10. Justice League Dark (DC Comics)

If you read reviews of Justice League Dark, and in particular those by reviewers who haven’t been following the magic-themed team-up from DC, you’ll read about people being surprised or impressed by what may be an otherwise lower profile title. The truth is that there may not be a more consistently enjoyable comic from the publisher, with very little fluff and filler throughout 2020. While the book may have most recently been tied up in the Endless Winter event, it served that story nicely and seems primed to take readers into interesting arcs in 2021. 

9. Vision (Fantagraphics)

A secret of mine is that as I get older I find that I prefer fully collected graphic novels to single issue floppies. With COVID-19 making traveling to my local comic shop equal parts time consuming and anxiety inducing, I spent more attention than usual to the graphic novel scene, and it definitely paid off. Fantagraphics has some really great books with really unique art styles. Vision creator Julia Gfrörer first landed on my radar with the incredible 2016 book Laid Waste, and Vision shows her unique style and distinctly gothic voice on full display. This is the kind of comic that non-comic fans would love, because more than anything else it feels different. 

8. Killadephia (Image Comics)

It’s the 90’s again! Not really. We’re more of an 80’s crowd here at NewRetroWave, but it’s hard not to see the Vertigo-esque streak in several books from all kinds of different publishers in the past year. Killadelphia is one such book. With writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander at both of their peaks, this comic is a dark and sometimes nightmarish look at vampires in the city of brotherly love. And while that description is very elevator-pitch high concept, the story itself is anything but a novelty. It’s a unique and gripping comic. 

7. Don’t Go Without Me (Shortbox)

Let it be known that there are no better book covers in all of 2020, or possibly even the last half decade, than Rosemary Valero-O’Connell’s breathtaking cover of Don’t Go Without Me. I had never read any of her previous work and knew nothing of the book but purchased it immediately upon seeing it, and I was not disappointed. While different from the other books here in that this is an anthology and not a serialized or complete story, and it has some work that actually appeared initially a few years ago (albeit, in slightly different form). Don’t Go Without Me is a great book with a singularly fantastic visual style. 

6. Immortal Hulk (Marvel Comics)

Fun fact time: I have never liked The Hulk. Perhaps even more so than some other superheroes I have a disdain for, Hulk stories always bored me. Immortal Hulk was what I always needed. This is not a superhero story in the way that you might initially believe. With an art style that verges on body horror at times, Immortal Hulk grounds everything to the ultra-personal, to create a comic that is often gut wrenching and distressing, but always great. Writer Al Ewing and artist Joe Bennett delivered in 2020 with this series. 

5. The Department of Truth (Image Comics)

The Department of Truth rests on a simple premise: what if every conspiracy theory was true? This is not a new idea, as I can think of at least three comics off the top of my head that start or go through the same or similar premise. What sets this comic apart is just how good James Tynion IV is at telling this story. This comic premiered in September of this year and had easily the best debut issue of a comic in all of 2020. With strong art from Martin Simmonds accompanying the great writing, I cannot wait to follow this story through 2021. 

4. X-Men (Marvel Comics)

The absolute state of X-Men in 2020 compared to, like, three years ago is astounding. Jonathan Hickman has not only revitalized so many of the beloved characters from the X-line (it’s finally nice to be a Cyclops fan), but has revitalized the line itself. Hickman’s ability to make the mutants of the 616 feel like they live in a living, breathing world can’t be overstated. X of Swords was, personally, a little hit or miss for me, but it’s hard to argue against the high points of a series that already demands high expectations. 

3. Excellence (Image Comics)

It’s a cliche at this point to say that Excellence lives up to its namesake in some capacity when talking about the critically acclaimed fantasy story from writer Brandon Thomas and artists Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez. But how can you blame such reviewers? The book is called Excellence and it has been one of the best books every week that it came out since it debuted in 2019. While I love and appreciate this book as a comic, there are no other books that have come out this year that I have read and thought “Make this an animated series or a movie or something right now” quite as much as Excellence. 

2. John Contantine: Hellblazer (DC Comics)

I’ve got to level with you. I didn’t read any of this series until I saw some friends upset about its premature ending from DC, one which by all accounts the story was able to pull off anyways. I didn’t read through any other entire series this quickly in 2020. John Constantine: Hellblazer was a downright special book from Simon Spurrier and a changing cast of artists. While it had spectacle and truly stand-out artwork, this comic truly excelled at making the titular character feel more alive than he has in years. 

