Tropic of Cancer: Restless Idylls

Tropic of Cancer - named after the controversial novel by Henry Miller - was originally founded as a duo back in 2007, but has since 2012 been the solo project of Camella Lobo. Last year saw the long awaited release of her debut album entitled Restless Idylls, and it is as somber and melancholic as one might have expected, and continues in the direction of the briliant cover of the Death in June classic Fall Apart.

The album consists of atmospheric synths, plangent guitars and almost hypnotizing drum machines, and on top of it lies the impressive vocals of Lobo, reminiscent of some of the biggest female singers in dark music. Imagine a mixture of a mourning Nico and the etheral work of Lisa Gerrard as we know her on a track like Sacrifice, and it'll paint a picture of how talented Lobo in fact is. This is - as you probably have guessed by the description - an album drenched in depression and romanticism, and will without a doubt be way over the top for a good deal of people, but if you enjoy bands like Joy Division, Dead Can Dance and This Mortal Coil, then this should appeal to you.

Cortex

There's been quite a few bands with the name Cortex. One of the most obvious to mention is the Swedish post-punk act fronted by Freddie Wadling, but the best of them all must be the obscure Belgian project made by Alain Neffe of Bene Gesserit-"fame". This is highly experimental electronic music made with the assistance of synthezisers, rhythm boxes and - as far as I understand - tapes. Most of the tracks has got a women resiting French poetry written by Neffe, and, together with the instrumental part and various sounds, it creates a romantic and melancholic mood one could compare to a Truffaut film from the sixties. There's definately a nouvelle vague feel to this and I feel certain that a lot of the inspiration has been taken from French cinema. I am not sure how to categorize this project; Is it minimal wave, is it ambient or is it musique concrete? It's probably all and nothing, but all I know for certain is that it serves well as the soundtrack for the early cool days of spring.