10 – NewRetroWave – Stay Retro! | Live The 80's Dream!

Top 10 Synthwave Album Covers of 2015

Andrew Zistler — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 15:01:47 +0000

2015 was a fantastic year for the genre of retro-synthwave. Along with thousands of fresh fans, a plethora of fantastic genre-bending albums have continued to pour out of producers from around the world.

Along with new fans, retro music has also spawned something of a niche among artists, and various visual aesthetics from the 80’s and 90’s have seen a revival. All too often, however, album art takes second or third string to the music which it encapsulates. Here we give them their due and honor the best of the best album art of the year.

10 – Land With No Future perfectly emulates the dystopian elements as they were presented in various 80’s films. Snake Plissken would be proud.

9 – Gunship saw their debut this year with an amazing album. The neon gridwork of this cover is something we’ve seen before, but usually not so well executed.

8 – GosT’s Behemoth is a monster of an album and its artwork definitely reflects that. This album art somehow manages to blend retro tones with metal aesthetics – something that GosT himself has achieved with his music.

7 – Dan Terminus’s Wrath of Code psychedelic visuals harken back to the 80’s with its colour palette, and somehow manages to say away from the visual qualities of the 60’s – not an easy task when dealing with psychedelia.

6 – Carpenter Brut’s Trilogy also manages to accomplish what Behemoth did – wrapping up dark metal elements with a nice bow of retro. Roller blades and pizza next to a skull? Somehow it works – and it works well.

5 – We’re getting into the top 5 now, and I must admit these next few albums were all so good, it was difficult ordering them. Duett’s Borderline captures a feeling I haven’t felt in a long time, so much so I was convinced this work was actually a piece of art from the 80’s until I messaged Duett and found out for myself – needless to say, it was not an old work.

4 – Trevor something came back this year in a dark, brooding way. And it was beautiful. The album art particularly so, blending some elements commonly seen in vaporwave with a dark palate to make something truly unique.

3 – Atrey’s Body talk is a mashed up collage of retro, as if a Delorian itself vomited a flamingo onto the canvas. Brilliant.

2 – Wave Shaper’s Exploration 84 sends me straight back to the first moment I saw Kubrick’s “A Space Odyssey”. If an album can come close to the visual mastery that is Stanley Kubrick, it deserves a top spot in any list.

1 – Sellorekt/LA Dreams has been pumping out the tunes. This guy is a machine. Not only does has he produced a total 37 albums, but he’s also the sole artist for his album art. The cover of Paint Box perfectly expresses a deconstructed retro vibe, as if the 80’s decade itself were somehow manifested inside a room. Neon colours, warping edges, gridlines – this one has it all. It’s a bit more abstract than some of the others, but that’s a good thing. Too many stylistic elements have become repetitious inside this genre, and it’s good to see someone who can break the mold while still remaining true to their roots. Bravo.

Honorable Mentions:

These two aren’t full albums, but rather cover art for singles. Both songs are as fantastic as their art. Once you’re finished having a look – have a listen if you haven’t already!

PYLOT – Flashbacks

Billboard – Motion

TOP 10 SYNTHWAVE ALBUMS OF 2015

Filip Galetic — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 14:37:30 +0000

You don’t need me to tell you that 2015 was the biggest year in synthwave since Drive came out – just as we expertly predicted somewhere around the end of last year.

Countless uh-MAZING compilations, some incredible EPs (shoutout to FM-84!) and of course not one but two cinematic releases mired in retro glory – Kung Fury (did it bomb or not? Tell me what you think in the comments – but wait, read the rest of the article first) and Turbo Kid. There was plenty of retrosynthastic events to occupy you from January to December.

But perhaps where 2015 shined the most is in the immense quality of albums that were released.

These are my top 10 favorites:

10. SELLOREKT/LA DREAMS – On and On

Someone give this guy a trophy! LA Dreams has shown time and again that he is the most prolific synthwave artists out there having released 3 full albums in the last few months ALONE! But this wouldn’t be of interest if these LPs were a disposable cookie cutter trash, oh no! Quite the contrary. Mr Sellorekt somehow manages to dish out albums full of tracks that are each unique and not a slight rework of previous work. On and On is my favorite of the albums he released this year overall. The only gripe? In the effort to get as many albums out the door as possible, the emphasis is not put that much on the overall story and cohesion of each album. But still, these should feed any hungry retrosynth epicure for days.

