We’re Just Physical - The Ascii.Disko Remix KLOQ 130 6:19 We’re Just Physical 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/935007 This Is Sick - Original Mix Solid Groove 126 7:07 This Is Sick 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/421994 Heat It Up - Original Mix Thomas Schumacher 128 7:10 Heat It Up / Tiger 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/480502 Adyra - Original Mix Duoteque 128 7:37 Leaving The Juno Planet 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/637487 Elphant - Original Mix Sebastian R. Komor 130 7:25 Elphant EP 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/1239458 Night Drive - Original Mix Motor 120 4:44 Unhuman 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/934458 Kittin Is High - 9/11 Mix By Black Labelle Miss Kittin 127 10:25 Kittin Is High 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/1161530 Sleeping Bag - Original Mix DK7 128 5:12 Disarmed 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/552292 In The Dark feat. Steve Strange - Night Version Punx Soundcheck 137 5:13 The Legends EP 2008 http://www.discogs.com/release/798587 The Things That Dreams Are Made Of - Tiga Remix Human League 125.9 7:07 The Things That Dreams Are Made Of 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/1196838 I Can See Clearly Now - Tiga Remix Seelenluft 128 6:03 I Can See Clearly Now / Baby Baby 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/335704 Fairlight - Original Mix Kris Menace 123 6:09 Fairlight 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/902298 Pretty Little Angel - Preocoop Remix (Baalsaal) Moonbootica, IAMX 128 6:47 Der Mond 2008 http://www.discogs.com/release/576993 Phobos - Original Mix Marc Romboy, Stephan Bodzin 125 7:57 Systematic Colours - Volume One 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/660653

And it’s been a while. Allow me to blame my (ever so ephemeral) lifestyle of international jet-set. And while we’re at it, take me back to Berlin…

I’m buoyant on an Ascii Disko / Franz & Shape wave right now, and it feels good. The Baby Daddy Remix of VHS or Beta’s ‘You Got Me‘ is a particular highlight for me here… on a dancefloor called life, standing naked at it’s centre, this serves like a slice of sweetest, pure oblivion…

Especially worthy of attention right now is Franz & Shape’s Acceleration LP. Franz & Shape have recently collaborated with and/or remixed the works of none less than Mount Sims, GD Luxxe (whose excellent mix of Melbourne band The Emergency’s ‘We Got The Horror‘ appeared in Dual Mix Action B), Kill Memory Crash, Perspects, David Carretta and a stack of others. As such, right now F&S seem to have seized the reigns at the core of alternative electronic sound. The sound of the future…

Fortunately I’ve also been riding high on the excellent and most inspiring Monday night Tiga DJ set at T-bar in Shoreditch that Clare and I were lucky enough to catch just a month ago. This may have something to do with the multiple touches of Tiga in this set…

All we need now is some support for this kind of music here in Melbourne. Whilst there are a couple of DJs here and there that make the occasional nod in these directions, there is, potential for a genuine geist to emerge. But in the mean time, what is here, alas, if understandably, often seems quickly to emigrate itself to Berlin or London…

The core of this mix might be considered to end with the (new!) Miss Kittin & The Hacker track. The final three tracks are intended as an epilogue, a way to end with a little smile…

Meanwhile, my entry in the Bloc Party remix competition is live at JJJ Unearthed. New track “Turn” is up at the Infix myspace.

