Swung By Seraphim is a blog run by me, Jason Pitzl-Waters (AKA DJ ZoZo) a DJ living and working in
Urbana, Illinois (home of the University of Illinois). I do a "Goth and Darkwave" weekly radio program,
spin at various live events and write a music column for a slightly hip Pagan magazine.
I'm doing this blog to
break from the popular consensus that any music that dares draw "Goth" fans is somehow less worthy or brilliant. In fact, I dare posit that some of these bands may end up being lauded by the critics who now
scorn them or lump them in with superficial shock-rockers.
If you are an artist or label and wish to contact SbS please e-mail
me. All Mp3s hosted on this site are taken down after 10 days.
The Vanishing
Band Bio:
The Vanishing formed in 2000 when Brian Hock and Jesse EVA joined forces out of the ashes of previous bands Knives and infamous all girl dark-wave group Subtonix. Their sound has been described as everything from "Sci-fi horror disco" to "Industrial dancehall stoner goth" and most recently branded as the new "future psychedelic". "Their sound is reminiscent of Crass, Chrome, or Suicide but with a deranged Cyndi Lauper behind the wheel." - The Vanishing Website
Reviews:
"The Vanishing is groundbreaking in the field of dark music. They combine electronics and an ensemble of other instruments to get a unique sound that borders on the edge of goth, indie, electro, fear and insanity." - Deathrock.com
"The Vanishing never fail to move me. And they will move you too, with 13 new tracks blasting out windows and shaking walls around the world with high-pitched screams, the heavy thuds of the bass, fast drum rhythms and keyboards infused with varied electronic sound bites and the chaos of brass. If you haven’t seen them live, you’re shit out of luck, now, but hey, you can check out their newest CD and pretend. It’s just as good, minus the bruises from the rowdy ass crowd the Vanishing once drew." - Zero Magazine
"What makes The Vanishing a band worth taking seriously is their conviction for all things "goth", right down to singer, Jessie Eva's, Siouxsie-like pleas. Add to this one of the tightest drummers to bare all black, Mr. Brian Hock, and the careful notation that synth player Sadie Shaw incorporates and you have one of tightest groups around that sound like they've been playing since the incarnation of the Bat Cave." - Light Up The Sky
My Two Cents:
One of the more exciting bands in the "dark" subcultures, The Vanishing explores territory the "proper" Goth bands should have been looking into years ago. The Vanishing reinfuses lessons from punk and primitive new-wave to make their sound truly dark and spooky. A must. One of my faves of 2004.
Further Reading:
You can download another track of their latest CD here. Check out some videos here. Check out an interview here.