Category SynthWave

Apr 24 2012

L’Equipe Du Son’s ‘Supersonic’

L’Equipe Du Son

This week sees the release of Dutch Nu-Disco & SynthWave producer L’Equipe Du Son’s début album. ‘Supersonic’ is, in part, a compilation of all the awesome stuff he’s been releasing over the past couple of years, but with a few surprises thrown in for good measure. Prepare for ten track of some of the slickest retro Disco around.

The album kicks off with the smooth Disco primer and possible L’Equipe Du Son’s best known track, ‘Lesson 1’. It had to really, and it makes a rad into peice as well as being cool laid back Disco in it;s own right. It sets up the album nicely for a collection that swings between early 80’s Funk numbers like ‘What You Do To Me’,  the sweet electronic Soul of ‘Do You Want Me’ and ‘Love Will Find a Way’ and flat out SynthWave gems in the form of ‘Gina’ and of course, one of our favourite tracks of the month, the breakin’ ‘Playground Rebels’. Taken as a whole, and a document of L’Equipe Du Son’s recent output it’s hard not to wonder why he isn’t a bigger name, there’s a lot of bigger producers who couldn’t fill an album so consistently, to such a high quality. And whilst the album is quite varied in it’s approach to Nu-Disco, from smooth Funk to full on abrasive Electro, there’s an across the board sound too. L’Equipe Du Son likes to drop some 8-bit sounds into the mix and favours big retro chord stabs in combination with Italo basslines. All amazing elements that in, L’Equipe Du Son’s hands become SynthWave gold. If you’re into Nu-Disco or SynthWave you might well already have many of these tracks, but they are definitely worth revisiting as a complete body of work.

♫ L’Equipe Du Son – Flashdance

♫ L’Equipe Du Son – Playground Rebels

♫ L’Equipe Du Son – Gina

♫ L’Equipe Du Son – Do You Want Me?

L’Equipe Du Son’s ‘Supersonic’ is out now on Silhouette Music.

Buy L’Equipe Du Son’s music from:

   

Apr 23 2012

Horror Machine reMixes College

College

Horror Machine, a relative newcomer to the SynthWave scene, is an 18 year old producer from France who is following in the footsteps of countrymen College & the Valerie collective in making sweet, soundtracky, electronic nostalgia. and what better way to do that than reMixing David Grellier’s modern Dreamwave classic ‘Teenage Colour’.

The riff from ‘Teenage Colour’ is instantly recognisable, but Horror Machine takes the track into calmer, more thoughtful and emotional places. That’s not to say it’s not still a huge dance track, because it still is. Horror Machines Italo influenced beats and layers and layers of thick retro synths are certainly good to whip up the dancefloor. It’s still early days for Horror Machine, and sure, the production is a little rough, but there is tons of potential, and tons of talent in there. Just check out his latest original track, ‘Joli Printemps’, it sees the producer in a much more confortable place. Slick SynthWave with a keen ear for interacting melodies and depth of sound. Horror Machine is definitely one to keep an eye on.

♫ College – Teenage Color (Horror Machine reMix)

♫ Horror Machine – Joli Printemps

Buy College’s music from:

     

Apr 18 2012

The Sanfernando Sound reMixes Matthew Duffy, again

Matthew Duffy

In the second of his reMixes for New York singer Matthew Duffy, Manchester’s  The Sanfernando Sound turns his power ElectroPop production up to 11. TSS has been getting increasingly dark and abrasive in his tracks, and his reMix here may be the epitome of his direction.

I mean, this isn’t ‘a bit like an EBM’ track anymore, this is just flat out EBM, albeit with an Italo influence. The burbling arpeggios and juggernaut beats are straight from the darkest German dancefloors and work as a nice juxtaposition to Duffy’s emotive vocals. Military cyborg beats against the human fragility of the vocal. Well, that’s until the track hits 2m46s, then we are treated to a whole new beast, a ear melting, passionate, soaring solo drops, as does a new cut-up version of the chorus vocal that elevates the song high above the moody robot-factory grind.

♫ Matthew Duffy – Clever Lover (The Sanfernando Sound reMix)

‘Clever Lover ‘ is out soon.

Buy Matthew Duffy’s music from:

  

Apr 17 2012

Cut Slack’s new EP

cut slack

The new Cut Slack EP is here! This Portuguese producer is someone we’ve been keeping close tabs on ever since he entered one of the standout mixes in Fear Of Tigers’ The Adventured Of Pippi Longstrump’ reMix competition. He’s got a slick, rich, SynthWave style that really appeals to us. Cinematic and rousing, his tunes notable kill. And his new EP is absolutely free.

