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The digital only demo release ‘Catastrophe’ is currently no longer available. However, many of the songs are being reworked into what will become the next full gothtronica Anders Manga album, ‘Infinite Gaze to the Sun’ (Working Title). Some big news coming soon….
The Anders Manga songs “X’s & The Eyes”, “The Transit Begins”, “100,000 Tears” & “The Monster Demands a Mate” will be used in “The Shriven”, a horror film by Brian Schiavo starring Sienna Aldridge currently in production. More as it develops…
Interview with Anders Manga in the October issue of Zillo Magazine (Germany)
ZILLO: Instead of committing yourself to one musical direction, you combine electro, industrial, dark wave and gothic elements. Most listeners will be glad to see an artist who’s not limiting himself, while club promoters, festival organizers etc. often ask for either “electro”, “industrial” OR “gothic” bands. So far, has this decision been an advantage or disadvantage? Do you think that establishing the band would have been easier if you had limited yourself to one direction from the early days on?
ANDERS MANGA: Good question. Yes I’ve always been a misfit but I have to do what I do. I wouldn’t get any enjoyment out of being an imitator of another artist. I can’t write songs in a box under stipulations like that. It must suck to artists who have to think, “Well I can’t release this song because it sounds too dark” or “I can’t play that because it’s too electro”. Yes, I could pigeonhole myself and probably be more accepted but fuck that. That’s not being an artist, that’s being a tool. It’s a shame that everything has to fit into a label with some of these promoters. The scene would probably have a broader appeal if Read the rest of this entry »
ANDERS MANGA: X’S & THE EYES
by Gregory S. Burkhart
My first exposure to this wickedly inventive, dark electro-rock outfit was the track ‘I Cast You Out,’ a dark, heavy beat electro-fest built entirely on Regan’s filth-spewing demonic dialogue from The Exorcist. Needless to say, I replayed that one about twenty-six times (to the obvious horror of those sitting nearby, which delighted me even further), but it was after digging a little deeper into Anders’ work that I realized there was more than just a spiky, macabre sense of fun going on here…
The sound of Anders Manga, by now quite well known in Goth & Darkwave circles (bigger in Europe, but pretty well-entrenched in the US as well), is heavily infused with nostalgia for the ‘80s dance roots of the current Gothic dance movement, but they manage to avoid rehashing the club-friendly formula that tends to overshadow the genre’s occasional moments of dark brilliance. They also know how to craft a slick hook without betraying the dark mood ‘ something bands like New Order and Sisters of Mercy managed to pull off at their respective creative peaks.
With the assistance of vamp-a-licious keyboardist Devallia, synth guru Sco and drummer Curse, the Charlotte, NC-based Anders recently rolled out his fifth full-length release X’s & the Eyes ‘ a hybrid of sorts which effectively splices the harsh grind of 2007’s Blood Lush to the softer elements of their freshman album One Up for the Dying.
On average, the overall energy level of this outing is a bit more subdued, which creates an environment for either lumbering menace (exemplified in the title track) or reflective melancholy ‘ the latter possibly due to the influence of co-producer Isaac Glendening, co-founder of softer synth-pop outfit Cesium 137. I was pleasantly surprised by the emotional strength of gentler tracks like ‘100,000 Tears’ (one of the best candidates for a Goth slow-dance number I’ve heard lately), as well as the somber tone of piano-based closing track ‘These Colors Never Run.’
This is not an unusual move for Anders, since they scored low-tempo, mellow hits in the past with ‘Sleeping (In the Fire)’ and ‘Surrender,’ so this is still fairly fertile ground for their brand of retro-futuristic romanticism’ although the sparkly, major-key ‘Change of Skin’ may be pushing it too far for any members of the sunlight-shunning crowd who might be lacking a sense of irony.
