She is a classical music graduate of the Prague State Conservatory with no influences, just experiences while he is the synth and drum machine enthusiast who loves making electronic music the old-school way; together Kriistal Ann and Toxic Razor are PARADOX OBSCUR.
Combining minimal-electro, darkwave and post-punk with the ethos of recording their music in real-time, the Greek duo began releasing music in 2014 and now have 5 albums and numerous EPs to their name. ‘IKONA’ is their sixth album and their second on Metropolis Records, home to ASSEMBLAGE 23, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, DELERIUM and VNV NATION among others.
With an immersive energy, PARADOX OBSCUR have merged a variety of underground electronic styles with hazy references to both past and present. The opening salvo ‘Switch To Love’ is a catchy dance number that is characterised by solid electronic bass pulses and impassioned vocals.
‘Rodeo’ allows some space between the stabbing spacey actions on this electronically treated duet while taking things down to a steadier pace, ‘Impulse’ imagines if a Greek Eartha Kitt had made buzzy bleepy breakbeat. Meanwhile ‘Vulgar Sequence’ is sinister mutant disco that “f*cks your brains”, exploring emotional control and the phenomenon of gaslighting while fighting for freedom.
The short gritty deep shifted romp ‘Like A Freak’ does as it says on the tin as the strobe lit ‘Iconic B’ plays for the dark dancefloor while the rousing trance instrumental ‘Luminous’ in a reflection of its title wouldn’t have gone amiss with the glow stick waving crowds that gathered at Gatecrasher; speaking of which, ‘Lose This Feeling’ is an appealing Europop-oriented cover of the 2023 dance anthem by Dutch DJ Armin Van Buuren who made several appearances at the height of the superclub brand’s heyday.
‘IKONA’ ends with stark darkwave cabaret of ‘Personal’ to conclude what may be PARADOX OBSCUR’s most expressionistic work to date in its subjective emotions and experiences while pushing a distinct clubby stance.
Authentic yet mysterious, a combination of affected Demotic articulation, driving machines rhythms and widescreen electronic atmospheres gives PARADOX OBSCUR their own sound while sharing aesthetics with dark disco exponents like DINA SUMMER and ULTRA SUNN. With its synth and dance blend of different varieties, there is a wide range of crossover potential with ‘IKONA’, regardless of genre preference.
‘IKONA’ is released by Metropolis Records on 12th September 2025, available in the usual formats from https://paradoxobscur.bandcamp.com/album/ikona
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Text by Chi Ming Lai
10th September 2025
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