Aug 22 2012

Arcade High’s ‘Beauty Queen’ EP

Hot on the heels of his The Art Of Youth album, Pittsburgh SynthWave producer Arcade High has this week released a new EP, Beauty Queen. We really liked his album, but with this EP he seems to have stepped things up a notch including his first exploration of vocal tracks (apart from the Maddie Ardillo featuring Crush).

The EP kicks off with it’s title track. A gentle, nostalgic, easing into the proceedings. A beautiful swirl of retro sounds, a cascade of the sounds of growing up in the ‘80’s. A theme which reoccurs throughout the EP, but is most evident in the dancing melodies of Beauty Queen. Which leads us to Blacktop Rendezvous. This is the EP for us, this is the easily standout track. This is the track where Arcade High, A.K.A. Ryan Boosel, beaks out his vocal chops, and he nails it. The simple addition of an emotionally resonant, very personal, vocal elevates the track beyond what we would have expected from the EP. When we featured the video for Blacktop Rendezvous earlier in the week, we likened the track to “an ‘80’s SynthWave version of The Postal Service”. Both in songwriting and vocal style the are a lot of similarities between Boosel and the Post Service’s Ben Gibbard. The introspection, the vocal quirks that made Gibbard’s vocals so listenable are all present in Blacktop Rendezvous. Couple that with some sweet vintage ElectroPop and you have a track that worth the asking price of the whole EP alone. Dream Of Me follows and gets us back into the post-Italo SynthWave groove with an infectious groove and sparking synths. As with most of the EP, Dream Of Me is a fairly upbeat tune that conceals a layer of haunting melancholy, like the best ‘80’s tunes, which, we suppose, could be a metaphor for coming-of-age tale the EP represents. Up next is the deep romanticism of Prom Night, Everything you’d expect from this moment in an ‘80’s teen movie is present, gently swelling chimes, slow bass, and a sax solo, all adding to the ambiance that flow into the EP’s closer, You Said Forever. This final track feels like the prefect closer to the EP’s narrative. Slightly bittersweet in it’s use of deep warm synth sounds conveying a sense of sadness while a shot of optimist is introduced with the lead line. Arcade High’s début album was well received ‘round these parts, but with this new EP, he’s well and truly blown us away. Definitely something you should look into.

♫ Arcade High – Blacktop Rendezvous

♫ Arcade High – Beauty Queen

♫ Arcade High – Dream Of Me

Arcade High’s Beauty Queen EP is out now.

Buy Arcade High’s music from:

Follow @electronicrumor

Aug 21 2012

Jordan F’s ‘Bikini Girls’

It’s all go in the world of Jordan F right now. We’re getting new tune after new tune after new tune. We’re not complaining though, each one of Jordan’s productions is spot-on and just shows why he is deservedly one of the SynthWave scenes leading lights.

His newest one is the cheeky Bikini Girls. A skyrocketing, carefree tune that conjures relaxing days and lazy night, white sands and good times. It’s a bouncy mid-paced Italo tune that’s been layered with some seriously massive retro soundtrack synths. Sit back and relax as sparking melodies and leads wash in and out of the track like waves. All that’s left to do now is wait for Jordan’s album, which we hope is coming very soon.

♫ Jordan F – Bikini Girls

Buy Jordan F’s music from:

Follow @electronicrumor

Aug 17 2012

Starsmith’s ‘Zeroes’

Fin is back in the house! And about time too! The UK’s finest ElectroPop producer Starsmith has dropped his first new original tune since Lesson One, this time last year, with only a couple of reMixes in-between. Sure he’s probably hunkered down in the studio with the next big thing in Pop, but since his album is in some kind of ridiculous limbo we should be happy we’re getting at lease something form it.

Zeroes is the big tune you expect it is. With a rolling synth bassline this track is pure Starsmith. Just the kind of thing you could imagine him putting together in one of those studio videos he used to do. All the trademarks of his style are present. The dense layering, the attention to detail, the command of a repeating, hypnotic, funky riff. Building and building toward the finale, Zeroes has so many awesome, intertwining, synth riffs you want to listen to it over and over again to hear every detail.

