Favourite Tracks: Renegades, Pursuit

Sung ‘Archium Drive’ is out now on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Now, Sung is back again with his sophomore full-length release, “Monster” – and what an impressive monster it is!

Some have said recently that “synthwave is dead,” but “Monster” to me is a perfect example of why that is untrue. Although admittedly some segments of the synthwave genre have become stale with repeated chord progressions from pretenders to the retro throne, Sung is a perfect example of continued sonic synthwave innovation in the face of oversaturation.

“Monster” is filled with Sung’s meticulously crafted melodies packaged in a new form. Not only has he added some interesting non-pop (finally) vocals reminiscent of a Trevor Something release, he’s also revisited the very roots of synthwave.

Taking a large nod from Danger’s 2017 release “Taiko,” there is a deep cinematic quality that has been crafted for this release. Also here are plenty of nods towards Justice’s French house synth stabs and wide, powerful synths.

However, where other artists sought to infuse French house into their albums in a bid for dancefloor intensity, here Sung has strayed away from house and more perfectly integrated them with a synthwave sound.

Couple that with amazing new melodies that feel familiar – such as in “Menace” – and you have instant nostalgia – not even for the 80s, but the mid-2000’s that birthed the very genre.

Grab a listen to this “Monster” here now!

10. Robert Parker – End of The Night

Robert Parker never ceases to amaze. This expert blend of nudisco and synthpop hits all the right spots, creating a memorable and cinematic experience that we are sure not to forget anytime soon!

9. Dance with the Dead – Loved to Death

 Dance With The Dead’s most driven, intense album yet – “Loved to Death” is an instant classic. Pealing iconic synths and chugging baselines underscore this album’s immense feat of production.

8. Timecop 1983 Night Drive

This melancholic masterpiece perfectly embodies the aesthetic of driving long, twisting roads at night. A return to form, “Night Drive” is yet another expertly produced album from the one and only Timecop1983.

7. Waveshaper – Lost Shapes

“Lost Shapes” is a collection of B-Sides from Waveshaper. Chock full of early music, ideas for video games, film scores, demos, and more – this fantastic album acts like a time capsule of waveshaper’s unique sound, and it’s fascinating to hear it evolve in real time.

6. ORAX – Tearwave

ORAX tears into the darkwave scene, elevating the dreary genre with his powerful “Tearwave.” Delivering forward thinking melodies, intense sonic textures, and upgraded vocals – this album is truly a moment of progress and expansion.

5. DJ Ten – Trinity

Filling a niche desperately lacking in the synthwave scene, DJ Ten has returned with an intense blend of retro and hip-hop, resulting in some of the most interesting beats we’ve heard all year. This synthesized trip hop breakbeat vaportrap is innovative and perfectly produced.

4. Sung – Fahrenheit

The first full length album from Sung, “Fahrenheit” is simply a modern achievement in synthwave. A true tour de force. Bravo!

3. GUNSHIP – Dark All Day

This much awaited second album from GUNSHIP, “Dark All Day” is a beautiful synthpop experience of from start to finish. Incorporating darksynth aesthetics, GUNSHIP continues to grow.

2. W O L F C L U B – Infinity

W O L F C L U B’s “Infinity” signals a true return to form – really, we have not been able to stop listening to “Tears” all year! A standout example of the New Retro Wave sound.

1. The Midnight – Kids

“Kids” stands above the rest this year – not simply as a musical work, but more importantly as a much needed social commentary. Cutting directly to the heart of what makes nostalgia such a powerful emotion, this album is a lyrical masterpiece.

Honorable Mention –  Sferro – Sferrare (2008​-​2018)

Whether you know it or not – Sferro is likely one of the reasons you listen to synthwave right now. An early adopter of the sound, Sferro was a pioneer, a beautiful producer, and founder of Girlfriend Records. This year he ceased making his wonderful music.

To commemorate his career, Sferrare (2008​-​2018) has been released, featuring rare and unreleased tracks from throughout his career.