Track Listing: Someone’s Speaking, Mouth of Madness, Golden Voyage, The Empire is Burning, Demon’s Arm, Try to See Me, Memories of You, So Happy, Mall Cops of Freedom, Mouth of Madness (Kapt’n K’s malgorythm remix).

KMFDM Records’ first release, Mouth of Madness by Legion Within, start off this month’s reviews with a BANG! This album features very danceable tracks that promise to satisfy as well as a few more atmospheric cuts that enhance the mood. Some songs, like the title track, go easier on the electronics and heavier with the guitars, but the album stays more on the side of hard rock than metal, all the while flirting with industrial. The often complex compositions keep it dark and interesting, sporting a style singer William Wilson calls, “A courageous form of Nihilism.”

It’s hard to find a bad song on this album. If you are looking for something to scratch that classic London After Midnight itch with something new, you might find yourself listening to this album and really enjoying it.

For more information, check out their site or Myspace Page.

Track Listing: Pink Thoughts, Crash ‘N’ Burn Victims, Paper Hearts, The Kids from Orange County, Dark Walls, Pick Up the Phone, Nail it to a Cross, Wrong Again, Kings and Queens of Nothing, Hearts Departed, Blood Beats.

Moving Units’ 2007 release Hexes for Exes shines out as a gem from Metropolis records at a time when post punk is making a big comeback. While songs like “The Kids from Orange County” and “Crash N Burn Victims” might make you swear these boys were from the Midwest with their Saddle Creek sound ala The Faint, most of the songs feel a bit more straight ahead post punk. Tracks like “Paper Hearts” are likely to make you do the “wobbly leg dance” on the dance floor and most if not all of them will keep you staring at your shoes no matter how you’re dancing.

A solid album overall, Hexes for Exes is a fine sophomore attempt from Moving Units and I look forward to another album from them. In a climate where everyone is going for the post punk revival sound, it’s nice to hear something solid going around.

For more information, check out their site or Myspace Page.

Track Listing: For All Time, Shine On Down, Telling You, See You Soon, Find It All, Another Day, Special, You’re Alright, Better That Way, Something Anything, Don’t Know Ever, Telling You (ELO RUB Mix), Shine On Down (Overnight Mix).

Curl up with your favourite blanky, because SPC ECO (pronounced “Space Echo” after the vintage Roland 201) is ready to sing you to sleep. This lush dream pop album features the beautiful voice of Rose Berlin accompanied by Dean Garcia and Joey Levenson, who keep the instrumental atmosphere open and floating. Almost entirely self recorded, mixed, and produced, this album is quite a feat for anyone who is a fan of the genre.

SPC ECO cite the Cocteau Twins and Massive Attack among their influences and fans of both groups more thoughtful tunes are unlikely to find themselves disappointed. While SPC ECO does little to set themselves apart from others of adjacent genres and earn their preferred distinction of Nu Gaze, what they have created is quite pleasing to the ear and perfect for that rainy afternoon, cuddled up with your black cat and a hot toddy.

For more information, check out their site or Myspace Page.

Track Listing: AKA, Duelist, Minor It Down, Sunday Driver, Corpse Master, Flat Black, All You Need, Mesh Mask, Bleeder, KR.

True Widow brings something a bit more organic to this month’s In Rotation. Hailing from Dallas, Texas they represent all that’s good about shoe gaze. The vocal reigns are shared between bass guitarist Nikki Cage and electric guitarist DH, allowing for some nice variance in vocal tone. While Ms Cage’s voice softens your heart, it’s DH that will make you quietly weep along. The quite capable drumming complements this mixture nicely and overall the instruments help keep the songs on track and leave enough room for beautiful harmonies on tracks like “Duelist”.

True Widow are touring the US over the next month and if you happen to be lucky enough to be in a city hosting them, you might just find yourself pleasantly surprised.

For more information and tour schedule, check out their site or Myspace Page.