Favorite tracks : Homepage, Downtown, Lonely Heart

Corrupt Save ‘Ethernet Cafe’ is out now via Bandcamp.

Favorite tracks : Escaping the Void, Signals

Timecop1983 ‘Multiverse’ is out now via Bandcamp.

Expanding upon the sounds of their self-released 2020 single ‘Lunar’, Ultrasound is a vivid portrait of sonic serenity delivered with true passion oozing out of every track.

Favorite tracks : Lifted, Spiral, Murmurs

A.L.I.S.O.N & Hotel Pools ‘Ultrasound’ is out now via Bandcamp.

Poolside by Jetfire Prime

Favorite tracks : Opening Up, Janitor, Pool Cleaner

 Jetfire Prime  ‘Poolside’ is out now via Bandcamp.

Favorite Tracks : Sun and the Moon ft.Elisa Devane, Pastel Skies

 L’Avenue ‘Riviera’ is out now via Bandcamp.

Pastel Graphics ‘Vector Feels’ is out now via Bandcamp

Disc System ‘In Silico’ is out now on Bandcamp.

Virtual Vega by Evertt

Evertt ‘Virtual Vega’ is out now via Puget Sound Collective on Bandcamp.

Bronster Bridge ‘Environment’ is out now via Bandcamp and Spotify

Infinity by Euan Ellis

Euan Ellis ‘Infinity’ is out now on bandcamp

Released via Seattles’ Puget Sound Collective, “Orbital” is an astounding mix of chillsynth and lo-fi electronica with just a hint of vaporwave thrown into the mix for good measure. This EP has been floating around for quite some time, having been first released back in 2018 – before chillsynth had even truly solidified into a solid genre. Regardless, it’s a truly excellent release, filled with ethereal tones and relaxing melodies that help your mind sink back into the warm static screens of an analog childhood. I’m incredibly happy to see “Orbital” finally making its way onto the magnetic tape of yesteryear!

Voyager is well known in the chillsynth circles, having made his way onto the Electronic Gems youtube channel and even producing some awesome tunes like ‘Echo Chambers’ alongside A.L.I.S.O.N. In fact, A.L.I.S.O.N even created the album art for “Orbital!”

The cassette itself is a sexy print, featuring the old album artwork of a woman on a beach from the original releases on bandcamp. Overall, if you’re tapehead – or a synthwave / chillsynth fan, this is NOT a release you wanna miss!

Grab yourself a copy here – with only 100 copies, they’re sure to sell out!

Hailing from Portland, Hotel Pools is a vanguard of the burgeoning chillsynth scene. Astounding from the very first release, each album has built upon the last, innovating the growing chillsynth sound not just Hotel Pools, but for the new synthwave subgenre as a whole. Hotel Pools sound also contains elements of vaporwave and synthwave too, making for a beautiful mix of genres that bled together perfectly.

That first release, “Fall 18,” is a hazy masterpiece in its own right. Soon after 2018’s “Fall 18” came 2019’s “Constant,” and 2020’s “Still.” It’s frankly rare to hear an artist drop something so refined for their first album, so the ability to continually cultivate and expand upon that original sound is particularly impressive. Hotel Pools has done just that, with the more cohesive, lush, and melodically interesting sounds of “Constant” quickly growing a cult following.  “Still” propelled the already pristine Hotel Pools sound into new territories with a much more clear and refined production style – and even brought Hotel Pools into our Top 10 Retrowave Albums of 2020.

“Palmscapes” itself is the culmination of Hotel Pools’ growth. The melodies are instantly absorbing, wrapping around you like waves on a shoreline, pulling you deeper into an ocean of chillsynth bliss. The production is much crisper than the early Hotel Pools releases, but still somehow manages to retain their overall hazy effect, making “Palmscapes” sound like a  memory feels. We also hear an increased emphasis on percussion, with the beats of tracks like “Oceanside” and “Nowtro” taking a more complex and interesting approach reminiscent of Com Truise’s work. The overall effect is the creation of a cinematic soundscape that perfectly compliments and elevates the already astounding Hotel Pools sound to new extraordinary heights.

Topping off the whole experience are some really amazing collabs from other chillsynth and vaporwave headliners like Krosia, VIQ, Forhill, Upsen, Echosoft, and Decisive Koala, as well as some fantastic artwork from Andrew Walker (@designsince86.) They’re all fantastic artist in their own right, and you should really go listen to them too!

At the time of this writing, “Palmscapes” is mostly sold out in physical media – something we’ve come to expect from Hotel Pools releases. However, there are still a few physicals left, so go grab them here before they cost a hundred dollars on Discogs!