Encephalon - Psychogenesis 2CD

Encephalon - Psychogenesis (Infinity Edition) 2CD
2015 Dependent

I've had all sorts of troubles with this release. First off, I did get my Infinity Edition box almost on release day, but it was one CD short. I got the bonus CD and a couple of postcards (why are we getting postcards in almost all limited releases nowadays? It's not like there's a specific use for them, is it? Am I going to write to my mum from Ibiza on an Encephalon postcard?). The actual "Psychogenesis" CD arrived a week later. I had then listen quite a lot to the bonus CD, and I liked it a lot. The hype was on! These circumstances made the original CD a big let down. It seems that all the good songs were already on the bonus CD, and the actual album contained all the fillers... I hope my opinion will change, giving this album a bit more time.

VA - Dependence 2015

VA - Dependence 2015
(2015) Dependent

A new sampler CD from Dependent records is one of my personal highlights each year. It's been two years since the last Dependence CD and three years since Septic X was released. As usual with the Dependence series, there's a lot of unreleased or exclusive tracks from the Dependent roster on this CD. The stand-out tracks for me are the new Encephalon and Edge Of Dawn songs plus, of course, the Pride And Fall Immortal-cover "Norden On Fire". There's not a bad song here. All top notch Dependent quality!

Iris - Radiant 2CD+2LP

Iris - Radiant 2CD+2LP (2014)
Dependent

The second Iris record I own. I don't know how they sounded before Infacted and Dependent began to release their records. This box was a bit expensive, mainly because I'm not that interested in vinyl. But it was the only way to get hold of the bonus CD. Unfortunately I soon realised that the whole album was easily bought as a download (with the bonus songs). Great melancholic syntpop with cool bass lines. This is the third synthpop album in a row on this blog. Now it's time for a change..

Pride And Fall - Turn The Lights On EP

Pride And Fall - Turn The Lights On
EP (2014) Dependent

I don't know how they came up with the idea to make a single/EP of this song. It's certainly not the best song from last years "Of Lust And Desire" album. I know they did a remix contest for this song, and I guess they liked the outcome of it. But if it was up to me I would've picked another song, maybe "Hollow". By the way, the "Of Lust And Desire" has grown a ton on me. I really like that album now! Anyway, The Pride And Fall remix of "Turn The Lights On" is a keeper.

Seabound/Iris - Radiant Turbulence EP

Seabound/Iris - Radiant Turbulence
EP (2014) Dependent

This is an awesome and very limited tour EP containing (I think) five exclusive songs, three by Seabound and two by Iris. Two of the Seabound songs are re-recorded and, of course, remastered songs from their 1996 legendary demo (which I would love to obtain - I haven't even heared it). The Seabound songs makes this EP a must buy. The third song is, by the way, an excellent Architect (Daniel Myer) remix of "A Grown Man" from their latest album. Iris have never been favourites of mine, but I suppose the two songs are worth a listen or two!

Seabound - Speak In Storms (Tempest Edition)

Seabound - Speak In Storms (Tempest Edition)
2CD (2014) Dependent

This year is starting promising, but all the releases are digging a huge hole in my wallet. I had to have this "Tempest Edition" of Seabound's new album. It's a nice book in a 7" cover, with lots of cool artwork. But it also has a download code for exclusive content.
So far, just one song has been made available - but more is promised for the future. I really like this album. The only two songs I'm not crazy about is the two opening tracks. I wonder why they put the weakest tracks as album openers?

Covenant - Leaving Babylon

Covenant - Leaving Babylon 2CD
(2013) Dependent

Covenant are back on Dependent Records again. Sadly, Daniel Myer aren't. He left the band before this album was released, but some of his compositions are featured. This album is much better than "Modern Ruin" (2011). Heck, I even like some of the slower songs! But please don't waste your money on the limited 2CD edition. The bonus CD is one 74 minute "song" filled with background noise and the reading of some poem - in Swedish!

Pride And Fall - Of Lust And Desire

Pride And Fall - Of Lust And Desire
(2013) Dependent

Finally a new Pride And fall album! It's been six years since the fabolous "In My Time Of Dying". Was it worth the wait? I really don't know. This new album sounds like Pride And Fall, but it lacks in both the songs and arrangements. Some songs, like the fantastic "Reborn", are really well executed, with great sounds and twists, and then there's songs that seems to be no more than demos. So, all in all, this record is a bit of a disappointment to me. But it has it's moments. And some fantastic songs.

Ghost & Writer - Red Flags

Ghost & Writer - Red Flags
(2013) Dependent

Yet another new album featuring Frank M. Spinath on vocals. He's everywhere nowadays. Always relevant with Seabound, Edge Of Dawn and his new all-star band Radioaktivists. This album is a real gem, especially if you buy the CD. The album features 8 original tracks plus 8 remixes. Included in the CD booklet is a download code for "The Black Album", featuring 8 additional remixes. Great value for money!

