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Fifi Rong‘s latest single, “Love Yourself First,” is available for free as a download in WAV format. Help yourself, but consider some of the merchandise options the Sino-British artist has made available. These include masks suitable for the London Underground and signed posters, both designed with impeccable taste.

That comes as no surprise, as Rong has carefully steered her career in the most authentic way possible. Keeping that way is the lyrical theme of “Love Yourself First”: as Rong sings, “Love from the self is far more precious than love from others.”

For sure, show her some love by picking up some merch, but download the song and love yourself first.

Strikkland (Photo: Krichan Wihlborg)

Strikkland is a new electronic band from western Sweden. Their music is a bit of the harder kind, but there are also calmer songs.

Normally, I never write about new bands, but I believe in this. We have two people who are focused on what they do, and I want to see them live now.

The band consists of two gentlemen, named Henrik J and Henric C.

Four years ago, they started playing for fun. Henric has been playing instruments since he was a kid. They started with software synths, but after a while they got some hardware synths and started to work with those, too.

In 2019, the idea of ​​releasing music to the public came, and in 2020 they started to come up with some songs.

Creating a video was obvious when Henrik works with film production in his daily job.

They’ve released some songs that you can hear on Spotify, and this fall ​​an LP is expected. The disc will be released in physical and digital formats.

Sweden’s Emmon have released a new EBM-influenced track and video.

“For Real” has the tension of old-school DAF, if it had an Alan Wilder-style arrangement. Written by Emma Nylén and Jimmy Monell, the song bubbles with electronic energy under Nylén’s classy vocals.

The video by Niklas Kärreskog keeps to an industrial theme with grainy footage.

Dear Readers and Friends,

This year is not turning out the way we expected. Some researchers and health professionals anticipated the events we are living through, but governments failed to heed their warnings and prepare for a public health emergency. We are now reaping the whirlwind sowed by “austerity” policies.

Many of us are living under conditions of curfew; called “lock-down” or “staying at home.” The best scientific information is that these measures are required to slow the spread of the virus, but it means the cancellation of shows for many months. For promoters, venues, artists and the staff who make their living working events, this has given rise to an immediate economic crisis.

At Cold War Night Life, we support the following immediate measures to assist culture workers affected by the pandemic and lock-down:

• full compensation for culture workers who have lost their livelihoods
• financial support for culture workers who were self-employed
• suspension of rent and mortgage payments during the period of lock-down
• state commissioning and sponsorship of art, in order to provide a livelihood for artists and the production of cultural material to support the people who are living under lock-down

Tours might be cancelled but not 2020. Through acts of social solidarity – such as buying music on bandcamp,com – fans can directly help artists to sustain themselves during this time. If you can, use that channel to help artists and get some great music. If you agree with them, we also suggest raising the bulleted items above with your respective governments. Let them know that bailing out airlines, car manufacturers and hotel chains isn’t your priority; the support of culture is.

Stay safe and positive!

COLD WAR NIGHT LIFE

PS: To get you started, here are some links to the Bandcamp pages of some of the artists we cover:

Juno Jensen (Photo: Cecilia Riis Kjeldsen)

Pieces of Juno is the project of Norway’s Juno Jensen.

“Wake Me Up” is the first track to be revealed from her forthcoming album, Euthymia. Recorded in an empty swimming pool for extra reverb, Jensen describes the song as being about “following one’s own truth and to find a stillness in being, to let go.”

Euthymia is a word derived from the Greek for “well” and “soul.” In the mental health field, it is used to describe the state of balance between the highs and lows of those with bipolar disorder.

As we have seen throughout the album cycle that began with Kalopsia and comes to an end with the release of the new album on 27 March 2020, Jensen’s interests lie in the states of the mind. We read “Wake Me Up” as being about the relationship between self-control and vulnerability. The balance is where happiness is found:

I open my eyes
I open my mind
I open my soul to you
And hope you’ll love me
I open my body
To whatever may happen
I open my heart
To whomever may enter

(Via Side-Line)

By Bernard Van Isacker

Excellent news again from the Nordics. The cult Swedish EBM act Pouppée Fabrikk is back with the very first brand-new studio album since the 90’s!

On “Armén” (out on March 27 via Alfa Matrix and available now in pre-order) they bring their solid early-Electronic Body Music sonic roots accross 10 tracks including Henrik Björkk’s commanding growling vocals, repetitive bass lines and solid hard beats. And for the very first time, it also features a song in their native Swedish language, “Kom Ta Min Smärta”. The whole was mastered by legendary Jouni Ollila, also a former member of the band.

The new album will be released on March 27 in multiple formats including a limited black vinyl edition and a fan CD edition with bonus goodies, and a normal CD version. All 3 formats can now be pre-ordered via the Alfa Matrix webstore. The download is available now via Bandcamp as well with 2 tracks for immediate download if you place your pre-order.

Pouppée Fabrikk have been active since 1987 and are the absolute leaders of what is called the EKM movement (Elektronisk Kroppsmusik). Their minimalist powerful electronic style has often been compared to electronic pioneers like DAF and Nitzer Ebb but the band has always managed to create a very own approach.

With the addition of Jouni Olilla and Jonas Aneheim on guitar the band moved towards a more Die Krupps-style electronic/metal mix. The “Your Pain – Our Gain” CD was meant to be released in 1996, but due to differences in opinion between the band and the record company (Energy Rekords) it was delayed until 1999. In 1996 the band decided to take a break and PF was put on hold and the band members worked on various solo projects.

In 2000 the band briefly re-united for a gig at the Tinitus Electronic Festival and released a 4-track mini CD entitled “Elite Electronics”. The band fully re-united in 2009, with Christian R filling the place of former member Jouni Ollila. Their previous album (“The Dirt”) released in 2013 wasn’t really a new album as it held material based on early abandoned demo’s next to a few new songs. It was however very well received by their fanbase who craved for old school material from the band.

 In 2019, the band announced the production of a new album, “Armén”, the first full length album since 1994.

S.P.O.C.K, the Swedish party band from outer space, have confirmed a live date in London.

The act formally known as Star Pilots on Channel K will perform at Slimelight, the capital’s longest-running alternative club night, on Saturday, 1 February 2020.

S.P.O.C.K will be well known to readers of Cold War Night Life for their catchy, melodic poptronica sound and deep lyrics infused with science fiction themes. As we have noted previously:

S.P.O.C.K might look, on the outside, like a Star Trek-themed novelty act, but in fact it’s a complex and sophisticated blend of poptronica and philosophy. Like the best science fiction, their music tells us more about our life on Earth than any imaginary venue in space, but the message is hidden within layers of vintage synths that lure you towards the dancefloor.

When they celebrated their 25 year mission, way back in 2013, we were there to report on the event. It was one of our first features, and we have followed them closely since – never failing to get soaked or good pictures!

The S.P.O.C.K show follows Cold War Night Life’s presentation of Lau Nau and Vile Electrodes at Cecil Sharp House earlier in the evening of Saturday, 1 February 2020. Their announcement promises a full night of entertainment for those trying to forget the Brexit boundary date!