Girls on Film

By Andreas Saulig
May 14, 2010

Girls On Film were founded in 2002 and are a two-woman volume from Florida. Their music is a mixture of Synthpop and icy Cold-New-Wave. Now they have released their latest work, “Mental Image EP", on which they worked with legendary producers, Geza X and Paul Roessler. Altogether, the EP offers 9 songs, including four remixes by various artists.

The Opener, “Pitiless Friend", begins immediately with great electronic Beats and the fantastic, melodic vocals of singer, Rio. With rhythmic, catchy sounds comes the Song “Devil's Lies", and here also again are the unmistakable Vocals and the Background vocals, which are contributed by Kazhmir. Also fantastic is “Medicated Mind", more or less the last song of the work just before it passes over to the Remixes.

The Remix recommended above all others here is “Pitiless Friend", which was contributed by Macutchi. Also superb is the DJ F version of the Hit “Medicated Mind". Here the girls published a successful, new EP. Great Synthie-Wave-melodies and beautiful lyrics, especially those dealing with issues such as unfulfilled love, obsession and self-doubt. Anyone who enjoys a little variety and fun female vocals, should pick up this disc.
- Active Night (Online Magazine)

By S.G.
May 2010

Description: Girls on Film, this should ring a bell particularly with fans of the 1980s combo Duran Duran. In an interview the Girls told us they were big supporters of the band, and their band name was named after one of their songs.

Once a quartet, the now duet have laid their EP “Mental Image“ on us which beside five new tracks also contains four Remixes by artists rather unknown in Germany (Macutchi, Mike Lange, Jemex, DJ F). Kazhmir and Rio make Glamwave, as they put it. Heavily based on the Sound of the 1980s and skillfully transferred into the modern age, they intoxicate us on their new EP in finest Glam fashion.

The Sound sounds sensual as well as professional and changes immediately into Mark and bones. Whether New Wave (“Pitiless Friend”, “Devil’s Lies”), postmodern (“Metrosexual”) or just retro-like (“Too Close”, “Medicated Mind”), this will strike the heart of the Popper and New Waver of bygone days. Rio’s voice shifts skillfully into individual stories of the Songs and adapts itself to the everchanging sound structure.

The Remixes also bring delight. The rhythmic “Pitiless Friend” Remix of Macutchi, the spherical “Metrosexual” Remix of Mike Lange, the playful “Too Close” Remix of Jemex and the danceable “Medicated Mind” Mix of DJ F offer variation and catchy-ness and also provide fine stuff for the Dancefloors. A journey back into the past and again into the present. Fans of Lene Lovich, Cindy Lauper or even Fad Gadget will be pleased. Everything is harmonious! Finely made, girls! (8/10)
- Darksound Musik Magazin

May 2010

The first impression upon finding in my hands the CD of Girls on Film was the evocation that its own name brings. I am referring to the inevitable relationship between the band name and the notorious Duran Duran. Before its listening and thanks to the information of the artistic work and of its alias, already a glimpse of the sound could be found in its interior. It is evident that its content could not be other than that of an electronic and pop nature. And really thus it is, with a striking and very personal style these girls from Florida fuse related genres like Electropop, Synthpop and New Wave, renewed and updated, all under a very strong esthetic framework, marked chiefly by Glam and futuristic tendencies.

Many years have passed since their first work "Danceteria", which was published in 2005. It does not take a psychic to guess that some problems have slowed down the publications of the band, since so much time has passed. Outside of these conjectures EP to review is “Mental Image”, the second work of the band to date, and in which they present five new themes in their original version and four more versions in mix.

In their new release they have not renounced their style, they continue to utilize electronics to make easy melodies, close to the '80s more rhythmic but with a personalized sound that lets them pull from other genres without difficulty. Much more dance, they unite with more flat Synth and pop, without forgetting the spirit of the glam.

The charismatic voice of Rio should not be ignored in this review. Their work and the breadth of vision of their records allow place for all scales, such as the sharp high peaks that define her vocal personality. In short, it is a difficult style to imitate but, like it or not, there is no doubt that she possesses a genuine and unique stamp.

