Passarella Death Squad

Passarella Death Squad music has been described as a diverse combination of contemporary electronica and haunting beautiful songs supported by some the world's most in demand DJ's, such as Optimo, Daniel Avery, Norman Nodge (Berghain), and many more.

Their epic 'Just Like Sleep' featured in the soundtrack for the BAFTA Award winning videogame 'Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice'.

What WE are, You shall be (Album)

Released April 2023

Passarella Death Squad returns to their eponymous label with the long-awaited sophomore album ‘What We Are, You Shall Be’. It features ten tracks of austere, beautifully-crafted electronica that commands and rewards close attention.

Danny Passarella and Emilie Albisser have been at the forefront of the electronic underground for more than 15 years. Their eclectic output takes in haunting tunes, sweeping soundscapes and plenty of high-impact cuts. They have collaborated with the likes of Perc, had their epic ‘Just Like Sleep’ featured prominently in the soundtrack of the BAFTA-winning video game ‘Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice’ and got support from tastemakers like Optimo, Daniel Avery and Norman Nodge. They are also known as cult and provocative clothing designers and social activists with their ‘RA!SE’ publication working to shine a light on global human rights issues. It’s been 13 years since their self-titled debut LP gave the world a comprehensive look at their musical vision; now they are back with a follow-up that is sure to put them front and centre once again.

Debut Album

Released December 2010

Passarella Death Squad's debut album sounds like the intoxicating feeling of breathtaking desire tightly laced with tension for seriously addictive music that slips deeper into your mind with every listen. Engineered by Death in Vegas man Tim Holmes with artwork from the much-lauded M/M (Paris)

Upon it's release Vice magazine awarded it 9 out of 10 describing it as, “Crepuscular drones and vampish moans from this exotic trio whose debut sets the tone for those S&M soirees you’re always thinking about hosting.”

IDJ magazine also awarded it 9 out of 10 saying,
"Passarella Death Squad are not the band to listen to if you fancy an upbeat romp with your mates on a Friday night. Taking their cue from the goth-tronic tendencies of The Knife, this London-based outfit delve deep into the abyss, offering a slow moving dirge of unsettling tension and minimal, mystical atmospherics. It could easily go very wrong indeed but, as it turns out, their debut album is quietly stunning, wrapping Emilie Albisser's pagan lyrics in unobtrusive production and plumes of primordial fog. Echoing Marlene Dietrich, Cocteau Twins, and the criminally underrated Colder, it's a stark uncompromising, remorselessly downbeat work. Look out."

Temperature's Rising

Perc & Passarella Death Squad

Re-released August 2016

Originally released back in 2010 as part of an Agoria mix compilation sampler Temperature's Rising has become a cult hit with vinyl copies now impossible to find for any price as the chance of a repress was held back by record company politics. Now, finally, it returns, remastered and enjoying the clear cut and full side of vinyl it undoubtedly deserves.

On the B-side is the Temperate Dub, recorded at the same time as the lead mix, but which has remained unreleased until now. It takes a deep classic even deeper dubbing out syllables of the vocal over a reverberated version of the now familiar half-time rhythm of the original mix.

Live in London 2009

Between 2009 and 2011 Passarella Death Squad played a handful of live dates across Europe at venues in London, Rome, Milan & Berlin.

This stark, haunting live set made up of material from their debut album released the following year in 2010 was captured in London by Tim Holmes of Death in Vegas fame. A newly remastered recording is now available via Passarella Records.

Just Like Sleep ‘Hellblade’

Originally released February 2014, "Just Like Sleep" went on to be featured on the multi award winning Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice soundtrack.

Releases

‘Ima / Blackout’

Released May 2007

Based around pounding, live kick drums and a pulsing orchestral stab, "Ima" showcases French vocalist Emilie Albisser's drawling style beautifully. The epic, touching vocals are the perfect juxtaposition to the austere production which makes for a seriously addictive track.
A similar, stripped back approach to the production is applied to "Blackout" but a dubbier style is adopted, with a slower groove and warmer sounds creating a much mellower feel but with equally impressive and thought provoking results.

‘Painted Yellow, Painted Black’

Released August 2009

DMC Update Chart review - “Pulsing and intoxicating electro for the S&M backroom brigade.”

