Another year draws to a close and the ubiquitous Christmas Terror is superimposed over the next few days, probably back everything we loved and important. At this point, however, you deserve our thanks for your great support for afmusic. Because of your help, we were able to set some accents in the often boring music business, and we are very proud of more than half a million downloads of the songs of our artists. And that’s why we have here in December – beside the new album “Mental Straitjacket” by Camp Z – more free downloads at afmusic.

MAV

MAV have just formed back in 2008, in the quiet Modena (Italy). They came together down on ads that have run in the local press. Quickly, their meetings became very productive and the boys began to cover some old eighties-songs. The aim was finding their own way, without forgetting the old days. The essence of it is a mixture of very dark Electrowave, a little bit of Futurepop, with a lot of 80′s-atmosphere that gets out of hand into Ambient and Gothic.

Their EP “Enter” was published in 2009 as a free download at Zorch Factory Records, and a short time later on CD at Danse Macabre. On the download single “Il Crepuscolo Della Coscienza” there is now also a B-side, a cover version of The Cure song “The Kiss”.

http://www.af-music.de/en/releases/afm066-mav-il-crepuscolo-della-coscienza-single/

REBENTISCH

Rebentisch want to give their fans a way to escape from the rampaging Christmas terror and offers some rare demo tapes and rehearsal recordings as a compilation for free download. Interesting are the differences to the recordings that made it officially on this year’s album “Herz zerrissen” or onto the EP by Der Zerfall.

http://www.af-music.de/en/releases/afm072-rebentisch-homerecording/

In November 2009 Sven Rebentisch also stood again in front of the camera. In collaboration with LEA LOUISE MARSHALL, which already did the current Rebentisch clip “Angst”, a new video for the song “Danach” from the current album “Herz zerrissen” will be recorded. This time contribute a variety of extras in the clip, that lends the necessary trash-flair which Sven would love to have for this one. So the fans may be very curious to see what the new year at REBENTISCHS’ home brings us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lryyrQIV6E

ON WAVE

It’s been a while since we published 2 EP’s of the russian indie band On Wave on afmusic. After “Vodka Bear Matreshka” in August last year and the follower “Special Thanks” in January 2009, it became a little quiet around Ilya Romanenkov, Misha Proskurin, Maksim Sushkov and their new drummer Marak Gvozdovsky. Though means quiet not sitting around idly and so there are now 15 new tracks, the full debut album “Ginger”. True to their motto ‘We are doing Indie. For You” as a free download. Purchase a version of the album will be available from mid-January in all major download stores and in the MP3 shop of afmusic too.

http://www.af-music.de/en/releases/afm074-on-wave-ginger/

THE FORCED OSCILLATIONS

Meanwhile, there are 3 releases of the band from Moscow on afmusic. Founded in 2005 as a duo the transformation of German New Wave and EBM-bands influenced songs towards bass-heavy and atmospheric post-punk took its place. Before there is new material of the band, we have “Garlics” promo compilation for you as a free-download. In addition to the 3 EP’s there are some more recent live recordings on it. Anyone who didn’t took notice of The Forced Oscillations until now can get a complete impression of the bands’ work and their experimentation on this way.

http://www.af-music.de/en/releases/afm073-the-forced-oscillations-garlics-compilation/

GODEX

Also Godex distribute gifts and offer immediate periodically downloads from their current album “Gates of the Universe”. It’ll begin with the song “Eagles”, followed shortly by „Dream with you“ right before the Christmas holidays start off. More info about this on the band’s website, on Facebook or Twitter.

http://godex-music.de/ | http://www.facebook.com/pages/Godex/159314506588 | http://twitter.com/godexmusic

Thanks for your support

April showers bring May flowers…

5/11/2009: LIGHT IN YOUR LIFE – Smile that smile/Geldof [CDM/single]

Already one year ago LIGHT IN YOUR LIFE pricked up the ears, at that time still under the name SLEAZY ROMANCE. In their native country the band then already was clebrated by insiders as Sweden’s answer to INTERPOL: Post punk meets post rock on the zenith of the tension curve between Shoegaze and Show – psychedelic pop pearls in the sphere of influence of EDITORS, ELEPHANT and ESKOBAR.

