With their new album Too Pure to Cure, NYC-based band The Ritualists return with a collection that reflects the group’s evolution — shaped by a solidified lineup, growing onstage chemistry, and a desire to create music that moves both body and mind. Led by singer and bassist Christian Dryden, the band blends goth, glam, and … Read more
Anne Bandez (known as Little Annie / Annie Anxiety) is a singer, painter, and performance artist renowned for her varied work and extensive collaborations. A new compilation, With (out 4/18/25 on Cold Spring), brings together collaborative recordings with artists such as Marc Almond, Coil, Swans, and Kid Congo Powers. What ties these tracks together is … Read more
Having released the archival collection CYRNAI 1980–90 in 2018, California-based electronic musician and sound designer Carolyn Fok has returned to the CYRNAI alias for a new album, Calamity of Beauty. The album has an experimental feel and spans a range of styles, featuring atmospheric compositions alongside tracks with a more rhythmic, industrial edge. Creative sound … Read more
Evolving out of the post-punk project Monta at Odds, Religion of Heartbreak is a trio that explores a darker, more dance-oriented sound with minimal wave aesthetics and intricate drum and percussion programming. The group consists of Dedric Moore, Mikal Shapiro, and Krysztof Nemeth. Their debut release as Religion of Heartbreak, Dream Reflection, was released in … Read more
Best known for their 1980 new wave classic “Turning Japanese,” The Vapors are back with their fourth album, Wasp in a Jar. Their second album since reuniting, it sees the band continuing to evolve on their own terms. They’re not trying to recreate the ’80s, but they’re not turning their backs on the era either. … Read more
For guitarist and songwriter Mike Baggetta, mssv is as much about discovery as it is about composition. With On And On (out March 7), the third album from his power trio with bassist Mike Watt (MINUTEMEN, fIREHOSE, The Stooges) and drummer Stephen Hodges (Tom Waits, Mavis Staples, David Lynch), the band once again took an … Read more
Slinky Vagabond’s Keanan Duffty collaborated with David Bowie and has been a regular at tribute events, so it comes as no surprise that there’s a strong Bowie influence on their latest album, The Eternal Return. But just as Bowie constantly embraced new styles without coming across as a copyist, Slinky Vagabond blends post-punk, glam, and … Read more
Forndom’s new album, Moþir (Nordvis Produktion), is an exploration of divine ambiguity, weaving together themes of creation, destruction, and renewal. The musical project of Ludvig Swärd, Forndom’s latest work forgoes purely modern elements in favor of an acoustic foundation, utilizing effects and textures to craft a sound that is both distinctive and timeless. With a … Read more
After 24 years, pioneering British hip-hop/electronic dance band Stereo MC’s are finally returning to US stages with a tour and appearance at the Cruel World festival. And while they have been consistently releasing singles and EPs on their own connected label, Stereo MC’s are hoping to finish a new album this year (their last being … Read more
Having started her career drumming with such artists as Ricky Martin, Clean Bandit, Taio Cruz, and Sam Sparro, Laura Fares (aka LAU) followed her love of electronic music by launching her own musical project and co-founding the synthpop / synthwave / retrowave label Aztec Records. The most recent LAU album, “Digital Dream,” blends retro influences … Read more