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MIX TAPE

Digital Leather Makes MAGNET A Mix Tape

DigitalLeather

Digital Leather’s music is as dark and blunt as Joy Division’s, just way more fun to listen to. The recently released All Faded is anchored by earworm synth lines and very forward lyrical refrains (“Drug abuse is good, don’t listen to what they say”). The band has been so kind as to create a mix tape for MAGNET, full of songs that helped inspire the creation of All Faded. Check it out below.

Front 242 “Operating Tracks”
I’ve been on a Front 242 binge all week, and the only way I’m probably going to get over it is to write about it a little bit. Their music seems to be overlooked today (unless you’re a douchey raver Euro-bro), but if it wasn’t for them, synth music might have flat lined after new wave. This is one of Front 242’s first singles, and the video is sweet. It’s basically just a dude doing a freaky EBM dance under some grid lighting. The lyrics don’t make a lot of sense, but the overall sound of the song resonates, unless you just hate this kind of music. I’ve always liked Front 242, and I’m pretty sure I’ve stolen a thing or two from them in the past. The Belgian industrial is movement is over. There are a few groups trying to keep it going. Good for them. The new Digital Leather record sounds nothing like this song. Video

Front 242 “Tragedy For You”
Their love song. It’s bleak and hopeless, and I relate. It’s got a bunch of silly samples and stuff, but that’s what the ‘80s industrial scene was like, I guess: challenging ideas of what music is and can be. In typical Front 242 fashion, the video makes zero sense, but is still great. It’s so cool how into their own music they are in this video. I like how he describes losing his lover as “feeling disemboweled.” Ouch. This is the kind of lyrical plateau I aspire to. Video

Front 242 “Skin”
‘90s Front 242. Not EBM at all. Definitely acid robot, though. There’s a lot of abstraction going on in this song/record (Fuck Up Evil). Creating a shadow world over a four-to-the-floor 909 beat was a pretty brave move in my opinion. Front 242 had always been dark, but here they’re opaque. I really love this stage for the group. If I ever lose the desire to do new, original stuff, I’ll just rip it off completely. Video

Front 242 “Headhunter”
Probably the most-known Front 242 song. It’s from their 1988 record Front By Front. Just before their acid robot phase. It’s about a mercenary who has to hunt down this genius guy for a clandestine corporation. I try to be this disconnected in my writing, but always fail. The music fits the subject, too. It’s just the coolest, coldest thing ever. Video is pretty low budget and even though I don’t get it, I like it. Something to do with a giant egg. Video

S.M. Nurse “Hot Day in Istanbul”
I don’t know a whole lot about this band except it’s old, lo-fi, weird and synthy. Apparently, this is their hit, and I’m liking the hell out of it lately. Video

Black Bug “Push You”
This Swedish project started a few years ago and has been consistently excellent. I played with them a few times in Europe and was blown away. I did vocals for this particular track, and the video is terrific. The single just came out on Avant! Records. Video

The Units “High Pressure Days”
San Francisco band from the ‘70s/‘80s. These guys ushered in new wave as much as Devo. The Moog is so beautiful that you almost forget this album is punk! Video

Grauzone “Eisbar”
This is maybe the perfect cold-wave song, since it’s about a polar bear. It sounds so understated. Video