Mar 15 2013

[Audio] IV

IV (we’re not sure if that’s ‘4’, or ‘Intravenous’) is anew Parisian Horror Disco (their words) duo featuring one half of Kitsuné releasers Logo. They’ve just released their début EP, titled The Place Where We Were Hidden on Mental Groove Records. In the tradition of some great atmospheric movie synth in France right now (think: Pyramid) IV bring beats, synths and a cinematic tension.

The EP is three tracks, two originals and a reMix (which, really, makes it a double A-side single), the originals being Alaska and Doppelganger. These guys create a brooding atmosphere of dread whilst keeping things pretty upbeat. Taking cues from the likes of John Carpenter and grooves from Moroder, IV build undulating waves of vintage synths to fill you with fear whilst making you dance. Alaska combines the best in dark Italo beats and late 70s/early 80s synthesizer soundtrack music, with a compelling rhythm section and haunting melodies it really sets the tone for IV’s work. Doppelganger delivers a more pounding beat and leans slightly more in the direction of what you might expect from French Electro, with one foot in the Ed Banger camp, whist keeping all of it;s eerie Horror soundtrack credentials. Check out something dark and different, that still makes you dance.

♫ IV – Alaska

♫ IV – Doppelganger

IV’s The Place Where We Were Hidden is out now and includes a reMix of Alaska from Japanese outfit Crystal.

Check out more from IV on SoundCloud.

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Mar 15 2013

[Audio] Silenx’s ‘Connections’

Our favourite Portuguese export, SynthWaver extraordinaire Silenx, recently released a brand new single. Connections is something a little more laid back, a little more chilled, from this usually upbeat producer. Prepare yourself of some synthesizer bliss.

With shining chimes and lazy melodies, Silenx conjures a smooth vibe. Laying down a crawling bassline to underpin the track, Silenx uses layers of gentle tones and half-heard hooks to create a dreamlike haze of pleasing sounds with a no-problems 80s groove. A bit different from his usual stuff, but if you’re having a bad day, this will soothe you.

♫ Silenx – Connections

Silenx’s Connections is out now.

Buy Silenx’s music from:

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Mar 14 2013

[MP3] The Boy & Sister Alma’s début single

The Boy & Sister Alma are a brand new ElectroPop outfit out of Montana making some a noise with elements of 80s Pop, avant-Pop and Indie-Electro. they’ve just released their début single, the atmospheric and euphoric Lizard Eyes. Début singles are always a tricky proposition. I’s like your manifesto, introducing yourself and telling the world what you are about, The Boy & Sister Alma have done pretty well picking their premiere soundtrack.

Lizard Eyes is a laid back, haunting at times, slice of ElectroPop that manages to walk the line between 80s Retro Pop and IndiePop. Lilting vocals over an almost Italo SynthWave backing makes for an unusual combination, but works really well. There’s even a rockin; guitar solo in there it keep even the staunchest of 80s epic purist happy. All-in-all it’s a little rough around the edges, but The Boy & Sister Alma are definitely an act that shows promise, and we’re interested to see where they go from here.

♫ The Boy & Sister Alma – Lizard Eyes

The Boy & Sister Alma’s Lizard Eyes is out now.

Buy The Boy & Sister Alma’s music from:

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Mar 13 2013

[Audio] Adeyhawke’s ‘Storm Runner’

It’s been a while, but Irish SynthWave/Dreamwave/Nu-Disco dude Adeyhawke is back and fighting fit. As the producer jumps back into our consciousness he hits the ground running with his latest tune, Storm Runner. It’s a huge tune, and exciting tune, a tune that definitely makes us remember what we’ve been missing. And, hopefully, a tune that signals a resurgence of Adeyhawke activity.