‘Those Are Sirens’

Released November 2009

Those Are Sirens' opens with a dark, almost industrial soundscape of low end bass and mechanized hits laying the perfect groundwork for Emilie’s haunting vocal. The track has a wonderous sense of danger to it, a dark beckoning that draws the listener in, to a world where anything is possible and nothing is safe. This is classic Passarella through and through.
Sandwiched between the original and remix comes the Death Squad’s cover version of Striptease by Serge Gainsbourg, a dark tinged journey into surrender through hypnotic enticement.

‘Giant’ EP

Released June 2013

'Giant' EP commences its twisted journey with French vocalist Emilie Albisser's style beautifully on ‘Blue Lips’ running in parallel across thundering basslines, and clipped layered synth sounds. Title track ‘Giant’ leads with a Vangelis style combination of fear inducing sounds that entwine in perfect time with Emilie’s ethereal voice, from a future where hope is dwindling.
‘The Stars and Stripes’ is an enigmatic homage to the home of electronic beats - Detroit. Where Drexciya channels ‘Drone’ in a fiercely uplifting mantra to the power of America. ’Giant’ EP ends with ‘Untitled’ which aptly wraps off this musical journey using metallic sounds melded together taking you back to that Beijing smog with huge LED screens and too many people.

‘Anthem’ / ‘Just Like Sleep’

Released Feburary 2014

This double A side release commences with “Anthem” - more tales from the dark side of dance music and electronica. Haunting loops of synth combined with uplifting stabs of traversing echoes creating depth and despair, with light over the lunar horizon. Then to "Just Like Sleep" - relentless, repetitive and crafted for the basement of "Silencio" in Paris, where at 6am, everything and everybody changes.
'Just like sleep' went on to be featured on the award winning Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice soundtrack.

‘Ghosts’ EP

Released October 2014

‘Ghosts’, written about the notorious, hedonistic German dancer / actress Anita Berber, someone who challenged androgyny and drug addiction. Lyrics “Ecstasy of horrors, spectrums of colours” delivered in celestial tones by Emilie, add to throbbing bassline, giving a spaced-out call to action.
‘Empire’ “The past is present, what's above is below” sums up the sentiment of this multi-layered harder edged offering from Passarella Death Squad, giving the listener a journey into the dark side of their minds. Repetition, reverb, and ghostly melodies with a ratchet like looped synth, and you’re moving away from the World, as we know it.

‘In Heaven’

Released December 2018

"A heady, dark, minimal-wave cut that invokes the likes of Chris & Coesy and Fever Ray with a suitably haunting, obsidian sheen. With pounding, ominous drums guiding the track down its shadowy, atmospheric path, the vocal work is an eerie, absorbing lullaby that lingers long after it’s gone." - DJ Mag.

‘Creatures’

Released April 2019

‘Creatures’ presents a sinister, yet infectious bassline groove resting under pumping drums and the maleficent vocals of Emilie Albisser. Glasgow’s Nightwave’s version offers heavier drums, with the melody split between metallic synths and malleable sine waves, while D’Marc Cantu delivers unyielding techno drum grooves with squelchy acid bass.

‘No Mas’

Released March 2021

“For everyone there is a star bigger than the sun.”
“And for everyone there is a star for when you are alone.”

Following the singles ‘In Heaven’ & ‘Creatures’ Passarella Death Squad introduce ‘No Mas’. With bass driven throbs, clipped layered synths and the maleficent vocals of Emilie Albisser creating a world of brooding, twisted emotion this is classic Passarella through and through.

‘What We Are, You Shall Be’

Released March 2022

“Do not fear god” “Do not worry about death”

Taking the album’s title track to form the basis of this first EP, the original version is deep and pulsating with haunting vocals from Passarella’s talented Emilie Albisser. Alongside the original are three remixes from three unique & wide-ranging artists, CLAIR, Tolouse Low Trax & Samantha Togni.

‘Solaris’

Released October 2022

‘Solaris’ brings a futuristic slant to its retro synth sound, with Emilie Albisser’s vocals ringing out over the deep drum beat, creating an atmospheric indie-dance epic.

‘For Love’

Released March 2023

“For love is much more than love, It’s the force within the moment”

“For Love” begins with a strong electronic beat, with delicate and quivering vocal mews ricocheting across the arresting electronica. As the manifesto-esque lyrics begin the serpentine spoken word stands stark atop the feverish building of the soundscape.