Category Italo

Dec 22 2011

Jordan F’s ‘Summers Of Tomorrow’ EP

jordan-f1

Jordan F is fast becoming the Vangelis of the SynthWave world. After dropping a bunch of beach party tunes Jordan seems to have turned his attention to soundtracking a dystopian future, as he does in his latest EP for Rosso Corsa Records.

The ‘Summers of Tomorrow’ EP is a journey through rain the back streets of some megacity, bather on a neo glow with only the rain for company. The EP kick off with ‘Beginnings’ which, as you can imagine, is a sweeping, epic, title sequence peice, slow basslines, reminiscent of the ‘80’s ‘V’ are accompanied by some powerful melodic work that draws you in and sets you up for the other three tracks. ‘Abandoned Streets’ drops you right into the ‘plot’ of the EP, moody Italo beats and basslines and Sci-Fi synths convey the mood of Jordan’s future metropolis. His skilful melding of Italo, Outrun Electro and EBM allows him to create these Cyberpunk atmospheres in his tracks without ever becoming over-run by it, as with ‘Renegade’, you realise Jordan can evoke this BladeRunner-esque imagery, but never looses sight of just being a good song either. ‘Renegade’ is both narratively exciting and a damn good retro Italo tune. The EP wraps up with the title track, the rousing, hopeful, aftermath of the release. this has been an amazing year for Jordan F, having gone from Dreamwave newcomer to one of the big players of the SynthWave scene and a bit of a wizard behind the synths.

♫ Jordan F – Abandoned Streets

♫ Jordan F – Summers Of Tomorrow

The ‘Summers Of Tomorrow’ EP will be available for free download on the Rosso Corsa Records Bandcamp soon.

Buy Jordan F’s music from:

     

Dec 22 2011

Miami Nights 1984’s ‘Saved By The Bell’

miami-nights-1984

Miami Nights 1984’s X-Mas gift to you all!

After a period of quite Miami Nights 1984 drops another tune, hot on the heels of ‘Ocean Drive’. ‘Saved By The Bell’ is pure electronic nostalgia. A pretty gentle tune that works it way into you heart and soul with a solid Italo beat and some of the richest, most pleasing, synth work I have heard in ages. I hope we hear more from Miami Nights 1984 in 2012 than we did this year.

♫ Miami Nights 1984 – Saved By The Bell

Check out more from Miami Nights 1984 on SoundCloud.

Dec 14 2011

Goin’ Old School: Topo & Roby – Under The Ice

From 1984 it’s some robo-lovin’ from Topo & Rob’‘s Italo/ElectroPop Sci-Fi classic ‘Under The Ice’.

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Dec 9 2011

Tangerine Dream reMixed by Kid Machine

Tangerine Dream

All this week Manchester’s answer to someone who is damn good at writing atmospheric Italo tracks, Kid Machine, has been picking some of his top classic tunes for our ‘Goin’ Old’ School’ feature, so what better way to see him off at the end of his run than with his brand new reMix of Tangerine Dream’s ‘Unicorn Theme’.

Long time readers will know I’m quite a big fan of Tangerine Dream, especially when they are at their most energetic and cinematic. ‘Unicorn Theme ‘ comes from their soundtrack to Ridley Scott’s 1986 fantasy epic ‘Legend’, which gives me an interesting way to describe Kid’s track. Unicorn footage filmed for ‘Legend’ was inserted into Ridley’s 1992 Directors Cut Of BladeRunner (as a Replicant suggesting dream-sequence), and that is exactly what this reMix feels like, the unicorn footage from Legend inserted into BladeRunner. The magic and wonder of Tangerine Dream’s pipes and strings with Kid Machine’s Vangelis-esque rapid fire Italo synths. This reMix draws a line between the two genres of movie, and movie soundtrack, in a way the makes the geek in me really happy. It’s a killer Italo tune too!

♫ Tangerine Dream – Unicorn Theme (Kid Machine Mix)

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Dec 9 2011

Goin’ Old School (with Kid Machine!): Diana Est – Tenax

This week we are tuning over the Goin’ Old School reins to Manchester’s Italo/SynthWave guru Kid Machine:

Diana Est – Tenax from 1982 “This is a recent discovery through Magic Waves radio show. I love the naivety of Italo, the cover designs, labels and illustrations, and the whole sound and lighting. I like the fact she’s singing in Italian. Most of them sing in English with the charming Italian pronounced vocals…but this is special. The early 80’s; a prolific, inspirational era. Now, where’s my time machine?”

