Following the success of their critically lauded 2021 album Afraid To Leave, the Berlin-based post-punk outfit Bleib Modern extended an invitation to their artistic comrades to reinterpret their songs, leading to the creation of 2 Afraid 2 Leave. This compilation of diverse covers showcases an array of remixes and reimaginings from notable figures in the darkwave, post-punk, and EBM genres.

2 Afraid 2 Leave showcases a spectrum of creative reinterpretations that breathe new life into its tracks. The KVB infuses the opener, Glow, with a spikier, club-ready edge, while Dune Messiah’s rendition of Loony Voices morphs the track into a frenetic and eerie echo with an unexpected twist of Spaghetti Western flair. IV Horsemen reimagines Bitter Smile as a brooding darkwave anthem, whereas Grotto Terrazza’s bossa nova spin on Your Skin cleverly nods to early Depeche Mode vibes. Meanwhile, X!lit Klaus’s rendition of Sleep clashes with metallic, resonant clamor, creating an incessant racket that ironically invigorates, reminiscent of Fad Gadget’s avant-garde experiments.

Bring Her’s interpretation of Portrait echoes a haunting synergy reminiscent of Kim Gordon and Xmal Deutschland, as if unearthing a long-lost collaboration. Soaked is transformed by Promille Grazie into an eerie echo that reverberates with the distinctive melancholy of The Cure. Meanwhile, The Underground Youth’s exquisite cover of Around Your Arms carries the profound intensity of Nick Cave, imbuing the track with a gravitas and soul-stirring howl. Shad Shadows takes a stab at Walls, whirling us into the space with wildly swooshing flangers, launching into an echoing, haunting vocal reminiscent of Interpol.

Listen to 2 Afraid 2 Leave below, and order the remix album here:

2 Afraid 2 Leave by Bleib Modern

Accompanying the new version of Into The Night, covered by M!R!M!, is a visually arresting music video, the handiwork of the band’s drummer, Thomas Schamann, endearingly referred to as “glitchboy.” This self-directed clip artfully stitches together scenes from their vibrant Fall 2021 tour with M!R!M. As it unfolds, the video traverses the landscapes of Germany, France, and the Czech Republic, each frame offering an intimate lens into Bleib Modern’s vigorous live performances and their creative journey. It’s a piece that not only complements the music but also provides a window into the band’s spirited sojourns and artistic endeavours.

Das Beat infuses Glow with a funky Krautrock essence, complemented by vocals that carry a hint of Marlene Dietrich’s sinister allure. Blind Delon’s take on Loony Voices veers into the realm of the nightmarish, marked by its hauntingly distorted vocals. The compilation concludes with Nox’s rendition of “Sleep,” tenderly reimagined as a soothing piano ballad.

With 2 Afraid 2 Leave you can enjoy Bleib Modern’s music from a different perspective while the band is working on brand new material.

The visual identity of 2 Afraid 2 Leave is the collaborative creation of Thomas Schamann and Peter Zeitner, with the album’s audio meticulously mastered for vinyl by Ruud Lekx. The album finds its home with Wave Tension Records for its vinyl incarnation and Icy Cold Records for the CD format.

You can hear the original Afraid To Leave here:

Afraid To Leave LP by Bleib Modern

Follow Bleib Modern:

Instagram
Facebook
YouTube

The post Listen to Berlin Post-Punk Outfit Bleib Modern’s Remix Album “2 Afraid 2 Leave” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

Source: Post-Punk.com

Never had to be in your body
For what you got to say
I am not a failure
Your transformation dreams are offloaded
Frankie Rex, the talented vocalist and guitarist of the NYC alt-punk duo The FMs, met a tragic end in 2022 due to a fentanyl overdose at just 37 years old. Initially, this loss appeared to mark the end of the band’s journey; however, this week The FMs have poised themselves to regenerate into a deeply moving and significant new phase – a transformation, if you will.

