Sep 4 2012

Alpha Boy’s ‘Heroes On Tape’ album

Berlin based SynthWave producer Norman Knight, better known as Alpha Boy, is fast becoming one of he most prolific artist on the scene. It was only April that he released his last compilation of work, the Blockbuster Album, and he’s already set with a brand new LP. Released today, Heroes On Tape cements Alpha Boy’s status as one of SynthWave’s unsung heroes. How does he keep the quality up?

From the second the album begins, with an intro piece titled Crus’n In 1982, it;s clear that despite his high quantity output, Alpha Boy isn’t just chucking out any old tracks. Heroes On Tape is fourteen track of some of the best ‘80’s inspired Electro around. The album is built around tributes to classic TV shows and movies of the decade. With titles like Master Of The Universe, Macgyver, Harold F., Flux Capacitor, BMX and Starman, the album is is the music equivalent of a night in with a stack of VHS tapes. Continuing the trend seen on Blockbuster, Heroes On Tape keeps the retro soundtrack feel, but moves itself away from standard SynthWave fare with musical nod to classic SynthPop and Pop of the era with rolling drum fills and catchy lead lines. Various tracks take on audio cues too, like Danielson [sic] (as in Daniel San), a homage to The Karate Kid, which gently covers the post-Italo electronics with an oriental feel and the tense sense of urgency found amongst I’m Coming To Get You. Highlights of the album have to be the warm Sci-Fi Italo melodies of Master Of The Universe, which dips and builds and never looses it’s dancefloor excitement. Harold F., a track so full of soaring synth leads that just listening to it is uplifting. Flux Capacitor, which powers along in rapid fire arpeggios, keeping things danceable amidst the hypnotic synths and evocate tones, and the nostalgic electronic pump of BMX. Alpha Boy has delivered another amazingly good body of work here, how he keeps up the pace is anyone’s guess, but he never seems to let the high output damage the music’s quality, in terms of either arrangement or production. Definitely recommended SynthWave.

♫ Alpha Boy – Master Of The Universe

♫ Alpha Boy – Harold F.

♫ Alpha Boy – Flux Capacitor

♫ Alpha Boy – BMX

Heroes On Tape is released today at Alpha Boy’s Bandcamp.

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Aug 31 2012

Arc Neon’s ‘Night Heat’ EP

‘Night Heat’ is the new EP from London SynthWave producer Arc Neon. His second since moving on from Indie-Electro outfit Wolf And Yeti into the realms of ‘80’s soundtrack inspired electronics. Whereas his last EP, Wet Dreams, was very focused on samples from news reports etc… this new collection is much more a self contained imaginary soundtrack.

Kicking off with Prey For Your Life, the EP immediately sets itself up as an ominous musical narrative. This headmost track droops you right in the thick of it, with Italo basslines and stabbing lead synths conjuring feelings of oppressive city nights and the shady, desperate, lives of those within. Arguable the EP’s lead track, Night Heat Theme is a definite cop show classic, this is where Arc Neon shows if his musical chops. The track is five minutes of intertwining melodies, intricately crated, SynthWave, based on a vintage drum machine beat, that adds layers and layers of hooks lead lines until it reaches it’s emotional peak. At this point the the EP, you really start to feel how Arc Neon sets himself apart from a lot of the SynthWave pack. His retro influenced go beyond the standard soundtrack fare, with elements of Electronic Soul and B-Boy Electro permeating all of his track, not just in terms of arrangement, but production style too. It’s a refreshing take on the genre. Midnight Madman is a chaotic mid-point of the EP, juxtaposing hard Industrial beats with euphoric leads to produce a schizophrenic aural assault. This a nicely followed by the moody respite of Breaking In By Moonlight, loaded with lush atmospherics and an urban bassline and The Golden Rule, the EP’s most standard SynthWave track, rich in progressions that inspire. The EP ends on perhaps it’s strongest track, Femmé Fatalé (Ending Theme) (although, soundtracks ending themes being their highlight isn’t exactly unusual). Femmé Fatalé revolves around a haunting melody that will be stuck in your head all day, it’s a unique production in the world of SynthWave, placing raw Electro Funk alongside heartfelt synth soundtrack work to brilliant effect. The SynthWave scene feels like it’s due for a shake up soon, the danger is there of it becoming full of copycats, and growing stale, Arc Neon is amongst those who could do the shaking.