Dec 7 2011

Goin’ Old School (with Kid Machine!): Clay Pedrini – New Dream

This week we are tuning over the Goin’ Old School reins to Manchester’s Italo/SynthWave guru Kid Machine:

Clay Pedrini – New Dream from 1984 “A short vid today but worth it and possibly another haircut for 2012. He’s got a great look, his dance moves remind me of ‘trying to spot a fly’’, and I like that!. He kinda’ reminds me of an 80’s Science Teacher, but he and his music are SO fucking cool. I’m told he still performs to this day, he’s a friend on Facebook, I need to hassle him more”

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Dec 6 2011

A taste of Steve Moore’s new album.

steve moore

SynthWave legend and driving force behind the likes of Zombi & Miracle Steve Moore will be releasing a split album with AE Paterra A.K.A. Majeure (the rest of Zombi) next year titled ‘Brainstorms’.

As a taster, check out ‘Enhanced Humanoid’, a dark, smokey peice of Vangelis-esque future soundtrack. Driven by arpeggios that lend the track and Italo, almost EBM quality and a nervous energy that is enhanced by the beautiful, yet slightly tense, melodies. The whole record will definitely be something to look forward to for gritty Sci-Fi electronics and synthetic atmospheres.

♫ Steve Moore – Enhanced Humanoid

‘Brainstorms’ is released January 2012.

Buy Steve Moore’s music from:

      

Dec 6 2011

New track from Miami Nights 1984

Miami Nights 1984

Is it just me or has it been ages since we heard anything new from Canadian SynthWave guy Miami Nights 1984?

Well, fear not, he’s back with a brand new track and it was worth the wait. ‘Ocean Drive’ is an easy, breezy slice of Italo flavoured Dreamwave. The combination of synth and cowbell is surely always a winner and ‘Ocean Drive’ is full of both amidst a bouncy bassline and lilting melody. But it’s when the solo kick in that this track really takes it to the next level, and takes you with it.

♫ Miami Nights 1984 – Ocean Drive

Check out more from Miami Nights 1984 on SoundCloud.

Dec 5 2011

Mitch Murder’s new album

Mitch Murder

If you are at all into Dreamwave, or SynthWave, or Outrun Electro, or, well, y’know what I mean, you’ll already be in love with the music of Mr. Mitch Murder.

One of the originators of the scene, Murder is back this month with his second full length album ‘Current Events’ and it’s a masterpiece. It may have come late in the year, but this eagerly anticipated record is easily vying to our album of the year. From the intro, ‘Looking Back’, this album is everything you could want as a fan of retro synthesizer music. The first track proper, ‘Frantic Aerobics’, sets the tone for the album, DancePop beats, Italo basslines, emotive chords and some seriously cosmic solos. All delivered with a sense of drama. The album plays like to soundtrack to the best straight-to-video ‘80’s Sci-Fi action flick that was never made. There are dark moods where are hero muses on his losses so far, inspirational pieces fit for a training montage, action set-pieces, chase senses and triumphant aftermaths, all played out of classic synth sounds with a slight Disco groove. The story of ‘Current Events’, though, is an document of ‘80’s popular consciousness, from technological progress to fear of nuclear war. I wish Mitch Murder would soundtrack my life!

♫ Mitch Murder – Telefuture Theme

‘Current Events’ is out now and comes highly recommended!

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Dec 5 2011

Goin’ Old School (with Kid Machine!): Marzio Dance – You Can Do It

This week we are tuning over the Goin’ Old School reigns to Manchester’s Italo/SynthWave guru Kid Machine:

Marzio Dance – You Can Do It from 1984. “Looks like a proper disco, and he’s dressed for a proper disco (I’ve just found my new hairstyle for 2012′). Above all, the Marzio productions has been a great influence on me. Dark electronic slo-mo beats and ominous heavy, dusty basslines. Xenon ‘Adventure’ is my favourite but this live video is ace!”

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