Category SynthWave

May 1 2012

Hot Hot Hawk’s new EP

hothothawk

Russian SynthWave producer Hot Hot Hawk has just released his new EP, ‘Ventilate’. Prepare for some retro soundtrack inspired synthesizer excitement.

‘Ventilate’ contains six track of post-Italo, rapid fire electronic soundtracks. Soundtracks to some kick-ass action movie from the ‘80’s that was never made. Of course, this scene is starting to get a little flooded so how does Hot Hot Hawk differentiate himself from the pack. Well, for a start he has an amazing grasp of Melody, which he weaves in and out of runaway arpeggiated basslines to spectacular effect. He also layers his tracks with sublet use of guitar, not in the crunchy way some do, but tonally, adding an extra pad or soaring solo. Another factor that sets him apart from a lot of his peers is his grasp of House and Disco, even Indie, influences he folds into his SynthWave tracks to give them that little big for Funk and groove. Overall though, Hot Hot Hawk produces some classic electronic soundtrack inspired moments, some rousing emotional peices that capture each desired mood perfectly. With an added bonus Disco round.

♫ Hot Hot Hawk – Fight Back And Take Over The City

♫ Hot Hot Hawk – Midnight Thunder

♫ Hot Hot Hawk – Atlanta Skyline

Check out more from Hot Hot Hawk on SoundCloud.

Buy Hot Hot Hawk’s music from:

May 1 2012

Big C reMixes Blac Swan

Blac Swan

Fresh from his reworking of Wheel Wells ’Morning Light’ London nomad Big C has dropped another bombshell mix. this time taking on New York genre chameleons Blac Swan and their ‘Night Drive’.

In all honestly, the original version of this track is pretty lame. It’s got a nice crunchy production but it’s based around a really simplistic riff that never goes anywhere, enter Big C to sort shit out, take that riff and add it to intricate layers of melody. With a pounding rhythm, and enough elements, both gritty and sparkling, to carry the riff along to somewhere emotionally resonant and build the whole track up to it’s Drum ‘N’ Bass finale. Big C’s reMix is a strange and complicated beast, but one that would rock the dancefloor.

♫ Blac Swan – Night Drive (Big C reMix)

Check out more from Blac Swan on SoundCloud.

Apr 30 2012

Daroc’s ‘Wonder’

daroc

One of France’s best kept SynthWave secrets Daroc is proving that after his long absence his recent ‘Destination’ EP wasn’t a one off. He’s back for good and gearing up to be part of brand new release. ‘Additional Wonders’, a collection of 12 artists reMixing and covering classic tracks from French noisemongers WAT.

Taken from that record is his new song, a cover of ‘Wonder’, I’m guessing the lead track, and it’s truly beautiful. Transcending Disco or SynthWave, even ElectroPop, it’s distant, passionate, vocals hovers ethereally over otherworldly melodic synthwork. This is no dancefloor banger, this is Dreamwave for the mind. transporting the listener to distant planets of sound with cosmic pads and almost baroque keys and a vocal line that lends itself to the epicness and brings a slightly Bowie-esque quality in the second half of the track. This sounds like an  intro, at least that’s what it feels like from an audio narrative point of view, or an interlude. Whichever, it makes us excited to hear the rest of the album.

♫ Daroc – Wonder

Daroc’s ‘Destination’ EP is out now, ‘Additional Wonders’ is released 7th May.

Buy Daroc’s music from:

Apr 30 2012

New track from Silenx

Silenx

Our favourite Portuguese producer off all things Funky and SynthWavey, Silenx, is back with a brand new tune, ‘Sun Express’. And it does exactly what it says on the tin. You want a smooth, feel good track loaded with retch synths and delicate piano?

‘Sun Express’ really is a sunrise in musical form. Silenx has captured the calm majesty, the understated awesomeness of a sunrise and reflected that in his synth work. Lush sounds played with gentle precision, echoing around the track lending a slightly magical quality to this Funky retro SynthWave track. There’s enough Disco in here to keep most people happy, but the track’s real strengths lie in it’s relaxed, Balearic groove, it’s synth nostalgia and it’s carefree vibe.

♫ Silenx – Sun Express

Buy Silenx’s music from:

Apr 30 2012

seipä’s new tune

sepia

We’ve been keeping out eye on Norway’s seipä for a while now, and his new tune ‘Sunset Highway’ is just one more if his full on SynthWave monsters.

‘Sunset Highway’ has all the right elements in the right places. a sprawling , majestic track with a B-Boy beat. Loaded with thick, lush synths that flow over an rapid fire Italo bassline. This track is like a juggernaut, relentless in it’s synthetic assault. Frantic it may be, but harsh it is not, the soloing that rides the track is slick as hell, and with a solid groove. When the synth horns kick in for the finale you are so swept up in the track it just carries you away. The playing off of the aggressive bassline against the emotional leads is what makes this track. ‘Sunset Highway’ is a two headed creature, and works both those two elements perfectly.

♫ seipä – Sunset Highway

Check out more from seipä on SoundCloud.

Apr 27 2012

Cusax’s new track

cusax

Cusax is, of course, 80’s Stallone’s Chris Stallone  and Chris Faccone from Savage House who, last year, dropped their very impressive Poppy SynthWave ‘Got That Feeling’ EP. The duo are back together for more soundtrack inspired goodness in the form of the perfectly titled ‘Crash’.