This self titled collection sees Cut Slack mixing in a little Disco and a little 80’s guitar into his retro synth sound. The opener, ‘Daybreak’, is about as good as SynthWave gets, it’s a big powerful into that sets you up for a EP’s worth of synth nostalgia with a rock attitude. After the Nu-Disco and guitar solos of ‘T.M.H.S.R’, ‘Never Let You Down’ is a low down dirty Disco tune that exemplifies Cut Slacks style. a sexy Dancefloor groove with guitar shredding over the top, a strange combination maybe, but one that works so well and sounds like the soundtrack to the best buddy cop movie. ‘Lana’ brings the smooth with rolling vocoded vocals and lush electric piano. It’s summery vibe is a nice, chilled, middle point to the EP. A sunset respite before the party rap of ‘Move To The Beat’. For a first EP, Cut Slack has done an amazing job, at a brilliant price. This EP deserves your attention.

♫ Cut Slack – Daybreak

♫ Cut Slack – Never Let You Down

♫ Cut Slack (Feat. Thunder & Co.) – Lana

The ‘Cut Slack’ EP is out now, you can download it here.

Check out more from Cut Slack on SoundCloud.

Apr 16 2012

Tommy’s new EP

tommy

Released this weekend was the new EP from French SynthWaver Tommy. Tommy has slowly been building up a strong reputation in SynthWave circles for pumping Italo influenced tracks with soaring solos and this new EP, titled ‘Tuned Into The Future’, is crammed full of space-age synthesizer heaven. Six tracks to lift your emotions and move your feet.

The whole of ‘Tuned Into The Future’ plays like a complete soundtrack, a full narrative, both thematically and musically. Each track seems to capture a section of a story unfolding and gently ease you into the next. From the intro track, ‘Highway Heat’, whose driven Electro beats and cosmic Vangelis-esque lead lines set you up for the coming EP experience to the gentle  synthesized ebb and flow of ‘Plage Bleue’, each peice is quite separate, yet feels part of a whole. this is an EP that should be experienced, on headphones, from start to finish. As the tone shifts from the contemplative ‘Endless Desolation’ to the energized soundtrack of ‘A Town In Chaos’ you, as the listener, just tend to go with it, allowing your emotional journey to be led by Tommy’s expressive playing. It’s difficult to single out individual tracks within the ‘Tuned Into The Future’ EP, suffice to say the EP ends on the title track, which is a majestic synth epic that really sees the collection off on a high.

♫ Tommy – Highway Heat

♫ Tommy – A Town In Chaos

♫ Tommy – Plage Bleue

♫ Tommy – Tuned Into The Future

Tommy’s ‘Tuned Into The Future’ EP is out now.

Buy Tommy’s music from:

Apr 13 2012

Lenno & Martin Solveig

marrtin-solveig1

Hot on the heels of wunderkind Madeon’s reMix of Martin Solveig’s new single ‘The Night Out’ comes another of our favourite up-and-comers Lenno’s version of the track. Madeon’s an absolute genius, there some kind of freaky latent talent going on there that is so far beyond and normal human ability that it’s possible he’s a extra-terrestrial visitor sent here to study homo sapien reactions to Disco, but if, gun to our head, we had to pick between Madeon and Lenno, I think Lenno would just take the prize. His smooth but energetic French Touch gets us every time.

So, to his reMix. Solveig’s made some awesome reMix talent decisions (A-Trak also contributes a blinder) and in contrast to Madeon’s powerhouse track, Lenno drops something slightly more slick. The lead riff the Finnish producer has worked into the track is pure dancefloor jump-up energy and rides effortlessly over the kind of bassline that you could work into any set as it rolls along, unobtrusive, yet unconsciously building you to the big drop. As far as we’re concerned, this is the pick of the reMix package. I guess that makes us ‘Team Lenno’ then? Ah man, does that mean we have to change all out user icons?

♫ Martin Solveig – The Night Out (Lenno reMix)

‘The Night Out’ is out soon.

Buy Martin Solveig’s music from:

Apr 12 2012

Ghosthouse’s ‘Stop Drop & Roll’ (with Miami Nights 1984 & Sam Padrul)

Ghosthouse

Madcap Chicago Electro Boogie trio Ghosthouse have been an act we’ve been keeping an eye on for some time now. They are so much fun, like Chromeo and The Time and Prince in a blender. they’ve just dropped a new single, ‘Stop Drop & Roll’ with a full reMix package, for absolutely free!

‘Stop Drop & Roll’ is a precursor to their forthcoming EP, but that doesn’t mean it can’t fill out this single package in it’s own right. It’s funky as fuck and catchy as hell, complete with sing-a-long chorus and big synth stabs. Ghosthouse have got the retro-synth-Funk thing so locked down it’s hard to imagine world domination wouldn’t be an option. Seriously, ‘Stop Drop & Roll’ is infectious like boogie mind control. The reMix package is pretty stunning too, it’s amazing that this single is free. One of our favourite producers working today Miami Nights 1984 works some sweet sweet SynthWave magic, the sheer Funk of the original allowing MN84 to get a little groovier than usual. The reMix is of the quality we’ve come to expect from one of the leading lights of the SynthWave scene, a producer at the top of his game MN84’s reMix is all big vintage synths and mind-blowing solos. Another friend of electronic rumors, Sam Padrul, contributes a huge slice of laid back Disco with a cosmic twist and a chilled 70’s vibe to it’s electric piano lead line. It’s Disco of the inner-city variety, like a soundtrack to the summer’s heating up of the concrete and parties starting. The single is packed full of other versions of the track. Team Bayside High get digital slap bass heavy Electro with it while Shuteye drop some jump-up beats. J.Larroc’s mix is deep military Disco and the record is rounded off with some dancefloor Electro-House from Compact Disco. It’s a highly recommended collection with an unbelievable price.

