10. Molchat Doma – S Krish Nashih Domov

This Molchat Doma sound is a virtuoso mix of Alphaville, New Order and The Cure. almost every track on this album feels iconic in a familiar, but also foreign way. Although it is sung entirely in Slavic, the sad, nostalgic themes still resonate deeply.

9. Kalax – Kalax

A new, enhanced retro feel makes this truly dreamy dreamwave feel much more nostalgic than the previous releases from Kalax – almost wistful at times. The result is an astounding release of synthwave that bears a beautiful cinematic quality like Kavinsky or College.

8. Mega Drive – The Grid

This dark and futuristic album perfectly embodies cyberpunk. The dense, uptempo tracks meld perfectly with ambient features on this album, creating a complete soundscape for some mysterious dystopian city.

7. ALEX & Tokyo Rose – AKUMA

ALEX and Tokyo Rose perfectly compliment one another’s style on this groundbreaking darkwave/outrun album.  In spite of being dark, “Akuma’s” melodies feel more retro than it’s contemporaries, creating a rare form of nostalgia.

6. FM attack – Stellar

While his previous albums drew heavily from disco and had a more upbeat and dance feel, “Stellar” is steeped in postpunk and new wave vibes. This updated sound is unique and fantastic, creating a more wistful and nostalgic feel to the signature FM Attack sound.

5. HOME – Resting State

This interesting album is comprised of an astounding 35 demo tracks. In spite of this, they manage to be just as interesting and full-bodied as much of his more fleshed out work. If these are just demos, we can’t wait to hear whats coming next!

4. Various Artists – Magnatron 2.0

Powerful and dark, this compilation manages to be cohesive in spite of containing 16 very different and monstrously amazing artists.

3. Com Truise – Iteration

“Iteration” signals a tonal shift from Haley’s previous work. It feels more lachrymose and less hard sci-fi than his previous releases. This does not feel arrived at by way of nostalgia but instead from melancholy and heartbreak – a fitting end to a long journey.

2. Dan Terminus – Automated Refrains

This album is one of the darkest, most complex we’ve heard all year. Dan Terminus manages to elicit complex nostalgic melodies and a pitch-perfect retro-futuristic vibe through HEAVY synths – an accomplishment to be lauded. Top it off with a couple lighter, almost ambient tracks and you have a well rounded and well deserved top spot for “Automated Refrains.”

 

1. Lazerhawk – Dreamride

The synthwave demigod has returned in full force. Dreamrider suffuses Lazerhawk’s years of producer expertise and creates a thoroughly complete body of work that is in every way more than the sum of its parts. Lazerhawk’s mastery of the form is undeniable.

Special Mentions

Master Boot Record  – INTERRUPT REQUEST

Meteor – Inner Demon

10. Com Truise – Iteration (Seth Haley)

Creating his own artwork, Seth Haley set himself apart from many others. Featuring a minimalist style and unique but still retro color scheme,  this album artwork is a perfect companion to his album.

9. Occams Laser – Ascension (Tom Stuart)

This album art was also created by Occams Laser himself, and looks like an authentic Gustave Doré engraving. Add in a faux record wear, and you have yourself a fantastic cover!

8. The Midnight – Nocturnal  (David Legnon)

The rainy windshield and cityscape in the background on the cover of this EP is just deluxe, and perfectly embodies what The Midnight’s “Nocturnal” sound is all about.

7. Alex – Youth – (Jaqueline Ruther)

This beautiful artwork earned it’s spot on the list for the ersatz plastic wrap gleam that cuts through the center of the art. Light can be difficult to work with – especially when reflecting off of unusual surfaces.

6. Dance with the Dead – B-Sides Vol 1.
(Mark R Kosobucki)

This artwork plays with perspective in an interesting way, and captures lots of small details. The upward view would be terrible on the living – but works well on rotted flesh and bone!

5. Ultraboss – Kyrie Electron  (Rolly Rocket)

This awesome illustration not only showcases Rolly’s eye for detail, it also portrays the Kyrie Electron Vision perfectly! The color and unique vision make this cover a vibrant masterpiece for the eyes.

4. Meteor – Inner Demon – (Jorge Reyes)

Not only does Meteor make fantastic synth, he makes his own art as well! Faces can be hard to do right – creating an exploded face with depth – that takes skill. Delightfully retro as well.

3. Dan Terminus – Automated Refrains
(Luca Carey)

The artwork from Luca Carey is always on-point. Their works are always complex, with amazing use of space and color – it wouldn’t be a top 10 album art without something from Carey.

2. Compilerbau – Tricksters Paradise
(Kuldar Leement)

This relatively simple, but very clean artwork earned a top spot because, according a physicist we contacted, the equations on the blackboard are real – and contain wave functions! Fantastic!

1. Robert Parker – Awakening (Florian Renner)

This fantastic cover art earned our #1 spot for the perfect mixture of style, simplicity, and smart use of contrasting pastel 80’s colors. This cover bleeds retro futurism cyberpunk without being kitschy – not an easy feat!

