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Starfounder – Vengeance III

Robin Ono — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 19:17:28 +0000

Russia’s own Starfounder has topped the tail-end of 2022 with the third instalment in the Vengeance series. A moodier addition to the series, Vengeace III is marked by a sense of awe and menace that will keep you on edge throughout its ten tracks

Vengeance III by Starfounder

Favorite tracks : Purgatory, Gray Man

Starfounder is out now via Bandcamp.

MOOGLE unleashes the ‘Lazarus Machine’

Robin Ono — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 21:25:37 +0000

From a dystopian future to your adrenaline-starving senses comes the latest in synthesized destruction. Moogle has returned this month with a brand new full-length tale of sci-fi action. Mysterious, mesmerizing and sharp as a razor’s edge, the sounds of Lazarus Machine are sure to quench your thirst for cyberpunk-themed synthwave.

Moogle ‘Lazarus Machine’ is out now via Neon Retro Records on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Bronster Bridge – Environment

Robin Ono — Thu, 05 May 2022 20:00:50 +0000

Russian producer Bronster Bridge first came to our attention last year with the delightfully serene sounds of Breakfast on the Runway. With its thematic focus on air travel, fleeting sensations and transience, the album marked a highlight in Neon Retro Records catalogue for 2021. Now, the Bridge has re-emerged with an equally soothing full-length effort of airy synths and smooth, synthetic exoticism. Environment is a guided tour to the Metaverse’s most luxurious real estate, in a world of perfect geometry and glossy colour gradients.

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

Daniel Deluxe reveals unreleased Ghostrunner DLC tracks

Robin Ono — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 11:22:10 +0000

Released in October 2020, the Cyberpunk action game Ghostrunner has recently been expanded with a DLC titled Ghostrunner: Project Hel. As with the main game, Russian producer Daniel Alexandrovich, better known as Daniel Deluxe, has returned as the composer, delivering a six-track EP of unreleased cuts to coincide with the DLC’s release.

In true DD fashion, the new songs eschew the gimmicks of cyberpunk-themed darksynth, aiming for pristine production value and tracks that build and maintain an exhilarating amount of momentum all throughout the EP. Daniel Deluxe makes the distinction between action and brutish violence, striking a tasteful middle ground that sets his songwriting apart from other darksynth composers.

Ghostrunner Project HEL by Daniel Deluxe

Daniel Deluxe’s Ghostrunner Project HEL soundtrack is out now on Bandcamp and Spotify

Acryl Madness drops “Before Neon 2” compilation

Robin Ono — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 09:43:32 +0000

The Russian Dark synthlord is back with some blasts from the past. After a particularly prolific 2021, Acryl Madness has yet to show any signs of slowing down. Released last Friday, Before Neon 2 compiles 8 more reworked versions of older tracks released prior to the artist’s signing to Neon Retro Records.

Before Neon 2 by Acryl Madness

It’s mean, it’s retro and the songs haven’t aged one bit. Though compilations often come with associations of haphazard releases, “Before Neon 2” is every bit as worth listening to than any AM full-length release.

Acryl Madness ‘Before Neon 2’ is out now on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Project Lazarus drops new album ‘Учитесь Защищать Родину!’

Robin Ono — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:02:32 +0000

Sovietwave figurehead Project Lazarus is back on the field, marking a triumphant return with a gorgeously packaged full-length album to kick-off 2022. If the album’s terrific artwork (made by Kevlar: Estudio) wasn’t enough to stoke your interest, Учитесь Защищать Родину! (tr: Learn to defend the Motherland!) marks a new high for Project Lazarus and their sci-fi influenced soviet synth compositions and is a near-certain contender for Sovietwave record of the year. Take some time off, kick your feet up with a warm cup of coffee and get ready to bask in the sheer sense of wonder as felt from the other side of History, across the iron curtain.

Project Lazarus ‘Learn to defend the Motherland!’ is out now via Bandcamp

Acryl Madness goes full Cyberpunk on ‘RYU’

Robin Ono — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 11:00:56 +0000

Having emerged onto the Retrowave scene in 2018, Russian producer Acryl Madness has quickly proven himself as one of the most talented Darksynth newcomers of the current moment through a hefty handful of powerful releases.

Less than a year since the collaborative album with Starfounder, the madness has returned to haunt and thrill whoever dares cross paths with it.

