Feb 27 2012

Countach’s ‘Driven’

jordan-f

Countach, the new alter-ego of one of Australia’s premiere SynthWave producers Jordan F, is back with another new tune. ‘Driven is a powerhouse SynthWave tune with an aggressive EBM bass.

I can’t help but feel that if this is going to be your driving soundtrack anywhere, it’s going to be on the autobahn. A musically Germanic track, with the aforementioned EBM bass playing amongst hard drums and ominous chords. The only respite from the juggernaut being Jordan’s sky-rocketing lead line. We’ve been hearing more an more SynthWave and Nu-Italo drawing on old school EBM’s growling darkness recently, a lot of it I think in unintentional. It’s an unexpected turn of events, but one we will watch closely.

♫ Countach – Driven

Check out more from Countach on SoundCloud.

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Feb 24 2012

Goin’ Old School: Camouflage, The Rock Steady Crew & Tracy Spencer

Goin’ Old School isn’t a trip down music memory lane, it’s a mugging in the dark alleyway of nostalgia:

Camouflage’s dark Pop classic from 1987, ‘The Great Commandment’.

‘Uprock’ was The Rock Steady Crew’s 1984 follow up to the amazing ‘(Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew’

From 1985 here’s some big Italo-Pop from Tracy Spencer’s ‘Run To Me’.

You can buy most of this music from:

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Feb 23 2012

Two new cuts from Mitch Murder

Mitch Murder

Mitch Murder, one of our favourite producers, whether SynthWave or not, has dropped a couple of new tracks on SoundCloud. Followers of Mr. murder on YouTube will probably already recognise these tunes but I’m glad he’s making his archive available on SC, much nicer for just listening to music.

First up is ‘Metro City Breakers’, a soundtrack to what goes on on the streets of Metro City when Cody & guy aren’t tearing it a new one. it’s the ultimate ‘80’s homage jam, to the point the when Mitch has exhausted his own intricate synth riffs he busts into some Herbie Hancock and Knight Rider. This track is spot-on Electro-Funk to make envy the most hardened B-Boy happy, it’s also the soundtrack to the bit in a poorly judged ‘80’s move where our wholesome heroes encounter a ‘street gang’. Mr. T’s Fashion Show has long been considered something of an ‘80’spop-culture anomaly (like a lot of things Mr. T did), but it has also always sounded good, and makes for perfect fun cover material. More than anything, these two tracks show how much Mr. Murder loves doing what he does, and we love him for it.

♫ Mitch Murder – Metro City Breakers

♫ Mitch Murder – Fashion Show (Mr. T Cover)

Mitch Murder’s ‘Current Events’ is out now.

Buy Mitch Murder’s music from:

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Feb 23 2012

Pteez’s ‘Trains In Colours’ video

Here’s the video for Russian SynthWaver Pteez’s awesome B-Boy Electro inspired ‘Trains In Colours’.

True to the title the video showcases some amazing early ‘80’s subway art.

Check out more from Pteez on SoundCloud.

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Feb 17 2012

Pteez

At some point the Russian SynthWave scene is going to have to slow down for a bit and let the rest of the world catch up, this past year so many amazing acts have come out of Russia. Pteez is latest in this long line to mix ‘80’s soundtrack electronics with a touch of funky Nu-Disco.

All three of the tracks on Pteez SoundCloud display a skill for getting an Italo groove going and warping it a little for the dancefloor. ‘Stardust’ is one of my favourites, bright, sparkling synths dance over retro Italo basslines. But far from ridged, it’s got a late ‘80’s Electronic Soul swing that saw white guys dancing like fantastic idiots for the better part of the decade. ‘Soundwind’ is deeper, more traditional SynthWave, epic movie soundtrack stuff that thrives on huge retro chords and soaring leads that carry along in it’s story. ‘Trains In Colour’ had got an awesome B-Boy Electro flavour to it, a nice Electro Funk in it’s FM bassline. It’s not often you get to hear a proper meeting of B-Boy Electro and SynthWave and ‘Trains In Colour’ really nails it, with it’s twisted leads and synth toms its a rack after my own heart.

♫ Pteez – Stardust

♫ Pteez – Soundwind

♫ Pteez – Trains In Colour

Check out more from Pteez on SoundCloud.

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Feb 17 2012

Chromatics’ ‘Lady Video

Chromatics’ new video, ‘Lady’ is all shiny nostalgic goodness.

Alberto Rossini directed the video for Johnny Jewel’s vintage SynthPop outfit and stuck with the vintage theme with grainly shot footage with a late ‘70’s feel.

‘Lady’ is taken from Chromatics’ forthcoming second Italians Do It Better album, ‘Kill For Love’.

