thewalkingicon

tations what was very unusual for this kind of music in Russia that time. For Osipov thewalkingicon was the return for his favoirite “bedroom production” format, wich also made a start for Thaivox in 1997. The decades of musical experience plus the vox and stage charisma finally transformed into highly lyrical material, very surprising especially after looking at what Sasha makes in INSPIRA and what Dmitry plays as a member of Moscow heavy hardcore long-livers Fallen Angels Crew. So due to a wide musical preferences of the members of thewalkingicon its hard to classify properly the exact genre of the band (a mixture between synthpop, indiepop, electropop with synthwave elements, highly influenced by 80’s new wave, 90’s spirit and 2000’s alternative electronic acts like Fever Ray, Röyksopp, etc). Releases:
Albums: Galaxy of Youth (2019, ScentAir records)
Shadow of the Saints (2021, Negative Gain Productions)
Singles:
Dead Heart (2019)
Storm in My Head (Radio Edit, 2019)
W.O.Y.S. (2019)
3 for the Past (2020)
Naive (2021)

Remixes and collabs:
All You'll Ever Be (SUPERCRAFT remix, 2019, ScentAir records)
Freedom (feat. LSE Project) 2020
Fear Contagion (Syncore remix, 2021)
Falling (IAMTHESHADOW remix, 2021, Cold Transmission)

All music available at thewalkingicon.bandcamp.com

Reviews:
thewalkingicon - 'Ill for the Past' by @Brutalresonance.com
Listening to thewalkingicon again after they contacted me many months ago brings up odd feelings of wonder; the vocals on this new song sound as if they belong to some kind of bright pop song yet the tough drumming brings about themes of EBM and industrial mechanics. This is not taking into account some of the glitch-like notes in the background and the gorgeous backing synth either. Whatever they did, it's magical and well worth a listen. Thewalkingicon – Galaxy of Youth by Side-line.com
Background/Info: The Walking Icon is a new Russian duo set up by experienced artists from the national scene. Sasha Rempel (singer from Inspira) and Dmitry Osipov (Crocodile T.X., Thaivox) joined hands in 2018 and unleashed their debut full length one year later. Content: ScentAir clearly enlarges their electro-pop horizon, this album being not a ‘classical’ electro-pop release. There’s a solid electro-pop foundation, but it has been achieved with extra influences like technoid sounds and tricks. The addition of vintage-like sound treatments also injects an extra creative touch to the work. Most of the songs are powerful and yet catchy. The vocals are mainly sung by Sasha Rempel, but there are also male backing vocals.
+ + + : One of the most noticeable cuts to seize the approach of this duo is “Flare”. This song is driven by amazing sonic treatments, which are in between techno and acid while it clearly remains electro-pop driven music. The entire album is the result of a well-crafted and intelligent writing process plus a mature production work. Next to the unique character of the work, this album is also diversified.
– – – : I think there’s more hiding in this album than what you can hear. It makes me say that the best is yet to come for The Walking Icon. Conclusion: This is more than simply a promising debut; this album clearly reveals experienced musicians dealing with refreshing electro-pop music. thewalkingicon – Galaxy of Youth by darkroom-magazine.it
The Russian project Thewalkingicon was born from the communion of intentions between the singer Sasha Rempel (Inspira) and the musician Dmitry Osipov (bassist of rock / hardcore extraction with experiences in groups such as Crocodile TX, Fallen Angels Crew and Thaivox), and the album under review represents the official debut for the duo. In a formula that rests with class on an electronics with synthpop / dreampop implications of great maturity, with a vintage touch that is never pretentiously retro, the ace in the hole is represented by the voice of Sasha, able to modulate his singing with style and to always land well-thought-out refrains, easily passing from the sensuality of an apt hit like "Storm In My Head" to the girlish fragility of the title track. Skilled in building their own songs (in this sense, "Dead Heart" - chosen for the official video clip - is emblematic) and in endowing them with great charisma, Ours unveil a lineup that works from top to bottom, cleverly exploiting a seductive groove that envelops without the need for excesses, and that goes more properly towards danceable shores only with that intense "Flare" that recalls certain excellent things of Yendri. If the more eclectic side of a never predictable sound clearly emerges in "The Incoming" (with the good vocal contribution of Tikhon Kubov of the Womba project), "The Sacred Song" instead shows off a particularly persuasive fold, where the airy "Unicorn" pleases for its soft tones. A bit of Italy is honored in the album, notably with the sample of the voice of Toni Servillo and his character Jep Gambardella (from "La Grande Bellezza") in the night "The Trick", while the closing is entrusted to two remixes: that edited by Sgt. Penarlaster for "Dead Heart", which enhances the austerity of the refrain with dark tones and leaden cadences, and the one signed by Womba for "Unicorn", a real reconstruction with crazy industrial aspects. An admirable debut from every point of view (from writing to arrangements, from ex*****on to production), the first important step of an act which lacks nothing to establish itself in a wider audience: to be discovered and appreciated, without hesitation. Rating: 8

thewalkingicon “W.O.Y.S. (Wastelands of Your Stars)” single by whitelight-whiteheat.com
Thewalkingicon project was formed in early 2018 by Sasha Rempel, the singer for Kaliningrad break-beat act INSPIRA and Dmitry Osipov, the member and founder of popular Moscow alternative and industrial 90-s pioneers Crocodile T.X. and Thaivox, who made big noise that times with the shows with The Prodigy, The Young Gods and Clawfinger. Following early January debut album “Galaxy of Youth”, the new single “W.O.Y.S. (Wastelands of Your Stars)” is the first preview from the new record planned for 2020 release, produced and mixed by Daniil Smirnov, the modular guru and the member of famous St. Petersburg rock act Kirpichi (Кирпичи). The Russian duo remains consistent in their style of futurepop/synthpop using Rempel‘ s emotionally drenched vocal range and Osipov’s haunting melodic progressions to allure the listener. Deep throbbing rolling basslines snap-in sync with hissing metallic backbeats slowly building tension as heartfelt emotionally drained vocals release melancholic harmonies surrounded by swells of synthetic subterfuge and repetitive robotic rhythm mixed with dire drone horns sorrowful cry. Overall if you enjoy synthpop influenced by Chrom I highly recommend this track.