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Perturbator – New Model (Long Pham)

Mega Drive – The Grid (David Demaret)

Night Raptor – Night Raptor EP  (Folgar)

10. Mega Drive

Presenting us with not one but two full-length releases this year, Mega Drive shows no signs of stopping, thankfully. We honestly can’t decide on whether we should listen to The Grid or Seas of Infinity. Both are well crafted and make Mega Drive more than worthy of a spot on this list.

https://soundcloud.com/megadrivemusic

9. Solar Storm

Nearly making you believe you’re living in a high tech, low life vision of the future, Solar Storm blasted into action with Exodus. Devout followers of our Youtube channel will likely already have heard “Homesick” which, like the rest of Exodus, is a treat to our ears.

https://soundcloud.com/solarst0rm

8. Futurecop!

No list of great synthwave artists would be complete without Futurecop! Making an appearance. August of this year came with it the highly anticipated release of Return to Alvograth and Futurecop! delivered tenfold with this one. A pioneer of the genre itself, you need to listen to this album if you somehow haven’t had the chance yet.

https://soundcloud.com/futurecopofficial

7. Night Runner

Earlier this year the duo that is Night Runner treated us to another full-length album in the form of Thunderbird. If you’ve listened to their previous release, Starfighter, you won’t want to miss this.

https://soundcloud.com/nightrunnermusic

6. Kalax

In early April, Kalax unleashed a self-titled album that was just what we needed, chock-full of rolling synths and dreamy vocals.  Its release has since been followed up with a vinyl and two cassette releases.

https://soundcloud.com/kalax

5. Lazerhawk

In last years roundup, we had just been treated to a teaser for Dreamrider, the highly anticipated next release from everyone’s favorite, Lazerhawk. Early this year, we got it. From “Neon Dawn” to “Dreams in the Dusk” we were not disappointed. This co-founder of Rosso Corsa Records continues to soar.

https://soundcloud.com/lazerhawk

4. Daniel Deluxe

The master of dark synth easily makes this list with his latest release, Instruments of Retribution. This titan of darksynth has also toured consistently throughout 2017, treating fans all over Europe to his synth repertoire.

https://soundcloud.com/daniel-deluxe

3. Nightstop

Hailing from Finland, Nightstop followed up last years Streetwalker with the exquisite release, Dancing Killer. Quickly followed by a wonderful vinyl release on Electronic Purification Records, Nightstop has proven that they’re one of the best time and again.

https://soundcloud.com/nightstop

2. The Midnight

With the release of Nocturnal this year, the duo that is The Midnight showed us that they are completely incapable of a bad release. Hot off the heels of a sold-out performance in Los Angeles, The Midnight has proven to be a powerful force in concert. With more dates planned for 2018, we’re chomping at the bit for more.

https://soundcloud.com/themidnightofficial

1. Meteor

The alter ego of Jorge Reyes, 2017 saw the release of Inner Demon by Meteor. Incorporating scathing guitar licks with masterfully crafted synth beats, Inner Demon is an instant classic. Don’t be surprised if you magically end up in a fast car flying down the highway with the windows down while playing this record. We can’t wait to see what Jorge is up to in the coming year and beyond.

https://soundcloud.com/whoismeteor

Nothing excites us more than new artists entering the scene. Though the list is basically endless, these are the artists that excited us the most in 2017. They embody the rich nostalgic sound that we all know and love, each furthering the genre in the best way possible.

10. Lazer Station

Coming in strong with Exit as the third in a series of EP releases, we couldn’t be happier with the unique sounds each track from Lazer Station provides.

https://soundcloud.com/user-72918358

9. FAVORIT89

With The Beginning released in early December of this year, FAVORIT89 has already proven to be a force to be reckoned with through tracks such as “Interception” and “Memories”

https://soundcloud.com/favorit89

8. NINELITE

Hailing from France, NINELITE with Under the Nightsky brings us soothing ambient sounds perfectly suited for letting the beauty of the city wash over you on a cool night.

https://soundcloud.com/ninelite-music

7. Water and Bridges

Inspired by classic films of the 1980s, the first release from Water and Bridges dubbed Neon Skyline perfectly captures the feeling of nostalgia.

https://soundcloud.com/water-and-bridges

6. Neon Driver

Yet another more than worthy addition to this list, Neon Driver comes at us with the EP Outrun Overdrive that’s filled to the brim with high octane sounds.

https://soundcloud.com/neondriver

5. 87Super

Coming in with Tyranny in October, 87Super treats us to a wonderfully retro sound with fantastic tracks like “Night Wave” and “VHS”.

https://soundcloud.com/87super

4. Polygrid

Debuted in October of this year, Polygrid hit the ground running with the extremely solid release, Infinite. Filled with wonderfully nostalgic sounds, you will especially want to check out “Castles Above”.

https://soundcloud.com/skylight-glare/sets/polygrid

3. Jeremiah Kane

Hailing from Poland, it wouldn’t be possible for Jeremiah Kane to miss this list. Enough good can’t be said about The New Dawn, the first full length album for this artist that truly knocked our collective socks off.

https://soundcloud.com/jrmh-music

2. Magnavolt

An inspiration to all synthwave artists, Magnavolt from Sweden has been able to perfectly demonstrate a mastery of the signature style and sound that this genre has to offer. Be sure not to miss Missing Call.

https://soundcloud.com/magnavolt88

1. Undervatten

Finally, we have Undervatten with Politics, an album that spans a wide range of the genre and shows off a sound that we can’t wait to hear more of. This is one release this year that you absolutely will not want to miss.

https://soundcloud.com/undervatten_official

10.) I, Tonya

Source: MovieWeb

Already mentioned in the media as the Goodfellas of figure skating. This film has a decent cast of actors with Margot Robbie herself as the main attraction or train wreck Tonya Harding.

9.) The Bad Batch

Source: Just Jared

The closest you’ll ever see to a big budget indie Troma film. Imagine post apocalyptic surf cannibals. Starting Jason Momoa and Keanu Reeves.