Buy Chromatics’ music from:

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Feb 17 2012

Mental Minority

Mental Minority is, well, is a German SynthWave producer. That’s about all we know about him. But that’s a good thing, because there’s loads to talk about the music!

He’s recently dropped a new track ‘T.V. Outrun’ and an new EP ‘Moodshifter’. Both display his love of ‘80’s and Italo. ‘T.V. Outrun’ is a bouncy, swirling peice that mixes the Italo bassline with epic shifting pads and sparkling synth melodies. It;s a good introduction to Mental Minority’s sound. Emotive and involving synthesizer soundtracks. The ‘Moodshifter’ EP is free from his SoundCloud page and contains five tracks of electronic soundscapes and retro beats. The highlight being ‘Shifting the Decades’ an Italo journey that conjures visions of Tokyo skylines, robotic beats with the soul of the orient. The whole EP is definitely worth checking out.

♫ Mental Minority – T.V. Outrun

♫ Mental Minority – Shifting The Decades

Check out more from Mental Minority on SoundCloud.

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Feb 16 2012

Silenx’s new tune

Silenx

Portuguese SynthWave producer Silenx’s new tune, ‘Space Love’ is an almost perfect slice of epic Nu-Italo.

There’s so much going on in this tune, it’s like a Russian doll, once you’ve absorbed one layer there is more to get out of it. Silenx is easily one of the best retro synth producers out there right now and ‘Space Love’ is a perfect example of why. It’s a deep , emotional groove that carries you along with it’s story, from the Italo bassline to the sweeping, involving pads the track has something to say. I can’t wait for a whole album of Silenx tunes!

♫ Silenx – Space Love

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Feb 9 2012

Lazerhawk’s ‘Visitors’ album

Lazerhawk

To say Lazerhawk’s second album, ‘Visitors’ had been long, and eagerly awaited is a bit of an understatement. For a while now the Austin based SynthWave wizard has been teasing us with EPs and tracks, hinting at what the full thirteen track galactic odyssey would hold. Well, the wait is over.

And ‘Visitors’ was worth the wait, it’s a retro synth soundtrack masterpiece, and one of those records that should be taken in as a whole, the overriding thematic structure of this collection of Sci-Fi instrumentals works as a definite narrative. A journey on a cosmic scale played out amongst the sweeping synths and Italo beats. I don’t usually like reviewing albums track-by-track, it makes for boring reading and is a bit lazy, but there are a few songs on ‘Visitors’ that i have to mention. The album kicks off with ‘Lazaerhawk’s Theme’. I can’t remember the last time I heard an album opener so perfectly chosen, the track both introduces you, in majestic fashion, and sets you up for the rest of the records. It’s a big, powerful opener with a sense of the ominous, which is just the right way to send the listener on their way through the album. This is a more mature album that Lazerhawk’s début, ‘Redline’, not only is the production stronger but the whole record feels more considered, this isn;’t just a collection of songs, Lazerhawk is trying to do something here. Of course, in amongst all this space age scoring there is still enough kick-ass Outrun Electro to keep you dancing. ‘Shoulder Of Orion’ is particularly full-on post-Italo SynthWave awesomeness, while ‘Disco Planet’ pays a visit to synthesizer Disco of the late ‘70’s and ‘Star Hustler’ is a pure Italo gold experience.. More than that though, ‘Visitors’ is about the story it has to tell, and what that conjures in the listeners imagination.

♫ Lazerhawk – Lazerhawk’s Theme

♫ Lazerhawk – Visitors

♫ Lazerhawk – Shoulder Of Orion

♫ Lazerhawk – Beyond The Infinite Void

♫ Lazerhawk – Star Hustler

‘Visitors’ is out now on Rosso Corsa Records.

Buy Lazerhawk’s music from:

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Feb 7 2012

Topless’ EP

topless

A few months back we introduced you to Dutch funky ElectroPop duo Topless and their track ‘Say you Love Me’, and awesome slice of with a nice ‘80’s electronic Soul feel to it.

The track is now getting a proper release as part of the ‘Topless EP’, sitting it’s retro dance alongside tracks like ‘Saint Tropez’, a track that mixes the bands Italo core with a groovy ‘80’s Pop feel that starts to sound uncannily like Curiosity Killed the Cat meeting Heaven 17. ‘Vamos A Bailar’ is more pure Italo, in face it’s the kind of pure vintage sounding Italo that we haven’t heard the likes of since Heartbreak. This kind of old school DiscoPop we could do with a lot more of in the world. ‘We Both Know’ dials down the tempo a bit for a slick and soulful electronic ballad, before ending the EP on a high energy ‘Trouble Girl’. The whole EP is perfect material for Italo fans looking for something fresh or retro ElectroPop fans.