My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult: Sinister Whisperz - The Wax Trax! Years (1987-1991) CD Review

Chicago's My Life With Thrill Kill Kult released their self-titled debut EP in 1987 which was the thirty-ninth release on the then fledgling Wax Trax! label. The band then released three full-length CDs between 1988 and 1991 and both their fan base and the ire of conservatives (for the band's Satanic imagery) grew. The band's last disc for Wax Trax! was Sexplosion, which was Wax Trax! biggest seller, and Interscope reissued this disc when the band jumped over to the major label in 1992.

As the first in a series of retrospective compilations, Sinister Whisperz contains twelve remixes from Thill Kill Kult's Wax Trax! days along with a previously unreleased track from that era called “Satana Rising”. This compilation provides a great overview of the first few Thrill Kill Kult releases but what is somewhat surprising is that "Leathersex" is the only track included from Sexplosion. While the band's sound had started to change with Sexplosion, most fans are going to be wondering where "Sex on Wheelz" is. That point aside, this compilation is a great overview/introduction to what was happening in the industrial club scene in the late 80's/early 90's. For those who already have all of these tracks, Buzz McCoy has given these tracks an edge and crispness that wasn't found on the original issue. If more motivation is needed, Rustblade has issued a limited version (ltd. to 499 copies) of this disc which comes with a bonus live disc that was recorded in San Antonio on 6/10/90.

In a recent interview with ReGen Magazine, Thill Kill Kult founders Buzz McCoy and Groovie Mann had this to say about the new compilation:

Mann: We did this to honor the WaxTrax! founders and renew our roots! It was fun to go back to when things were less complicated.

McCoy: It was like visiting dear old friends you haven't seen in many, many years and having a party.

My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult | NYC @ Club Europa | Sep 26 2008 from (((unartig))) on Vimeo

Links:
My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult

Late Night Alumni Release Sophomore Disc "Of Birds, Bees, Butterflies, etc." on Ultra Records

After a five year absence, Ryan Raddon (aka Kaskade) and Late Night Alumni are back with their follow-up to 2005's Empty Streets. The new disc, Of Birds, Bees, Butterflies, etc. was recorded in various studios between Park City, Utah and San Francisco, California and the band continues to maintain a sound that is equal parts electronic and organic while tying it all together with the vocals of front-woman Becky Jean Williams.

Late Night Alumni is composed of dance music vets Becky Jean Williams, Finn Bjarnson, John Hancock, and Kaskade. The group came into being in 2003 when Bjarnson, who had already worked with Kaskade, met Williams and the three of them began recording as Late Night Alumni. In 2004, the Hed Kandi label made an offer to release a full-length Late Night Alumni album. “At that point,” Bjarnson says, “I knew the band was not ready. We were missing an element.” The missing element turned out to be John Hancock, a talented local producer with whom Bjarnson had been trying to “find an excuse” to work with for years.

To get a feel for the band's sound, check out the videos for the first two singles from this new disc.

Late Night Alumni - "You Can Be The One" (Live)


Late Night Alumni - "Finally Found"


Links:
Late Night Alumni