In 2023, the NYC born, Berlin-based Curses released Next Wave Acid Punx DEUX: a sprawling 49 track compilation that spanned dance music from 1980s industrial and EBM pioneers (Cabaret Voltaire, Nitzer Ebb) all the way up to the genre’s most interesting dance floor-oriented current artists (Buzz Kull, Ultra Sunn). But there’s more. Next Wave Acid Punx DEUX – Secret Cuts is a collection of 11 bonus tracks that, despite not being released on DEUX last year, rightfully deserve their own time in the spotlight.
“Curating Next Wave Acid Punx DEUX was a big puzzle,” explains Curses. “Figuring out how to fit all these tracks across 6 different 12″s required a lot of calculations and, to be quite frank, I was never that great at maths. Unfortunately, this meant we had to cut some real heaters off of DEUX. But Eskimo and I decided that we couldn’t let these gems go to dust. I’ve been DJing them loads in my sets, so it was only fair to share them with y’all to DJ and rage to yourselves. So, here it is… the final blast of bonus tracks for Next Wave Acid Punx DEUX: Secret Cuts.”
Secret Cuts is jammed with names both familar and new: the revivalist EBM of Chrome Corps, Ghost Cop‘s sultry horror disco, and the spindly industrial beats of Notausgang are all primed for the DJ’s secret weapon folder. Out on February 7th, the entire release will be available via Bandcamp but, for now, three tracks are available.
Nuovo Testamento – “In My Dreams (Powerhouse Mix)” is an Italo-house stomper. Complete with lead piano, the remix is pure energy.
Unconscious feat. Carnuntum – “Carnivora (LivEvil Version)” seethes in the refined EBM the Italian artist, Unconscious, is known for with a rumbling bassline and mysterious vocals by Carnuntum.
Curses – “The Deep End (Redux)” is a Carpenter-esque gem that would fit nicely with the theme to Christine. Its disco-inspired beat carries the somber guitar and haunting synth pads as they swell and disseminate.
Pre-order here.