Favorite Tracks : Disco Ninja, What’s left of Me

Meteor ‘Phantom Zone’ is out now via Bandcamp and will be available on Spotify shortly.

Dan Terminus – Feral

Danger – 04:42 Still Free

Jean Frais – Touch

Korine – Cruel

Top 10 Retrowave Music Videos of 2020

10. Trevor Something – Can You Feel it?

9. Meteor & Magic Dance – Ready to Fight

8. LeBrock – Interstellar

7. Jessie Frye ft.Timecop1983 – Faded Memory

6. Mecha Maiko – Phones

5. Betamaxx – Never Sleep Again (feat. Vandal Moon)

4. Gunship – Black Blood Red Kiss (feat. Kat Von D)

3. Gunship – The Drone Racers

2. Carpenter Brut – Fab Tool feat. David Eugene Edwards

1. Makeup and Vanity Set – Algorithm

]]> https://newretrowave.com/2020/12/19/top-10-retrowave-music-videos-of-2020/feed/ 0 https://newretrowave.com/2020/11/17/meteor-announces-new-album/ https://newretrowave.com/2020/11/17/meteor-announces-new-album/#respond Tue, 17 Nov 2020 20:32:36 +0000 https://newretrowave.com/?p=31127 Synthwave artist Meteor has just announced the release date of  November 23rd for his new record, titled Chaos Theory. The Colombian producer has coupled the news with the album artwork reveal.

This marks Meteor’s second album and third release this year, having released his last album System Failure last May and having collaborated on the Cyborg : Deadly Machine Soundtrack alongside Fixions.

Cyborg : Deadly Machine (Movie Soundtrack) by Meteor / Fixions / Kid Zan / Magic DanceBe sure to check out Meteor on Bandcamp and Facebook for the latest music and updates.

A veritable spoonful of explosive, post-apocalyptic sci-fi action to make the exhausting election coverage go down, the film is a godsend that is sure to bring you back to those golden years when end times looked a lot more fun. In an age of great divide and turmoil, Cyborg: Deadly Machine is a humanistic reminder of human resilience spelt in the form of a love letter dedicated to classic Eighties and Nineties action flicks.

The French filmmakers deliver above and beyond all expectations, thanks in no small part to the phenomenal score by Synthwave acts Fixions and Meteor (out now on Bandcamp)

Cyborg : Deadly Machine (Movie Soundtrack) by Meteor / Fixions / Kid Zan / Magic Dance

Consolidating cheesy one-liners, stunning stunt work and old-school practical effects eye-candy, the Masebrothers successfully recreate the feel of the classics we all know and love to create a piece of indie retro cinema for the ages.

The French version will also be premiering on Youtube tonight via this second link.

Be sure to Subscribe to the Masebrothers Youtube channel and like their Facebook page to catch the latest news on their upcoming projects and releases.

Meteor’s synthwork has always been good – but with this latest release the ambiance is stepped up a notch, bringing “White Crows” fully into soundtrack territory. Each soundscape is lush – so much so that it is easy to imagine the gritty subterranean cyberpunk environment that the album aims for.

Having played guitar from the young age of 14, Meteor was one of the earlier artists to mix retro rock and synthwave to create an interesting, unique new sound. This rock sound definitely continues in “White Crows,” but it feels more bit mature and groovy than his previous releases – not in line with the heavier metal you usually hear from a darksynth/shredwave release. Instead, Meteor goes the way of a mix of David Gilmour and Mr. Mister – an ambient sort of blues rock-pop that calls to mind 80’s antihero detectives on the search for criminals, and willing to do anything to hunt them down.

This aesthetic fits perfectly with the narrative Meteor explained in a Reddit artist spotlight / AMA, where he revealed that as he produces music he frequently creates a narrative beforehand.  In the AMA he related that he would love to see Meteor in a video series or a graphic novel, and explained a bit about the character he’s created throughout these album releases.

“[Meteor is] … a bad guy who hates the bad guys, he is trying to make justice while committing some injustices. The “White Crows” are some kind of Asian mafia, they usually wear white suits and they are the biggest Meteor enemies. Each song of this new album is a scene of this story.”

All in all, “White Crows” absolutely nails that cyberpunk retro noir. This album feels like a soundtrack for
a film that doesn’t yet exist – expertly blending elements of darksynth, rock and ambient to arrive at a fully mature sound which tells a story in and of itself. There’s a little bit here for everyone and if you’ve enjoyed any of Meteor’s previous releases chances are you’ll love this atmospheric and witty update to his sound!

Top Tracks: “Slow Burn” “Secret Eyes” “Fugitive” and “When the Moon Rises”

White Crows by Meteor

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

Lets face it : synthwave, like any genre, has a tendency to become repetitive. Many Producers get stuck in retro stereotypes to the point of cliche, and tend to repeat the same themes, again and again. In spite of that trend, of course, there is always still innovation. Meteor’s recent release, “Parallel Lives”, is a perfect example of that innovation. While still working within the well-developed framework of modern synthwave, Meteor has managed to create something incredibly new and interesting from the same worn archetypes. From those somewhat familiar tones come a fairly large mix of tonal qualities and subgenres. 

On Meteor’s bandcamp, he states, “This album is a compilation of stories told through songs, each one representing a line, a character with different experiences to others but coexisting in an infinite space, full of human beings with parallel lives. I am the messenger, I am Meteor” This album feels like a compilation – constantly changing and shifting – clashing in a good way. The album begins with a tease – somewhat traditional synthwave, a repetitive baseline and standard drum set, along with some interesting chord progressions. The oddly similar basslines in this album are it’s only downfall, but soon, the production quality becomes immediately apparent, and quickly the quality ramps up. “Destroyer”, the albums third track, seems oddly reminiscent of HEXEN and Goldeneye, with minor, spooked synths on the outset immediately setting the tone for the song.

 But then, out of nowhere comes some very 80’s power ballad guitar licks and an interesting dark distortion to accompany. I’ve never been a huge personal fan of retro guitar tracks, but this one quite truly fantastic. Another standout track is the very romantic “She Has A Gun”. This piece calls to mind the Top Gun romance magnet, “Take my Breath Away” from Berlin. A singing synth in counterpoint with the bass is really quite fantastic. Next, “Defender” manages to pay homage to chip tune  while remaining true to synthwave, something not easily done. These genres work well together, a truly interesting fusion – especially when that well-done guitar kick in again to support it. Finally, you have “White Crows” a truly brassy standout reminiscent of Blade Runner’s soundtrack. This track pits very sad jazzy synth lines against a synth similar to a marimba, filled with beach vibes. An odd mix for sure, but one that is interesting and weirdly satisfying. 

Overall, “Parallel Lives” sounds like the metaphor the title implies. What could have been another repetitive synth album is filled with new takes on old sounds, mixed together in ways that should clash, but instead somehow compliment one another. Go grab a listen as soon as you can, you won’t be disappointed.