RYU dives further down the Cyberpunk rabbit hole all the while adding some softer sound textures and ambiences to a blaring destructive sound.

Songs like ‘Ghosts of New-Tokyo’ and ‘Kill_em_all’ sees the artist push the east-Asian influences one notch further all the while keeping energy levels to an all-time high. Neophytes best be warned: it gets loud.

Acryl Madness ‘RYU’ is out now on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Favorite Tracks : Kill_em_all, City Of the Damned

Bronster Bridge – Breakfast on the Runway

Robin Ono — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 17:17:42 +0000

Need a break? Thoughts clouded by intense feelings of wanderlust? Bronster Bridge may just be the answer to your escapist cravings. Returning to the scene with a whole new set of tracks, the producer taps into the commodified comfort of airline travel on ‘Breakfast on the Runway’. Cruising somewhere between spacesynth chillwave and vapor-infused synthwave, the album packs a great deal of groove but always stops short of deviating too far from its core aesthetic and concept. From the slick, mellow opener ‘Broadcasting’, the album lifts you off into a serene space, in a heavenly garden of clouds basking in a pink sunset haze. For those looking to fill the void left by months of immobility, ‘Breakfast on the Runway’ may just come off as the soundtrack to the greatest air travel ad to ever hit you straight in the feels.

Bronster Bridge ‘Breakfast on the Runway’ is out now via Spotify and Bandcamp.

Lost Engineer – Odyssey

Robin Ono — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 20:41:37 +0000

From Mother Russia with love comes the latest great chapter in Sci-fi Synth soundtracks.

With its action-packed tracks blending nostalgic Synthwave vibes with a healthy balance of modern touches borrowed from EDM and Dubstep, Odyssey by Lost Engineer has hit the retrowave scene with the unmistakable flair of a seasoned producer.

Every track flows impeccably with an irresistible momentum and will dazzle you with its immersive sound design and slick dance grooves.

If this first album is anything to go by, it’s that young producer Maxim Shipp from Saratov Russia has a bright musical future ahead of him.

Favorite tracks : Vaquum, Equinox

Lost Engineer ‘Odyssey’ is out now on Spotify and Bandcamp

Monowoman – In Eternal Sleep

Robin Ono — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 10:00:23 +0000

Monowoman’s third full-length album ‘In Eternal Sleep’ is yet another reminder from Neon Retro Records never to underestimate the chops of Russia’s retrowave scene. Presenting itself in very familiar colours with its Blade-Runner-meets-2814 album art, this album will most likely fly under the radar of a lot of Retrowave enthusiasts. Hit play, however, and you’ll quickly find yourself bopping your head to the record’s incredibly slick low-end basslines and thumping beats. Monowoman walks the fine line between classic scintillating Sci-fi Synthwave and Darksynth, balancing ambience and atmosphere with some fantastic heavy grooves.

If there’s one thing that Monowoman knows best, it’s how to get your ears buzzing with bass.

In Eternal Sleep is out out via Neon Retro Records.

Lips \ Steel – an Acryl Madness/Starfounder collab

Robin Ono — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 10:00:28 +0000

No more than 4 months since dropping his crushing Kaidan, Russia’s Acryl Madness returns with a brand new collaborative album with Starfounder. Lips \ Steel is draped in apocalyptic sci-fi vibes, with Starfounder most often laying out the ambience to the sonic scene through which Acryl Madness wreaks pure dark synth havoc.

With a few solo tracks by each producer, a few collaboration tracks and a couple of remixes of one another’s tracks, the two artists have managed to lay down a solid, coherent set of tracks whilst freely exploring the different collaborative configurations.

Lips \ Steel by Acryl Madness, Starfounder

Lips \ Steel is out now on Bandcamp via Neon Retro Records

Acryl Madness – Kaidan

Robin Ono — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 16:00:07 +0000

From the shadows born under the palest of moons, a red carpet of warm, fresh blood glows in commemoration of a grand hunting season to come. Russian producer Acryl Madness has reemerged from the darkness with his latest violent opus Kaidan, a tale of horror and destruction destined to possess and torment whoever is destined to cross its path. Fans of darksynth ultraviolence, your search for your next sadistic fix will no doubt be met with sweet shivers of bloodlust as you tune into this bad boy. Brittle spirits beware, the Yokai are roaming free and out for blood.

Acryl Madness’ Kaidan is available via Bandcamp and Spotify via Neon Retro Records.