As for the lyrics, we have to say that her lyrics are her very own for the musical style that they develop. Sophisticated, with certain critical sharpness and with blows of effect on subject matter such as the unrequited love, doubt and omnipresent obsessions. Therefore these girls are not satisfied with catchy melodies and rhythmic dance numbers, they go a little beyond, trying to send a message beyond classical frivolity which often runs with this gender.

In short, this is a remarkable work where they revive the nostalgia of succulent past times, with a style of retro electronics associated with the modernity and the more showy and suggestive electropop.
- Mentenebre.com

by Jason Baker
November 26, 2005

The unique and appealing nature of Girls On Film's music is such that on the first listen you can't help but be drawn into the music. The combination of bass guitar and synthesizers over electronic drums is intoxicating, bringing back memories of the absolute best of 80's music while bringing a modern production approach to the music. "Vaporized" and "War On The Floor" are outstandingly catchy songs that you'll find yourself listening to again and again! - Synthpop.net

By Susan Frances
Vol. 2 – No. 9, September 15th – October 9th, 2006

Girls On Film’s songs take you back to the soundtracks for ’80s flixs like “Pretty In Pink” and “Secret To My Success” with music textures similar to Missing Persons, Berlin, and Gary Numan. Girls On Film have not only revived this time in music, but they have done it through expressing their own ingenuity rather than directly copying Cyndi Lauper’s vocal melodies or Oingo Boingo’s Richard Elfman’s synth-pop moves.

“Remote Control” is a synth-pop fuss with slivers of punk and club beats. The fluffy tones and vocal curls are improvised and flamboyant like a Bow Wow Wow funnel. The lyrical phrases are descriptive of relationship entanglements:

“These mind games that you play
You make me think I know what’s going on
All the little things you do to keep me around
All add up to nothing when you open your mouth”

The lyrics are sharp shooting and the music is flashy and cascading. “War On The Floor” is sugary pop with doses of prog rock elements. “Vaporized” struts with space age frequencies, bubbling drum rolls and flickering keyboard lines. The songs are fun and absolutely adorable. The light waves of their compositions are dazzling and create sonic escapes, like the purpose of New York City’s now defunct Danceteria. And like the Danceteria, the music keeps you feeling buoyant and good about life.
- Northeast In-Tune Magazine

by M.E. Seeley
March 22, 2007


The sound of Girls On Film is like a more danceable and more serious glam-job of Lady Tron, with the feel of Human League. - Independent News, Vol. 7, No. 12

by Jason Gargano
September 21, 2005

They call it Dancetronic Glam Wave, which I suppose is as good a descriptor as any for these Dance Pop revivalists. Not to be outdone by their monochromatic yet immensely catchy sonic creations, the all-girl Florida foursome – Rio, Kazhmir, Machine and Metro – prefers a visual aesthetic right out of early MTV: candy-colored attire, geometrically-versatile coifs, garish makeup. - Cincinnati CityBeat

September 24, 2005

What could you expect from a band that named itself after a Duran Duran song? Well if you were expecting synthesized drums, choreographed hip thrusts, organized hand clapping, no guitar, action poises and ladies that look like they have just jumped out of a Nagel print, then you would be right. - Queen City Forum Magazine

By Arhythmius
November 09, 2005

Danceteria, the new CD from Florida band Girls on Film, may be the first genuine New Wave CD I've heard in...well, in I don't know how long. Unlike artists such as Ladytron, Girls on Film do not seem to be in it for the irony; it's obvious that they simply love the genre -- because if they didn't, then they wouldn't be so good at it. There's a fine line between tribute and send-up, and while Girls on Film have a great sense of humor, they are laughing with the material, not at it.

I don't always mention the look of a particular artist, but in the case of Girls on Film it's an absolute necessity, so let's get it out of the way: They nailed it. Ridiculous as this may sound, I could tell that I would like the album when I first saw the cover. But I knew that if they were that careful with the look, then they would be careful with the sound, too. Anyway, with their teased hair and Blade Runner - inspired makeup, Girls on Film look like a pastiche of classic 80's artists, but not like anyone in particular, because they incorporate some of their own style into the look. Still, one can easily picture them playing the prom band in an episode of Square Pegs, or shooting at the walls of heartache in Miami Vice. And then there are the band members' high-tech names -- what a beautiful touch.