The self-titled debut album will be released on CD at Danse Macabre and digital at afmusic.

Infos and downloads: http://www.af-music.de/en/releases/afm051-light-in-your-life-st/

5/11/2009: THE FORCED OSCILLATIONS – Les monuments de tristesse [CD / EP]

Like JOY DIVISION briefly before the zenith, like THE CURE on “Seventeen seconds” and atmospherically like the late work of ISIS – with “Les monuments de tristesse” the Russians THE FORCED OSCILATIONS created their masterpiece: Atmospheric and experimental Post-Punk with big recognition value. This EP will make hosts of hearts miss a beat.

Infos and downloads: http://www.af-music.de/en/releases/afm049-the-forced-oscillations-les-monuments-de-tristesse/

5/18/2009: NOCTIFLORA – The magic drone [CD / EP]

A pleasantly warm Wave whirlpool pulls clean guitars and SIMON GALLUP-memorial-basslines down in dreadful nice depths. NOCTIFLORA’s instrumental Bleek Wave evokes THE CURE, CHAMELEONS and SAD LOVERS AND GIANTS and it’s the ultimative soundtrack for the night.

Infos and Downloads: http://www.af-music.de/en/releases/afm045-noctiflora-the-magic-drone/

5/25/2009: ALL:MY:FAULTS – on.seventh.change.of.comprehension [CDM/single]

Heavy Metal + NintendoCore: Crossover = Industrial Metal! This you’ll get only by ALL:MY:FAULTS! The inhabitants of Darmstadt also cement with the second single in 2009 their exceptional position as the most innovative and most independent German underground band. “Error abyss and the pretty accomplice” is experimental 8-bit Metal with suitable tempo changes and “Es wird ein Regen kommen” bridges between WELLE:ERDBALL and SUCH A SURGE – with song and text in RIO REISER- quality.

Infos and Downloads: http://www.af-music.de/en/releases/afm053-allmyfaults-onseventhchangeofcomprehension/

Sometimes it seems like you stand alone with a vision in your life. And sometimes two have the same without knowing each other. In case of afmusic and Zorch Factory Records it is the promotion of talented newcomer bands basically from the Gothic-, Post-Punk and New Wave genre.

The more both got to know and estimate each other the clearer it became a logical consequence to work together. The consequence of this collaboration is the now available compilation ‘Howly Night’, which is much influenced by the name of x-mas and offered as free download.

23 more or less known bands with mainly previously unreleased tracks are on ‘Howly Night’. With the first track ‘Dead End’ from Dorcel the listener gets trapped into a wonderful melancholic world, which is mainly the undertone on all tracks of this compilation.

Besides already well known acts like The Search, Curious or Camp Z especially the new names are setting the highlights on this compilation. An example for this are ‘Ghost In The Snow’ from (((S))) and ‘Game’ from Notes From The Underground. Everybody who likes the styles of music pointed in the beginning should see ‘Howly Night’ as a commendation. Music for cold winter days that warms heart and soul.

Tracklisting:

1. Dorcel – Dead End
2. (((S))) – Ghost In The Snow*
3. Curious – Days (single version)
4. Les Modules Etranges – Shelter II
5. Camp Z – Schizophrénie*
6. The SlimP – A Hundred Thousand Faces*
7. Plastique Noir – Phantom In My Stereo (Transcommunication)
8. Place 4 Tears – Septembers Breath
9. The Search – We Fell Asleep In Eachothers Arms*
10. Sleazy Romance – Song About Love
11. Monozid – Lets Shake Hands And Wonder*
12. Emerald Park – For Tomorrow
13. Noctiflora – Drone01*
14. Reptyle – Black Snow
15. The Forced Oscillations – Ice (live)*
16. Spinefish – Daydream Diary
17. The Transisters – Ultraviolet On You
18. The Red Crayon Aristocrat Club – Another One*
19. Peibol – Sectarios
20. Unfactory – Change The Fairy Tales
21. The Trespass – Just Can’t Save Myself*
22. Notes From Underground – Game*
23. On Wave – Promoted And Sold*

    *previously unreleased

DOWNLOAD IT HERE »

Notchnoi Prospekt was formed in Moscow, 1985, by Alexei Borisov (guitar, vocals, lyrics) and Ivan Sokolovsky (keyboards, electronics). At the very beginning of thier activity the duo played electro-pop with the elements of rockabilly, twist, ska, post-punk and industrial. In 1987 the drummer Sergei Pavlov and violin player Dmitry Kutergin joined the band. Since that time Notchnoi Prospekt started to develop industrial electronics mixed with psychodelia, noize, free improvized music and absurdizm. In the 80s Notchnoi Prospekt became popular in Russia, playing concerts all over the country and taking part at different rock and art festivals.

Till 1995 Notchnoi Prospekt was active as a band, later being transformed into experimental modular project. In 2000 the band was reorganized by Borisov, Sokolovsky and Kutergin. For the last 15 years Pavlov lives in Munich, but from time to time he joins the band on stage and in the studio. The current repertoire of Notchnoi Prospekt consists of the reworked and decomposed songs of the 80s as well as new compostions.

The Forced Oscillations were formed in 2005 as a duo and first played electronic stuff, too. Not without Notchnoi Prospekt influence they reworked the sound and whole idea, going on with post-punk sound, enhanced with some non-standard features. As a homage to the band, The Forced Oscillations covered “Acids” – a revolutionary track, full of apocalyptic fear and industrial madness, literally. The hymn of a collapsing empire, after 20 years it has a value once again. During 2006-2008 the song was rearranged few times and the final version was recorded – the band’s trademark.

The track will be also included in a tribute to Ivan Sokolovsky, who died in 2005. The remixes were made by fellow musicians: Vitalij Lebedev (Haloed Ghost), Ted Newsom (revideolized, Melodramus), Levan Lomidze (Fashion Suicide, Didactic Scalica), The:Het; Tbilisi-89 is a The Forced Oscillations side-project.

The EP will be available on 12/15/08 worldwide as a free download or in the popular download shops.

- Neuer MP3-Shop -

Kurz vor Weihnachten (ja, es ist tatsächlich bald wieder soweit) haben wir nun auch unseren labeleigenen MP3-Shop eröffnet. Und damit die Möglichkeit geschaffen, nicht nur die kompletten Alben in hoher Qualität herunterladen zu können, sondern nun auch in der gleichen Qualität einzelne Songs auswählen zu können. Und das Ganze ohne lästige Registrierungen oder unnützem D(igital) R(estriction) M(anagement).

Hier findest du den Shop:

http://shop.af-music.de/

Und auch, wenn wir die Preise fair finden (Einzelsong 79 Cent, EP ab 3,50 Euro und Album ab 4,90 Euro) bleibt es auch weiterhin bei unserem Prinzip “Erst hören – dann kaufen” und die meisten Veröffentlichungen sind als freier Download oder im Komplettstream zu bekommen.

- Emerald Park -

Und ganz aktuell ist dann momentan das neue Album “For Tomorrow” der Schweden Emerald Park am vergangenen Freitag erschienen. Und nach allerlei Vorschußlorbeeren der Presse, sind wir jetzt natürlich auf Dein Urteil gespannt. Das Album gibt es neben dem Download auch als CD beim Händler deines Vertrauen. Eine kleine Übersicht ist hier zu finden:

http://www.af-music.de/releases/veroffentlichungen-2006-2008/emeraldpark-fortomorrow/

- Curious -

Ebenfalls am 14.11.2008 erschien das neue Album “Arrhythmia” der Darkwaver aus Bielefeld. Und auch hier scheint sich die Presse einig, dass die Band die letzten 4 Jahre dazu genutzt hat, ein verdammt gutes Album zu produzieren. Infos dazu gibts auf der Seite des Labels Sonorium:

http://www.sonorium.de/

- Sleazy Romance Studioblog -

Die sympathischen Schweden von Sleazy Romance sind momentan im Studio, um ihr Debütalbum aufzunehmen. Und haben extra dafür ein Blog eingerichtet, wo sie neben Infos zu den Aufnahmen auch ab und zu Videos dazu bereitstellen werden.

http://sleazyromance.blogspot.com/

- The Search Gigs in Deutschland -

Die Tour von The Search wurde nun auf Ende März 2009 verschoben, aber für 3 Gigs kommt die Band noch im Dezember nach Deutschland und die Niederlande.

