Black Magique - Sexercise / Beverly Kills

A few years ago I feel like I uncovered a mysterious video cassette I found in some random box of forgotten memories. I decided to play the video, thinking some old family birthday gathering or baby videos would be revealed, but instead something chilling is unearthed. As I played the grainy VHS  cassette, footage, I could not help to think about some home video a serial killer would make of his victim's torment and pain as a trophy. The feel was very dark and damp like a photograph afflicted with emulsion. As we see the artists, Gabriel and Bianca in the basement, Gabriel is dressed in denim and leather while Bianca looks like she's dressed for a funeral. The look is fitting as she states, "Death is my style," in the video for their track 'Fashion Kills' from 2013. The production reminded me of my high school days in the 80's when I would rent VHS tapes from the local video store to watch with my friends. We always grabbed the horror and sci-fi stuff. This video is a direct throwback to those days. 

Black Magique is the Electronic duo of the aforementioned Gabriel and Bianca based somewhere in Canada. The band is heavily influenced from the likes of French and Italian cinema to film scores and John Carpenter. Black Magique was originally a side project while Gabriel was playing in another band. He decided he wanted to add female vocals to the track "Fashion Kills", so who better to ask than his girlfriend Bianca? As for name, Gabriel is a big fan of metal, especially thrash. The band's name is merely an alternate spelling of Slayer's statement track on Show No Mercy,  "Black Magic". Who can forget the that sick opening riff that every kid wanted to learn on guitar? Slayer was a game changer when it came to metal. I remember seeing Slayer in 1985 and was blown away with the fury and power from the band. Gabriel also displays a leather spiked wrist band that is oh so similar, though not as dangerous as the one Kerry King wore back in the early days of the band. I remember Kerry King walking through the crowd of about 100 people with that wristband. To this day I wonder how many people lost some blood from the nails protruding through the leather as he walked around the club. 

Black Magique is not a metal band, not even close. They play a murky blend of new wave and dark pop with heavy doses of 80's influenced synthesizers  transporting you back to your carefree younger days. 'Sexercise' is laced with ambiguities. The cover of the cassette is showcasing a beautiful woman (who I presume to be Bianca) with a seductive facial expression while tasting the leather as it caresses her lips. The vocals are mostly spoken word with lots of sexual innuendo rolled into the perverse workout tune. The 80's were a breeding ground for morning exercise shows. There was one on every channel. The campiness of 'Sexercise' is a view into Black Magique's fun and humorous style; imagine Richard Simmons, Billy Blanks and Dr. Ruth collaborating on an exercise video. Whoa! "Beverly Kills" creeps back into the filthy dark side of the fashion industry and falls more in line with the style of the 'Fashion Kills' track from a few years ago. Bianca's vocals are tantalizing and have a way of pulling the listener into her vantage point in the theme of the song. The synths collide with Bianca's voice to generate a ghostly and seductive attraction. Gabriel and Bianca's missive seems to draw from the sordid underbelly of the fashion world, beyond the cameras, beyond the public's eye, beyond the runway, into the dingy sleaze of the backrooms and after hour parties. This is where suicides are crafted and later temporarily suppressed by drug induced states of tranquility, the empty promises of the fashion architects that design superficial realities, and where the fast life inevitably take's its toll on the young starstruck neophyte models. 

Both tracks deliver a high quality of musicianship. The problem with only two tracks is that we want more. If this is how you feel, I suggest you you pick up the Fashion Kills digital album. There are nine tracks of synth glory for your listening pleasure. Sorry the tape is long gone! 

Rumors tell tales of more tracks that may have been set aside for a possible release later in this year. For now, you have a slick double single to cure your Black Magique cravings of lust, murder, glamour and glitz. I rated this a 7.5 for a good release as both tracks speak for themselves and will surely seduce a fair share of new fans and keep the older fans satisfied with the output. I love this teaser and wait with great anticipation for the next release. 

Werkstatt Recordings offers us two physical choices in the cassette format. Fifty total copies were made. 25 pink cassettes and 25 white cassettes. As usual with Werstatt Recordings, you must be quick to acquire their releases as they are always very limited. Definitely check out Werkstatt for more amazing releases.
Feb 26 2016