Storm Runner is a beast of many faces. Blending the epic quality of SynthWave, the groove of Nu-Disco and the infectious hook of Indie-Electro, Adeyhawke serves up a smörgåsbord of gritty powerful hooks and sparking synth riffs. It’s got a cool retro feel, especially in some of the soaring solos, but a very contemporary production style, bringing all these emotionally resonant electronic music styles into the big room for thousand-yard-stare dance-off. We really can’t stop listening to this one.

♫ Adeyhawke – Storm Runner

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Mar 13 2013

[Mixtape] Futurecop!’s ‘Retro /\ Futurism’ mix

Futurecop! – Retro /\ Futurism Mix (Vol.01) – Futurecop! have whipped up and hour of some of the finest SynthWave and Dreamwave around, including some epic tunes, some classic, a few surprises and out very own Let Me Riot’s Lovers & Losers. Get lost in the sound of yesterday’s tomorrow.

♫ Futurecop! – Retro /\ Futurism Mix (Vol.01)

The tracklist:
01. Starforce – Summer of 2085
02. Wild Nothing – Paradise
03. The Rain Sword – Sarah’s Quest
04. Jonathan Johansson – Stockholm (Azure Blue reMix)
05. Joy Division – Love Will Tear us Apart
06. Let Me Riot – Lovers & Losers
07. Japeau – The Deep
08. Miami Nights 1984 – New Tomorrow
09. Kristine – Modern Love
10. New Arcades – Dreamers
11. Futurecop! – Karate Kids (Adeyhawke reMix)
12. Van Halen – Dreams
13. She – Yes OK
14. Kats – Mangetsu
15. Forgotten Illusions – Crystal Contour
16. Jónsi – Around Us (The Chainsmokers reMix)
17. Futurecop! – Atlantis 1997 (Lifelike Remix)
18. Adventure Club – Need Your Heart (Minnesota reMix)
19. Saves the Day – Three Miles Down

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Mar 13 2013

[MP3] FM Attack reMixes Betty Who

Boston’s resident Australian Indie-ElectroPop princess Betty Who has just released a reMix collection honouring her single Somebody Loves You. The packages is the result of a reMix competition, and, although we normally like to steer clear of those, of note here is the winner was none other than Canadian SynthWaver extraordinaire FM Attack, and rightly so his reMix leads the release.

FM Attack works his magic here. The original is an upbeat, guitar and synth fuelled slice of raucous Pop which we see here transformed into a spacey, impassioned, retro synth monster. The combination of FM Attack’s nostalgic synthesizer wizardry and Betty Who’s catchy refrain results in perfect 80s Pop. The maths is simple, add these two things together and you have every element needed to deliver a tune that, even when hearing it for the first time, feels recognisable and comfortable. I’m not sure if Betty Who was trying to come across like an 80s Popstar when she originally recorded the track, but in FM Attack’s hands that’s exactly the persona her vocals takes on. With chiming keys and a bouncy bassline, FM Attack really knocks it out of the park with this mix. A well deserved win.

♫ Betty Who – Somebody Loves You (FM Attack reMix)

Betty Who’s Somebody Loves You remix collection is out now.

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Mar 11 2013

[Audio] Mirror Kisses’ ‘Runaways’

American ElectroPop duo Mirror Kisses are gearing up for the release of their new album, Heartbeats, in the coming couple of months. just to tide you over until them, the guys have released a new, free, single, delivering a taste of what’s to come. Heartbeat will follow on from Mirror Kisses last album, Bad Dreams, which you may remember us quite liking.

Runaways is smooth and slicker than what’s come before it, with a load of crossover appeal. Injecting Mirror Kisses SynthWave-Pop sound with a little Tropical swing and an Indie coo,l Runaways is less overtly retro and more contemporary nostalgia than the last record. Don’t get us wrong, the track is still washed in an 80s sheen, particularly helped along by George Clanton’s moody croon, but Runaways transcends it’s vintage roots and brings their sound up-to-date. Waves of lush, haunting, synths share sound-space with a cheeky little guitar riff and big Disco keys, making for the prefect, intoxicating, backing for Clanton’s heartfelt performance. We’re definitely looking forward to hearing what the album holds.

