Tropic Of Cancer

STM 042 is a powerfully enchanting musical compilation that presents subtly thrilling records from influential musicians such as Chris & Cosey, Psychic TV, Christian Fennesz, Demdike Stare, Raime, Silent Servant, Horrid Red, and other rising talents of the refined underground scene.

The author of the mix is Camella Lobo, an LA resident who previously collaborated with Juan Mendez (widely known as Silent Servant) and now performs with Taylor Burch (from the garage/lo-fi/goth formation Dva Damas). After intensively touring across the globe and releasing six critically acclaimed records on notable labels such as Downwards, Blackest Ever Black, Ghostly International, Mannequin, and Sleeperhold, Lobo promptly achieved worldwide recognition and respect among intellectual dark music listeners. We invite you to read more about Camella Lobo in this exclusive interview for Secret Thirteen journal.

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STM 042 is an enigmatic audio compilation shrouding 20 vinyl records that were released between 1981 and 2012 in essential alternative music countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Belgium. This recording perfectly reflects the ongoing evolution of contemporary sound expression and a return to original technological principles (basic hardware devices, guitars, lo-fi sound-generating effects, drums, etc.). Solid ’80s new wave, synth-pop, post-punk, industrial, ambient, and experimental music styles and motifs are clearly expressed, but in a more brilliant way, showcasing quality and perfection of construction. The basis of the mixtape lies in the cathedral ambiance, the sound of distorted and sharp electric guitars, submerged rhythmic layers, and mesmerizing, gritty vocals. A mixture of palpable depressive emotions merged with nostalgic, frenetic, and bewildered moods generates the feeling of a fictional retro action-drama movie soundtrack flavored with horror motifs. Occasionally emerging repetitive and touching melodies and unexpected eclectic record combinations strengthen the recording with kaleidoscopic diversity, a natural recording process intention, and most importantly, constant listening excitement. This record definitely proves the polished musical philosophy, profound personality, and flexibility of Camella Lobo.

Records and connections

STM 042 is like Jack Tworkov‘s mysteriously moving abstract expressionist painting “Related to Barrier,” where the use of gestural brush strokes in flame-like colors creates an extradimensional space where good and evil collide, thus revealing the eternal rule of the universe—that the observer will never know what is light, due to the absence of darkness.