Velvet Condom - "Vanity And Revolt" CD

Sly electro wave

The name "Velvet Condom" is meant to evoke something smooth, but safe and plastic, and that more than fits here. This French-via-Berlin duo has released several albums since their formation in 2005, and this new one includes 80 minutes of what the band call "dirty pop" or "weird wave". I'd add "robot pop" as another possible description, as these tracks are minimal electronic pop tunes that harken back to the early new-wave days. 

There are a multitude of sly synth grooves, not overly dance-worthy, but definitely of a gritty big-city Euro decadence. Imagine early Soft Cell combined with early Cure, as in "Trash Vaudeville", or the shoegazey Jesus & Mary Chain-styled "Separ-Hate". "Vanity And Revolt" is a very retro-inspired take on post-punk, maintaining a strict melodic slant within the cold and often gray feel of the songs. Solid work, especially for fans of classic wave.

Rustblade

Velvet Condom site

My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult - "Sinister Whisperz" CD

Subtitled "The Wax Trax! Years (1987-1991)", this 13-song collection harkens back to the glory days of this Chicago-based glam/dance/industrial act. And as a tribute to Wax Trax! founding fathers Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher (R.I.P. gentlemen), it's a fitting set, keeping the group's trademark mix of horror/occult themes and kitschy glam-club disco. As it turns out, "Sinister Whisperz" is not as much a compilation as a remix, from the early "And This Is What The Devil Does" or "Do You Fear For Your Child" to the more undeniably classic aggressive club sounds of "The Days Of Swine And Roses" and "Kooler Than Jesus".

And truth be told, TKK founders Marston Daley (aka Buzz McCoy) and Groovie Mann (Frankie Nardiello) have kept just about everything as I remember. Perhaps there are some minor tweaks here and remasterings there, but these cuts are oddly similar to the original tracks. Not that it's a bad thing, but fans expecting a modern mash-up of great Chicago dance cuts apply elsewhere. As a collection of the TKK's best tracks, this one hits the spots perfectly. The only thing missing is "Sex On Wheelz", but that's a minor complaint. Cooler than jesus indeed, this one's a must-get for old-school, die-hard Wax Trax! fans like me. (Rustblade)

TKK website