As for the sound, I turned out to be right: They nailed that, too. Their influences are obvious, but diverse: Lene Lovich, Missing Persons, Berlin, and obviously Duran Duran, to name a few. Lead vocalist Rio gets the clipped New Wave phrasing just right, often incorporating the little yelps that Dale Bozzio and Cyndi Lauper liked to do.

Musically, the band's sound is more "hardcore" New Wave. There are none of the sweeping melodies of, say, A Flock of Seagulls; this music is meant to be heard on a dancefloor under a blinding strobe light. And most gratifying (to me, at least) is that this band is actually a band: Four women who write and perform all of the sounds that you hear. - The Estrogenius Internet Radio Blog

By Matthew Moyer
January 2007

Okay, so we're a little late getting to it, and for that Ink 19 offers our eternal apologies. In 2005, Tallahassee's own (yeah, I'm bursting with civic pride here, for once) Girls on Film released one of the best independent, local albums of that year in Danceteria. The packaging is gorgeous -- the disc is kitted out to look like an LP (if only!), and the sleeve is a split homage to Duran Duran's Rio, David Bowie's Scary Monsters and Poison's Look What the Cat Dragged In. Yeah, glamourtastic, you got it. The lyrics sheet is splashed with pink, their logo looks like a house ad for a Giorgio Moroder single and the inner photos show the band members dressed in pastel and looking like punk-assassin-secretaries (somewhere between Tron, Klaus Nomi and the Marvelettes), striking all manner of angular poses. Needless to say, it's a fabulous visual united front. You simply can't imagine them slouching onstage in jeans or being seen anywhere without a surfeit of neon, exotic drinks and Nick Rhodes spinning tunes.

The key musical reference points are early, cold New Order, Siouxsie and the Banshees (especially in Rio's vocal delivery), Vince Clarke-era Depeche Mode, the aforementioned Duran Duran, Altered Images, the Cure circa "Love Cats," Jem and the Holograms' bete noire, the Misfits (big time) and Gary Numan. But Danceteria, despite all its visual bows and nods (even the title is an homage to the legendary nightclub), is no simple novelty game of "spot-the-influence" or some pantomime "eighties night" foolishness. No way. For one thing, Girls On Film's commitment to their aesthetic and mission seems total and impenetrable, from the names (Rio, Kazhmir, Machine, Metro), to the matching pastel outfits down to the very fonts used on the lyric sheets... it's the best robot gang since Tubeway Army.

And the music on Danceteria certainly isn't a laughing matter at all, transcending their obvious influences with the addition of darker, more angular shapes of adventurous '80s post-punk/electro -- the brute minimalism of Iggy Pop's The Idiot, Berlin-era Bowie, Siouxsie and New Order's "Ceremony." Top THAT all off with a serious dark-disco/funk backdrop and heavy, crucial bass work courtesy of Kazhmir paired to Machine's metronomic drumming and the blessed absence of guitar. Metro's keys tend toward the Vince Clarke one-finger economy aesthetic, but the eerie atmospheres contrasted with chirpy bleeps are way effective. Rio's vocals are incredible; leaning more toward the nimbleness of Siouxsie Sioux, Claire Grogan and Bryan Ferry, a more commanding vocal style, almost goth, very dramatic, shrieking, swooping, hissing, trilling, threatening. (Check out her delivery on "Toxic Society.") Lyrics cover subjects like love in a robotic age, technology, paranoia and dark, menacing nightclubs. The songs on Danceteria stick to classic single length and that's how it should be.

This is a great start. I need more. - Ink19

By Mike Misiak
February 2006

Girls on Film is a surprisingly modern-sounding band, with post-electroclash touches and a desire to bring a rock and roll attitude back to dance music. Danceteria is populated by eleven satisfying pop songs with a discotheque-smash edge.
- Performer Magazine

By Samir Shukla
February 1, 2006

Girls on Film are an all-female quartet with an overt love for all things new wave. In the end it’s all about Synthpop, hair, clothes and bouncy beats.

- Charlotte Creative Loafing

By Beth Romanik
February 10, 2006

While the new wave roots are clear, Girls on Film’s sound has a modern twist that keeps your attention and will have you dancing. - Satellite Magazine