♫ Arc Neon – Femmé Fatalé (Ending Theme)

♫ Arc Neon – Night Heat Theme

♫ Arc Neon – Breaking In By Moonlight

Arc Neon’s Night Heat EP is out now.

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Aug 31 2012

Kelek reMixes Freedom Fry

Coming up right behind Starcadian’s amazing reMix of NYC Indie-Electro duo Freedom Fry’s Summer In the City, comes this mix from one of our favourite German producers Kelek. Where as Staracadian took a lush, urban approach to the track, Kelek goes all out 80’s Italo. No lazy, smooth electric pain here, this is aimed squarely at the dancefloor.

Kelek really knows how to work a melody, his reMix of Summer In The City works layers of synthesizer hooks into one powerful whole. A killer Italo bassline underpins the track, immensely energetic, providing a rock solid core for rich chords, sparkling leads and just the right amount of vocal to make this track a proper retro smash. Whereas Starcadian’s reMix was a chilled out, introspective vibe, this version of the track is all about dancefloor euphoria. It’s uplifting as hell, and catchy enough to stick in your heal all day.

♫ Freedom Fry – Summer In The City (Kelek reMix)

Summer In The City is out now.

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Aug 30 2012

Visitor reMixed by Viceroy

Generally we don’t like to be all smug music writers and go on about how we get records before you grubby lot do, but in this case we kinda’ have to quickly mention that we have Visitor’s forthcoming double A-side single package, Coming Home/RNB, and it’s amazing. An easy contender for one of the releases of the year and loaded with reMixes so good it’s hard to pick a favourite. This Viceroy reMix is just one of the all killer tracks on the single.

San Francisco’s Viceroy is in good company amongst Lifelike, FM Attack, Bestrack and SymbolOne. Their reMix may be the funkiest, and most energetic. Coming Home is a true anthem anyway, and Viceroy takes that and runs with it. This is a real peak time track, working Visitor’s epic vocals into a track that is pure dancefloor joy. Rapid fire arpeggios, pin-point sharp melodies and synth pads that ring out couple with a couple rich organ drops that just accentuate the power of the track when it kicks back in. This release really is all killer, no filler. I can’t wait for you lot to hear it.

♫ Visitor – Coming Home (Viceroy reMix)

Visitor’s Coming Home/RNB is released 10th September.

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Aug 29 2012

Shiny Toy Guns’ ‘Fading Listening’

Are our favourite Electro-Rockers Shiny Toy Guns finally getting the Dreamwave fever? Their new single Fading Listening, the second to be taken from their forthcoming album III is funky as hell, and that’s not necessarily a thing you usually say about Shiny Toy Guns. Neither are ‘tropical’, ‘beach Funk’ or ‘laid back groove’, but these things might have to be said now.

Fading Listening is a surprising track from these guys. It’s also very good. It’s so surprising, I still can’t believe it’s them. Adding a little Tropical flavour to their music, as is fashionable, I could get my head around, but Fading Listening is is full-on Binary style Dreamwave. Mixing up a little beach Funk with their duet, Shiny Toy Gun deliver a laid back groove, full of nostalgia and good vibes. We were pretty interested in their upcoming new album, if it’s full of vintage Pop like this, we’re pretty excited.

♫ Shiny Toy Guns – Fading Listening

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Aug 27 2012

Alfa’s ‘Final Project’

We don’t get to hear nearly enough from Binary crew member Alfa. New tracks are few and far between, but when they do come along it just reminds us why we need to hear more form him. This latest track to surface is titled Final Project, we’re hoping that’s just a title, and not a description.

Final Project is probably the smoothest track Alfa has delivered. From the retro beats and low-down bump of the bassline in the tracks initial bars you know this is going to be a slick ride. The track is laced with warm synths and a groove that’s just right for late night dancefloors. It’s one of those carefree, get lost in it, tunes. The kind that, whist you;re getting down to it, you forget about the world. Sprinkled with little vocal and guitar flourishes, Final Project takes us back to those exciting days of Dreamwave’s formation. Just let it soar.