British Mode Goose 131 3:57 Bring It On 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/799637 E-Talking (Tiga’s Disco Drama Remix) Soulwax 130 5:41 E Talking 2004 http://www.discogs.com/release/484600 Head Converter (Original Mix) Luke Slater 134 7:12 MOTE003 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/802006 Tribulations (Tiga’s Out Of The Trance Closet Mix) LCD Soundsystem 132 7:08 Tribulations Remixes 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/557205 OK (Acid Girls Remix) Shit Disco 128 5:02 [White Label] 2007 White Label, Release Forthcoming You Got Me (Baby Daddy Remix) VHS Or Beta 127 6:39 You Got Me-CDM-(Astralwerks) 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/633187 Immer - 132 Ascii Disko 132 6:51 Ascii Disko 2003 http://www.discogs.com/release/941946 Take Off feat. GD Luxxe - Original Mix Franz & Shape 128 6:11 Destination / Location EP 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/674901 Mycose The Night Tekel 129 6:35 Tekel 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/683116 Sizzler (Lars Sommerfeld Remix) Manchurians 128 6:05 Sizzler 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/885256 Sweet Light / Abusator (Black Strobe Remix) Black Strobe 132 9:58 A Remix Selection 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/850025 Trauermusik (Alter Ego Mix) Partial Arts 120 7:17 Trauermusik 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/877785 Electric Burst - Original Mix Kiko 124.5 6:43 Tragolta EP 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/973612 Sortie Alex Smoke 127 6:09 Techno Body Music (CD2) 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/533127 Zdarlight Digitalism 124 5:40 Idealism 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/994425 Get the Balance Right (Beat Machine Mix) Depeche Mode 128 7:22 [White Label] 2007 White Label, Release Forthcoming 3 weeks (Booka Shade Vocal Mix) Tiga 126 7:43 3 Weeks 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/839222 Spit it out (Alexander Kowalski Remix) IAMX 127 6:51 Spit it out CDM 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/901596 3 Am Still Life feat. Mount Sims - Original Mix Franz & Shape 128 4:50 Acceleration 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/910287 Lucretia My Reflection J Golo featuring Gre XXL 130 8:15 D-Side 33 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/646664 Hometown Miss Kittin & The Hacker 125 7:59 Hometown EP 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/996158 Proper Education (Radio Edit) Eric Prydz vs Pink Floyd 124.9 3:21 Eric Prydz vs. Floyd* - Proper Education CDS 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/972153 Hearts on Fire (Original Version) Cut Copy 125 5:40 Hearts on Fire PROMO 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/981499 D.A.N.C.E (MSTRKRFT Remix) Justice 126 3:38 [White Label] 2007 White Label, Release Forthcoming

…and results are promising.

Depeche Mode remain as perennial as the grass. And they know how to find great remixers.

Fluorescenses For Orchestra Krzysztof Penderecki 118.7 14:55 Penderecki: Orchestral Works, Vol. 01 2000 http://www.amazon.com/Penderecki-Orchestral-Works-Vol-01/dp/B00004D3II Confusion Beta Evers 120 4:01 You Bet We’ve Got Something Personal Against You 2004 http://www.discogs.com/release/306513 Closer Ascii Disko 132 5:23 Alias 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/665831 Deceive - Play Black Strobe 128 3:12 Black Strobe - The Other Side Paris 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/574718 Better Way (feat. The Hacker) Neon Electronics 128 3:49 [White Label] 2007 White Label, Release Forthcoming Mona Lisa’s Child (Alan Braxe And Fred Falke Extended Mix) Keith 132 6:25 Mona Lisa’s Child (Remixes) 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/854905 The Ones (TV Rock Mix) The Dukes Of Windsor 125 6:30 [White Label] 2007 White Label, Release Forthcoming All Sparks (Phones Remix) Editors 126 5:35 Pitchfork Web Release 2006 http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/39874 Tv Treated (Tiga) The Neon Judgement 128 5:38 Box 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/565760 Never Let Me Down Again (Digitalism Remix) Depeche Mode 128 4:39 The Best Of Volume 1 (Remixes) 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/822010 Chuck Nology 16 Bit Lolitas 125 10:48 Chuck Nology / Passing Lights 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/834121 I Love You (Van She Remix) Klass vs I Am Finn 128 6:12 Klass 2007 http://www.discogs.com/release/885089 Innerstrings (No Shuffle Mix) Black Strobe 128.1 5:33 Chemical Sweet Girl E.P. 2004 http://www.discogs.com/release/92000 Black Powder Motor 128 7:24 Klunk 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/678214 Rotodrom Oliver Huntemann 128 6:08 Fieber 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/761552 Jack Your Body To The Beat Ascii Disko 128 6:32 Ascii Disko 2003 http://www.discogs.com/release/166103 Walkman Sebastian 118.9 5:02 Ross Ross Ross Ep 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/715960 Excedeer (Original Mix) Mason 128.7 6:43 Excedeer Vinyl 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/709515 The Red Dress (Tiefschwarz Remix) Phonique 123.4 7:20 The Red Dress 2004 http://www.discogs.com/release/244226 Everything Counts (Oliver Huntemann & Stephan Bodzin Dub) Depeche Mode 125 7:43 [Promo] 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/841135 Hounds of Love (Phones Remix) The Futureheads 137 5:18 The Futureheads 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/747581 Every Day (Could Be Our Last Day) Rex The Dog 124.1 5:18 Maximize 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/814829 Fadin’ Away (Original Version) The Hacker 135.9 4:42 Fadin Away 2000 http://www.discogs.com/release/10801 Wire Alvin Lucier 128.3 6:49 Music On A Long Thin Wire 1980 http://www.discogs.com/release/616155