8.) Good Time

Source: LA Weekly

I’m a huge fan of the Safdie’s brothers. Lots of neons and gritted storytelling that is equal parts 70s Hollywood and Nic Winding Refn. Also, the best thing Robert Pattinson has ever done.

7.) Ghost in the Shell

Source: Comicbook.com

It’s not great but, it’s good and better than what your nerd fanboy friends say. Yes, Scarlett Johansson is Caucasian n the character is Asian. But that’s the keystone of the whole plot. Infact the body of the Major in the series isn’t even her own n if you watched the first movie isn’t even unique and just another model.. she’s been inside a cyborg body since childhood hence, Ghost in the Shell. Wonderful visuals. The players of section 9 are out of the series. Beat Kitano is awesome and Batou is great. 

6.) Shin Godzilla

Source: Rice Digital

The real king of the monsters is back in a new form and new tricks. The perfect allegory to what’s happening in modern Japan. Directed by the creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Watch it.

5.) The Void

Source: Screen Media Films

If you’re needing a John Carpenter/ Lucio Fulcio fix then this is your chthulu love letter.

4.) Atomic Blonde

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Definitely one of the best graphic novel adaptations to come out this year. With a chunky 80s soundtrack that drives the action forward. Except the Marilyn Manson cover which I could live without. 

3.) IT

Source: UNILAD

the new adaption of Stephen Kings classic. With new special effects and a charming cast of kids that stole America’s hearts. Dig it!!!

2.) Trainspotting 2

Source: The Thin Air

If you were around for the original, you remember how it changed everything. One of the best soundtracks of the 90s.. The sequel picks up 20years after the original and doesn’t miss a beat although it’s an older man’s movie about grown men and how they close their individual arcs. Shoot it n love.

1.) Blade Runner 2049

Source: Feminist Current

The music, the world, the continuation of a Science Fiction classic. Harrison Ford is actually acting his ass off. Gosling is compellingly. De Armas is stunning and. Deeper actor than people think. If you want more go read my review of Blade Runner 2049 here at New Retro Wave.

10.) The Tick

Source: Amazon

The Tick is back in action and again live action. Too bad it’s not on regular cable.

9.)Samurai Jack 

Source: Comicbook.com

Jack returned to us in the form of a mini-series to answer some of the questions left unanswered from the previous series. Animation n story is flawless victory.

8.) Mindhunter

Source: Vulture

Although at times a drag. The actors playing the specific killers are engaging. And even if you’re bored, it’s Fincher doing what he does best and destroying the romanticism around serial killers that girls on the internet flutter over.

7.) Twin Peaks

Source: Business Insider

I didn’t much like it nor knew what the hell was going on. However, it’s David Lynch doing whatever the hell he wanted and you couldn’t ask for more… Maybe more Audrey?

6.) She’s Gotta Have It

Source: Netflix

Rarely has a show blown up my phone with people requesting I watch something… I will not spoil it. It’s urban Spike Lee pulp with a lot heart n laughs.

5.) The Deuce

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Filmed in NYC to resemble the drug infested, hooker littered, dirty Times Square of yesterday.. an all star cast, all stars I tell you. Even Francisco is good playing a set of twins.. unapologetic and in your face. Sex, nudity, profanity, violence and dread – it’s New York City baby.

4.) Mike Judge:Tales from the Tour Bus

Source: IndieWire

Imagine the art style of King of the Hill and Beavis & Butthead and the actual behind the scene tales of the great outlaw country music icons: Tammy Wynett, Johnny Paycheck, Jerry Lee Lewis, Waylon Jennings and George Jones.. I’ve watched it a bunch of times and people think I’m crazy.. but it’s really good.

3.) The Get Down: Season 1 – Part 2

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

1970s South Bronx, directed by the dude who made Romeo & Juliet and Moulin Rouge. I binged this entire unfortunately cancelled series in one sitting with family.. Amazing. Jimmy Smits is dynamite in this series. WATCH IT! Only downside is Jaden Smiths storyline either it was rushed or not but the actors definitely didn’t go for it in that story arc.

2.) Stranger Things: Season 2

Source: Digital Spy

A lot more emotion and levity in this one. Probably because we’ve already fallen in love with the characters. Not much is different same monster just more of them, a new mega monster controlling the upside down. The kids are older and new kids enrolled into the shenanigans. Only episode I’m like ehhhh about is the episode everyone is “eh” about. But the series is going strong into season 3.

1.) The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Source: Paste Magazine

Oh my god this show is so freaking good. It’s on Amazon Prime. Thanks story of a quick witted quirky yet prissy upper westside Jewish woman who one night discovers her husband is leaving her for his younger secretary. After a night of walking in the rain, drinking a bottle of wine, walks into a beat generation era open mic and starts waxing poetic about her life in hilarious earnest and befriends an amateur talent agent and the almighty Lenny Bruce. 1960s NYC in full pastel and pencil skirt glory. The music is outstanding with some cuts from the Go Go’s and others thrown in at closing credits. You like comedy, you like family drama with a hint of levity. WATCH THIS SHOW. 

We normally talk about the literal classics in my articles: games that came out when we were young, that defined our video game experience as we grew into what we are now. However, sometimes I like to shine a deserved spotlight on modern titles that seek to recapture that gold-spun retro feel. They may do it through their setting, their style, even their subject matter. The idea continues to not only sustain itself, but to grow in popularity. Here are the ten games from 2017 that have really stood out in that manner… dare we say, the best of the year.

