Screen Vinyl Image is a self-proclaimed “electronic psychedelic” duo, comprised of j. sequential & electra blue. They like to layer sounds - whether they be guitar-based or sampled. And they like to make music that, while just released, makes me feel nostalgic for the late 80’s/early 90’s, in probably one of the best ways possible.
So, imagine. It is May, 1980 and, instead of killing himself, Ian Curtis decides to buck up and follow his band-mates into the new age that is New Order. Their music becomes more upbeat, more electronic… but Ian’s voice does it’s very best to negate that. The dynamic of the band changes… they add in more fuzz and, somewhere along the way, decide that the futuristic portrayal in The Crow was right - all the kids want is some Jesus & Mary Chain and My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. This is what the opening track on Screen Vinyl Image’s first release, The Midnight Sun, reminds me of. It is dark, but powerful.
That sort of montage lasts for the duration of the EP. It is highly steeped in the recipe of take drums, add swirls (guitar and electronic), sprinkle some vocals on top & add lots of echo… which, basically, was the crème de la crème of the underground in the late 80’s.
Among their influences, the band cites everything from Phil Spector productions, garage, psych rock & funk, to sequential circuits, strobes, John Carpenter & moogs, all the way to John Romero, reverb units, projections, space, desolate beaches & old drum machines. In doing so, their music takes on the task of reproducing the sounds of the future, as understood from the perspective of the 1980’s - synth-heavy and cool, but goofy. Overly serious but seriously tongue-in-cheek. Nostalgic, but new.
Plus, it sounds fucking great turned up loud.
the future is yesterday:
Screen Vinyl Image - Roaming Spirit Freedom.
Screen Vinyl Image - Black Leather Jacket.
The Midnight Sun can be purchased direct from the Washington DC based Safranin Sounds over here for a mere $8.00, with shipping included to anywhere in Canada or the States.
It is recommended that you do so.
it’s pretty intense industrial sort of. me = think i’ll like it better in the winter when i need to walk somewhere but it’s too cold adn I need to be hardcore about it. for now I’ll run for my life, cause it sounds like the terminator will come and shoot me at any moment!!!! yaahahahahahah!