Vivod レコード& CD

Review: Attraktors originally surfaced back in 2015 with the Future Systems EP. Made up of members of Six.By.Seven, Bivouac, The Selecter and more besides. Now this eclectic group of coldwave connoisseurs fold that initial EP into a raft of new songs to make up a sterling debut album for Vivod. It's brittle, homespun stuff that opens up a wormhole to the bedroom studio explosion of the 1980s, when lo-fi new wave was king. But there are other dimensions to this record, like the dreamy synth pop of "Mensonge Et La Chute" and the cosmic rock stylings of "Theme From Unknown". For all lovers of the early to mid '80s era, this is an album you won't want to miss.

Review: Ooh bit of a coup here from the Vivod label who has coaxed some rare produce out of Luke 'Eargoggle' Pettersson's Monkeyshop project with fellow Swede Ronnie Johansson. The project dates back to 2002 when Creme issued the White Loafers Boulevard EP and Johansson and Pettersson have revisited it on an intermittent basis ever since. Those partial to slabs of arpeggio heavy power Italo will be all over the glorious title track "Escape From The Mental Zoo" whilst "Monkey Barouque" veers off into a delightful pocket of euphoria filled electro. The dark undercurrent that seems to run through every Vivod release is present in the remix of "Escape From The Mental Zoo" from James Francis who reimagines the track as six minutes of widescreen and weightless electronics.

Review: The Golden Lands EP marks the second release from Vivod, the limited pressing vinyl only boutique label from famed Cestrian Robot Ali Renault. Whilst Renault himself handled the Vivod debut - with meaty aplomb - this second release from the label turns to sometime Apartment Records artist NCW for two productions, the first of which features the distinctively named Piss. "Golden" evokes early wave and primitive synth sounds, with droning, delay laden vocals floating over a backdrop of gurgling analogues and gazey guitars - one for Minimal Wave fans! Complementing this "Lands" sees NCW draw out an expansive Cosmiche synth scape in a Steve Moore meets Michael Bundt style.