#10

Door Kickers: Action Squad

Killhouse Games

“exitus acta probat” translation: sometimes you gotta shoot down a fucking door.

A true inheritor of the run-and-gun bloodline, Action Squad is one part squad tactics, one part gunfighting action and two parts high-octane RIDICULOUS. This side-scrolling pixel style number is reminiscent of the earlier Broforce, but its multiplayer and goal-oriented facets are more strongly emphasized. The game has made a deep impact on Steam, even before its full release. Bust down doors, wreck perps, and get wrecked in turn. Action Squad is one of those games where you can’t even get mad when your guy dies, because you’ll be laughing your ass off.

#9

Shadows of Adam

Something Classic Games, LLC

This is home. This is where you belong.

If you are one of those diehard fans of the classic Super NES era JRPGs, then this is a must-have for you. Rich, lush pixel graphics combine with a strong soundtrack and a killer storyline to recapture the magic of the genre the way it was when games still came in cartridges. Shadows of Adam also features a refreshing AP combat system, which encourages economical and clever battle strategy outside of the time-honored “thwock and be thwocked back” method. Definitely recommended for RPG fanss who love the classic formula but could do with a bit of a twist.

#8

CrossCode

Radical Fish Games

Only one example of the stunning visuals you will encounter in CrossCode.

And then there’s THIS neo-retro RPG masterpiece. The best way I could describe this one would be: if all those classic SNES RPGs smoked an undiluted hit of action and stuffed their backpack with all the great bells and whistles that have become part of the RPG genre from then to now… but still stayed true to the form you first knew. CrossCode is the story of a mute girl who logs into an MMO from the future, but there’s more to it than that (PLAY IT). The game’s got talent trees, side quests, a slick story, and incredibly sick 2D graphics in the JRPG style. You won’t just be engaging in live full-action combat (a step up from the one thing that could be considered boring about the old school source material), you’ll be solving puzzles and exploring a huge game world. There’s tons to suck in old school RPG fans and action junkies alike.

#7

Flint Hook

Tribute Games, Inc.

The game’s selling point can be summed up in two words… SICK. MOVES.

This side-scrolling action plunderfest is a real gem with a lot going for it. Flint Hook combines incredibly fun gameplay elements with undeniably old-school audiovisual elements to provide an addictive time sink worthy of any gamer’s thumbs. The levels are procedurally generated, which means the game’s replay value is through the roof. There’s nothing not to love about Flint Hook; playing as a space bounty-hunter with a neat array of gadgets and an endless supply of daunting challenges makes for one hell of a fantastic voyage. There’s also a ton of achievements worth unlocking, since nearly all of them give you something tangible and/or equippable in the game. Tribute Games has really crafted a great example of game design with this one!

#6

Orbt XL

Nickervision Studios

This barely does it justice. Peep this video of someone rocking hard. You’ll get the idea.

An addictive yet easy to pick up game, eloquent in its simplicity, Orbt XL makes the list not only for its popularity but for its sheer playability. While it’s not a full-on immersive experience, this space-themed bit of retro goodness will keep you occupied. Moving the little moon in between orbital zones to keep it clear of the incoming projectiles gets harder and harder, making Orbt XL a game you can never “win…” but you will constantly be trying to one-up yourself (and your friends) in the pursuit of a higher and higher score. A test of guile and reflexes, this one is worth checking out if you consider yourself a true daredevil.

#5

Ubermosh Vol. 5

Walter Machado

A lurid rave party of dayglo splatter.

Ubermosh is a series that’s been rolling like thunder since 2015, and 2017’s Volume 5 is the best one yet. Brutal gameplay simplicity packaged in 90s-bright cyberpunk vividness and festooned with blood and blast-marks. Pure poetry. With a soundtrack every inch as brutal as the game itself and a fast pace of high-impact bloodshed, Ubermosh is as gruesomely wonderful as I am trying to make it sound. What’s even better? It’s dirt-cheap on Steam. Scoop it up.

#4

Crawl

Powerhoof

Eldritch as fuck. Best believe. 

It’s no secret that I love roguelikes, dungeon crawlers, or whatever you’d like to label them. They tend to be unforgiving and dark… hideously entertaining. Crawl is no exception. In fact, it’s kicked the bar up a few notches. It has a delightful Lovecraftian overtone, executed beautifully in unspeakable pixel art with a haunting 8 bit soundtrack to match. The coolest part is multiplayer; your friends control the very monsters assaulting your well-being and sanity in the depths of this ghastly dungeon. Only so much can be said. The unearthly delights of Crawl must be seen.

#3

Thimbleweed Park

Terrible Toybox

Yes, that is a clown getting electrocuted. It gets even better.

When you have a look at Thimbleweed Park, you will instantly be reminded of all those classic LucasArts story-games. In fact, it’s made by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, the minds behind the classics Maniac Mansion and Monkey Island! It starts out as a murder mystery… but you’ll quickly find it to be much more than that, a journey into the supernatural, the absurd, and the unbelievable. Set in 1987, Thimbleweed Park tells a set of connected stories that require you to control 5 playable characters while navigating the narrative. Overflowing with brilliantly made puzzles and twists beyond Shyamalan’s wildest dreams, Thimbleweed Park has real staying power as a return to the adventure game format. It exceeds expectations.

#2

Null Vector

Optical Override

Soak it all in. This is as 80s as it gets.

