Various – Underground Wave Volume 3

Walhalla’s dive into obscure 80s synth pop and new wave has been a resounding success since the first volume 15 years ago. With this third volume, Walhalla drops the «Belgian» label from the title but keeps its roots firmly in the heartland of EBM, industrial and minimal synth. The album opens with two icy pieces from Nostalgie Eternelle. Active since the late 80s, they’ve finally landed on vinyl, delivering analog minimalism with ‘Coup De Grace’. S.M. Nurse follows with a bizarre but compelling sound collage, layered with brittle vocals and wiry textures. Nine Circles return with the desolate and minimalist ‘Here Come I, Here Is Me’, while Vayne Kaye & Ignit’s ‘The Heat’ brings a sharp post-punk sound. From the tortured electro churn of Experimental Incest’s ‘Desire’ to the political bleakness of The Maniacs’ ‘Vietnam’ and O.B. Minimax’s ‘Charming War’, this volume leans heavier into dystopia. The Misz, always good for a chuckle, come with the coldly hilarious ‘Spinach in Kiev’. Closing things out, Unovidual’s ‘Metal’ ends the record in a short, sorrowful wash of synth. As always, each volume has tons of raw, lo-fi and often challenging and rare music to enjoy.