Back catalogue: Leftfield

Review: Uwe Schmidt's mammoth artistic stamp has left an indelible mark on electronic music since he first emerged in the 80s as a DIY industrial artist in Frankfurt. His complex, many-sided career has been documented in a new book, AtomTM, the nonconformist virtuoso, which is being bolstered by this mini-compilation from Industrial Complexx and Fill-Lex. The A-side is focused on Schmidt's early work as Lassigue Bendthaus, where he responded to the emergent industrial and EBM phenomenon with a high-definition sound which ranks among the best music of the era. The three tracks sound as relevant today as they were futuristic when originally released. Meanwhile the B-side features two of his most daring works as AtomTM, originally released as The OvercomEP as a digital release in 2022. These angular, experimental studies serve as a neat demonstration of just one place his music has ended up across an accomplished career.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


As a core member of industrial titans Ministry, Paul Barker earned his stripes in the crossover between hard rock and electronics. More than most, his work with Al Jourgensen brought out the fiercest potential from crossing these swords in a process akin to alchemy, which is precisely what informs his solo project Lead Into Gold. It's been five years since the last album, and now Barker returns with an inspired new demonstration of his nerve-shredding skill as a producer and songwriter. There's no way to separate this from the legacy of Ministry's best work and it goes to show how vital Barker was to that band's sound, but here he's free to indulge his own creative vision. If you love golden era Ministry, you're going to be more than satisfied with this knockout record from a true legend of industrial music.

Review: Leather Strip is the nom de plume of Danish artist Claus Larsen, who first rose to prominence in the EBM and industrial boom of the early 90s. Science For The Satanic Citizen was one of his earliest releases, originally out in 1990 and featuring such cheery titles as 'Zyklon B' and 'What's Hell Really Like?' The music isn't as forbidding as the presentation might seem, coming on like the Ministry and Nine Inch Nails sound of the era when the focus was on gothic synth lines and slamming drum machines, but not quite the sheet metal distortion that would become de rigour further into the 90s.

Review: Leroy Se Meurt make a bold statement here with their new long player on the Mannequin label. It finds the Parisian pair keeping the foundational sounds of EBM, post-punk and electro at the core but also explores around the edges in fantastic fashion. The mood here is heavy and abrasive rock textures permeate the tracks next to electric synths and over worked samplers. The tracks feature lyrics sung in Turkish and French and are hard hitting affairs with floor facing, repetitive loop madness next to double-tempo cuts with chaotic guitars amongst much more.