Sweden’s Principe Valiente return with their third album Oceans. The album opens with Wildest Flowers with Fernando’s as strong as ever voice soaring high above a fantastical shoegaze sea of breezy guitars, bass, drum and keyboards that ebbs and flows around the aural senses. Great track! When I Learned To Crawl – some great guitar hooks that rock! Female vocals add a new dynamic towards the end of the song.
Strangers In The Night was the instant stand out track for me with luscious guitar and bass hooks in a composition as good as anything on Sisters Of Mercy’s “Floodland” with a sprinkle of The Cure / The Essence what a great gothic track! Untouchable is a classical cold, lonely, melancholic slice of dark atmosphere which drifts into almost Slowdive darkened dirge. Love it! Running juveniles – has the musical feel of The Cure’s “Disintegration” album without being a tribute. Dark dream pop! No Time – has a strong 80’s new wave feel in the guitars which makes for another great track. Love the sparks of dual male/female vocals. The Reason Why – sublime shoegaze. Monsters Of The Sea – keeps the tempo low on this delicate dark dreamscape. Great! The album’s over too soon.
Mas Alla – ABSENCIA
Lucretia – ARBEITSGRUPPE WARSCHAU
I’m The Hollow Man – ONO SCREAM
Beyond Flesh – CHASMS
Dark Descent – GROUND NERO
Killer Whales – LAPKO
Side – UNDERPASS
Star – SOVIET SOVIET
The Zoo – FEWS
Feels Like – GLASWEN
Silence – THE COMPLETERS
No Shelter – NERVE QUAKES
Blood – EDITORS
Strangers In The Night – PRINCIPE VALIENTE
Paranoya – MERRY’S FUNERAL
Shades Of Violet – VESTRON VULTURE
Shadowmen – SELOFAN
Crosses – SUPERNOVA 1006
October – NI SLOVA
Night Games – THE KVB
Song To The Siren – THIS MORTAL COIL
A Strange Kind Of Love – PETER MURPHY
Road To Your Soul – ALL ABOUT EVE
Never Tear Us Apart – INXS
Something Gotta Hold Of My Heart – NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS
Love Song For A Vampire – ANNIE LENNOX
Garden Of Delight (hereafter) – THE MISSION
Under The Milkway – THE CRYING SPELL
Little Black Angel – DEATH IN JUNE
Last Beat Of My Heart – SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES
Dreams Made Flesh – DEAD CAN DANCE
Severance – BAUHAUS
Here Comes The Rain – EURYTHMICS
Speed Your Love To Me – SIMPLE MINDS
Only You – YAZOO
Touch – WOLFSHEIM
Burn Me Up – THE FACTORY
Drowned Kiss – FILM NOIR
The Unforgettable Fire – U2
Valentine – SISTERS OF MERCY
Love Song (acoustic) – THE CURE
Melt – SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES
The Tinderbox (of a heart) – THE COCTEAU TWINS
Lips Like Sugar – ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN
Some Girls – SHE WANTS REVENGE
In My Arms – PRINCIPE VALIENTE
Arriving back in Prague on 27th August two things struck me immediately – how much I had missed the city (its people, atmosphere, and the excellent Czech food and drink) and how hot it was compared to the UK – a scorching 30C.
Large Bone above The Roxy bar
In the evening I went to the Roxy Club to catch Viet Cong melting in a sea of Tote Bags and Hipsters. A great concert, despite the heat. At a nearby mini market I discovered a great selection of full skull shaped absinth bottles but it was impossible to get a picture. After the gig I went with my old friend Pavel to record an interview and play some songs on Dark Wave Radio Wave
X-Cryogenics – BERNDSEN
Society – AUTOBAHN
Cool Wind – KOBAN
A New Day – KILLING JOKE
Death Of The European (remastered) – THE THREE JOHNS
IO 1987 – ASTARI NITE
Die Life – THE SOFT MOON
No Will – WHITE HILLS
Industry – NOI KABAT
Waves Without Shores – ASH CODE
Deep Metals – SCHONWALD
Earth Overflows – SECRET SIGHT
In My Arms – PRINCIPE VALIENTE
Skeletones – ESCAPE WITH ROMEO
Day 1 of the PGT10 and The Sanctuary CZ crew pulled out all the stops to make this the most memorable one so far. What a great decision to have a Gothic cruise to kick start the weekend. Great music from the Sanctuary DJ’s and DJ Totentanz made the perfect soundtrack for a cruise in darkness. Somehow a normal couple made it on board and started to make the usual conversation along the lines ” So are you guys vampires?” They were assured we weren’t, however it was suggested if they would like they would like to make their way below they were welcome to take part in the human sacrifice 😉
This cruise will be a lasting memory for everyone fortunate enough to be on board. Great start!