♫ Mirror Kisses – Runaways

Mirror Kisses’ Runaways is out now, their album is due late-April/early-May.

Buy Mirror Kisses’ music from:

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Mar 11 2013

[Audio] Kid Machine’s ‘Prism’

I don’t think anyone who knows anything about Italo music could be in any doubt, Manchester’s Kid Machine is one of the top artists, not just in the UK, but in the world, producing records right now. In just a couple of short years, this exponent of a dark retro future has risen to the top of his game, even collaborating with the likes of the Legendary Flemming Dallum.

He’s got a new record out very soon, we’ll be featuring it in the coming weeks, but until them the Kid has dropped a track from his vaults. Prism hails from October 2011, which put’s it around Return To Space time. Prism is an energetic slice of dystopian dancefloor soundtracking. Part hyperactive synthetic groover, part haunting Sci-Fi soundtrack, Prism delivers on both counts. While your feet are moved by the relentless beat and cascading arpeggios, let your mind wander with the evocative leads and intricate, shuffling, little flourishes. Prism is a nice reminder of how good Kid Machine can be, ahead of his new release. Bring it on!

♫ Kid Machine – Prism

Kid Machine appears on the Space Consortium 12” alongside Casionova and Flemming Dallum, out soon.

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Mar 8 2013

[MP3] Chaconne

This week new artist Chaconne stopped by the electronic rumors inbox to show off his tracks. We say new, he’s got stuff on SoundCloud dating back two years, but new to us at least. And we’re very glad he did, this Oxford based producer is turning out some of the beat late 80s Influenced SynthWave-with-a-House-and-Disco-swing we’ve heard in a while. It’s hard to know where to start with Chaconne, all of his tunes are top quality, be here’s a few of our standouts.

Heart To Heart is Chaconne’s latest work, and one of his best. Joining the dots between 80s Electric Soul and modern (retro) Disco and House. it’s like someone took a Five Star instrumental and re-edited it into a Nu-Disco floorfiller. Pure genius. Loaded with a bouncy FM bassline, slick 80s stabs and pulsating digital brass, alongside a solid groove and washed with modern production techniques, Chaconne really does modernise a classic sound. This results is something that sounds authentic, rather than ‘inspired by’. Totally a 12” extended mix! This Last Dance is more typical SynthWave. A beautiful, emotional synthesizer piece with an Italo flavour and all the musical narrative of the best 80s soundtrack work. Rich in densely layered synths, This Last Dance lifts you up and drops you down in all the right places, subtly carrying you along in it’s moods. Romance And Revolution was another standout, a powerful, driving slab of nostalgic energy. Punchy bass, big piano chords and some shuffling Tervor Horn-esque lead lines build and build toward the tracks crescendo, a swirling symphony of vintage sounds. This is what SynthWave is like when it;s done by people from the UK, a little less Miami Vice, a little more The Bill, and that’s Top Of The Pops perfect for us.

♫ Chaconne – Heart To Heart

♫ Chaconne – This Last Dance

♫ Chaconne – Romance And Revolution

Check out more from Chaconne on SoundCloud.

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Mar 8 2013

[Audio] Final DJs reMix Plane Shepard

Oh, Germany’s Final DJs always bring us the very best sweet sweet synthesizer music. This time they have been hand picked by Kris Menace’s renowned label Work It Baby! to deliver their reMxing good on newcomer Plane Shepard’s début single.

The track’s called Play With You, and Final DJs get deep into the groove with this five minute breezy anthem. Final Djs do love their soaring leads (as do we!), and right here they put them to work, sweeping over an Electro Boogie bassline and a hint of Tropical percussion. Like a far future dance party, this mix of Play With Me delivers all the energy and emotion you’d expect from a Final DJs tune, add in a little robovox and you’ve got a huge floorfiller. just wait for the finale!