Electronic Sound Issue 137

English | 100 pages | PDF | 34 MB

Our latest Electronic Sound cover stars are VINCE CLARKE, NEIL ARTHUR and BENGE, collectively known as DOUBLESPEAK, and we’re bundling the magazine with a purple vinyl seven-inch featuring two tracks from the new synthpop supergroup. One is a fantastic version of Fad Gadget’s ‘Back To Nature’ and the other is an exclusive instrumental. The three members of Doublespeak are electronic music royalty, the long list of great bands they’ve been associated with over the years including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure, Blancmange, Fader, Wrangler and Creep Show. So it’s no surprise their forthcoming debut album, which sees them reworking a selection of cult and classic tracks, is an analogue synth masterpiece. Our cover story is an in-depth interview with the trio, who discuss how the project came together, their wide-ranging choice of material – from Thomas Leer & Robert Rental’s ‘Day Breaks Night Heals’ to David Essex’s ‘Rock On’ – and the crucial role of orange-coloured food in the recording process. It’s a hugely entertaining read.

Among our other interviews this issue are LAIBACH, talking about their most poppy album so far, former Knife man OLOF DREIJER celebrating his solo debut, and SYSTEM 7’s “unapologetic cosmonauts” Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy reflecting on their enduring partnership. We also have ambient legend MIXMASTER MORRIS, folktronic charmers HAIKU SALUT, boundary-crashing soundscaper J ZUNZ, fearless drummer/percussionist VALENTINA MAGALETTI, and psych-pop troubadour Jim Noir stepping out in his new guise as THE DOOK. As ever, it’s all top-notch stuff.

We’re very excited to have the first physical release from DOUBLESPEAK as this month’s exclusive Electronic Sound seven-inch. A limited edition pressing on purple vinyl, we’re expecting it to become one of our most collectable records.

The A-side of the single is a striking cover of Fad Gadget’s classic ‘Back To Nature’, a dark slab of electro-industrial musique concrète with touches of Bowie, Eno and JG Ballard. Vince Clarke, Neil Arthur and Benge have given the song a widescreen makeover without losing its noisy and gnarly sci-fi oddness. Turn the disc over for the gently tumbling and softly glowing ‘Sunset (Instrumental)’. It’s a true synthpop beauty, as seems perfectly fitting for a track that is the first-ever shared writing credit for long-time friends Vince and Neil. “It’s taken us about 50 years to get to this point,” says Neil, laughing heartily.

As with all of our releases, this record is only available to readers of Electronic Sound, so grab your copy right away.

INFO/DEMO/BUY: https://mage.si/EL-issue-137
Electronic Sound Issue 137 2026 PDF
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