electronic rumors

Dec 1 2014

[Audio] Maxthor’s ‘Black Fire’

Just released is the new EP from Spanish Italo/SynthWave producer Maxthor. Black Fire is his début release, having previously contributed a reMix to Village’s The Touch single on Kitsuné and sets the scene with a primer in Maxthor’s authentically retro sound. The EP is available to download for a price of your choosing, with all proceeds going toward the recording of Maxthor’s forthcoming album, so check out the title track below.

Putting the epic back into SynthPop, Maxthor draws on the soundtrack drama of SynthWave and the vintage groove of Italo to lend his sprawling Pop track an added dose of the majestic. Immediately lunching into an array of soaring synth solos (always a good sign); the track soon finds it’s place as a warm and enveloping SynthPop tune. With lush vintage keys and a spacious vocal performance Maxthor juggles a moody sonic pallet and an optimistic, uplifting song with ease, contributing to the 80s credibility of Black Fire. The whole EP is well worth checking out for fans of well written retro Italo and Pop.

♫ Maxthor – Black Fire

Maxthor’s Black Fire EP is out now.

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[Zen] Synthesizer Zen

This week’s capsule of Synthesizer Zen, to carry you into the weekend, comes from a look at the Sequential Circuits Six-Trak.

Video courtesy of YouTube user 1dayhkr.

[Audio] Starcadian reMixes John Carpenter’s ‘Vortex’

As synth and soundtrack fans will do doubt be aware, horror mastermind and creepy synth noodler John Carpenter as about to release an album. His first non-soundtrack solo work, the album, Lost Themes is a collection of scores to imaginary movies. No stranger to the odd imaginary movie himself, Brooklyn synthesizer warrior Starcadian has taken on Lost Themes’ teaser single Vortex and dominated it with his own brand of Electro-Funk. Check it out.

Featuring additional vocals by the Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet (‘cos that baby can sing!), Starcadian’s Vortex workout is an expansive Electro powerhouse loaded with emotional beats. Revolving around a chugging bassline, this is Starcadian when he’s got one foot in the world of Electro-House, one in Nu-Disco and his eyes to the stars. Cosmic wonder with a chainsaw grind. Gritty and majestic. Let Starcadian’s reMix of Vortex inspire you into the weekend.

♫ John Carpenter – Vortex: Night Of The Comet (Starcadian reMix)

John Carpenter’s Lost Themes is released 3rd February.

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♫ Mild Peril – The Sentinel (Tubular Bells II)

[Download] Mild Peril’s ‘The Sentinel’

Last year SpaceSynth maestro Mild Peril snuck onto our X-Mas playlists with his epic instrumental take on Walking In The Air, Airwalking, from his Themes EP. This year, after the release of his Matter album, he’s back in a radial reworking (and slightly festive) mood in his just released The Sentinel single. The release contains two tracks, both homages to the works of Mike Oldfield, one of Mild Peril’s biggest influences, in this instance he takes on Sentinel from Tubular Bells II and In The Pool.

The Sentinel (Tubular Bells II) is a sprawling synthesizer epic (but then again all Mild Peril’s works are), and is bizarrely X-Massy. We say ‘bizarrely’ because it;s not at all X-Massy, yet manages to really be. Yeah, that doesn’t make sense, but once you listen to it you’ll see what we mean. It’s ominous tones and dramatic leads all become sort of comforting and as Mild Peril himself says “because if you do pretty much anything on a tubular bell sound, it will sound like Christmas”. He’s got a point. The Pool is more of a dancefloor Italo classic, dripping with European 80s flair as cheeky snyth riffs dance around each other and a pure Pop bassline. The prefect counterpoint to it’s flip side. Did we mention it’s a free release? Go grab yourself some synth goodness.

♫ Mild Peril – The Pool

Mild Peril’s The Sentinel (Tubular Bells II) is out now on Bandcamp.