♫ Alfa – Final Project

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Aug 24 2012

Silenx’s ‘Hyperion’

A new track from from Portuguese funky retro SynthWave guru Silenx is always cause for celebration, and Friday is just when we like them, it;s something to funk out way into the weekend with. So today is Friday, and Silenx has released this little synthetic groove monster, prefect timing.

Hyperion warbles along on a spikey, rolling Moogy bassline full of funk flourishes laying the groundwork for a cosmic array of ringing chimes and inspiring chords. Silenx has dropped another one of his galactic Disco tunes, once again soundtracking a wondrous journey through deep space. Everything in this track is Sci-Fi evocative. The grumbling bassline the ships engines, the resonant chords the depth of space and the twinkling melodies…well, you can guess where we’re going with this. Silenx always manages to make his tunes both funky as hell and dreamily atmospheric. That’s no mean feat and we salute him for it.

♫ Silenx – Hyperion

Hyperion is out now at Silenx’s Bandcamp.

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Aug 24 2012

Lenno’s Summer Mix part 2

Lenno – Summer Mix 2012 Pt. 2 = Finland’s finest is back with the second part of his Summer mixtape series. Just as huge as the first one, Lenno drops some of the biggest Electro, Disco and House tunes of the moment.

♫ Lenno – Summer Mix 2012 Pt. 2

The tracklist:

01. Breakbot – One Out Of Two (Oliver reMix)
02. Bit Funk – It’s My Love
03. Gigamesh – Your Body
04. Eumig & Chinon – This Fang
05. Sohight – Get It Right (Patchwork reMix)
06. Koobra – Only You feat. Joanna
07. Aston Shuffle – Won’t Get Lost (’96 Bulls reMix)
08. Strip Steve – Hood
09. Justice – New Lands (Falcon reMix)
10. Anna Lunoe & Touch Sensitive – Real Talk
11. Gracias – 40k Volts (Lenno reMix)
12. Foster The People – Don’t Stop (Oliver reMix)
13. Roman D’Amour – Make Love Tonight (Lifelike reMix (Lenno Re-Edit))
14. Pryda Vs. The Temper Trap – Mighty Love & Sweet Disposition (Lenno Mashup)
15. Russ Chimes – Back 2 You
16. Timo Juuti & Hector 87 – Cheap Bad Moves

Buy Lenno’s music from:

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Aug 24 2012

Jowie Schulner’s new single

Jowie Schulner, head honcho over at Boombar Music, this week released a brand new single, Two Hearts. Having dipped his toes in the waters of Euphoric Track in recent months, Two Hearts sees Jowie back in the SynthWave saddle, but bringing a little of the euphoria with him.

It;s all sparking melodies and soaring synth leads in Two Hearts. Carried along on a rapid fire arpeggiated bassline Jowie brings together the best of his two sides evocative, nostalgic synth sounds and uplifting sunrise dance music. Two Hearts is pure bliss in synthesizer form, with a melody that will get under your skin. reMix duties are covered by Germany’s top duo, Final DJs who bring some smooth Disco tinged SynthWave to the tune, upping the stakes with their feel-good dancefloor magic and shining lead lines. Two tracks guaranteed to rock any party.

♫ Jowie Schulner – Two Hearts

♫ Jowie Schulner – Two Hearts (Final DJs reMix)

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Aug 23 2012

Visitor reMixed by Lifelike

So as we enter the final approach to the release of Visitor’s long, long, long awaited new double A-side single, Coming Home/RNB, it time for the trickle of reMixes to begin. And there’s a lot to look forward to, with work from Viceroy, FM Attack, Bestrack and SymbolOne incoming. But first up is this reMix of Coming Home from French Touch pioneer Lifelike.

this was actually out first taste of the track, it was featured back in the June 2011 edition of Fear Of Tigers’ The Guestlist. Coming Home is an epic ElectroPop anthem to begin with, so the addition of solid dancefloor knowledge from one of the scenes leading lights cannels that uplifting energy straight to the dancefloor. Built around of of Lifelike’s trademark big hooks and a rolling bassline the reMix does a neat job of transferring the tracks euphoria to a peak time dancefloor. Kinda’ excited to hear the rest!