Verboden, a non-profit collective, stands as a pillar of artistic innovation and cultural preservation for the darkwave and post-punk music scene in the Pacific Northwest. Operating as a cooperative record label, event curator, and touring collective, Verboden’s core mission is to cultivate a community of like-minded artists. It provides an extensive support network that enables its members to flourish. Verboden is dedicated to expanding the horizons of dark electronic music, amplifying the unique sounds of its roster across North America, Europe, and beyond.
Now, Verboden announces the release of ANI’s debut LP, Folie à deux, which was released on May 3rd, 2024, and is available in vinyl and digital formats. Folie à deux showcases the collective talent and creative vision of Philip Traikovski and Ana Klahr, delivering a fusion of darkwave and synth-pop with thought-provoking lyrics, vocals, and immersive melodies.
“We are beyond thrilled to unveil Folie à deux to the world,” says Ana Klahr. “This album is a culmination of our collective passion and dedication, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share it with our fans. We hope that our music resonates with listeners and sends them on a transformative journey.”
ANI, who played the Verboden Festival earlier this month, recently performed a vinyl release show alongside label mates Wants on Friday, May 24th.
Ringfinger
Conceived amidst the sunlit days of 2019’s summer in Vancouver, Ringfinger treads the nebulous boundaries separating darkwave from post-punk. Drawing equal inspiration from the chilly embrace of Canadian winters, vintage horror cinema, and the venerated pioneers of their musical realm, they craft their sound with the enveloping embrace of chorused guitars, set against the backdrop of expansive synthesizer tableaux and vocals bathed in delay.
Wire Spine
In the shadowed corners of Vancouver’s dynamic underground music scene, a post-industrial/darkwave duo named Wire Spine materialized in 2015. The electrifying fusion of Isku Katerwol (Total Chroma) and the enigmatic Jesi Tekahionwake gave birth to a sound brimming with brooding beats, dark melodies, and haunting synth leads. Harnessing both digital and analogue synthesizers and drum machines, they crafted a soundscape that evokes the mounting tension of being lost in an abyss, devoid of hope. Jesi’s lyrics, though cryptic, are delivered with a raw and unapologetic ferocity.
Total Chroma
From the frost-laden reaches of the North, an album titled Lapland emerges from Total Chroma‘s creative enclave, a profound exploration of Katerwol’s Sami heritage. The Sami, indigenous inhabitants of the Arctic, have sung their histories across the icy landscapes, fjords, and tundras of Scandinavia and Russia for countless generations. Their past, as intricate and enigmatic as the Northern forests, is steeped in both richness and shadows. The track “Such Filth” transforms into an anthem of cyclical rebirth, embodying the belief that from the depths of darkness and decay, radiant beauty can arise. It’s a chant, a hymn to origins and the phoenix-like ascent from desolation.
Renonce
Montreal’s Renonce pushes their cacophonous and abrasive ambitions to the extreme. Raw and unyielding, this brutalist opus stands as a colossal and staggering force; a darkwave-infused industrial monument dedicated to the art of ennui.
Future releases include LPs from artists such as: In Mirrors, Sektion Tyrants, Verttigo, Wants, AAAYYYAAA, and more! Stay tuned to Verboden’s social media channels for the latest updates, exclusive content, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into upcoming releases.
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