♫ Starsmith – Zeroes

Buy Starsmith’s music from:

Follow @electronicrumor

Aug 17 2012

G.L.O.V.E.S. reMixes Rebecca & Fiona

Hey everyone, G.L.O.V.E.S. is back! That’s a pretty awesome end of week surprise. Things have been pretty quiet from this Australian producer these past twelve months but he’s just released a reMix of Swedish Pop duo Rebecca & Fiona’s single Luminary Ones he did last summer and is now offering as a download. G.L.O.V.E.S. is one of the best in the Dreamwave/Nu-Disco game and his name is always a sign of a top tune.

G.L.O.V.E.S. whips up the best in summery synth music with this track. All hard kicks and lush synths this mix of Luminary Ones has got a big of a Digital Love feeling to it but with more of a jump-up-and-dance vibe. G.L.O.V.E.S. is the master of summery retro dance music, and right here things are no different. Always the best.

♫ Rebecca & Fiona – Luminary Ones (G.L.O.V.E.S.’ ‘Beach Slap’ reMix)

Buy Rebecca & Fiona’s music from:

Follow @electronicrumor

Aug 15 2012

Mitch Murder & Kristine

Mitch Murder

‘You know what would be amazing?’ I often think to myself, ‘a Mitch Murder track with vocals’. Well, the moment has finally arrived, and who has stepped up to the challenge but non other than Greek retro Pop songstress Kristine. The whole thing is just to awesome for words.

Feel The Air is Mitch Murder applying all his abundant musical skill to a big euphoric, retro tinged, dance tune. This is the Mitch Murder sunrise tune, the Mitch Murder’s big hands-in-the-air track. The synths shimmer as Kristine’s sultry voice glides over the track like silk, shining over the ‘80’s licks and lush chords. Pure Dreamwave gold, Check it out now.

♫ Mitch Murder (Feat. Kristine) – Feel The Air

Mitch Murder’s Glass Cities EP is released 1st August.

Buy Mitch Murder’s music from:

Follow @electronicrumor

Aug 14 2012

LexiconDon’s ‘Burn’

lexicondon

Dropping yesterday was the second new tune from LA Dreamwave capos LexiconDon’s forthcoming sophomore album. Burn sees the guys take a much more chilled, reflective road than their previous work, creating a sweeping, thoughtful peice. I know, right! LexiconDon…introspective…who knew?

Alex and Fabian cock up a rich mix of hazy synths, plucked strings and reverb washed vocals with Burn. Almost like LexiconDon’s take on Chillwave, the track casts a mood of dreamlike nostalgia and melodic pensiveness. Burn is a like a wall of soft noise, or a crashing wave of synths, that provide an intricate stage for Alex’s distant lament to ebb and low in and out of the tune. So far we’re really diggin’ LexiconDon’s new material. Roll on the album.

♫ LexiconDon – Burn

Burn is out now.

Buy LexiconDon’s music from:

Follow @electronicrumor

Aug 10 2012

New music from Cinnamon Chasers

Cinnamon Chasers

What an awesome end to the week! Cinnamon Chasers, easily one of our favourite producers of the last few years, has announced the forthcoming release of his new album. As yet the record’s title hasn’t been revealed, but what has been revealed is one of the tracks from it. Dreams And Machines.

It’s the prefect title for the tune. Dreams And Machine perfectly encapsulates what this song is about, the two elements flowing alongside each other in total harmony. The Dreams side of the equation is covered by lush, otherwordly synths. Warm and swelling, the tonal palette Cinnamon Chasers puts to good use here is one of Sci-Fi landscapes, hazy imaginings and cosmic journeys. The Machines bit comes in to play with the pulsating Disco beat, and cut up, vocoded vocals. It’s a brilliant introduction to CC’s new material, and everything we could have asked for. A body shaking bassline and piercing leads, what more could we want. So stoked for this album, roll on September!

