Linea Aspera – “Linea Aspera” – [Dark Entries]

New British coldwave with echoes of italodisco. Label’s website claims this terminally hip duo From London, UK lyrically “incorporates the sciences of osteology, neuroscience, and anthropology weaving a new medical language around themes of desire, despair and renewal.’ I think this claim is a bit pretentious–the same tried-and-true goth and coldwave preoccupations (death, lost love) are present, and synthwave bands have been fascinated by science since the late 70s. This 2012 debut album is full of mournful cold-synth cuts that would go well with the revival bands playing in Detroit these days (such as those on the ‘Something Cold’ label). Equipment: “Roland SH-09, Roland Juno 6, Vermona DRM MKiii, Korg Poly 800 and Analogue Solutions Semblance.” Left out of this list is perhaps their most important piece of gear: Alison Lewis’ desperately beautiful vocal cords. Her delivery is at times deadpan and at times sounds almost on the verge of tears. I love this kind of singing; it conveys a certain je ne sais quoi– or maybe I just need a lie-down? On A2 we are languidly informed “everything that breathes has to die.” My favorite tracks are Moroder-influenced B4 and sublime B1: a great pop song and a great piece of art– It can be done! Disco that stares relentlessly into both the mirror and the abyss. Dancing with myself. B2 is equal parts Depeche Mode and HOH. Other interesting moments are the computer-vomit intro of A3 and ambient intro of B3, both of which display less “musical” electronic influences. Sounds like Soft Cell, Goldfrapp, Chromatics (but better), Cold Cave, you get the idea. Grab some cocaine and a dead lover’s old letters. “Perfection is the harshest term.” I know how you feel, dear…