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Top Ten Retrowave Albums of 2016

Filip Galetic — Mon, 26 Dec 2016 22:01:45 +0000

10. Morgan Willis – Miami Calling

At 25 tracks (!), Miami Calling, the debut LP by the Frenchman Morgan Willis is a bit a of a slog to listen through in one sitting, but it’s undeniably one of the most interesting albums this year. Coming in right at the end of the year, it plays as an unabashed love letter to Miami Vice and Jan Hammer’s score, and gets us as close as possible to the 2nd part of the soundtrack of the mythical series.

9. Hyboid – Terrör of the Üniverse

An album that went largely unnoticed by the larger synthwave fandom, Hyboid’s Terrör of the Üniverse is a feat not just because it was recorded entirely with vintage synths (Oberheim DMX, Roland TR-606, CSQ-600, Juno-60, SH-09, Korg Polysix, Mono/Poly, Arp Axxe, Octave Kitten…) and effects. It’s also a window into the producer’s childlike creative mind and fascination with 70s Kraut sound and pop culture of the yore and shines a bright beacon in our often stale musical niche.

8. Makeup and Vanity Set – Brigador Opus

Makeup and Vanity Set is probably one of the most overlooked modern retrosynth (thanks Vehlinggo for making me confident to use this term more ;)) artists, especially in the increasingly crowded (and derivative) dystopian, “darkwave” subgenre. His releases stand on top of his peers, and his Brigador that came in 2 parts and an EP is definitely worth your attention if you’re into sprawling, narrative soundscapes.

7. Trevor Something – Soulless Computer Boy and The Eternal Render

After the gloomy Death Dream LP, the world sighed in relief when Trevor came out of nowhere in August 2016 with a brand new waporwave-tinged album that marks his return to more classic Trevor Something sound, but also shows his irrefutable growth as a musician. Next stop, we’d like to see some growth as a vocalist *wink*.

6. John Carpenter – Lost Themes II

John Carpenter fans squealed in unison when the Master of Horror himself showed up in 2015 to deliver a whole album of original, dark synth compositions that seemed ripped straight from some unreleased movie of his. The fans hollered in climax this year when the Master delivered a swift sequel of dark, brooding compositions that was a harbinger of a sold-out tour in summer and fall 2016.

5. Peter Zimmermann – Eine Nacht Mit Peter Zimmermann (Part I)

Anyone trying to break the boundaries of retrowave today deserves at least a shoutout, but Peter Zimmermann, a young German dude, delivers that in droves and so deserves a spot in this list. Your go-to album when you tire of the usual tropes, Eine Nacht is a mix of synth styles and feels with a tongue firmly planted in cheek.

4. Waveshaper – Station Nova

Released in April 2016, Waveshaper’s follow up to 2015’s Exploration 84 deepens the space saga this masterful producer is weaving and further cements Sweden as one of the bastions of modern synthwave. Perfect listening while landing on the Moon.

3. Robert Parker – Crystal City

Robert Parker has already established himself as one of the retrosynth names to look out for in the years past capable of hitting a wide range of styles and registers in the synthwave spectrum. Crystal City is then his flagship album, that establishes his core sound and prowess with keys and knobs. An album to make you dance – and long for the years long past at the same time – from the first minute.

2. The Midnight – Endless Summer

A sequel to the fan-favorite Days of Thunder from 2014, Endless Summer epitomizes the most emotional, wistful of modern retrowave. Tim & Tyler are an amazing team and champions of great production values, and while the worldly charm of their vocal tracks really helps bring new audiences into our beloved music genre, personally I preferred the bare-naked brilliance of the instrumental version of the album (The Comeback Kid is perfection).

1. Atlas – FM-84

By far, the best – and one of the most anticipated (hi MN1984!) – release of the year, Atlas is a dream modern synth pop album, mixing the right amount of nostalgic wistfulness with a knack for superb production. Equally a fruit of labor of Col Bennet and Ollie Wride, the main vocalist on the album, it is a super-potent cocktail of emotion, flawless vocal delivery, clever pacing and FM-84’s signature synth work.