Mesh - Automation Baby

Mesh - Automation Baby 2CD
(2013) Dependent

It's time for Mesh to release the follow up to their stunning 2009 album "A Perfect Solution" and it's remixed twin, "An Alternative Solution", released in 2011. The new album isn't as good as "A Perfect Solution". But it's ok, with some outstanding tracks - like the first single "Born To Lie" and the album opener "Just Leave Us Alone". I bought the limited 2CD version, but there's no need for that. The bonus disc is not worth the extra money. Maybe I would've liked the album better if I hadn't bought the limited editon?

Pride And Fall - Border DDEP

Pride And Fall - Border DDEP
(2005)  Dependent

This is not a particularly good release. It contains three really bland remixes of the title track plus the album version, which is good - but you already own the album, don't you? The two songs on this EP that makes it worth a mention here is the Club Edit of "Border" and the exclusive "Dissent". Both these tracks are worth going an extra mile for. I've been looking for this EP in decent quality since it was released in 2005. Last weekend I finally found it on Juno Download in wav. Yey!

VA - Dependence 2012

VA - Dependence 2012
(2012) Dependent

Now it's time for the 4th Dependent records label sampler. It's packed with unreleased or hard to get tracks from most of the active bands on their rooster. On top of that they introduce an exclusive song by the new act Radioaktivists. The album also features the first tracks in a very long while from both Seabound and Pride And Fall. This album gives me hope that there's still a lot of great upcoming releases from Dependent!

VA - Septic X

VA - Septic X (2012)
Dependent

It's already time for part ten of this classical industrial compilation series. This CD is maybe among the weakest ones, but it's still a recommended purchase. You get exclusive tracks from Dependent artists like Acretongue, Edge Of Dawn and Ghost & Writer. There's also some new and interesting artists to discover such as Volt 9000 and Radical G. There's even a piano ballad of Legacy Of Music Feat. Mesh. The best song is possibly "Mauerradio (Extended Version)" by Patenbrigade: Wolff, and this is a bit sad because the track is five years old. I thought the Septic series was all about getting new songs to be recognized, and maybe get some playtime at clubs?

Acretongue - Strange Cargo

Acretongue - Strange Cargo
(2011) Dependent

This has been an exciting autumn for all the lovers of quality electronic music. Just these last few weeks I've been praising Haujobb, Encephalon and System Syn. And now it's time for South Africa's Acretongue first proper album. The self released debute album is still freely available at the bands Bandcamp site. Be sure to check it out!

Encephalon - The Transhuman Condition

Encephalon - The Transhuman Condition
(2011) Dependent

Finally, the first full lenght album from Canada's Encephalon. I really liked their 2009 self released EP "Drowner" and I dig this album even more! I think it's great that Dependent records are releasing some newcomers, and not only going for the safe releases. This album contains almost all elements of the current electronic scene. Trancy elements, distorted vocals, clean vocals, filter sweeps, ebm, futurepop, synthpop, vocoders - you name it! A great and varied release.

Mesh - An Alternative Solution 2CD

Mesh - An Alternative Solution 2CD
Dependent

This is not a new Mesh album, it's an album of remixes and some rare tracks from 2010's "A Perfect Solution". Some of these remixes are really good. Zeromancer's "If We Stay Here" remix and Iris Feat. Julia Beyer's "Is It So Hard?" are the stand out tracks for me. Parralox's "Hopes, Dreams" remix are really cool and interesting. Get this album if you liked "A Perfect Solution" and want more. 

VA - Dependent Club Anthems

VA - Dependent Club Anthems
(2011) Dependent

This is a great introduction to the electro/industrial world of Dependent records - or to the scene in general. I like 13 of the 15 featured songs, but sadly I didn't find any new favourites - which is the main reason for me to buy compilation albums. But it's a hell of an album! Get it immediately (it's available on midprice, so there's really no reason for not buying it).

VA - Dependence 2011

VA - Dependence 2011 (2011)
Dependent

A taste of this years artist roster of Dependent records. The only thing this record's missing is some Mind.In.A.Box updates. Otherwise it has it all; A great new song from Encephalon, a new Stromkern song, some cool remixes and the excellent Urcerous Exit remix of Edge Of Dawn's "All The Time" previously only available as download. If I'm correct this record should be sold as mid-price, so there's really no excuse not picking this up!

Ghost & Writer - Shipwrecks

Ghost And Writer - Shipwrecks (2011)
Dependent

This is Frank M. Spinath's (Seabound, Edge Of Dawn) third active band. I don't know how he finds time for all those projects. The songs "Hitman" and "From Hell" have been around some time now. They we're first released on the "Fourplay" compilation back in 2006. And the song "Capsized" was released on last years Edge Of Dawn album "Anything That Gets You ThroughThe Night". This is a peculiar album containing 8 songs plus 8 remixes. In other words, if you buy this album you'll also get a free remix-album!

Edge Of Dawn - Stage Fright EP

Edge Of Dawn - Stage Fright EP+DD
(2010) Dependent

Edge Of Dawns "Stage Fright EP" is a bit more club friendly record than their most recent album "Anything That Gets You Through The Night".
It consists mostly of remixes from that album, and some new songs.
Personally I think this is the better album of the two. Especially if you consider the two free bonus download remixes you get if you buy the album. Urceus Exits remix of "All The Time" is nothing but stunning! I want that song on CD. Now!
The Steril remix of "Stage Fright" is also really, really good.