1. The Dollhouse Family (DC Comics)

Expectations were high for The Dollhouse Family, as it had a strong creative team and would be the first of Joe Hill’s DC Comics imprint Hill House. It feels kind of surreal that this is a book put out by DC Comics. Not because of the quality, while this was my favorite book of the year you can clearly see I was a fan of what DC brought to 2020, but rather because it feels like the first time I found out that DC owned Vertigo. It just feels so different from what someone would expect from a comic, let alone a mainstream comic. It’s spooky and full of simultaneously heart and venom, and an easy recommendation for anybody. 

10. Fixing Me With Love by Sunglasses Kid & Primo the Alien

One of perhaps the most exciting trends in synthwave these past few years has been a greater emphasis on rhythmic elements and an almost optimistic tendency from the vocalists in the scene. “Fixing Me With Love” has both of these in full force in a killer track with one of the best choruses of the year hands down. When the drums drop out and Primo’s voice shares the spotlight with the chiming melodies from Sunglasses Kid the song lures you in further before everything in the song hits even harder. 

Listen to the song here.

9. Overload (ft. Tokyo Rose) by Tonebox

On January 1, 2020, the grim music video for Overload by Tonebox featuring the always impressive Tokyo Rose debuted on NRW’s channel. Little did we know that bloodbath video would tonally be a match for the year the world seems to have been collectively having. Video aside, the song is a moody and atmospheric piece which builds a foreboding atmosphere from beginning to end and doesn’t sound like it would be out of place on some acid house alternate universe version of Akuma. 

Listen to the song here.

8. Synthian (ft. LAU) by NINA

The titular track from NINA’s album from this past June shows why the German singer is and has been such a sought after vocal commodity in the retrowave scene. This time paired with a more laid back and more hip-hop inspired beat for much of the song, everything here elicits a dreamy energy that makes it something truly special. 

Listen to the song here.

7. A New Quest (Droid Bishop Remix) by Magic Sword

I’m not sure how fair it is to include a remix on a collaborations list, but come on, it’s Magic Sword, one of the most phenomenally consistent acts in the scene. And who is remixing? Only Droid Bishop, another one of the most accomplished artists in the scene, and one who released a serious AOTY contender this past September. The “A New Quest” remix fuses the ethereal with the triumphant, creating the rare and odd feeling of a round of applause greeting you in a liminal space. 

Listen to the song here.

6. Work It Out by Team Sweatwave

As a species, we are far, far too cruel to one another to have deserved something as great and incredibly fun as the Team Sweatwave album from May 2020. You can argue that this is more of a supergroup than a collaboration, but let’s not get pedantic about it, nerd. Polemic Heart’s vocals on “Work It Out” are one of the most unique and hook-laden vocals of the year, unquestionably. In fact, the synth work and guitar work by the collaborative team of Turbo Knight, YORU, Dimi Kaye, Gryff, and Polemic Heart is really something magical. It’s no surprise that some of these artists are going to show up later in this list. 

Listen to the song here.

5. Funk All Night Long (ft. Yasmina) by Zyodara

Remember what I said earlier about the heightened focus on funk and rhythmic expression in the scene? “Funk All Night Long” is what you get if you push that to a Solid Gold extreme. There’s groovy syncopation throughout the track, and impeccable control of space, and a restrained and soothing vocal performance that pulls listeners through the nearly 4 minute funky romantic bop. 

Listen to the song here.

4. Let’s Get Wild (ft. Dimi Kaye) by Yoru & Turbo Knight & Syst3m Glitch

Hello Yoru, Turbo Knight, and Dimi Kaye! It’s been a while (in a very dude-from-Staind voice)! Some of the folks from earlier in this list are joined by the excellent Syst3m Glitch and have crafted perhaps the most montage-worthy song from the scene this year. It has a vocal performance that’s unique and alternates between a standard delivery of catchy hooks and the occasional flair for the dramatic. The energy here is always at a high, and we’re all luckier because of it. 

Listen to the song here.

3. Sunset Strip by Veeshy & Phonic Youth

I’m going to level with you. I wasn’t really following Veeshy or Phonic Youth. When I first heard “Sunset Strip” about a month ago that changed. This song is dreamy in a way that most synthwave tracks aspire to, with a masterful control of automated effects and layering throughout. In a year that was notably strong with vocal-based tracks, “Sunset Strip” is still an absolute standout. 