But for ‘electro’, or ‘electrohouse’, or whatever the rest was, is, or should have been called, there was no shortage of creative output or enthusiasm from punters in the first half of the 2000s. The nexus (though by no means the limit) of activity in Melbourne was indisputably Meccanoid, which, still going strong to this day, characterised in feel everything one might have expected electroclash to represent - glam, dress ups, interpretive dancing and of course (contra the ‘all style no substance’ press line), great music.

The praises of Fischerspooner sung far and wide, the real success story of this era, at least one the pop side, was arguably one Miss Kittin (with no small part of assistance from The Hacker, as well as Felix da Housecat - being argubly the producer who gave the scene its original break into semi-mainstream consciousness with the classic “Kittenz and thee Glitz’ LP). It’s difficult to put together any kind of survey or representation of this era (even one as subjective as this) without including several that carry a Miss Kittin vocal; hence the five tracks here.

Where to from here? The nights keep rolling and the releases keep coming. Some of the producers featured here have moved on a little - notably, the Hacker and Carretta into increasingly EBM flavoured productions, whilst Miss Kittin has since dabbled in breaks and various other forms of electronica. It remains to be seen to what extent the new wave of indie electro will represent a genuine split in musical trajectories (and/or scenes) or will alternately contribute as simply one facet of the continuing electro sound. The mixes of more recent material that have appeared are I would hope at least partially suggestive. Regardless, and despite the intense commercialisation of some aspects of electrohouse, electro, of both -house and other varities, still feels convincingly vital.

Every reason then to hope for, and anticipate, interesting times ahead.