Null Vector blasted off in August and blew a lot of retro gamers’ minds. It’s a roguelike, but it’s unlike any roguelike I’ve seen. Represented in absolutely delicious faux-3D early 80s arcade style, this hybrid has a tie to shoot-em-ups as well. Null Vector places you in control of a fully customizable ship for your journey through its neon world. There is a real difficulty to this one; it keeps you going at it through some really rewarding but challenging play. Two things I love the most about it: it’s still in early access so it’s only going to get better, and it’s currently FREE on Steam. Go get it and start blasting through your 80s dream in a whole new way.

#1

Cuphead

StudioMDHR Entertainment Inc.

It is heaven and hell in one beautiful package.

Oh my god, Cuphead. So much has already been said. This is the game that kicked the gaming world directly in the ass this year. Not only is Cuphead a visual masterpiece, but it is everything a retro-style game should be in terms of play. It’s got chops to go up against the most brutal run-and-gun classics; it’s Contra on steroids with a priceless coating of retro-cartoon glaze that multiplies its appeal. This is a hard game, but we like a challenge, don’t we? It is rare for a game to have this level of visual appeal AND be punishing in all the right ways. Cuphead has put StudioMDHR on the map, and it’s made me hope we see a lot from them in the future.

On the subject of the future… we have so much coming your way in 2018. Get ready! NewRetroWave and NRW Gaming will be bringing the fire… We’ve enjoyed bringing you the dream in 2017, and may we dream in even brighter neon colors in 2018. Happy Holidays, and we will see you next year!

From the ground-breaking inception of sampling to the world-renowned French Touch movement, it surely is no secret by now that the French are among the chief innovators and forbearers in the world of electronic music. As the home to Synthwave’s earliest and most successful artists, it sure looks like French have yet to lose their touch in their craft. Amongst the scene’s most notable yet unfairly overlooked figures in the movement’s early years, credit is owed to Nordine and Pascal, the two halves of the ass-kicking synth duo known as Double Dragon, who’ve been around and about since the start of the millennia, delivering punchy remixes, killer movie scores and deadlier tracks since day one. To celebrate the reissue of the duo’s long-awaited self-titled debut record by MusicFearSatan, we recently caught up with the group to do little recap the bands’ history.

How did you guys first meet and how did Double Dragon start out?

It must’ve been around the beginning of the year 2000. We were two DJs who were passionate about electronic music and we were each doing our own thing. We met through mutual friends and we immediately hit it off and started mixing together along with other friends. Those were great days! We would all show each other our favourite tracks and we would mix them together.

I also fondly remember our trips to Montpellier to buy records at the famous ‘Pinguins Rec’ record store. It was a different time… the Internet wasn’t widespread yet, going there was like driving to Disneyland for us! We quickly started setting up some shows in nearby bars and clubs in our region, mixing stuff here and there.

Being the music aficionados that we were, we eventually considered going doing our own thing, out of curiosity, to prove to ourselves that we were able to do it and also because the music we were after wasn’t yet out there. As fans of Giorgio Moroder, Vangelis and the like, we were pretty bummed to find so few releases using the Synths from that period. Making our own music was a way of bringing back all of these 80s’ sounds that we loved so much. This was back in the year 2000, way before the big boom that made way for “Synthwave” scene when Drive came out.

Double Dragon thus came before the whole “Synthwave” aesthetic came along. Do you identify with the term nonetheless? And have you noticed any changes in your audience since you started?

Yes, totally! We use a lot of Synths with 80’s Sounds in our music, so apparently we’re Synthwave. Our audience also changed a bit since then. One proof is that a lot of people that’ve known us since our start were still telling us a few years back “Hey guys! There’s a guy called Kavinsky who’s doing the same stuff as you!”, whereas now people more often say “You guys sound quite a bit like Kavinsky”. We still take it as a compliment though, we’re fans of his work.

The French Scene seems to occupy a central role in the whole “Retro-futuristic electronic music” movement. How do you account for France’s affinity for these references, given that most of the 80s’ pop-culture referenced comes from the US?

First off, you need to remember that a lot of the “American” musical references aren’t actually American. The iconic Blade Runner Score was done by Vangelis, who is Greek. The Soundtracks to The Neverending Story, Scarface, Flashdance and many other movies were done by Giorgio Moroder, who’s from Italy. Let’s also not forget Tangerine Dream, who made a lot of Soundtracks to American films with their bewitching synths (Sorcerer, Thief – which inspired Drive -, Street Hawk, Legend, Fright Night…). Secondly, it’s safe to say that France has always played a central role in electronic music. François de Roubaix, Jean Michel Jarre, Laurent Garnier, Daft punk, Manu le malin, Vitalic, M83, The Hacker, Justice, Kavinsky and Gesaffelstein are all there to prove it!

But to answer the question more directly, we think that a lot of current musicians were simply raised in the eighties, a time when the US already dominated worldwide entertainment (except maybe in China and Russia! [Laughs]). Like us, they were also cradled by 80s movies and 80s radio hits. We just try to recapture this childhood magic by recreating it. The same goes with TV shows and movie directors.

During an earlier interview of mine, David Grellier from College stated that to him, the 80s represent a time where our prospects of the future were idealized and much more optimistic than today. Would it be fair to apply this viewpoint to your approach to the retro-aesthetic?

The future was indeed brighter in the eighties, except in the Terminator series! [Laugh] When we’re making music we’re not consciously aiming for a retro aesthetic. We just instinctively chose the synths and rhythms that we like. There’s no definite intent to sound ‘Retro’ or ‘Retro-futuristic’. Speaking of which, our album cover doesn’t really go for this “Synthwave” aesthetic. That was actually a conscious decision on our part, we wanted to stay away from the Synthwave visual aesthetic. Perhaps we’ve overdosed a little on it…

What is your perspective on 80s’ kitsch?