Listen to the song here.

2. Reverse by Primo the Alien & Gryff

Sometimes I’ll listen to an artist who makes only instrumentals and fantasy cast vocalists for the artist. I almost always imagine Gryff, and with the quality of the tracks they’ve released this year, it’s easy to want Primo the Alien to be the voice on tracks as well. You can only imagine the enthusiasm with which I smashed that play button in August when “Reverse” came out, a collaboration between two of the best that the scene has to offer. The fact that the two powerhouses to share the spotlight on the track and never allow it to feel cluttered, and even make space for a crooning saxophone solo that will have you making that face that looks like you smelled something bad when you really just heard a saxophone lick that friggin’ rips. Urgh. Just seriously listen to this song if you haven’t yet. 

Listen to the song here.

1. Her Broken Smile (ft. Tessa Hedrick) by DEADLIFE

I like optimism in my synthwave. I think I’ve been pretty clear with that particular preference in this list. But do you want to know something I like even more? When an artist completely seems to throw out convention. “Her Broken Smile” has moments of hyperpop and glitch and industrial music sprinkled throughout, and it’s anchored by an absolutely showstopping vocal performance. It has just enough weird elements sonically and enough hooks that when it starts to veer into unconventional composition territory, you are completely hooked and need more. The subtleties and maximalism of the song makes it feel like music for the edge of the abyss. And what could be more appropriate for 2020. Hope you don’t disappear. 

Listen to the song here.

Along with new fans, retro music has also spawned something of a niche among artists, and various visual aesthetics from the 80’s and 90’s have seen a revival. All too often, however, album art takes second or third string to the music which it encapsulates. Here we give them their due and honor the best of the best album art of the year.

10 – Land With No Future perfectly emulates the dystopian elements as they were presented in various 80’s films. Snake Plissken would be proud.

9 – Gunship saw their debut this year with an amazing album. The neon gridwork of this cover is something we’ve seen before, but usually not so well executed.

 

8 – GosT’s Behemoth is a monster of an album and its artwork definitely reflects that. This album art somehow manages to blend retro tones with metal aesthetics – something that GosT himself has achieved with his music.

 

7 – Dan Terminus’s Wrath of Code psychedelic visuals harken back to the 80’s with its colour palette, and somehow manages to say away from the visual qualities of the 60’s – not an easy task when dealing with psychedelia.

6 – Carpenter Brut’s Trilogy also manages to accomplish what Behemoth did – wrapping up dark metal elements with a nice bow of retro. Roller blades and pizza next to a skull? Somehow it works – and it works well.

5 – We’re getting into the top 5 now, and I must admit these next few albums were all so good, it was difficult ordering them. Duett’s Borderline captures a feeling I haven’t felt in a long time, so much so I was convinced this work was actually a piece of art from the 80’s until I messaged Duett and found out for myself – needless to say, it was not an old work.

 

4 – Trevor something came back this year in a dark, brooding way. And it was beautiful. The album art particularly so, blending some elements commonly seen in vaporwave with a dark palate to make something truly unique.

3 – Atrey’s Body talk is a mashed up collage of retro, as if a Delorian itself vomited a flamingo onto the canvas. Brilliant.

2 –  Wave Shaper’s Exploration 84 sends me straight back to the first moment I saw Kubrick’s “A Space Odyssey”. If an album can come close to the visual mastery that is Stanley Kubrick, it deserves a top spot in any list.

1 – Sellorekt/LA Dreams has been pumping out the tunes. This guy is a machine. Not only does has he produced a total 37 albums, but he’s also the sole artist for his album art. The cover of Paint Box perfectly expresses a deconstructed retro vibe, as if the 80’s decade itself were somehow manifested inside a room. Neon colours, warping edges, gridlines – this one has it all. It’s a bit more abstract than some of the others, but that’s a good thing. Too many stylistic elements have become repetitious inside this genre, and it’s good to see someone who can break the mold while still remaining true to their roots. Bravo.
 

Honorable Mentions:

These two aren’t full albums, but rather cover art for singles. Both songs are as fantastic as their art. Once you’re finished having a look – have a listen if you haven’t already!