9. CONFRONTATIONAL – A Dance of Shadows

The dark synthwave subgenre seems to never have been been so crowded. Yet with A Dance of Shadows, Confrontational manages to assert himself a unique auter with a story of his own. Visually, he boldly lets go of the subgenre cliches and replaces them with his own personal expression. Musically, his longing vocals blend nicely with the booming basslines and wailing synth pads and there’s plenty of carpenteresque accents. Most obviously on To Live And Die On The Air where he enlisted Cody Carpenter, the son of the Horror Master himself for help on the lead synth. Favorite track: Like A Curse (Feat. Monte Pittman).

8. DYNATRON – Aeternus

Dynatron latest album, while not necessarily my cup of tea in the aspect of style (a little bit too cold to be my personal favorite) still manages to be “required reading” for any retrowave fan. Its vision, sense of infinite space it conveys and production values are second to none. Mr Jeppe Hasseriis knows what he wants and knows how to get it and he does that with incomparable eye for detail and devotion to his mission.

7. SYNTAX – Island Universe

Sometimes you want to listen to synthwave so you can feel like a brooding anti-hero going on a night rider and facing untold dangers, or to connect with the primal side of you that enjoys the world as depicted in the slasher horrors of the yore. But sometimes you put on an album like Syntax’s debut Island Universe and instead you’re taken on a space journey that both shows you new wonders and rejuvenates you. Equal parts retrosynth, and chilltronica, Island Universe enthralls you with its refined and layered vistas and lets you inhale some fresh synth oxygen.

6. DUETT – Borderline

Due to the extremely busy 2nd half of 2015, I kinda came late to the party that is Duett – Borderline. I did see some of the rave reviews in passing and made a mental note to come back to it and so this list was a perfect occasion to finally take a crack at it.

WHY WASN’T I NOTIFIED OF ITS AWESOMENESS SOONER??

Seriously, this records really stands out with its uniqueness and really mind-blowing melodies and flows. It’s really hard to pick out a track that isn’t a banger and doesn’t stand both on its own feat as well as a part of the overall narrative of the record. The themes are familiar yet presented effortlessly fresh: you might have heard this before but you haven’t heard it like this. Most stylish record of the year for sure.

5. HIGHWAY SUPERSTAR – Endgame

If I was to give out a title for the Most Evolved Synthwave artists of 2015, it would surely go to Alex Karlinsky a.k.a. Highway Superstar. Not that I didn’t like his 2013 Take My Time but it’s just that compared to Endgame it feels like a completely different artist (were it not for Dana Jean Phoenix’s presence to give us a hint). Mr. Superstar not only made a ballsy move to feature his own vocals that paid dividends (VERY reminiscent of Phil Collins’ best days), but also embraced the pop side with a gusto and added some middle eastern flavored memories (he hails from Israel). The endgame: a self-assured, masterly produced record that will shine even more in the next spring/summer season.

4. GUNSHIP – Gunship

Probably one of the most ambitious releases in the history of synthwave (does Synthwave have a history? Funny to talk about it since not many can even agree what should be the name of the genre and what it is and what it’s not – perhaps that’s a good thing?) and definitely among the most hotly anticipated LPs in 2015, Gunship just about delivered on the promise of The Big Synthwave Record. The boys showed they are able to shape memorable synth landscapes that deconstruct old tropes and the emotional lyrics uttered by the charismatic Dan Haigh helped bring in the wider audiences that the band unabashedly aims to conquer.

3. TREVOR SOMETHING – Death Dream

As I wrote in my recent review, Trevor Something returned in 2015 with a vengeance. He not only expanded but also transcended the myth of a faceless womanizing producer and showed us new sides to who he is. This expertly paced album works both as a personal confession and edgy party background. Absolute cutting edge of the retrosynth scene as far as I am concerned. Favorite tracks: The Possession and Analogue Soul.

2. LE MATOS – Chronicles Of The Wasteland / Turbo Kid Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Le Matos’ ultra epic double side album acts as both a standalone release and the soundtrack to the much anticipated Turbo Kid film. It would deserve to be on this list for its sheer size and ambition alone – if it wasn’t also one of the best produced, effortless, most consistent releases on the scene EVER. I somehow missed the 2013 “Join Us” LP until recently. But with this album the Montreal duo belongs on my – and anyone’s – radar forever. Even if the only track on the album was No Tomorrow feat. Pawws it would still end up here.

1. TIMECOP1983 – Reflections

I’ve never felt the need to spell it out so far in my reviews, but I belong to the school of thought that music reviews are inescapably both objective and personal affairs. And nowhere has this been proven better so far than with this summer’s Timecop1983 LP. Released right around the time my grandma died and during my summer holiday in Barcelona, it served as a perfect backdrop to the sun-bathed emotional rollercoaster that played out that month. Sorry (not sorry) guys – I can no longer see this as just another synthwave release, it’s too interwoven with the fabric of my life. If pressed I would have to say the following about it though:

· Perfect blend of instrumentals and sweeping vocal tracks

· All the vocalists are unique in their own way and bring out a different tonality to Timecop’s consistently superb instrumentals

· Full of heady summer anthems both uplifting and melancholic that touch your inner core if you let them

· Timecop1983 distills all that’s good about the genre and bakes it into one breathtaking journey (and he never bombards your ear to prove his a pro producer either)

· Let’s Talk feat. Josh Dally. Need I say more?

I never really got into Timecop1983’s Journeys LP but he totally won me over with this one. This is an album I’ll be listening when I’m 72.

NOTABLE MENTIONS:

Kristine “Kristine” – a beautiful love letter to the 80s female rock from Athens

Action Jackson “Miami Kill” – a renegade cop takes on the world in this solid LP that tells a story expertly

Ludrium “Pleasure of a False Past” – prog rock meets synths heavily infused with 16-bit video game nostalgia

Betamaxx “Plug & Play” – the ultimate album by one the scene’s greats

Kung Fury OST- Closest we got to a full blown Mitch Murder release this year + Lost Years + The Hoff

MOST ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF 2016:

Miami Nights 1984

FM-84

Jordan F – Timelines (out 1 Jan 2016 on NRW Records: https://newretrowave.bandcamp.com/album/timelines)

Loading…

Top 10 Newcomers of 2015

Rhys Pearce — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 15:48:29 +0000

10. ZVNE

https://soundcloud.com/zvnemusic

I really love the bitter sweet tone of the track ‘Landing’ and its unusual that a single song manages to reel me in as well as this one did. I’m really excited about the debut full length and anticipating something great when ZVNE shares more with us.

9. Coca Boa

https://soundcloud.com/newf-3

Canadian, Coca Boa, first caught my attention following his amazing cover of Gotye’s ‘Somebody that I used to know’. Blending synth with elements of House, the sound is fresh and rousing.

8. Arcade Summer

http://arcadesummer.bandcamp.com/

Bringing sunshine and good vibes, as well as some brilliantly complex pieces of music, Arcade Summer is a new electro force hailing from Australia. We’ve been waiting eagerly for something new from our friends down under and its finally arrived!

7. Moondragon

http://moondragon.bandcamp.com/

Orlando based Troy Simpson, creates incredibe synth music inspired by machines and those who pilot them. Its a rad concept and I have my fingers firmly crossed that he’ll get the call up to write a soundtrack to the new Top Gun movie because he would totally own it!

6. Maniac Lover

http://maniaclover.bandcamp.com/

Straight outta Moscow, Maniac Lover aka Kane Gybrid is a Russian bad ass making some incredibly dark and intriguing synth music. His brand of retro Sc-fi is ominous and likely to keep your heart pacing long after the music has stopped.

5. Floydshayvious

http://floydshayvious.bandcamp.com/

The hardworking Floydshayvious released 3 awesome EP’s during 2015. The Atlantan fuses vast synth soundscapes with retro video game influences, producing music that is incredibly thought out and progressive.

4. LGHTNNG

http://lghtnng.bandcamp.com/

I reviewed LGHTNNG a couple of months ago and I really liked them from the get go. This 3 piece from The Netherlands are another notch on the belt for the European Synth pop scene, which is currently going from strength to strength.

3. Pylot

https://soundcloud.com/pylot_music

Pylot is perhaps one of the most talked about artists within the Synth scene at the moment, with all the mystery surrounding the person(s) involved in the project being the question on everyone’s lips. Each musical release lends itself as part of unfolding story /puzzle that the listener is invited to piece together themselves. Its truly an inspirational project and is something I look forward to following.

2. Foret De Vin

https://soundcloud.com/foretdevin

The incredibly energetic & heartfelt sounds from Sweden’s, ‘Foret de Vin’ take me back to those huge pop tracks heard in movies from the 80’s. You can guarantee that chick’s around the world have already dreamt about having the track ‘Carol’ serenaded to them at a ‘Foret De Vin’ show. Currently making a big splash within the retro scene at the moment, shits gonna go off when a full length record finally drops.

Signal Noize

1. Gunship

http://gunshipmusic.bandcamp.com

The London based Producer has an almighty sound nailed down and its hard not to be engulfed by the energy projected from his music. The buzz is currently huge surrounding Gunship and his debut record is turning a lot of heads, scoring him legions of new fans along the way. Need I mention that THE John Carpenter guests on the debut release!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all you Retro Lovers!

The Top 10 Best Retrowave Album Covers of 2014

NewRetroWave — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 18:19:00 +0000

The Top 10 Album Artwork Covers of 2014

By Rhys Pearce

10. Le Cassette – Left to our own devices / Released on 10th July 2014

Artwork by Crystal Labs

‘A real basic design here, but really effective. This kind of art was super popular during the 1980’s and I like to imagine that Prince has wallpaper like this throughout his house’.

9. Timecop1983 – Journeys / Released on 10th June 2014

Artwork by Timecop1983

‘Another simplistic design that goes to show that album art doesn’t always have to be complicated and complex to be visually appealing. This cover has a super classic retro vibe and always leaves me wanting to play Out Run’.

8. Void Vision – Sub Rosa / Released on 11th November 2014

‘Definitely one of my favourite records released in 2014. This grey scale cover spoke to me before I’d even heard a note of the music and I felt it captured the essence of Void Vision’s sound in a single photo’.

7. Dead Astronauts – Constellations / Released on 16th October 2014

Artwork by J3 Concepts

‘Lets be honest, if you bumped into this creature on the street, you could pretty much guarantee that you’d shit your pants. But, no need to worry guys as its just just the product of someone’s imagination….at least I hope so”.

6. Mild Peril – Matter / Released on 3rd July 2014

‘First time I saw this cover, I was expecting to listen to some old British Metal band from the late 70’s. Turns out that ‘Matter’ is an awesome Medieval inspired Synth album Programmed & Performed by the talented C Gilbert’.

5. Muscle – The Pump / Released on 17th March 2014

Artwork by Youp Wehnes

‘The ultimate soundtrack to get your pump onto, ‘The Pump’ features an oiled up honey flexing her guns, what’s not to like about this cover?’

4. Perturbator – Dangerous days / Released on 17th June 2014

Artwork by Ariel B Zucker

‘This beautiful post apocalyptic image from Perturbator is totally bad ass and I’m convinced is something that even SLAYER would be proud of’.

3. Monomer – Labyrinth / Released on 6th November 2014

‘The artwork on this cover was designed by, Rufus Blacklock, of whom I’m a big fan. This incredible design was clearly born in the mind of someone with incredible skill and vision’.

2. Ron Cannon – Blue light murder / Released on 13th June 2014

‘This could have easily been the front cover of a Slasher Film in the 80’s and is without a shadow of a doubt something I would have rented. ‘Blue Light Murder’ is my unsung hero of 2014′.

1. Starcadia – Saturdaze / Released on 26th September 2014

Artwork by Starcadian & Iknonoklasm

‘This beautiful design fills me with nostalgia and takes me back to those feelings of being a kid back in the day. On this album, ‘Starcadia’ take classic themes from 80’s shows such as ‘Dance Or Die’, ‘Cody Laser’, ‘Lethal Response’ and spit out amazing remixes. I listened to this one constantly for over a week’.