Honorable Mentions:

Droid Bishop – Lost In Symmetry: Just under 30 minutes, didn’t really qualify as an album, but is full of awesome.

Syntax – Transmissions: Sequel with more chilltronica-meets-synthwave by one of the nicest guys on the scene

CONFRONTATIONAL – Kingdom of Night: Massimo Usai nurtures his sound that outgrows the boundaries of the genre and paves a way to a possible trilogy.

Ludrium – Through Sentient Eyes: Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and Cody Carpenter thrills us with each new volume in his prog rock meets 16 bit RPG meets retrosynth space opera.

Ben Businovski – Gotanda’s Maserati: Ben delivers at first glance typical italo-disco tropes with lots of style and self-awareness.

Satori in Bed – Short Notice: the master of lavish arrangements and one sexy mother ducker, Satori in Bed continues the teachings of his gone-too-soon master Prince

Absolute Valentine – Police Heartbreaker: Not many know Johann Derimme has his fingers in plethora of retrowave releases. His latest LP shows the guy has solid skills as a producer as well.

Unrelated to albums per se but I want to say big thanks to unsung heroes of the scene such as Marko Maric of Synthetix Sundays and Noah Kaufmann of Synth Waves on KFAI 90.3 who relentlessly promote our ever expanding scene!

Filip Galetic

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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)

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Retro Albums to Look Forward to This Year/ Next year.

NewRetroWave — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 17:43:06 +0000

Ahem…

1. Miami Nights 1984.

The master may possibly release his highly anticipated album this year. Stay tuned…

2. Perturbator

His teaser already left so many of us in awe. Expect carnage with this release.

3. Jordan F

This will be an EPIC project from the Jordan. Our ears are ready!

4. VHS Glitch

This will be an EPIC project from the glitch. His debut totally shook the scene. Best believe his sophomore album will do the same.

5. FM-84

Yes please!

6. Trevor Something

Waiting…… for the awesomness.

7. Daniel Deluxe

This one is looong overdue!

MUST CHECK RETRO ALBUMS OF THE WEEK

NewRetroWave — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 00:16:00 +0000

FIRST ON THE LIST IS GARTH KNIGHT’S MANDROID EP

A SOLID PIECE OF WORK IF WE DO SAY SO OURSELVES

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Mandroid by Garth Knight

SECOND ON THE LIST IS ARCADE HIGH’S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED PIXEL PASSION ALBUM

ARCADE HIGH STRIKES AGAIN FOLKS. GET YOUR HEADPHONES AT THE READY, THIS ALBUM HAS SOME GREAT TEXTURES FOR YOUR RETRO NEEDS!!!

Pixel Passion by Arcade High

STILL WAITING FOR ELECTRIC YOUTH AND LAZERHAWK FOR THIS YEAR

NRW

MAJOR 80’s REVIVAL ALBUMS TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS YEAR

NewRetroWave — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 22:23:00 +0000

RETRO NEWS UPDATE!!!!

FM ATTACK IS CURRENTLY IS POST PRODUCTION AND IS SOON TO FINISH HIS FIRST EVER FULL LENGTH ALBUM FOR A LATE SUMMER/ FALL RELEASE.

KRISTINE IS ALSO WORKING ON HER EP WHICH IS IN THE FINAL MIX AND MASTER STAGES. THIS WILL BE A COMPLETE BANGER!!

LIFELIKFE IS ALSO FINISHING UP WHAT WILL PROBABLY BE THE MOST EXCITING ALBUMS FOR THIS YEAR JUST FROM THE FEATURES ALONE!!! LOOK OUT FOR THIS!!

APPARENTLY MAETHELVIN IS BACK IN THE STUDIO COOKING SOMETHING UP…..AS FOR THE OTHER VALERIE CATS…..THEY SEEN VERY CHILLED AND CONTENT. MAINLY DUE TO THE EXPOSURE FROM THE MOVIE “DRIVE”.

RUMOR HAS IT THAT LAZERHAWK MIGHT DROP AN EP THIS YEAR….BUT THAT CANNOT BE CONFIRMED.

2012 ISN’T OVER….MORE GOOD MUSIC IS ON THE WAY

NRW