Anders’ music has always gone over well with Europe’s club kids, and first single ‘There Will Be Blood’ has already begun climbing the dance charts in Germany. For good reason, I might add ‘ the chorus is catchy in its simplicity (‘There will be restitution’ There will be absolution’) and the mid-tempo beat is accessible enough for more than just hardcore rivet-heads. ‘Apple’ is in a similar class, and is likely destined for the same level of popularity.
This time out the band generally keeps the beats and melodies simple and straightforward with many tracks that sit about as close to the mainstream as this kind of music gets ‘ a savvy move with an eye toward those craving a good dance number with a darkly romantic vibe. Me, I prefer to seek out the creepier stuff, and thankfully there’s plenty of spooky treats to be found here too’ I mean after all, this is an artist daring enough to whip out a cover of Mercyful Fate’s ‘Gypsy’ without batting a black-lashed eye.
Although there are fewer overtly menacing pieces this time out, what’s there doesn’t disappoint. ‘Trisect,’ with its crawling, noise-heavy electronic triplets and octave-stacked vocals (a Goth staple), is one of the heaviest hitters in this category. ‘Fade to Black’ takes a wry twist on vampire romance and stirs it up in a warm (blood)bath of buzzing, slurring synths, and both ‘Stoke the Fire’ and ‘The Shrunken Head’ capture that minimalist, cold-machine groove reminiscent of EBM acts like Front 242, Leather Strip or Wumpscut.
US Goths and clubbers the world over are already well-versed in Anders’ consistently strong output (the band is frequently booked at the annual convention known as ‘Dracula’s Ball,’ a veritable Mecca for the fishnet & PVC set), and thanks to the near-mainstream potential contained in many of the tracks here, they stand a solid chance of stepping up to an all new level of popularity. So pick up this one quick, but also be sure to take a tour through their earlier catalog so you can tell your friends you knew ‘em when.
There’s new blood on the Goth scene- his name is Anders Manga, and that’s good news for anemic music-vamps. I think this is a name you’re going to hear a lot in the future, so you better get used to it. So just who IS this Anders Manga, anyway? Well, if you’re addicted to Gothic music, go to Goth festivals and conventions and read the Goth publications, you just may already know. Hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, Anders Manga is getting out of the coffin and doing what has to be done to take a bite out of the world of musical darkness. Already garnering a “Best Band Award” nominee by Gothic Beauty magazine, Manga has 3 previous albums under his belt, and he’s only been actively around since 2005! So how does the brand spankin’ new “Blood Lush” stack up? Well, I’ll tell you….
Beginning with the title track, “Blood Lush” is a platform boot goth club stomper that has all the elements in place to make it a classic. Simple, effective, yet interesting enough to hold your attention. Great opening track that screams for a remix. Not only a memorable chorus, but a nice little bridge too. The music has been labeled “Gothtronica”- synths and drum machines are the primary Read the rest of this entry »
Four albums in three years, no other musician or band, that I can think of, has ever done this. And had any other artist tried it something would be lost with each succeeding album. But Blood Lush remains true to the style and aural presence that is the musical world of Anders Manga. The album takes you through a soundscape of sexuality cloaked in darkness.
Tolerate is the track that hit me the hardest, though I’m not sure why. The Lines:
Let’s crash the world and let’s shatter all of the gates
Let’s conjure all the insanity that we can tolerate
Conjure in me a willingness to take things to excess, but that’s just me. It’s heartbeat rhythm and screeching synths can conjure nightmare if you leave the headphones on while you’re listening to it. But like I’ve said before nightmares are a good inspiration. Science Fiction is a soft ballad of a twisted and warped relationship. It’s almost heartbreaking to listen to, Anders successfully projects the wrenching pain through his voice and the band is a symphony of tears. 49 Snakes is easily the most energetic track on the album. It’s a scary insanity filled song bringing images of hallucinations and padded cells. The are two tracks that didn’t do much for me though, Public Service Announcement and I Cast You Out. And it’s not because they’re bad, I just didn’t get anything out of them.
I think Blood Lush might be the best album Anders has made thus far. It’s dark and scary, and could totally be the soundtrack of one of those old Hammer House horror movies, but it would have to be one of the Dracula movies starring Christopher Lee.