It’s okay in small doses. A lil’ Godfrey Ho ninja flick or an Italian “Post nuke” flick from time to time is cool but it’s not our favourite thing. By the way, we do not label Rocky IV nor Commando as “kitsch”! [Laugh]

Music-wise, however, we’re a little more indulgent. We’ll play ‘Push it to the Limit’ and ‘When the Rain begins to fall’ on repeat anytime!

How would you describe your collaborative process with Double Dragon and how do you manage to make it an expression of both of your creative voices?

It’s hard to qualify our collaborative process, but what we can say is that we work in several ways. We sometimes start working on songs on our own and finish them together, other times we do things the other way round and work on a track together and let one of us finish it alone. We sometimes write a track together from start to finish but it’s a little rarer. If we’re writing and we feel like the track needs some electric guitar in it, we send the track (finished or unfinished) directly to our guitarist so that he can lay some riffs on it. As to our songs with vocals, we generally decide on that once the track is done. If we’re missing something or if the song is simply ‘spacious’ enough to feature vocals, we’ll send it to one of vocalists to see if the song vibes with them. We’re really lucky to have been on the same page since the start regarding the creative direction of Double Dragon

What’s next for you guys? Any new releases or Scores on the way?

We’ve got three tracks that are going to be featured on the Soundtrack to Junk Love, written by Pierre de Suzzoni. We’re also about to start working on the Soundtrack to the new film by François Gaillard (with whom we’ve worked with several times before), which will be appearing in 2018. We’re really looking forward to it! We might also shoot for a new record by the end of 2018 on Musicfearsatan… we’ll have to wait & see.

Now for some serious business: what are your favourite martial arts movies? Are you more Jackie Chan or Brucie Lee?

Nordine: Way of the Dragon and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Bruce Lee all the way!

Pascal: The Blade by Tsui Hark, Game of Death (just for the fight scenes, of course) and Tom-Yum-Goong with the incredible Tony Jaa.

Even though Jackie Chan’s filmography is incredible, I’m going to have to go with Bruce Lee as well.

Closing off: name one of your favourite albums, movies and books.

Nordine: Terminator 2, M83 – Dead Cities, Red Seas and Lost Ghost, and Gainsbourg by Gilles Verlant.

Pascal: Apocalypto, Chvrches – The Bones of What you Believe and Easy Riders, Raging Bulls by Peter Biskind.

A huge thank you to the band and to Rémy at MusicFearSatan for setting up the interview.

Be sure to catch up with Double Dragon on their social media pages.

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/DoubleDragon.electro/

Bandcamp

https://double-dragon.bandcamp.com/

After four long years the synthwave vanguard FM Attack is back with his third album, “Stellar” – a truly out-of-this-world release!

FM Attack, aka Shawn Ward, is a Vancouver native Mexico transplant. With his first release “Dreamatic” hitting the net way back in 2009, FM Attack is known for being a relatively early synthwave pioneer – and a damn good one at that. Having preceded the “Drive” driven synthwave boom, he thankfully did not outrun it, (heh) and picked up even more fans as he gained notoriety as one of the sonic inspirations to the film.

Since his last album “Déjà vu,” released in 2013, he’s been touring, landing a remix in the television show “Red Oaks” and even having a baby daughter named Stella – a new source of inspiration to whom this new album “Stellar” is dedicated and named after.

With so much changing in his personal life it should come as no surprise that with the release of “Stellar,” his sound has changed too. While his previous albums drew heavily from disco and had a more upbeat and dance feel, “Stellar” is steeped in postpunk and new wave vibes. This updated sound is unique and fantastic, creating a more wistful and nostalgic feel to the signature FM Attack sound.

The mix of these genres is pulled off flawlessly, from the vocals to the longing guitar merging with synths in “Oceans Apart.” Early 80’s postpunk and new wave mixed with the dreamy synthwave of FM Attack seems to help the melodies land in a more iconic fashion – less likely feel strained or gimmicky. “Stellar” is by far the most mature FM Attack release to date, having cultivated a beautiful unique new sound that is sure to influence artists in the years to come. An instant classic.

Part of this superb sound comes the fact that FM Attack used primarily vintage gear to create “Stellar.” In an interview with Vehlinggo, Ward related the difficulties of working with the 40 year old gear – learning to solder repair synths definitely added production time. Ward explained, “… I wanted to keep it as original as possible, while keeping a nostalgic feeling, using all vintage gear and old-school production techniques.” Time well spent!

Go grab a listen to this album whenever you get the chance. It has all the grandeur of older FM Attack synth with an satisfying and original post-punk/new wave sound. Top Tracks: “Echoes,” “Inner Space(feat. Mnynms),” “Oceans Apart” and “Stella.”

COMMUNITY RATINGS

Roger Moore (14 October 1927 – 23 May 2017):

To a whole generation he was James Bond and to another he was either The Saint (62-69) or Lord Brett Sinclair (The Persuaders (1971-1972)). Sir Roger George  Moore was at one time an aspiring animator until a work mishap put him in the unemployed box until, he earned a short lived career as a male model then a contract with MGM then with Warner Bros. 