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[Audio] Ice Choir’s ‘It’s Different Now’

Right you lot, it’s nearly December and you know what that means; time to start thinking about your X-Mas playlists. Unfortunately this year we won’t be releasing another utterly amazing X-Mas EP, maybe next year (although that doesn’t stop you buying X-Mas Rumors this year, it’s for a good cause!). Still that doesn’t mean you have to sit around in the chilly Winter months, surrounded by presents, booze and friends yet feeling oddly out-of-sorts listening to poolside Disco. Cascine have got your back!

The next release in their 7” single series comes from Wham!, or perhaps it’s ChillSynthPopser Ice Choir, and is a two track release called Pure Holiday. The vinyl holds two tracks, Cut Down The Tree, and this dreamy tune It’s Different Now. With a woozy bassline that reminds us of Bowie’s As The World Falls Down from the Labyrinth soundtrack (as do the chimes for that matter) that’s been neatly slid into an 1985 easy Pop classic It’s Different Now is kinda’ last song at an X-Mas Disco music. SO mistletoe time! Best of all, all proceeds from the release will be going to Coalition For The Homeless. Do the right thing!

♫ Ice Choir – It’s Different Now

Ice Choir’s Pure Holiday is released 9th December.

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[Audio] Little Boots’ ‘Heroine’ & ‘Pretty Tough’

The chairperson of the board Little Boots has shared two more songs from her forthcoming Business Pleasure EP. We’ve already moved to the lead tune, Taste It and it’s video; the next two out of a total of four tracks, continue to show off that fact that this looks set to be Boot’s most ecclectic release to-date. Check out the bottom of the post for a link to pre-order one of the fantastic vinyl packages. Engraved watches people!

Heroine is slightly more traditional Little Boots that the previously heard Taste It. Co-produced by MNDR’s Pete Wade the track has a lush 90s Dance-Pop feel with a hint of Nocturnes Deep House leanings and Victoria’s sweet vocal gliding across booming bass and warehouse snares. A completely different slant is taken by Pretty Tough, which is dangerously close to Trap and is strangely enchanting. Moody soundtrack synths grown over the skip-hop beat while Boot’s delivers a vocal performance unlike anything she’s done before. Like we said, this is one ecclectic release for Little Boots, but if there’s one thing we love to see it’s an artists flexing their musical muscles. Welcome to Victoria’s gun-show.

♫ Little Boots – Heroine

♫ Little Boots – Pretty Tough

Little Boots’ Business Pleasure EP is released 1st December. Some very tasty indeed pre-order vinyl/poster/bag/digital watch!!! packages are available here.

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[Audio] Maya Jane Coles’ ‘From The Dark’

Mistress of dreamlike floorfillers Maya Jane Coles makes her return to Anja Schneider’s Mobilee this week In the 3 ½ years since her last she’s gone from strength to strength, including releasing one of our favourite albums of recent times, Comfort. The From The Dark EP features three utterly intoxicated tune, including this one; the lead track. Check it out.

Including some vocal work from French singer Moggli, From The Dark is an enigmatic and haunting tune that revels in Maya’s uncanny knack of being able to make deep, ominous tracks feel unbelievably warm. Low grooves and subby bass dominate the soundtrack alongside an unrelenting booming kick; while Moggli’s throaty, soulful vocals seem to envelop the music and swirl around it. This is stuck on repeat.

♫ Maya Jane Coles (Feat. Moggli) – From The Dark (Original Mix)

Maya Jane Coles’ From The Dark is out now.

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[Video] Lifelike & Giorgio Moroder’s ‘Overdrive’

French Touch legend Lifelike is back, and this time he’s bringing the godfather of Italo, Giorgio Moroder with him. Here’s his new retro-funkin’ space-crusin’ single Overdrive.

Check out the video, it’s a load of arse. Also a little bit creepy.

Lifelike’s Overdrive is released 8th December.

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