Available today is the newest print issue from Side-Line. Issue 57 is the last one for the year 2006 and features The Retrosic on the cover and includes other interviews with Anders Manga, Leaether Strip, And One, Portion Control, Laibach, De/vision, Noisuf-x, Rabia Sorda, Seabound, Sero.overdose, Coil, Neikka Rpm, Siva Six, Mind:state, FGFC820, Esr, Lith, Conetik, Ran, Skink, Zombie Girl, Memento Materia, Nvmph!, Bahntier, Nurzery Rhymes, Re/move, Dystopiate, Sophya and many more, plus the usual hundreds CD reviews and other news and gossips. You can order your copy below, seperately or as a subscription for 4 issues or 6 issues.
Side-Line issue 57
http://www.side-line.com/shoppingsideline.php
Following mere months after their second album, “Left of an All Time
Low”, Anders Manga has released, “Welcome to the Horror Show”, their
third full length album. While the hype and promotion for this release
has been rather muted, the album lives up to all expectations that fans
have for the Charlotte, NC band.
Anders returns with his progressive take on gothic dark wave dance
music, but unlike, “Left….”, which is more fast and upbeat, “Welcome…”
sounds more like a Switchblade Symphony, or 12 Rounds album. Dancey,
but with more of a focus on the mood and lyrics. Honestly I was quite
nervous that it would be another “Left…”, but the first single
“Beautiful” dispelled that fear very quickly. “Welcome to the Horror
Show” is an amazing counterpart to the sophomoric effort. The title
track encompasses this feeling perfectly. For those that preferred the
more aggressive sound of “Left…” I recommend the tracks, “Residual Fear” and “Lovely Sort of Death” which bring the mood back up to that heavy synthy dance vibe. Me personally, I prefer the slower tracks like “The Shrine” or the cover of Nick Cave’s “The Mercy Seat”.
While I was surprised to see another full length album so quickly from
Anders Manga, but “Welcome to the Horror Show” is by no means rushed or slapped together. From start to finish the album is another shining
example of Anders talent and ambition. I have no doubts that we’ll see
a fourth album next year possibly, but if I were them, I’d let “Welcome
to the Horror Show” settle in with fans. Again, it wasn’t as heavily
publicized as “Left of an All Time Low”, but truthfully the album’s
quality should propel it onto play lists and charts very quickly.
When Anders Manga first came onto the scene in 2005 he quickly became, according to download.com, the year’s most downloaded artist. I don’t remember how I came across Anders website but I do remember the energy I felt when I first heard One Up for the Dying. I was blown away by the force that was emanating from my speakers. Needless to say, I bought the album soon afterwards. Then in 2006 Anders released Left of an All Time Low, and the energy didn’t dissipate in fact it grew. Now not even 10 months later we get Welcome to the Horror Show.
The title track, Welcome to the Horror Show, is easily my favorite song on the album. It’s a soft, melodic song and combined with Anders deep dark voice, it is an instant hit. I guess the same could be said about the entire album but Welcome to the Horror Show is the on that stood out for me. I could just feel the torment of the song, and the piano during the chorus just added to that feeling. Beautiful, the next track, is the first track from the album to have a video and can be seen at Anders Manga’s website. It’s a dark commentary on beauty and that our collective conscience is that if our outward appearance is beautiful then our inner turmoil will disappear; I could be way off base with that though. 5150 creeped me out, when I listen to it I get images of an old house and inside and up the stairs was an old baby crib with and old crane of a woman sitting beside it gently rocking it and this song playing as the lullaby. Also on the album is Mercy Seat, a track originally done be Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, it is excellently done; Anders took this song and made it his own.
One Up for the Dying has been in my stereo since the day I got it, I recently took it out to put Welcome to the Horror Show in it’s place, I have a feeling that it will be there until Anders’ next release. If you consider yourself a fan, then you need to get this album. It’s worth its weight in gold.