• 05.12.08 Berlin, Factory (+ Golden Apes)
• 08.12.08 Bremen, MS Treue (+ GOMD)
• 11.12.08 Hengelo (NL), Bar/discotheek De NUL

- ZF Records/afmusic Compilation -

Am 24.12.08 werden wir gemeinsam mit Zorch Factory Records aus Frankreich eine kostenfreie Downloadcompilation veröffentlichen. Wer ZF Records noch nicht kennt, dem sei dringend ein Besuch der Webseite ans Herz gelegt, dort finden sich viele gute Bands aus dem Post Punk, Batcave und Gothic-Rock Bereich:

http://www.zorchfactoryrecords.com/

- Ausblick Dezember 2008/Januar 2009 -

Da ist das Jahr nun fast rum, aber einige Veröffentlichungen haben wir dann doch noch zu vermelden. Noch im Dezember werden wir EPs von The Glass Spider (Industrial Rock) und The Forced Oscillations veröffentlichen. Mehr Infos dazu im nächsten Fanletter. Und im Januar stehen jetzt schon mit Veröffentlichungen von all:my:faults, Der Zerfall und The SlimP die nächsten Highlights ins Haus. Uns wird sicher nicht langweilig und vor allem bedanken wir uns bei Allen, die uns bisher tatkräftig unterstützt haben.

In dem Sinne: Join the dark side of internet.music.revolution

25 Veröffentlichungen, weit über 150.000 Gratisdownloads, Bands aus Deutschland, Schweden, Rußland, Italien und Brasilien – das ist die Kurzformel für die noch junge Geschichte unseres Labels. Spezialisiert auf die eher düsteren Klänge aus Darkwave, Gothic-Rock, Indie, Alternative und Industrialrock, sei jetzt ein kleiner Rückblick gestattet…25 ist die Zusammenfassung eines halben Jahres Arbeit mit großartigen Bands und ein Ausblick auf das, was da noch folgen wird.

Und so finden sich auf der Zusammenstellung bisher unveröffentlichte Stücke von The Forced Oscillations, Sleazy Romance, On Wave, Emerald Park, all:my:faults, Unfactory, Rebentisch und The Search, die aktuelle Single “Inconstancy” von Plastique Noir und, um das Ganze abzurunden, ausgewählte Songs der aktuellen Scheiben von the Transisters, The SlimP, Thora und Noctiflora.

Die virtuelle CD gibt es diesmal ausschließlich als kostenfreien Download auf unserer Webseite »

Die Band aus Moskau (Russland) wurde im Jahr 2005 als Duo gegründet. Beeinflußt anfangs von der Neuen Deutschen Welle und EBM-Bands, vollzog sich der Wandel hin zu baßlastigen und athmosphärischen Post-Punk. Die rein elektronischen Stücke werden jetzt unter dem Tbilisi-89 Seitenprojekt weitergeführt. Nach einigen Veränderungen im Line-Up ab Oktober 2007 wurde das vorliegende Material im März 2008 fertiggestellt. Die EP ist weltweit in den bekannten Downloadstores, als Ein-Klick-Download bei afmusic oder als kostenfreier Download unter einer Creative-Commons by-nc-sa Lizenz verfügbar.

Alle Infos und Downloads hier »

Unser Pool wächst stetig und mit Emerald Park (SE), The Forced Oscillations (RU), Newslips (DE) und The SlimP (DE) werden gleich 4 weitere Bands in den nächsten Wochen auf afmusic veröffentlichen.

• The Forced Oscillations – On the Road (EP 13.06.2008)
• Emerald Park – A Higher Loss (Single 20.06.2008)
• The SlimP – ??? (Album 04.07.2008)

Außerdem gibt es am 20.06.08 eine Best-Of namens “04/07″ der italienischen Darkwave-Formation Noctiflora, die im Februar schon ihr aktuelles Album “Vrill” (siehe hier) veröffentlichten.