Dec 7 2012

[MP3] New Arcades

New Arcades are a London based SynthPop duo who are making some delicious retro Pop noise. Dean Canty and Adam Sullivan released a single a few months back and are now dropping a brand new track in anticipation of an EP in the coming months. Expect some sweeping, emotional, synth tunes.

Sitting just a tad too far into SynthPop to be SynthWave, New Arcades still retain some of SynthWave’s nostalgic optimism in their shimmering melodies, but layer that with a particularly British vocal and Pop structure. Remember The Nights, their new tune, counterpoints it’s anthemic sing-a-long vocal and bouncy lead line with some deep vintage electronics. The result being an all-round winner, catchy and upbeat with an underlying richness. That’s some impressive SynthPop right there. Their previous single, Echoes Of A City, strikes the same note with a little more of an Italo drive that would sit better with the Outrun crowd. these guys are definitely a name to keep an eye on in the SynthPop world.

♫ New Arcades – Remember The Nights

♫ New Arcades – Echoes Of A City

New Arcades’ Echoes Of A City is out now.

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Dec 7 2012

[Video] Parralox’s ‘Sharper Than a Knife’

Here’s the video for Australian SynthPop outfit Parralox’s Sharper Than A Knife, a tune that’s been around for a while now. The track has been reworked slightly for a new 2012 release.

In all honesty, we kinda’ prefer the original version, it’s a lot warner and more original. No-one needs to add circa 2007 Pop-Electro sounds to a track these days. Still, it’s awesome to see the track in video form.

The original of Sharper Than a Knife can be found on Parralox’s 2008 album Electricity.

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Dec 6 2012

[Audio] Only You’s ‘The Starchild’

A couple of months ago we featured New Jersey retro Pop artist Only You, who came from nowhere, with just one song, but impressed the hell out of us with his slick, personal, take on vintage Pop music. Now here comes track number two which is, dare we say it, even more catchy and a hint more anthemic.

The Starchild continues Only You’s quest to capture the best of 80s American SynthPop. It’s got everything you’d want in a retro Pop track, punchy drums, appreciated bass, shimmering lead lines and razor sharp chords, with Only You’s vocals, this time round, taking on a big, stadium Pop, quality. You can just imaging rows of screaming teens in big hair singing along on old VHS concert footage. There’s only really a handful of artist who get 80s Pop completely right. Kid Kasio, Patrick Barker and the like, Only You has definitely joined their ranks.

♫ Only You – The Starchild

Check out more from Only You on SoundCloud.

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Dec 5 2012

[Video] Sally Shapiro’s ‘What Can I Do?’

Sally Shapiro’s easy-breezy, 60s sounding, new single What Can I Do? has not got itself an equally whimsical video.

Jarett Sitter put together this animated clip, looking just as dreamlike and the song sounds.

Sally Shapiro’s What Can I Do? is released out now on Paper Bag Records followed by the new album, Somewhere Else 26th February next year with contributions from Anoraak, Le Prix and Electric Youth.

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Dec 5 2012

[MP3] White Blush’s début EP

White Blush is the pseudonym of LA based artist Carol Rhyu. originally from Chicago, Carol began playing in synth bands when she was in film school in LA, culminating in her launching her White Blush project earlier this year. She’s just released her début, self-titled, EP, and it makes for engrossing listening.

White Blush is a record of many sides, Carol’s music walking a line between hazy Dreampop and Minimal Synth. Stripped down and personal, the six songs on the EP quickly equate you with Rhyu’s ethereal tone and a sparse collection of vintage synth sounds. True Luv, the EP’s opener confronts you with a melodic barrage of ChipTune, raw Drum Machines and waves of dreamlike vocals that swim around the robotic cacophony, a melding of beauty with harshness that is evident throughout the EP. Carol site’s Julee Cruise as an influence, and it’s one she wears on her sleeve. If Cruise was locked in a room with only a TR808, a C64 and an array of broken vintage synths, and sleep deprived, the result may be similar. Mirror matches pulsing arpeggios with a toy-town melody to sound like a fevered dream version of the Blade Runner end titles while Jolene presents imposing industrial drums that are soon tempered with lush synths and some truly epic vocals. 808 Myst is the music from Myst played on an 808, and yes, it is a weird, and downright eerie, as it sounds and lease into the closing track. Juice Of My Heart is rapturous electronic Shoegaze that’s it’s easy to get lost in. White Blush’s début is an impressive, and involving piece of work. An otherworldly journey that leaves you reeling once it finishes and you’re back to reality.

♫ White Blush – True Luv

♫ White Blush – Jolene

♫ White Blush – Juice Of My Heart

White Blush’s self-titled début EP is out now.

Buy White Blush’s music from:

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Dec 5 2012

[Video] Goin’ Old School: A-Ha

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

Norwegian SynthPop legends A-Ha decided to call it quits this week, leaving a farewell message for their fans on their official website, so today let’s check out three of their best, starting with 1985’ The Sun Always Shines On TV.

One of the best Bond themes ever recorded, The Living Daylights from 1987.

And from 1986, ease yourself out with Hunting High And Low.

You can buy most of this music from:

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Dec 4 2012

[MP3] Leitbur reMixes Civilianz

This is the latest work from amazing, and highly underrated, LA SynthPop purveyor Leitbur. It’s a reMix of German Indie rockers Civilianz’s Came Of Age and Leitbur transforms a riotous guitar dirge into five minutes of sweet urban electronic bliss.

Keeps things hazy, Leitbur wraps the track in a warm Dreamwave blanket with ringing chimes and reverb washed synth melodies alongside a driving bassline and drums. The effect is almost Chillwave, but retaining the smooth retro feel of Leitbur’s music. The original’s vocals slide into the tune with ease resulting in a nostalgic ray of electronic sunshine that bears multiple plays.

♫ Civilianz – Came Of Age (Leitbur Mix)

Check out more from Civilianz on SoundCloud.

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Dec 4 2012

[MP3] Violet Tremors’ ‘Control SubMission’

Our favourite Minimal Synth duo, Violet Tremors, are back with a powerhouse new reworking of their track Control Submarine. The girls are giving this new track away to celebrate the one year anniversary of the release of their stunning début album Time Is The Traitor.

Where Control Submarine was a measured, ominous electronic mood generator, equal parts gentle and imposing, Control SubMission takes the core of the track and ramps up the aural assault. Bringing an relentless early EBM beat and bassline to the track completely switches the vibe of the track, turning into a pounding, robotic march destined to destroy black-clad dancefloor everywhere. Long-time Mute collaborator James Aparicio sits behind the mixing desk for this one, no doubt bringing a hint of that classic Mute SynthPop experimentalism with him. indeed, Control SubMission could sit nicely amongst the likes of The Normal, Fad Gadget and Cabaret Voltaire.

♫ Violet Tremors – Control SubMission

Time Is The Traitor is out now.

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Nov 29 2012

[Video] Automatic Writing’s ‘Continuous’

London based Indie-Electro outfit Automatic Writing have just released their new single, Continuous. A rowdy tune that barrows in equal parts from Minimal Synth, Electro and Post Punk.

Here’s the video, which feature a fitting collection of imagery intercut with some live footage. The clip’s got a nice retro feel to it, which works nicely with Automatic Writing modern take on early 80s SynthPop.