♫ Cinnamon Chasers – Dreams And Machines

You can download Dreams And Machines for the small price of a Tweet, right here.

Cinnamon Chasers’ new album is due out 17th September on Modus.

Buy Cinnamon Chasers’ music from:

Follow @electronicrumor

Aug 10 2012

Jordan F’s ‘Aurora’

jordan-f

Hot on the heels of his reworked Summers Of Tomorrow EP Australian SynthWave superstar Jordan F presents us with a brand new track just in time for a scorching weekend. So if you’re in the mood for something slick and synthy to chill to over the next few days, look no further.

Aurora is a smooth, floaty slice of retro Electro. Fright from the offset, a rich synth melody and driving Italo bassline greet you, pulling you into the track. Walking the line between dreamlike and dancefloor friendly, Aurora tick all the boxes for a blissed out nostalgia jam. The track rises and falls like the ebb and flow of a tide, carrying you along with it. This has to be listened to wearing shades.

♫ Jordan F – Aurora

Summers Of Tomorrow is available right now, for free, at Jordan F’s Bandcamp.

Buy Jordan F’s music from:

Follow @electronicrumor

Aug 10 2012

Vincenzo Salvia’s new EP

Vincenzo Salvia

Italian SynthWave newcomer Vincenzo Salvia offers up the latest release on Future City Records. A new four track EP of some of the finest ‘80’s inspired synth that captured the very essence of the SynthWave scene yet manages to carve out a unique sound all of it’s own.

The Voyage EP kicks off with Midnight Breeze, a rockin’ slice of pounding Italo. The backing of this track is borderline Industrial EBM, marching machine gun beats and a relentless arpeggiated bassline power the track ever forward. But it’s not all hard hitting, this robot army backing track is tempered with some seriously beautiful playing. Salvia’s fingers must be a blur as he crafts, shimmering leads and soaring solos. Ocean Drive brings us closer to the rich ‘80’s movie soundtrack territory as Salvia lays down layer after layer of emotion synth work and melodies that ring out against sweeping cosmic pads. Seaside Cruise is, for us, the EP’s standout, and the track where Vincenzo Salvia indulges his Dreamwave side. Packed with feeling, this track really makes the synth come alive. It’s carefree, summery, nostalgic bliss. And not to be missed. The EP closes on it’s title track, Voyage. A perfect finale of ‘80’s synths, funky beats and uplifting melodies. We’ll definitely be keeping out eye on Mr. Salvia from now on.

♫ Vincenzo Salvia – Voyage

♫ Vincenzo Salvia – Seaside Cruise

♫ Vincenzo Salvia – Midnight Breeze

Vincenzo Salvia’s Voyage EP is out now.

Buy Vincenzo Salvia’s music from:

Follow @electronicrumor

Aug 8 2012

The Sound Of Arrows’ free reMix album

The Sound Of Arrows

Well this is an awesome mid-week treat! Sweedish, London based, ElectroPop superstars The Sound Of Arrows are giving away an entire albums worth of reMixes, for free. The eleven track collection covered reMixes and edits, some you’ll have heard before, some brand new, there’s even the Wonders B-side, Longest Ever Daydream, thrown in for good measure too.

The album covers the duo past few years of single, featuring work from the likes of Visitor, Tiësto and Gold Dust on reMix duties but our picks have to be The Knocks version of the single Wonders, which takes a glitchy Disco approach to the tune which soon descends into full-on Electro-House dancefloor power. The amazing Mille and his now legendary reMix of The Sound Of Arrows’ breakthrough hit Into The Clouds, to which he lands all of his emotional, ChipTune Dreamwave charm in the perfect combination of ElectroPop and synthetic dancefloor nostalgia and Chad Valley’s deep, atmospheric take on M.A.G.I.C.. Chad bring a sparse Chillwave flavour to the track, supplying one of the albums deeper moments as it slips into House territory. It’s a rad collection, and generous of the guys to give it away like this, being packed with class tunes.