To die in the throes of love
An honest sacrifice
Returning to the dirt below
Enough to end my life
Portland-based act Dancing Plague, a solo project of musician Conor Knowles, has been a steady presence in the dark/cold electronic music scene, releasing a constant flow of independent releases rich in EBM, goth, industrial, and darkwave influences. Now, they announce the release of a spooky new single, Echoes of the Void.
In a droll twist on the time-honoured theme of love’s labours lost, the lyrics to Echoes of the Void from their upcoming album Elogium sketch a romance fraught with drama and decisive turns, where the protagonist finds themselves not just metaphorically but almost comically outmatched by their partner’s formidable presence, evoking the sensation of being gently bulldozed by a feather. This relationship, rife with overtones of doom and high-stakes emotional poker, leads our hero to muse upon an exit as grandiose as it is earthbound, pondering a love so intense it could well warrant a finale beneath the turf.
Complementing this operatic angst is a surrealistic video that C.W. Carter has conjured up, with Hazel Ramsey taking the lead in what could only be described as a spectral fever dream. Phantoms and silhouettes play tag in the corridors of a house that might well double as a stage for the world’s most genteel haunting, bringing to mind the strange, unsettling short films of Maya Deren.
Watch below the video for “Echoes Of The Void” below:
In a brilliant fusion of aggressive electronic rhythms with pop hooks, Dancing Plague intertwines poignant lyrics with the complex emotions of uncertainty in life, love, and aspirations. Against a backdrop of throbbing basslines, rave-inspired synths, and dynamic drum beats, the stories weave through longing, regret, and the difficult acceptance of change and loss. Knowles’ emotive baritone voice adds depth, portraying the relentless passage of time’s erosion.
The arrangement pays homage to the influences of Depeche Mode, Ministry, Cold Cave, and Kontravoid, blending a nostalgic yet innovative vibe. This blend of influences creates a richly emotional yet refreshingly modern sound, marking a unique point in the continuum of melancholic music.
Elogium is out on the 22nd of March via Avant! Records. The album will be available on yellow-orange vinyl, limited to a pressing of 250, and CDs with a limited printing of 200.
Pre-order and pre-save here.
Dancing Plague will be on tour across the United States this Spring:
Mar 15 The Paramount Los Angeles (LA), CA
Mar 16 Til Two Club San Diego, CA
Mar 17 The Beast Tempe, AZ
Mar 18 Owls Club Tucson, AZ
Mar 19 Moonlight Lounge Albuquerque, NM
Mar 20 The Rock House El Paso, TX
Mar 21 Hotel Vegas Austin, TX
Mar 22 Paper Tiger San Antonio, TX
Mar 23 Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios Denton, TX
Mar 24 House of Blues – New Orleans New Orleans, LA
Mar 25 The HandleBar Pensacola, FL
Mar 27 Crowbar Ybor City, FL
Mar 28 Gramps Miami, FL
Mar 29 Conduit Winter Park, FL
Mar 30 Underbelly Jacksonville, FL
Mar 31 The Masquerade – Hell Atlanta, GA
Apr 01 Grey Eagle Music Hall Asheville, NC
Apr 02 The Pour House Music Hall Raleigh, NC
Apr 03 Richmond Music Hall Richmond, VA
Apr 04 Black Cat Washington, DC
Apr 05 Sonia Cambridge, MA
Apr 06 First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, PA
Apr 07 Le Poisson Rouge New York (NYC), NY
Apr 10 The Mockbee Cincinnati, OH
Apr 11 Portal Louisville, KY
Apr 12 Subterranean Chicago, IL
Apr 13 Duffy’s Tavern Lincoln, NE
Apr 14 Hi-Dive Denver, CO
Apr 14 Hi-Dive Denver, CO
Apr 15 The DLC (Quarters Arcade Bar) Salt Lake City, UT
Apr 17 The Big Dipper Spokane, WA
Apr 19 The Coffin Club Portland, OR
Apr 27 Bar Orwell Toronto, ON
May 09 Vancouver Bc Vancouver, BC
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