♫ Ghosthouse – Stop Drop & Roll

♫ Ghosthouse –  Stop Drop & Roll (Miami Nights 1984 reMix)

♫ Ghosthouse – Stop Drop & Roll (Sam Padrul reMix)

‘Stop Drop & Roll’ is out right now, for the reasonable price of free! Pick it up right here.

Buy Ghosthouse’s music from:

Apr 9 2012

Alpha Boy’s new album

alpha boy

I think it is fair to say the Berlin’s Alpha Boy has grown up in these very pages. He first sent us his demo track back in November 2010, where Norman’s love of synthesizer music, the ‘80’s and video games came across in every beat. Since then we’ve seen him evolve and grow more confident in his craft, seen releases on some of the scene’s coolest labels, and a constant output that boarders on the prolific. Each release stronger than the last.

Now Alpha Boy is gearing up for to drop his second full length record, titled ‘Blockbuster’. In part a collection of tracks from his almost factory like output in the last year, in part new tracks, all soundtrack influenced SynthWave that is always rich and emotionally resonant. ‘Follow Me’ is as good an atmospheric intro as it was on the ‘Follow Me’ EP and paves the way for a voyage though synthesizer moods, sweeping form high energy, post-Italo juggernauts such as the familiar ‘Lightstorm’ (Alpha Boy’s Homage to the TV show Life On Mars) to quieter, more mood inducing peices, as with ‘You Are My’, with effortless ease. If you’re at all familiar with Alpha Boy’s previous work you might notice that ‘Blockbuster’ almost moves away from the SynthWave/Outrun sound and more towards a new vision of SynthPop. In-fact, there are tracks on the album, like the Jan Hammer-esque ‘Magic Of Sound’ and ‘It Was All A Dream’ that  almost sound like instrumental versions of vocal tracks, as does the Italo dancefloor gold of ‘As They Do On Your Mind’. Fellow SynthWavers Noir Deco and Jowie Schulner make appearances on the album and bring their distinctive styles to the tracks they collaborate on, the former lending a dark moodiness to ‘Abyss’ and Schuler and Alpha Boys collaboration being the huge soaring Dreamwave we’d expect. Alpha Boy’s ‘Blockbuster’ is a damn impressive second album, it sees a maturity of sound, a moving beyond his roots into new ElectroPop areas whist maintaining the ‘80’s soundtrack influenced Electro theme that had defined his career. What happens next is anyone’s guess, but it’ll be exciting to find out.

♫ Alpha Boy – Cassiopeia

♫ Alpha Boy (Feat. Jowie Schulner) – Lost In Space

♫ Alpha Boy – It Was All A Dream

♫ Alpha Boy – Follow Me

‘Blockbuster’ is released 10th April at Alpha Boy’s Bandcamp.

Buy Alpha Boy’s music from:

     

Apr 9 2012

Futurecop!’s ‘Starworshipper’ video

At the end of last week we gave you a listen to Futurecop! new, and actually first, single. The Diana Gen and Starrset featuring ‘Starworshipper’.

Well, get your eyes around the video to. There’s a lot of Futurecop! clips on YouTube, but this is their first, official, especially filmed promo and director AJ Jackson does a really good job of capturing the essence of Futurecop!’s youthful, optimistic ethos.

‘Starworshipper’ is released 24th April on Keiz Beats.

Buy Futurecop!’s music from:

Apr 9 2012

Le Prix covers U-96

leprix

Le Prix’s long-awaited ‘Cosmonova’ EP is coming very, very soon on the awesome Girlfriend Records, along with it’s amazing looking video. To tide us over until then, though, the Swedish SynthWave producers has dropped this cheeky cover of U-96’s ‘Love Sees No Colour’ from 1993.

Bringing the tempo slightly down (this ain’t ‘90’s EuroDance anymore!) Le Prix allows the riff from the original to slip into something a bit more retro sounding and let the emotional qualities of the chord progression shine though. The result is something that, apart from the main arpeggio, it’s quite different from it’s inspiration, a more contemplative meeting of post-EBM, pre-Trance, European dance music and ‘80’s soundtrack inspired Dreamwave Electro. Cannot wait for the EP!

♫ Le Prix – Love Sees No Color (U-96 Cover)

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