Day 2 – didn’t make it to the picnic as I wanted to make sure I was on top form for the evening and have a few drinks without turning to ash 😉
My setlist @ Fatal Club Praha Sat 29.08.15
Masked Ball – JOCELYN POOK
Darkness Before The Dawn – KILLING JOKE
Charade – SKIDS
Ostentation – AUTOBAHN
Desire – SIEVEHEAD
Higher Than Heaven – BFG
Walking On Your Hands – RED LORRY YELLOW LORRY
Die Life – THE SOFT MOON
I Can’t Escape Myself – ASH CODE
Deep Metals – SCHONWALD
Kalter Lippenstift (In Death It Ends rmx) – VELVET CONDOM
Muscoviet Mosquito – CLAN OF XYMOX
After Dark (master) – DEATHDAY
I Can Smell Your Thoughts – LEATHER NUN
Burning Down (mescal mix) – PLAY DEAD
Transmission – RRRRRRR
Seagulls Eye – THE SNAKE CORPS
The Last Train – GHOSTDANCE
Blue Monday – BUZZ KULL
Serpents Kiss – THE MISSION
Written In Blood – SHE WANTS REVENGE
Christopher Lee Is Dead – DOORS IN THE LABYRINTH
Blah Blah Blah – IGGY POP
1969 – SISTERS OF MERCY
Ca Plan Pour Moi – PLASTIC BERTRAND
Paranoid – THE METEORS
We Are The Monsters – THE KNUTZ
Cramp Stomp – THE CRAMPS
California Uber Alles – DEAD KENNEDYS
Hong Kong Garden – SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES
Requiem – EAGULLS
The Cutter – ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN
Hand In Hand – XMAL DEUTSCHLAND
Teenage Nightingales To Wax (remastered) – THE THREE JOHNS
People Are Poison – COLD CAVE
Like An Animal – THE GLOVE
Killing An Arab – JUSTIN SYMBOL
Rituel – SHE PAST AWAY
Death Reflects Us – BEASTMILK
Second Skin – LOTUS FEED
Ghostdance – DEATHCULT
Vengeance – NEW MODEL ARMY
Sanctuary (long vers) – THE CULT
Thanks to everyone who came along and danced despite the heat and drain from the previous nights partying on the ship 😉
Despite being melted by the heat following a 20 minute mid morning visit to the zoo I think it was around 35 at 12.00 I managed to cool down at the excellent Artists and Prophets at Narodni Galerie which dispelled my belief that the USA was responsible for hippies in the 60’s and 70’s as it is infact the Germans to blame for the birth of the hippies especially Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach who modelled himself on Jesus and nearly founded GOD GMBH for his hippie commune and followers. It was then pointed out in the evening that it might explain why hippies like VW beetles 😉
Klub 007 Strahov one of the oldest clubs in Prague for live music played host’s to two excellent bands Totenwald & Horror Vacui.
Not the easiest of venues to get to, so a big thanks to the Gothic people familiar with Prague for ensuring I got there and back without getting lost 😉 Well worth the effort to get there and not just because it had Rekordelig pear cider but great sound and atmosphere.
What a great end to a great event. A big thanks to Ez, Pavel, Nephilim, Samgarr, Paesant, Va & Anna, The Sanctuary crew and everyone else who by being there made the event great 😉 Look forward to be back in Prague a lot sooner than my last visit 🙂
Despite Jet2’s best efforts to re-enact the experience of death by being locked in a sweat box in Japanese prisoner of war camp or to imagine one is a boil in the bag meal after the idiots had everyone incarcerated on the plane for nearly 60 mins with no doors open, no aircon working due to a technical problem, and no water. The temp outside was at least 35C and inside around 45c but luckily we didn’t end up here despite being ill from it.
Full details to come but the songs I played last night on the radio during my interview were
X-Cryogenics – BERNDSEN
Society – AUTOBAHN
Cool Wind – KOBAN
A New Day – KILLING JOKE
Death Of The European (remastered) – THE THREE JOHNS
IO 1987 – ASTARI NITE
Die Life – THE SOFT MOON
No Will – WHITE HILLS
Industry – NOI KABAT
Waves Without Shores – ASH CODE
Deep Metals – SCHONWALD
Earth Overflows – SECRET SIGHT
In My Arms – PRINCIPE VALIENTE
Skeletones – ESCAPE WITH ROMEO
Choirs Of Blessed Youth is the second album from Sweden’s Principe Valiente and follows their fantastic debut album “Principe Valiente” featuring the epic track In Your Arms. I remember looking forward to seeing them live at last years WGT only to be let down by crap distorted muddy sound at venue which was a real shame for the band!
Definately one of the albums I have been waiting to hear. The album opens with The Son I’ll Never Be what a powerful well crafted song! Fernando has one of those vocal styles that sounds totally original, a wall of keyboards, pounding bass and an well crafted guitar hook ensure an epic opening to the album! Take Me With You was a good choice for a single from the album and sits shoulder to shoulder with In My Arms. Great lyrics about lonliness, on this song alone Principe Valiente deserve to be a lot bigger than they are now. Once this song enters your skull it will never leave! She Never Returned reminds me of classic Editors/Interpol and is the second single from the album. Great power and polished delivery! Love it! The Dream -is the longest track on the album at 9.46, a sublime slice of shoegaze! Reminds me of The Cure’s Disintegration album colliding with Curve Wow! Wasted Time is possibly my favourite track on the album. Destined to be a big smash on the dancefloor. Love it! The Fighting -has a hint of Joy Division dusted with powerpop guitar sounds like classic 80’s new wave/postpunk. Great track! Choir Of Blessed Youth – is the shortest track on the album, more a short atmospheric interlude. Fiction -I love the way this song builds from a whisper to a storm of serene sound. Great song! Dying To Feel Alive – is pure magnificent melancholic power pop! Temporary Men – another great dancefloor track with a punked up/interpol feel. Love it! The album closes with Flower In You a slice of dark melancholic shoegaze with almost a hint of twin peaks. Great stuff!