With a name like that, it’s hard to imagine how the track can be anything less than prefect. Luckily the track more than lives up to the lofty expectations bestowed by it’s moniker. ‘Crash’ is a beautiful mid-tempo builder. Full of lush synths, rife with an emotion prescience and Cusax combine a burbling Italo bassline with layers of rich pads and chords, rising and falling, carving out a mood. Sprinkled, liberally, with shimmering, echoey leads ‘Crash’ takes us through a nostalgic, introspective electronic journey. More please!

♫ Cusax – Crash

Buy Cusax’s music from:

Apr 27 2012

Mr. Mæn’s ‘Just Don’t Turn It Off’

mr-mn

Norwegian producer of fine Synth & Disco Mr. Mæn is back with a brand new track, and this time he’s getting his SynthWave on. Mr. Mæn is showing us there’s versatility in there as well as talent.

So, keeping the faith with the current trend in SynthWave to push their Italo basslines so hard they boarder on EBM, Mæn powers ‘Just Don’t Turn It Off’ along with machine gun arpeggio basslines that are counterbalanced nicely with an almost baroque harpsichord sound that really sets the tone. a Driving, cinematic track, ‘Just Don’t Turn It Off’ hits the ground running and carries you along through and exciting, emotional, dramatic set peice. This track is all about the mounting tension, played out on vintage synths and beats. Mr. Mæn’s got the sound once more.

♫ Mr. Mæn – Just Don’t Turn It Off

Check out more from Mr. Mæn on SoundCloud.

Apr 27 2012

A couple of new tunes from 80s Stallone

80s Stallone

Prolific London based SynthWave artist 80s Stallone has released a couple of new track in the past week. We’ve seen an increase in output from 80s Stallone in the past few months, and each one has been a synthesizer gem. check out his new two.

‘Electric Nights’ is an awesome track, possible 80’s Stallone’s best to date, and that’s really saying something. There’s something just so involving about ‘Electric Nights’ thick layers of synths and it’s resonant, haunting lead. It’s SynthWave, optimistic style, moving slightly away from the soundtrack influenced sound into something more Poppy, more catchy, yet still just as atmospheric and mood inducing. ‘Cobretti’ see’s him back in Stallone movie mode with a driving peice of sledgehammer Italo action move score. Moody and pounding, ‘Cobretti’ sets an ominous tone tempered with a cutting lead line. With all the recent releases we get the feeling 80s Stallone is gearing up for something, fingers crosses it’s an album.

♫ 80s Stallone – Electric Nights

♫ 80s Stallone – Cobretti

80s Stallone’s ‘Beach’ EP is released out now on Silhouette Music.

Buy 80s Stallone’s music from:

Apr 26 2012

Le Prix’s ‘Cosmonova’

le prix

We feel like we’ve been waiting for this single to drop for ever! Finally sees the long awaited (around here certainly) ‘Cosmonova’, the new single from Le Prix and the first commercial release from Girlfriend Records. Girlfriend have, of course, have a good few years of supplying us with the best in Dreamwave and SynthWave for free, so let’s all show them some support as the move into this new phase.

‘Cosmonova’ is a piece of cosmic SynthWave that is pure bliss. Built around a rolling late ‘80’s House beat, it’s a ten minute journey to other galaxies. Worth of Vangelis’ more spacey work, Le Prix takes his time, building an otherworldly synthetic atmosphere. With an infection lead riff, one that will seriously stick in your head, and layers upon layers of Sci-Fi synths Le Prix has delivered what con only be described as a interplanetary SynthWave masterpiece. reMixes come from FM Attack, who turns in a killer retro synth Disco track with strong Italo overtones. It’s a beautiful, haunting dance track with a hint of Pet Shop Boys about it. The main thing to take away from this reMix is that FM Attack truly is a master at what he does and we don;t hear nearly enough from him. Meanwhile Johnatron keeps the space age riff in place and applies tit to a thick, warping, Disco groove before bring in some Acidic synth action and some late night dancefloor chaos. The ‘Cosmonova’ package was worth the wait, and a stunning entrance into the world music market for Girlfriend.

♫ Le Prix – Cosmonova

♫ Le Prix – Cosmonova (FM Attack reMix)

♫ Le Prix – Cosmonova (Johnatron reMix)

While we’re hear let’s take another look at the awesome trailer for ‘Comosnova’, apparently it was planned to be turned into a full length video, but timing constrains on animator Kilian Eng prohibited that. Even at 43 seconds though, it’s spectacular.

Le Prix’s ‘Cosmonova’ is out right now on Girlfriend Records.

Buy Le Prix’s music from:

Apr 26 2012

Awkoder’s new mixtape

Awkoder

Awkoder – Mixtape Sauvage III = Here’s the new mixtape from SynthWave producer Awkoder. it’s an awesome thirty minutes that switches between huge Nu-Disco and quirky synth goodness. Save this one for the weekend!

♫ Awkoder – Mixtape Sauvage III

The tracklist:

01. Vangelis – Pulstar (Anthony Atcherley reMix)
02. The Flirts – Passion (La Royale Edit)
03. Oliver – I Need You
04. Madeon – Icarus
05. Oliver – Dirty Talk
06. Thony Ritz – Rockin’ Feeling (First 2005 Club Edit)
07. Andre VII – La Merca
08. Ilo De Pancrate – Make a Hind of You (Francophilippe reMix)
09. The Shoes – Time to Dance (SebastiAn reMix)

Buy Awkoder’s music from: