Without much pomp, but with a lot of anticipation by synth wave connoisseurs around the world, the Israeli retro wave producer Alex Karlinsky a.k.a. Highway Superstar dropped his debut album ‘Take My Time’ on 21 December 2013.

Released under the veritable stronghold of synth wave production, the Rosso Corsa label (Miami Nights 1984, Lazerhawk, Mitch Murder), it shares many of the most infectious aural traits with the label peers, but with enough personality and innovation to set itself as one of its prominent acts.

The production values soar high on this release which would fit perfectly somewhere in mid-1984. The choice of adding vocals to 3 out of 10 tracks (not counting the closing remix) means that the record takes off from the well-established blueprint of purely instrumental nostalgia-heavy soundscape and crosses with one (dancing) foot into the realm of pure 80s new wave/pop.

Let’s take a closer look at the album track-by-track:

1) Night in the City (feat. Dana Jean Phoenix)

The opening track features the soulful and sensual vocals of Toronto’s Dana Jean Phoenix. This is a classic, 80s nostalgia power song that would feel right at home in the opening sequence of Action Jackson. Dana Jean’s delivery is rich and the super sticky chorus evokes a lot of 80s zeitgeist.

2) Boardwalk Sunset

Just like its title, this is a pure mix of euphoria and melancholy that features prominently in the works of Rosso Corsa’s flagship artists. The uplifting sax and the percussion fuse deliciously with the wistful synth strings, just like you’d like them to.

3) All Around The World

Heavily syncopated beats blend nicely with the bells before the surprise kicks in: this is another track with singing. In this case, Who Ha borrows his emotional and shrill vocals and the effect is very reminiscent of the early Tears for Fears or even Duran Duran. A standout track that will keep you guessing.

4) Take My Time (feat. Dana Jean Phoenix and Chris Page)

The album’s eponymous track is another foray into the territory of mid 80s power pop and what a blast it is. The synths are layered thick and topped with an edgy guitar solo but the best part is the duet between Dana Jean Phoenix and Chris Page. Chris sounds a bit like Anoraak on his last album Chronotropic in verses and that is a good thing but it’s the couple’s palpable chemistry that really shapes the track.

5) Dialtones

Dialtones is a prototypical haunting and suspenseful Outrun electro track. It doesn’t really break the mold but is exciting enough and will have you imagining untold stories of crime investigations, computer hacking and phone tapping.

6) 10-80

Another archetypal neo 80s track that perhaps sounds like a bonus track from the electro powerhouse Kavinsky’s OutRun release. Sure, it might not be ‘Nightcall’, but it’s a solid addition to the sub-sub-genre that can be best described as “road wave”.

7) Them or Us

Highway Superstar cranks up the tension on this one to the max with some interesting synth choices but the overall impression is somewhat too generic. Possibly the album’s weakest link.

8) Camaro 86

Nothing outstanding here, but still a great track to daydream about days spent playing Sega Genesis driving games long past or something fast to pull off that last stretch on your gym’s treadmill.

9) Syndicate

The tempo slows down and your mind’s eye fills up with images of a smoky disco, dark & wet streets of a megalopolis and lots of neon clothing and make-up. Still there’s enough optimism and hope in this track to close out the album with a good vibe.

10) Take My Time (Tommy Remix)

Tommy manages to completely redefine the mood of the album’s third track with this slow dance rearrangement. All of the two vocalists’ synergy is retained but the overall feel is more ethereal and delicate. A very successful reimagining and a great last track.

Article written by

FIlip Galetic

http://about.me/filip_galetic

JUST LISTEN TO THIS HOTNESS!

MAJOR SHOUT OUT TO SPINA RAFFAELLE ON THE BUTTONS!!

😉

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

Halloween is creeping up on us retro lovers. To mark this years grand occasion NRW is aiming to release a small Halloween project via Bandcamp that will contain original gruesome musical pieces and artwork to go along with it! Most likely to be an artistic EP. All musicians and artists are welcome to submit their work to ne**********@**ve.com. The Deadline will be Oct 25th 2013! In all submission please make the subject line read “NRW Halloween Submission”.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: All submissions will be considered fairly and will only be selected in terms of quality and originality (both art and music). This project once released will ONLY be only available on Bandcamp. All artists who are selected will be sent simple contracts via email on how payments and sales from the project will be distributed. NRW is here to support the retro scene via promotion on media outlets. Please understand that such promotion ties into the contract if selected.

Thank you

and …Stay Retro!

YES FOLKS….AFTER THE HUGE WAIT…IT IS FINALLY HERE!!

BOASTING BOTH A HUGE SHORT FILM AND COMPILATION TO GO WITH IT, RAGE IS LOOKING TO BE A HUGE PROJECT SET TO TAKE THE INDEPENDENT RETRO SCENE FURTHER INTO RECOGNITION.

SPEARHEADED BY MR. ARCADE HIGH, RAGE IS A SHORT FILM THAT IS FULL OF INTENSE ACTION FROM THE BEGINNING TO END. IT LITERALLY DRAWS THE AUDIENCE IN AND LEAVES YOU WANTING MORE. PURE BLOOD BRAWLS!!!

WITNESS THE GREATNESS

Rage (2013) from Illusion Films Pittsburgh on Vimeo.

FOR FULL DETAILS READ BELOW

The following music is inspired by the short film RAGE, being created by a group of young filmmakers based in Pittsburgh, PA. Directed and co-written by synth artist Arcade High, RAGE is an action packed, 16-bit injected, 80s revenge tale. The story follows Kurt Niles, an every day guy living in the neon-lit Halogen City. After being left dead in the streets by a gang called The Dangers, Kurt returns from his asphalt grave and goes on a bloody rampage to save the girl he loves. 

Inspired by early 90s arcade beat-em ups and action films of the 1980s, RAGE sets out to be a wild ride of blood, guts, and neon lights. 

Special thanks to all the artists who willingly created this music to support the film. All the money from this compilation goes directly to the production of the full-length version of the film. 

You can also support the film by donating here: 

www.indiegogo.com/projects/rage-a-short-film

LETS MAKE THIS HAPPEN RETRO LOVERS. PLEASE SUPPORT AND GET RAGE TO THE TOP!!! YOU CAN SUPPORT BY PURCHASING THE RAGE COMPILATION ALBUM, OR CONTRIBUTING ANY AMOUNT TO THE RAGE INDIEGOGO FUNDRAISER PAGE.

BOTH SHORT FILM AND SOUNDTRACK ARE AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING ON NEWRETROWAVE. 

WE CANNOT REVEAL TOO MUCH, BUT A SOURCE HAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THERE IS AN EPIC MOVIE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM AND MOVIE TO GO WITH IT IN PRODUCTION AS WE SPEAK. IT WILL HOST ALL THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THE SCENE AND BOAST AN EPIC SCORE PEOPLE!! AMONG THE MENTIONED ARTISTS ARE ARE………..AAAHHH … WE CANT SAY YET…BUT BELIEVE IT IS AN EPIC LINE UP!!

STAY TUNED PEOPLE……AND STAY……RETRO

#RAGE2013

YES FOLKS. AFTER THE MAGNIFICENT WAIT, FM ATTACK HAS FINALLY REVEALED THE RELEASE DATE OF HIS SOPHOMORE ALBUM!

WATCH!

A NEW LEAK ALSO HAS DROPPED FOR YOUR EARS

SEPTEMBER WILL BE AN AWESOME MONTH. GET READY FOR “DEJA-VU”

TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM VIDEO

NRW