Look forward to hear this live with perfect sound as it will something special indeed!
Today is my 15th anniversary as a DJ 04/07/1999-04/07/2014 so naturally I feel inclined to celebrate with a new podmix 😉
Disorder – SCHONWALD
Nod (Black Egg rmx) – THE DEVIL & THE UNIVERSE
Black Boots – COLD CAVE
Liar – UNI_FORM
Coleen – THE FOREIGN RESORT
Wasted Time – PRINCIPE VALIENTE
Road Up To The Sky – THE BEAUTIFUL DEAD
My Last Kiss – SUPREME SOUL
Hands – THE KVB
Funeral Eyes – BAT NOUVEAU
Each Time – CINEMASCOPE
Eliza – PETER MURPHY
Escapes – MISERYLAB
Down In The Park (clubmix) – GIRLS UNDER GLASS
On The Edge Of Insanity (single mix) – ARTS OF EREBUS
Night Moans – DER HIMMEL UBER BERLIN
Spiritual Palsy – HATESEX
Mosaic – THE SPIRITUAL BAT
I Want – MEPHISTO WALZ
All Hallows Eve – ALL HALLOWS EVE
Night Calling – LIQUID GREY
Love From Hell – THE STOMPCRASH
In The House Of Tomorrow – THE SHALLOW GRAVES
Poison ! Poison! Poison! – THE DEADFLY ENSEMBLE
Sebastian (alt vers) – SEX GANG CHILDREN
Last Rockers – VICE SQUAD
Lab Animal – SECULAR PLAGUE
Genocidal Crush – BEASTMILK
Midnight Spookshow – CALABRESE
Saint Of Killers – DAMN LASER VAMPIRES
Lovecraft – FRANKENSTEIN
Cramp Stomp – THE CRAMPS
Paranoid – THE METEORS
Das Boot – KLAUS DOLDINGER
We Are As Ghosts – FRIENDS OF ALICE IVY
Little Black Angel – DEATH IN JUNE
Wahlpurgisnacht – SCHANDMAUL
It Is Our Will – THE DEVIL & THE UNIVERSE
Voyage Voyage – DESIRELESS & OPERATION OF THE SUN
Brown Jenkin VIOLET STIGMATA
Before the Daylight – THE REALM
It’s Lonliness – ESCAPE WITH ROMEO
I Need A Life (birmingham 6 rmx) – THE DAMNED
Join The Chant – NITZER EBB
No Devotion – REVOLTING COCKS
Yassassin(edit) – LITFIBA
Tide – THE FOREIGN RESORT
Slow Motion – SKINNER BOX
First & Last & Always – ENDING THE VICIOUS CIRCLE
Among The Young & The Beautiful Ones – WEAREOFF
In Her House – SCREAMS FOR TINA
Deadfall – LAST JULY
Shine On – MEKROKIEV
No Brakes – THE BRAVERY
One More Time – PRINCIPE VALIENTE
Miego Arterija – SIELA
Selbsther – CHANTS OF MALDOROR
Darkland Awakening – SUBTERFUGE
Banner Of The Fray – INTO THE ABYSS
Within The Realm Of A Dying Sun – LOVE LIKE BLOOD
Sovereign – FAITH & THE MUSE
Seance – TWISTED NERVE
L’appel Du Froid – OPERA DE NUIT
Hollow Eyes – DRONNING MAUD LAND
Kicking Down The Walls – DUSKLANDS
After Chaos – PHANTOM VISION
A New Vessel – GROOVING IN GREEN
She Said – THE MARIONETTES
Crucifying My Lies – DATE AT MIDNIGHT
Algorithm Of None – AEON SABLE
Benediction – CROWDED ROOM
Slowa – BLACK & SHADOWS
Annonymous – B F G
Every Brilliant Child – CARCRASH INTERNATIONAL
Mercurial – SCHONWALD
President Gas – THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS
Ludzie Wschodu – THE LAST DAYS OF JESUS
Black Tears – MARIA LOVES ME
False Faces – SOUTHERN DEATH CULT
Amnesia – ERATO
Poison For Tomorrow – BLACKLIST
100 Ways To Kill A Love – POWER OF DREAMS
Upon A Hill – LOTUS FEED
Hunting For Witches – BLOC PARTY
Love Is The Slug – WE’VE GOT A FUZZBOX AND WE’RE GONNA USE IT
Holy War – LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH
Fly Angel Fly – THE LEATHER NUN
Police Truck – DEAD KENNEDYS