Frankie Rex, a trans masc artist, was a significant presence in the city’s alt-punk scene since the late 2000s. Their musical path included time with the queer-punk trio BOYS and later, The Violent Orange. In 2017, Frankie and longtime friend Matte Namer joined forces to create The FMs, a moniker that not only stands for the initials of their names but also references “femme/masc” and “female/male,” capturing the duo’s exploration of gender expressions and identities in their music.

Photo: Alice Teeple
The FMs quickly gained notoriety for their pervasive street promotions across New York City’s five boroughs. Their stickers and graffiti stencils seemed to appear on every other block, for a time making their logo a familiar part of the cityscape. Rex and Namer’s rise to prominence was fueled by their unforgettable underground live performances and BDSM-themed parties, in collaboration with the Sub/vert collective, aboard an old barge in Brooklyn. Their music, known for its passionate punk anthems, celebrated diversity, tackled themes of gender and sexuality, and sparked vital discussions on issues like gun violence, toxic masculinity, selfie culture, and AI. Frankie Rex’s approachable and positive attitude fostered many collaborations and celebrated queer life: openly discussing gender fluidity and fostering a sense of community among their followers. Their loss left a massive hole in the NYC scene, one that Namer is determined to fill with good memories of their friend.

The FMs had recorded at least two albums’ worth of material before Rex’s death. Recently, Namer made an announcement on the band’s social media:

“The FMs are crawling out of hibernation.

This year, I am preparing to give you so much of what we were, what we are, what we could have been, what we always will be. So many many songs. Our voices, both together…and apart.
,
I am preparing to steadily give you everything we did that you haven’t heard. To show you what this band truly is. To carry on for my F.
Be here with me so I can show you everything. All for him. All for you.

Our story is not over.”

Transformation Dreams encapsulates the trans experience through metaphors of medical transformation, reflecting the journey from scrutiny to self-actualization. It highlights societal challenges and personal growth, portraying transition as a rebirth that transcends societal rejection, embodying themes of resilience, empowerment, and the profound significance of embracing one’s true identity.

Collaborating with trans artists Dylan Mars Greenberg and 2D animator Rachael DeVore, the video for Transformation Dreams becomes particularly meaningful, exploring the nuanced relationship between the spirit and its physical embodiment. Frankie’s inimitable voice is thankfully preserved and moulded  into the guise of a hologram. Frankie may be resting, but he’s certainly doing it in power.

The video, enriched with appearances from underground artists such as Miss Cherry Delight, Ann-Marie Antonucci, Jazmyn Hanks, Kate Grattan, Danyal, K.D. Griffiths, and Athena Kali, unfolds as a poignant short film delving into themes of consciousness, mortality, and the essence of Self.

This creative alliance offers a unique perspective on gender, reflecting the lived experiences of trans individuals. While the video and acerbic lyrics certainly make a bold political statement in these dangerously unsettled times, it also delves into a deeper spiritual conversation, bridging the gap between our mortal existence and the unknown beyond. It raises the intriguing question: Does gender extend beyond the confines of our worldly dimensions?

Watch “Transformation Dreams” below:

“A lot of our songs are about our journey to free ourselves from the shame of being different,” Namer said in the band’s bio. “We hope our music can celebrate marginalized people who don’t fit into the gender binary, heteronormative culture, and…traditional monogamous relationships.”

The song comes off the FMs’ upcoming album PINK + BLACK, out 10 May.

Recorded throughout 2017-2019 on an old ferry docked in the middle of Bushwick, Brooklyn, PINK + BLACK was produced by bandleader Matte Namer, with Brian Forbes acting as co-producer and mix engineer. The material highlights Namer’s love of analogUE synthesizers combined with etherial guitars and takes a more psychedelic and emotionally dynamic turn as compared to their debut album spanning themes from sexual irreverence, the nature of dreams and human connection, to hope for the future of gender freedom.

“The concept for PINK + BLACK began seven years ago and includes over a thousand hours of blood, sweat and tears put into the recording process,” says Namer. “This is Frankie’s legacy and the world deserves to hear it.”

PINK + BLACK is out on May 10, 2024.