Persuaders Theme by John Barry:

With recurring roles in a few series, before he scored the lead role as Simon Templar in The Saint and became a recognized leading man. By early 1967 he had achieved international stardom. The series also established his suave, quipping style which he carried forward to James Bond. Moore went on to direct several episodes of the later series, which moved into color in 1967. The Saint ran from 1962 for six seasons and 118 episodes, making it (in a tie with The Avengers) the longest-running series of its kind on British television. Moore grew increasingly tired of the role, and was keen to branch out. Television lured Moore back to star alongside Tony Curtis in The Persuaders. The show featured the adventures of two millionaire playboys across Europe. Moore was paid the then-unheard-of sum of £1 million for a single series, making him the highest paid television actor in the world. In his autobiography Moore writes that he had to cut his hair and lose weight for the role. Although he resented having to make those changes, he was finally cast as James Bond in Live and Let Die (1973).

After Live and Let Die, Moore continued to portray Bond in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974); The Spy Who Loved Me (1977); Moonraker (1979); For Your Eyes Only (1981); Octopussy (1983); and A View to a Kill (1985).

He appeared as a parody of himself with the Bond persona in the Cannonball Run films. Later appearing in Jean-Claude Van Damme’s directorial debut The Quest (1996), as the Chief in 1997’s Spice World and as a wealthy amorous homosexual in Boat Trip (2002). He provided the voice of Lazenby in the film Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore.

He became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1991. He was the voice of Father Christmas or ‘Santa’ in the 2004 UNICEF cartoon The Fly Who Loved Me.

His family announced his death in Switzerland from a brief battle with an unspecified cancer on 23 May 2017.

Michael Parks (born Harry Samuel Parks; April 24, 1940 – May 9, 2017):

Michael Parks was an American singer and actor. He appeared in many films and made frequent television appearances but was probably best known for his work in his later years with filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, and Kevin Smith.

Parks was born in Corona in Riverside County, California, the son of a baseball player. He drifted from job to job during his teenage years, including picking fruit, digging ditches, driving trucks, and fighting forest fires. He was briefly married at the age of 16.

Parks was the star of the series Then Came Bronson from 1969 to 1970. He sang the theme song for the show, “Long Lonesome Highway”, which became a #20 Billboard Hot 100 and #41 Hot Country Songs hit. Albums he recorded under MGM Records (the label of the studio which produced the series) include Closing The Gap (1969), Long Lonesome Highway (1970), and Blue. He also had various records of songs included on these albums.

Long Lonesome Highway (video): 

He played in twelve episodes as, first Hoyt Parker, and then Phillip Colby during the second season (1986–1987) of ABC’s Dynasty spin-off series The Colbys. He appeared as Irish mob boss Tommy O’Shea in Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1994), French-Canadian drug runner Jean Renault in the ABC television series Twin Peaks, Dr. Banyard in Deceiver (1997), Texas Ranger Earl McGraw in From Dusk till Dawn (1996), and Ambrose Bierce in From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman’s Daughter (2000).

Parks played two roles in the Kill Bill film series, reprising the role of Earl McGraw in the first film and playing Esteban Vihaio in the second film. He most recently reprised the role of Earl McGraw in both segments of the film Grindhouse. Parks played a villain in Kevin Smith’s horror films Red State (2011) and Tusk (2014). Smith later announced on his podcast that Parks had recorded an album during Red State’s production, after Smith and producer Jon Gordon noticed his singing talent during filming. The album, titled The Red State Sessions, was released on August 15, 2011 as a download from the film’s website. 

Parks died on May 9, 2017 in his Los Angeles home at the age of 77. A cause of death has not yet been revealed. Upon hearing the news, director Kevin Smith posted on his Instagram account “Michael was, and will likely forever remain, the best actor I’ve ever known. I wrote both [Red State] and [Tusk] for Parks, I loved his acting so much.” he also added, “He was, hands-down, the most incredible thespian I ever had the pleasure to watch perform. And Parks brought out the absolute best in me every time he got near my set.” In a Twitter post director Robert Rodriguez referred to Michael Parks as “a true legend”.

Jonathan Demme (February 22, 1944 – April 26, 2017):

The American screenwriter and director known for his early comedies like Something Wild (1986) and Married to the Mob (1988) before earning the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Picture for The Silence of the Lambs (1991) starring Best Actress winner Jodie Foster and Best Actor Sir Anthony Hopkins.

Jonathan Demme also directed the Talking Heads Concert Film,  Stop Making Sense (1984),  which won the National Society of Film Critics Award for best documentary; a film-version of the stage production Swimming to Cambodia (1987), by monologist Spalding Gray and the Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell star vehicle Swing Shift (1984).

Inspired by his friend Juan Suárez Botas’s illness with AIDS and fueled by his own moral convictions,  Demme then used his influence to make Philadelphia (1993), one of the first major films to address the AIDS crisis  and which garnered star Tom Hanks his first Best Actor Oscar. He also co-directed (with his nephew Ted) the music video for Bruce Springsteen’s Best Song Oscar-winning “Streets of Philadelphia” from the film’s soundtrack.

Subsequently, his films included an adaptation of Toni Morrison’s Beloved (1998), and remakes of two films from the 1960s: The Truth About Charlie (2002), based on Charade; and The Manchurian Candidate (2004), with Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep. His art-house hit Rachel Getting Married (2008) was compared by many critics to Demme’s films of the late 1970s and 1980s. It was included in many 2008 “best of” lists, and received numerous awards and nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress by lead Anne Hathaway.

