For more than a decade, Dilemma has been creating darkly alternative music. It’s a New York-based solo project that was established by producer Alex Elias. The latest EP Becoming Alive was my introduction to his music and it interestingly fuses together various genres that create a cyber gothic nightclub atmosphere. Let’s dive deeper, shall we?
Becoming Alive pays homage to goth music, a genre that Elias has an appreciation for. However, it’s not an EP that can be strictly categorized under the goth umbrella. The artist is open about not sticking to a single genre and says in his bio, “My goal is to find that space and play in it, constructing an environment that brings out a melody’s latent potential across all the various genres it could have been assigned and incorporate elements of each.” Becoming Alive embraces the macabre energy of the goth subculture but layers it with other musical influences.
Dilemma certainly experiments with different sounds in the new EP, including industrial, synthpop, dark pop and electronic. There are some hints of darkwave that come through as well. The vocals are tinged with a sly edginess that adds to the music’s moody vibe. For me, the EP delivers danceable darkness. One can sway sensually to “No Comment” or give into the cyber beats of “You Can’t Make Me (Want to Dance).” The opening number, “Becoming Alive,” is one that would absolutely get people moving on the dancefloor. I also enjoyed the melancholy of the closing song “Peripheral,” which had more of an industrial rock sound.
I feel Becoming Alive can satisfy the cravings of listeners who appreciate experimental dark alternative music. Dilemma plays with various genres while keeping the mood ethereal and mysterious. As I listened to the EP, a few bands and music artists that came to mind for me were Nine Inch Nails, Orgy and Daniel Deluxe. If you enjoy music from these groups, then there’s a good chance you’ll like what Dilemma has to offer.
You can check out Becoming Alive and other music by Dilemma on various streaming platforms.
Vamp Jenn's Corner 
They’ve got a good sound. I don’t listen to a lot of electronic music but used to listen to Kraftwerk when I was young.
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I haven’t checked out Kraftwerk. I’ll need to look them up. Glad you enjoyed this artist’s music!
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Kraftwerk were early pioneers of electronic music, a long time ago.
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