Pre-order the album here

PINK + BLACK by The FMs

The first-ever Frankie Fest, an annual queer rock festival honoring the legacy of the late Frankie Rex, will take place on May 11th at Coney Island. The event, which will also serve as the record release party for Pink & Black, will feature the first performance from The FMs in over four years, and the first-ever without Frankie. Frankie Fest will highlight a range of cutting-edge NYC-based queer performers showcasing indie rock, goth, riot grrrl, punk, metal and more and will include appearances by Pink Velvet Witch, Jordan Fiction, Villins, Llynks, Frida Kill, and Miss Cherry Delight.

Frankie Fest is a benefit for CFLC (Chosen Family Law Center). Proceeds benefiting CFLC’s new Frankie Maddox Rex Memorial Fund will support low-income TNBGNC New Yorkers with free legal services to support the dignity and safety they deserve, including name changes, support with identity documents, asylee green card applications and medical advance directives.

Learn more about The FMs:

Website
Spotify
Facebook
Instagram

The post Frankie Rex In Hologram: The FMs Blend Art, Activism, and the Afterlife in “Transformation Dreams” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

Source: Post-Punk.com

Tout est sweetie, tout est cheesy et tutti quanti
Banane fluo kiss cool chou tellement tweetie
And now for something completely different: dust off your pool noodles and skate on over, it’s time to pull an Office Space on symbols of late capitalism.

The protests in France paint a multifaceted picture, encompassing grievances from economic disparity to civil rights. Fueled by contentious policies like pension reforms and COVID-19 measures, demonstrators flood the streets, demanding change. Central to the unrest is a clash between government vision and public concerns. Amid peaceful advocacy, sporadic violence highlights intense frustration. Embracing this dissent, LoloCrash channels the French spirit in the enigmatic video for the highly catchy absurdist anthem, SWEETIE.

The lyrics to SWEETIE, performed in a Tom Vek-style sprechstimme with a B-52s joie de vivre, describe a sweet, cheesy world filled with fluorescent bananas, kisses, and tweets…but “Kris” is urged to reveal their sharp side. Love, chapped lips, smoking, and wide-open legs are referenced – because, you see, the simple pleasures in life we take for granted are at risk. “Kris” is asked to show their claws and grasp what’s slipping away. While the saccharine verses could be construed as fluffy nonsense, it could also be construed as a metaphor for what we, as a collective, could lose.

The delightful video, directed by Julien Ruphy Production, is a phantasmagorical daydream of beating down the system, quite literally. LoloCrash skates his way to a group of balaclava-clad mischief makers, each hellbent on a cathartic smackdown in a vacant lot. Maybe…just maybe…these wacky noodles will at last open the portal to love.

Watch the video for “Sweetie” below:

Picture this: The enigmatic artist LoloCrash was able to play the violin miraculously just two days after birth. A renowned Russian professor spotted their talent and they both escaped to a forest, emulating bird calls all the while. After a 15-year hiatus in the woods, LoloCrash returned to the stage, experimenting with noise and assembling a semi-professional band. Amidst inflation and shuttered bars, LoloCrash devised a jukebox that brought in profit but little respect, or vice versa.

“LoloCrash: the tearful boxer, love’s sting…”

Parisians can catch LoloCrash live on Wednesday,  24 April, at 20:00 at PARIS13 La Dame de Canton.

Follow LoloCrash:

Instagram
Facebook

The post French Synth Punk Project LoloCrash Debuts Video for Absurdist Anthem “Sweetie” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

Source: Post-Punk.com

Auch dieses Jahr spielen Kraftwerk nur ein einziges Deutschland-Konzert, fahren dafür jedoch wieder eine spektakuläre Open Air Produktion auf! Alle Infos hier.

Source: Sonic Seducer

Tanzwut present the title track of their new album, expected on August 9, 2024, as the first single release: “Achtung Mensch!” In doing so, they are truly causing a “conflagration of the soul”, as the text puts it. Is it really too late for humanity, are we going full throttle against the wall? Tanzwut certainly […]

Source: Orkus