He is also the uncle of the late filmmaker Ted Demme (October 26, 1963 – January 13, 2002), director of such films as the live Denis Leary stand up films – No Cure for Cancer (1992) and Lock ‘N Load (1997); Life (1999), starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence; Blow (2001); the classic hip hop film Who’s the Man (1993) and the severely underrated Monument Ave. (1998). Ted is also the co-creator of YO! MTV Raps.
On the morning of April 26, 2017, Jonathan Demme died at the age of 73 in Manhattan, New York due to complications from esophageal cancer and heart disease.
 
Bernie Wrightson (October 27, 1948 – March 18, 2017), sometimes credited as Berni Wrightson, was an American artist, known for co-creating the Swamp Thing, his adaptation of the novel Frankenstein illustration work, and for his other horror comics and illustrations, which feature his trademark intricate pen and brushwork. His artistic influences were Frank Frazetta and Graham Ingels.

Wrightson’s death met with a series of testimonials and tributes by colleagues and professional admirers that included Joss Whedon, Neil Gaiman, Guillermo Del Toro, Walter Simonson and Mike Mignola. Whedon called Wrightson “a star by which other pencillers chart their course”, while Gaiman stated that Wrightson was the first comics artist whose work I loved. Horror connoisseur del Toro took a 24-hour pledge of silence in honor of Wrightson, writing, “As it comes to all of us, the end came for the greatest that ever lived: Bernie Wrightson. My North dark star of youth. A master.” Hellboy creator Mike Mignola said of Wrightson, “He was a genius, and not just a monster guy. Everything Bernie did had soul.”

Wrightson’s former neighbor Walter Simonson, who lived in the same building as Wrightson in the 1980s, recalled, “Even at an early age, we were all really in awe of his work, it was so good.” Analyzing Wrightson’s skill in depth, Simonson explained that in addition to his ability to draw anything, Wrightson was a master of value, able to effect a precise command over the depth and tones of the colors and shades of grey in his work, stating, “In drawing or in painting, one of the things that you control is the value, which is the light and dark. If you were to take your color TV set and somehow turn off the color and just have a black and white and gray picture, you’re looking at the values of those color pictures. ‘Frankenstein’ is a complete masterpiece of value, using incredibly complex pictures, and yet you always see exactly what you are supposed to see. He drives the eye right where it needs.” Regarding the famously reproduced two-page spread from that work depicting Frankenstein’s laboratory, Simonson said of that image, “It’s so complicated and yet he’s able to show you what he wants you to see. In some ways [the lab scene is] the core of the story. It’s where Frankenstein breaks the laws of God. I think people were just drawn to it cause it’s so completely over the top and yet it’s so completely controlled at the same time.” Comics analyst and historian Scott McCloud called that image a “riot of detail”, saying, “It might take a moment before you even notice the corpse laying at the bottom of the composition on the left. That makes it a bit more of a treasure map. Bit more of a ‘Where Is Waldo?'”

Wrightson announced in January 2017 that he was retiring because of his battle with cancer. He died on March 18, 2017, at the age of 68. The next day, Liz Wrightson confirmed that his death followed a long battle with brain cancer. “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life”, the April 2, 2017 season 7 finale of the TV series The Walking Dead, was dedicated to Wrightson’s memory.
 

Jay Lynch (January 7, 1945 – March 5, 2017) was an American cartoonist who played a key role in the underground comix movement with his Bijou Funnies and other titles. He is best known for his comic strip Nard n’ Pat.  His work is sometimes signed Jayzey Lynch. Lynch was the main writer for Bazooka Joe comics from 1967 to 1990; he contributed to Mad, and in the 2000s expanded into the children’s book field.

Beginning in 1968, Lynch became a major contributor to Topps’ Wacky Packages and Garbage Pail Kids, a series of trading cards produced by the Topps Company, originally released in 1985 and designed to parody the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, which were immensely popular at the time. Each sticker card features a Garbage Pail Kid character having some comical abnormality, deformity, and/or suffering a terrible fate, with a humorous, word play-rich character name such as Glandular Angela or Half-Nelson. Two versions of each card were produced, with variations featuring the same artwork but a different character name denoted by an “a” or “b” letter after the card number. The sticker fronts are die-cut so just the kid with its nameplate and the GPK logo can be peeled from the backing. The commercial success of the trading cards led to the production of a live-action movie, The Garbage Pail Kids Movie, in 1987. An animated television series was also created, but its initial scheduled broadcast in the US was postponed due to parental complaints. The show did make a brief appearance on US television years after it was originally intended to air and was also briefly aired in Europe. The movie was released on DVD by MGM Home Entertainment on July 12, 2005 (the original VHS had been distributed by Paramount), and the cartoon series was later also released on DVD by CBS Home Entertainment on April 4, 2006 (coincidentally with distribution by Paramount). A similar set of 160 trading cards called The Sloppy Slobs were released in Italy in 1993. During the peak of the cards success they were banned in schools as a distraction to the educational process.

In June 2009, Jay Lynch was nominated for a Harvey Award in the category of “Best Cover Artist” for his Mineshaft #23 cover.

Lynch died from complications of lung cancer on March 5, 2017 in Candor, New York.

This event aims to put on the UK’s biggest SYNTHWAVE festival at London’s Highbury Garage, on the 28th of July. There will be many awesome acts performing, as well as a theatrical trailer premiere for the “Retro Grade Future” film. Prepare for acts, featuring acts like Futurecop!, Sunglasses Kid, Highway Superstar, NINA, Absolute Valentine, Kalax, and many more! They need your help to make this a reality. Let’s get this event funded to this can happen. This will be a great show!

Please see the line up so far below. More acts to be announced.

Watch this video to find out more:

Support: