Vengeance III by Starfounder

Favorite tracks : Purgatory, Gray Man

Starfounder is out now via Bandcamp.

‘See Me’ is out now via Bandcamp and Spotify

Directed by Thomas Landrein and art director Jonas Genevaz, ‘Gone’ follows an armed resistance group through a number of apocalyptic views of the French capital being torn asunder by armed forces. Visceral and grandiose, Sierra’s tribute to France’s brilliant animators serves as yet another urgent reminder to dive back into the artist’s stellar back catalogue.

As for you European Synth-heads out there, be on the lookout for upcoming tour dates, as Sierra will be resuming the Leather Terror tour with Carpenter Brut next week for a series of European shows.

Tour date tickets are available here.

Check out Sierra on Spotify, Bandcamp and all major Streaming platforms.

The television set blasts the crummy, desolate living room with a grizzly white light, torn and tattered across a grainy screen. The twilight hour strikes, cueing a muddled set of obscure clips to flash and coalesce into a chaotic nighttime programmed of deranged audiovisual psychedelia. Welcome to prime time for the lost souls, brought to you by Baldocaster and formally as Ident.

 Tune in to Baldocaster’s ‘Ident’ via Bandcamp.

Favorite tracks: Lupex Alpha, All Out

Mitch Murder ‘City Wars : Tokyo Reign (Original Soundtrack) is out now via Bandcamp.

Along with the big announcement came the premiere of the album’s first single, which features artist Greg Puciato (The Black Queen/Killer Be Killed/ex-The Dillinger Escape Plan). Directed by French artist Dehn Sora, ‘Imaginary Fire’ expands on Carpenter Brut’s previous music video ‘Fab Tool’ with a hellish, Lovecraftian portrayal of Florida’s beaches.

The album’s pre-order page on bandcamp shows that the album will feature 12 songs whose titles forebode yet another round of unholy rites and merciless decadence.

1. Opening Title
2. Straight Outta Hell
3. The Widow Maker (feat. Gunship)
4. Imaginary Fire (feat. Greg Puciato)
5. …Good Night, Goodbye (feat. Ulver)
6. Day Stalker
7. Night Prowler
8. Lipstick Masquerade (feat. Persha)
9. Color Me Blood
10. Stabat Mater (feat. Sylvaine)
11. Paradisi Gloria
12. Leather Terror (feat. Johannes “Jonka” Andersson)

‘Leather Terror’will release on April 1^st, 2022 and  is now available for Preorder via Bandcamp

Every hit lands square on target with devastating results and the fuzzy basslines are finetuned to raise hairs throughout the album’s 11 tracks. Cyberpunks best not miss on this top-shelf release by darksynth’s newest recruit lest they want to miss some of the season’s heaviest singles.

Be sure to grab a digital download of the album, as it comes with a pdf and audiobook of the album’s story.

Favorite tracks : The Fear (feat.Magnavolt), Back to Sleep Again (feat. King Protea), Highrider (feat.DreamReaper)

Starfarer ‘The Dark’ is out now on Bandcamp and Spotify.

‘Songs of Love & Death’ – The March 2020 E.P. features  Chaka playing all instruments and vocals (except on track #1 featuring Lady Red Ray on backing vocals) and crafting four very dark, introspective and synth riddled tracks.

I asked Chaka what inspired this album, Ghost Decibels he answered:

This record was inspired by my need to hear some new exciting music that has some emotional content combined with some excitement.

The first track opens up a soft series of tones that lull into comfort before the bass drops and all those familiar feelings of darkness and smokey emotions rush in the moment Chka’s voice speaks his first lines. The vocals are impressive and mixed very well against the driving production with a very new romantic delivery that reminds me of the 80’s bands: DAYS OF SORROW, THE WILD FLOWERS, SKINNY PUPPY, B MOVIE and, dare I say, a hint of George Lamont and Noel. Truly a fantastic opener to start any project with.

‘Celebrate’, the second track, follows after with a very Kraftwerk influenced vibe that carries a slight hint of that NY Freestyle element. Sue me, I can hear a subtle 80’s freestyle vibe on this track.

When asked what were his influences on this project, Chaka replied:

Bands that inspired my were YAZ, Pet Shop Boys, Human League, Joy Division, etc.

All those bands are some of my favorites growing up and essential for anyone looking to get into avant-garde music.

The third track, ‘Get Involved’ is the experimental delight of the album. Feeeling very Vince Clark with lyrics that resonate and permeate the disjointed rhythms .

The final track is ‘Giza Beach’ wtih distorted guitars and hi-claps descending into electro-synth boom baps; this is probably the song I will dedicate to my girlfriend ASAP. Truly dark imagery and isolating imagery highlighted by organs in the distant background. It’s the Candyman slowdance we’ve all danced in our heads when remembering someone, something or someplace. The guitars carry you out and close the E.P. with an abruptness that begs you to want more. more. more.

I recommend this album for anyone in the New Retro or Vapor scene that’s looking for something a lil more left of center and fleshed out than the revolving door of New retro and synth producers saturating the scene. It’s worth your listening ears intrigue and more than worth your dollar.

Go listen to SONGS OF LOVE & DEATH @https://wardancerecords.bandcamp.com/track/something-to-live-for

Until Next week, keep it cool and in house and your fingers on that rewind button.

“Nocturn” was known for it’s heavy and dark electro synth basslines and interesting textures, and I’m happy to report that the signature Tonebox sound has not fundamentally changed – but evolved for the better.

“Cloud Highway” begins much the way Tonebox left off – with intense bassy electro darksynth – but soon gradually grows into the something very profound. New layers of synth cascade in to create incredibly lush melodies and soundscapes that feel very substantial and refined. The tracks themselves meander out of the more bass heavy realm of “Run” and “Overload (feat. TOKYO ROSE) into incredibly danceable tracks like “Hydron (feat. SILVER) and “Space Disco.” Occasionally punctuated by those signature heavy basslines – the album grows even further into magnificent ethereal grooves with tracks like “Home Planet.”

This album features an amazing master, crisp, vibrant production, and the general arrangement of bass intersecting with spacey synth produces immensely satisfying resolutions. However, the defining factor with “Cloud Highway” is the complex use of melody and synthesis. Certain melancholic moments on this record reminded me vividly of Angelo Badalamenti’s Grammy Award winning “Twin Peaks Theme.” The entire album is absolutely gorgeous – and the counterpoint of Tonebox’s signature heavy electro elements is the perfect accent.

To hear this kind of depth inside of a bassy synthwave album is truly novel and profound. Innovation in the synth genres priceless, and this album is purely that.

Listen here! 

The Parisian producer Sierra is new to the scene – but with an amazing release like “Strange Valley,” she’s certain to carve out a name for herself quickly. After scouring the internet, we can find no mention of the mysterious Sierra’s real name.  I tried to track her down to ask her some questions myself, but the closest I got was word she was currently traveling in the Sahara desert!

Her music came on the scene a little over a year ago, beginning with a remix of “Toxic is Dead.” Soon after she earned a spot in a “So French Records” compilation – no easy feat. Her Facebook page was created as recently as April of this year.

Then, in November, she released the Strange Valley EP. From this sound we can tell she’s been hard at work – her remix and compilation track were good, but this EP is fantastic.

The six tracks on “Strange Valley” are a mix of french touch, electro and synthwave. It sounds like Gesaffelstein or Street Fever if instead of making dance music they were making sick retrosynth soundtracks. Each cut from the “Strange Valley EP is also very well produced with an expert mix and master.

Although we’re not certain where she came from, if she keeps making music like this she’s sure to climb to the top. This introductory EP is definitely worth a listen (Or like, 4 in my case)

Top Tracks: “Two-Headed Birds,” “Hide,” “A Long Walk.”

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Edits: The word “literally” was removed from the title, and “too” was amended to “to”.  Was too excited whilst typing…*cough*.