Nothing to Fear Depeche Mode 119 4:18 A Broken Frame 1982 http://www.discogs.com/release/859045 Happy Hour Felix Da Housecat 119.2 5:02 Kittenz and Thee Glitz 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/557113 Frank Sinatra Miss Kittin and the Hacker 124.9 3:54 First Album 2001 http://www.discogs.com/release/20345 They All Come Sven Andersson 125.1 6:12 Hem Ljuua Hem 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/334177 Space Invaders Are Smoing Grass I-F 132.2 4:50 Abe Duque Present Disko B. 1999 http://www.discogs.com/release/51088 Sex With The Machines Anthony Rother 120 5:49 Sex With The Machines 1997 http://www.discogs.com/release/30815 Plastiphilia Dopplereffekt 128.1 4:18 Gesamtkunstwerk 1999 http://www.discogs.com/release/43671 Prototyp Rex the Dog 125.3 5:25 Eskimo Recordings Presents Headman - Dance Modern 2004 http://www.discogs.com/release/230080 Rocker Alter Ego 130 4:48 Transphormer 2004 http://www.discogs.com/release/366268 Cycle Sluts Rok 127.9 4:46 Mayday CD1 2000 http://www.discogs.com/release/17917 Vicious Game David Carretta 134.1 6:03 Futurism (Disc 2) 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/53842 Love Explosion Alden Tyrell 134.1 2:56 The Hacker : The Next Step of New Wave 2000 http://www.discogs.com/release/55963 Disco Rout Legowelt 135.9 5:43 Tangent 2002: Disco Nouveau 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/43650 Dance Like A Machine Vitalic 136.2 5:43 Various - American Gigolo 2001 http://www.discogs.com/release/23559 La Rock 01 Vitalic 136.8 5:33 International Deejay Gigolos 6 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/657237 B-Inside Out Kiko Remix David Carretta 130.1 10:33 Inside Out Vinyl 2004 http://www.discogs.com/release/236805 Sunglasses At Night Tiga & Zyntherius 128 6:43 Futurism (Disc 1) 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/53842 Price of Dub Client 125 3:41 Price of Dub 2004 http://www.discogs.com/release/238698 I Can Complete You Luke Slater 130 5:18 Alright On Top (japan) 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/439637 Emerge Fischerspooner 148 4:46 #1 2001 http://www.discogs.com/release/31542 Kernkraft 400 (Kitten And The Hacker Mix) Zombie Nation 129.2 5:20 Futurism (Disc 2) 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/53842 Silver Screen - Shower Scene Felix Da Housecat 121 4:40 Kittenz And Thee Glitz 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/557113 Airplanes Vostok 134.2 4:35 The Electroclash Mix CD 2 / Plastique 2003 http://www.discogs.com/release/189716 Fuck the Pain Away Peaches 131.5 4:08 The Teaches of Peaches 2000 http://www.discogs.com/release/148381 Madame Hollywood Felix Da Housecat 134.2 2:51 Kittenz and Thee Glitz 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/557113 Rippin Kittin Golden Boy With Miss Kitten 128.9 4:20 Futurism (Disc 1) 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/53842 Computer Love Kraftwerk 125 7:18 Computer World 1981 http://www.discogs.com/release/665886

What a difference five years can make (compare, if you like, with the mid 90s mix, previous). As this mix may suggest, 2000 was perhaps the big year for future pop. The genre defining albums of Apoptygma Bezerk (Welcome to Earth) and Covenant (United States of Mind) complemented VNV Nation’s ‘Empires’ in combination to yield massive ebm trance anthem after anthem. Whilst futurepop had been creeping onto industrial dance floors throughout the 90s (arguably as far back as Front 242’s ‘Tragedy For You’, and at least as far as Covenant’s 1995 ‘Figurehead’ a track that seemed to dominate industrial dance floors for at least two years), these three releases represented a seismic alteration of the industrial dance landscape.

A number of further massive album releases followed from each of these outfits in subsequent years (VNV Nation - Futureperfect, Covenant - Northern Light, Apoptygma Berzerk - Harmonizer). Futurepop however, seemed to burn brightly, but quickly. Whilst the sound is by no means gone, the genre seems to suffer from the weight of its’ millennial glory days. There is perhaps a sense that the sound has already been explored, and its greatest heights scaled. The strength of the new wave of electro has no doubt drawn away the attention of many, seduced by grittier, deeper and more varied textures than the increasingly streamlined and trance oriented futurepop sound seemed able to deliver.

Perhaps not so surprising then that Aptogyma have turned away from futurepop. More surprising however, that their turn has been as drastic as it has; a reinvention as a sometimes Placebo-like alternative synth rock band. It’ll be interesting to see how the two strands mesh, or otherwise, this Sunday night at The Corner. I’ll be more than curious to see how their new style comes across - and equally as hopeful to hear at least a taste of the sound they perfected back in y2k.

Kathy’s Song (Come Lie Next to Me) Apoptygma Berzerk 122 6:34 Welcome to Earth 2000 http://www.discogs.com/release/10509 Dead Stars (Club Version) Covenant 133 6:54 Dead Stars 2000 http://www.discogs.com/release/103426 Twothreezerone Defcon 4 134.9 3:49 Sex, Drugs & EBM 1992 http://www.discogs.com/release/299537 Once In A Lifetime Wolfsheim 124 3:42 Spectators 1999 http://www.discogs.com/release/159889 Cold (rated R mix by mig-29) VNV Nation 134 5:23 [non-album tracks] 2001 http://www.discogs.com/release/515811 Today Ivory Frequency 142 7:16 Plug-in 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/95229 Disappoint (Funker Vogt remix) Assemblage 23 130 6:01 Disappoint 2001 http://www.discogs.com/release/175034 Hellraiser (VNV Nation Remix) Suicide Commando 140 6:43 Hellraiser 2000 http://www.discogs.com/release/90839 Advance Diorama 135 6:07 Her Liquid Arms 2001 http://www.discogs.com/release/443633 Beloved VNV Nation 140 7:24 Futureperfect 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/28137 Everlasting Icon of Coil 145 5:22 Serenity is the Devil 2000 http://www.discogs.com/release/91019 Steelrose (Apoptygma Berzerk Remix) Project Pitchfork 133 6:05 Steelrose 1998 http://www.discogs.com/release/193678 One World One Sky Covenant 132 5:01 United States of Mind 2000 http://www.discogs.com/release/17301 Starsign Apoptygma Bezerk 133 5:09 Welcome to Earth 2000 http://www.discogs.com/release/10509 Destillat (VNV Nation remix) Das Ich 123.9 6:06 Re_Laborat 1999 http://www.discogs.com/release/721539 Travelling Seabound 125 5:20 No Sleep Demon 2001 http://www.discogs.com/release/342916 Eclipse Apoptygma Berzerk 133 5:57 Welcome to Earth 2000 http://www.discogs.com/release/10509 Amphetamine Drax LTD II 142.2 6:31 Amphetamine 1994 / 1999 http://www.discogs.com/release/140592

I remember being at Planet nightclub in Perth, circa mid-1995, and hearing ‘Cuz It’s Hot’. Particularly the ‘Thrill Kill, Thrill Kill’ refrain. I felt like I had found my way into a new, underground universe full of tantalizing possibility. Perhaps I had.

As it happened, the mid-90s were an odd time for industrial dance music. In the mainstream music world, guitar music was utterly dominant. The sounds of 80s of new wave and electronica couldn’t have been further from vogue. Depeche Mode had released their most rock-oriented album ever, and the industrial music that was successful in the public eye was save for the odd remix entirely guitar dominated (Nine Inch Nails, Ministry). Dance music was of course going from strength to strength at the time, but filled an entirely different musical niche from the song based rock that dominated the charts. Pure, electronic, industrial music, seemed to fit nowhere.

Surprising then, just how busy the industrial ’scene’ was at the time. The demand for quality releases arguably outstripped supply. Of course at the time it was difficult to ascertain just how closely supply reflected production - the internet was some years away from being able to complement existing distribution networks, and the labels that did exist were small affairs. Enthusiasts generally had to fork out large amounts for imported CDs with little prior guarantee of the quality of their purchases.

The use of (predominantly sampled) guitar was popular at the time, particularly evident in Stateside releases, but also apparent on European releases, where a strictly electronic ethic had dominated through the 80s with bands such as Front 242 and Nitzer Ebb (who also started releasing guitar albums at the time). Canadian legends Front Line Assembly put out “Millennium”, an album that was by their own admission Pantera-inspired industrial metal. Whilst the album did in reality have some interesting electronic tracks underneath the veil of youth-dollar baiting guitar crunch, things were perhaps looking grim for electronic purists.

Nonetheless, electronic industrial music continued to be made. It was a time when Claus Larsen and his project Leaether Strip came to the fore, followed soon by contemporaries such as Rudy Ratzinger of Wumpscut. The releases that were produced at this time were, suffice to say, particularly harsh and abrasive sounding. It perhaps is not surprising that the first manifestations of the music that was to become futurepop emerged around this time.

And yet there were many tracks released from 1990 through to 1995 that grew to become classics. Not all the tracks in this mix are such, though a handful appear (Strap Me Down (perhaps -the- track of this era) and Soylent Green - a track that often seemed to me about the most danceable thing ever committed to record).

Perhaps though, much of this music was at least in one sense ahead of its’ time. I hope this set demonstrates how well much of this music could work in the context of a mix. As far as I am aware, bar the odd faltering effort one or twice a night at a club, no one was mixing industrial music in the mid-90s. A track would be played, people would move onto the dance floor if they liked it, and then move off again (unfortunately, in many industrial clubs, not much has changed). Each piece of music therefore had to stand or fall as a lone entity. As such, looking back on this era its easy to focus on the hits - and there were many that don’t appear here. But in between, there is a rich body of material that, whilst not always of the classic mould, represents a creative and challenging output that is arguably underrated in the annals of alternative music.

The early to mid 90s was an era dominated, at least for Australian listeners, by the releases of US label Cleopatra records (long since trumped more than decisively by Metropolis). Cleopatra’s releases were of variable quality at best - but you had, then as now, to take the good with the bad - and there was gold to be found for those prepared to look.

It was a time dominated by compilations. Arguably two of the biggest of Cleopatra’s compilations at the time were their ‘Industrial Revolution’ series, and the ‘Enchantments’ release. Many of the tracks in this mix are lifted from these sources.

Strap Me Down Leaether Strip 130.8 5:36 Solitary Confinement 1993 http://www.discogs.com/release/17305 Soylent Green (Extended Version) Wumpscut 122 7:14 Music For A Slaughtering Tribe 1997 http://www.discogs.com/release/17178 Resist Front Line Assembly 128 5:26 Caustic Grip 1990 http://www.discogs.com/release/13146 Blue Nine (Free Me Mix) Penal Colony 131.3 5:41 Enchantments 1995 http://www.discogs.com/release/171785 Kick To Kill Noise Unit 131 4:06 Enchantments 1995 http://www.discogs.com/release/171785 Klute / Desert Storm [Remix] Industrial Revolution - Second edition 187.6 4:04 Industrial Revolution - Second edition [Disc 1] 1994 http://www.discogs.com/release/351949 Subjection (Violent Mix) Lights of Euphoria 186.8 4:58 Enchantments 1993 / 1995 http://www.discogs.com/release/171785 Electric Chair Ultraviolence 162.5 3:49 Life of Destructor 1994 http://www.discogs.com/release/95541 Religion (Bass Under Siege Prodigy Mix) Front 242 148 4:41 Mut@ge Mix@ge 1995 http://www.discogs.com/release/26036 Gave Up (Remixed by Coil with Danny Hyde) Nine Inch Nails 143.5 5:25 Fixed 1992 http://www.discogs.com/release/809121 Division Digital Poodle 140 5:59 Industrial Revolution - Second edition [Disc 1] 1994 http://www.discogs.com/release/351949 Murderous Nitzer Ebb 131.2 5:43 That Total Age 1987 http://www.discogs.com/release/37317 The Bog Bigod 20 129.4 3:35 DJ Hell - Electronicbody-Housemusic 1990 / 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/63287 Burn Baby Burn Blok 57 124 3:40 Blok 57 1992 http://www.discogs.com/release/256556 Deadlines Skinny Puppy 110.4 5:54 Industrial Virus (Box Set) 1985 / 1997 http://www.discogs.com/release/126997 Feurio! [Remix] Einsturzende Neubauten / 128.7 4:49 Industrial Revolution - Second edition [Disc 1] 1990 / 1994 http://www.discogs.com/release/351949 A Daisy Chain 4 Satan My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult 125.8 6:22 ‘Cuz It’s Hot’ 1990 http://www.discogs.com/release/207883 Death to censorship Psychopomps 121.3 4:51 Industrial Revolution - Second edition [Disc 1] 1993 / 1994 http://www.discogs.com/release/351949

Future (Chromeo Remix) Cut Copy 120 4:04 Future 2004 http://www.discogs.com/release/467819 Feel Good Hit of the Fall !!! (Chk Chk Chk) 125.4 5:14 Softcore Jukebox [Mixed By Ladytron] 2003 http://www.discogs.com/release/220194 House of Jealous Lovers The Rapture 130 5:04 Echoes 2003 http://www.discogs.com/release/484595 Crazy Love Colder 140 5:12 Crazy Love (Single) 2003 http://www.discogs.com/release/201293 Jagger 67 (Cass And Mangan Remix) Infadels 128.2 7:34 Jagger 67 [WALLT106] 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/518887 Not Great Men (Phones Extended Version) Gang Of Four 120 6:10 Return The Gift 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/539730 Four To The Floor - Thin White Duke Mix Starsailor 122.6 8:othe Floor (single) 2004 http://www.discogs.com/release/424443 The Metric System (Headman Mix) Trash Palace feat.Brian Molko 130.1 6:33 Another Fine Mess: FC Kahuna 2003 http://www.discogs.com/release/186450 Fire In Cairo The Cure vs Digitalism 132.9 5:48 White Label Release 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/680212 Over and Over (Naum Gabo Remix) Hot Chip 124 4:44 Over and Over 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/811095 Do U Feel (Feat Robi Insinna) Headman 122 4:25 On 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/665023 Euro Trash Girl Chicks On Speed 122.7 3:51 Futurism (Disc 2) 2002 http://www.discogs.com/release/54621 Love Like Semtex (Headman Remix) Infadels 125 6:42 Love Like Semtex CDM 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/725313 Annie - Heartbeat (MSTRKRFT Remix) MSTRKRFT 128 6:30 Me Plus One (Promo) 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/701752 When You Were Young (Thin White Duke Radio Edit) Killers 134 3:59 When You Were Young Remixes Ep 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/801859 I Love New York (Thin White Duke Mix) Madonna 129.2 7:42 Confessions Remixed (Limited Edition) 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/663399 Everyday I Love You Less And Less Kaiser Chiefs & Boys Noize 129.7 5:25 I Predict A Riot (CD2) 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/579910 Don’t Go (Enrico Mantini and Gianluca DeTiberiis 2006 Full reEdit) Yazoo 125.6 6:48 2006 http://www.discogs.com/artist/Enrico+Mantini Simian Mobile Disco - Animal House Simian Mobile Disco 120 6:08 Tits & Acid / Animal House (Promo) 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/796770 Cut Copy - 1981 (disco) Cut Copy 119.5 5:30 1981 7″ 2001 https://www.modularpeople.com/themodshop/product.asp?productId=8&categoryId=3 Skip To The End (Digitalism Remix) The Futureheads 125 5:54 Skip To The End 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/747581 Somebody Told Me (King Unique The Killers 128 6:41 Somebody Told Me (Single) 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/397535 Easy Love MSTRKRFT 130 4:52 The Looks 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/718857 Cmon Fuck Me DJ Zebra 150 3:27 2006 http://djzebra.free.fr/actus.html Two Guys Peaches 172 4:02 Impeach My Bush 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/728316 Warning Siren (One-Two Remix) Tiefschwarz Feat Matty Safer 124.1 3:56 Warning Siren Vinyl 1 Vinyl 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/539576 We Are Your Friends (Edison Re Justice vs Simian 124.4 6:18 We Are Your Friends (Single) 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/754354 Woman (Mstrkrft Remix) Wolfmother 133 3:29 Kitsune Maison Compilation 2 2006 http://www.discogs.com/release/724938 Wild In Blue Suicide 109 4:35 a way of life 2004 http://www.discogs.com/release/393013