PYLOT – Flashbacks

Billboard – Motion

]]> https://newretrowave.com/2015/12/31/top-10-synthwave-album-covers-of-2015/feed/ 0 https://newretrowave.com/2015/12/28/top-10-synthwave-albums-of-2015/ https://newretrowave.com/2015/12/28/top-10-synthwave-albums-of-2015/#respond Mon, 28 Dec 2015 14:37:30 +0000 http://new-retro-wave.com/2015/12/29/20151228top-10-synthwave-albums-of-2015/ You don’t need me to tell you that 2015 was the biggest year in synthwave since Drive came out – just as we expertly predicted somewhere around the end of last year.

]]> You don’t need me to tell you that 2015 was the biggest year in synthwave since Drive came out – just as we expertly predicted somewhere around the end of last year.

Countless uh-MAZING compilations, some incredible EPs (shoutout to FM-84!) and of course not one but two cinematic releases mired in retro glory – Kung Fury (did it bomb or not? Tell me what you think in the comments – but wait, read the rest of the article first) and Turbo Kid. There was plenty of retrosynthastic events to occupy you from January to December.

But perhaps where 2015 shined the most is in the immense quality of albums that were released.

These are my top 10 favorites:

10. SELLOREKT/LA DREAMS – On and On

Someone give this guy a trophy! LA Dreams has shown time and again that he is the most prolific synthwave artists out there having released 3 full albums in the last few months ALONE! But this wouldn’t be of interest if these LPs were a disposable cookie cutter trash, oh no! Quite the contrary. Mr Sellorekt somehow manages to dish out albums full of tracks that are each unique and not a slight rework of previous work. On and On is my favorite of the albums he released this year overall. The only gripe? In the effort to get as many albums out the door as possible, the emphasis is not put that much on the overall story and cohesion of each album. But still, these should feed any hungry retrosynth epicure for days.

 

9. CONFRONTATIONAL – A Dance of Shadows

The dark synthwave subgenre seems to never have been been so crowded. Yet with A Dance of Shadows, Confrontational manages to assert himself a unique auter with a story of his own. Visually, he boldly lets go of the subgenre cliches and replaces them with his own personal expression. Musically, his longing vocals blend nicely with the booming basslines and wailing synth pads and there’s plenty of carpenteresque accents. Most obviously on To Live And Die On The Air where he enlisted Cody Carpenter, the son of the Horror Master himself for help on the lead synth. Favorite track: Like A Curse (Feat. Monte Pittman).

8. DYNATRON – Aeternus

Dynatron latest album, while not necessarily my cup of tea in the aspect of style (a little bit too cold to be my personal favorite) still manages to be “required reading” for any retrowave fan. Its vision, sense of infinite space it conveys and production values are second to none. Mr Jeppe Hasseriis knows what he wants and knows how to get it and he does that with incomparable eye for detail and devotion to his mission.

 

7. SYNTAX – Island Universe

Sometimes you want to listen to synthwave so you can feel like a brooding anti-hero going on a night rider and facing untold dangers, or to connect with the primal side of you that enjoys the world as depicted in the slasher horrors of the yore. But sometimes you put on an album like Syntax’s debut Island Universe and instead you’re taken on a space journey that both shows you new wonders and rejuvenates you. Equal parts retrosynth, and chilltronica, Island Universe enthralls you with its refined and layered vistas and lets you inhale some fresh synth oxygen.

6. DUETT – Borderline

Due to the extremely busy 2nd half of 2015, I kinda came late to the party that is Duett – Borderline. I did see some of the rave reviews in passing and made a mental note to come back to it and so this list was a perfect occasion to finally take a crack at it.

WHY WASN’T I NOTIFIED OF ITS AWESOMENESS SOONER??

Seriously, this records really stands out with its uniqueness and really mind-blowing melodies and flows. It’s really hard to pick out a track that isn’t a banger and doesn’t stand both on its own feat as well as a part of the overall narrative of the record. The themes are familiar yet presented effortlessly fresh: you might have heard this before but you haven’t heard it like this. Most stylish record of the year for sure.

 

5. HIGHWAY SUPERSTAR – Endgame

If I was to give out a title for the Most Evolved Synthwave artists of 2015, it would surely go to Alex Karlinsky a.k.a. Highway Superstar. Not that I didn’t like his 2013 Take My Time but it’s just that compared to Endgame it feels like a completely different artist (were it not for Dana Jean Phoenix’s presence to give us a hint). Mr. Superstar not only made a ballsy move to feature his own vocals that paid dividends (VERY reminiscent of Phil Collins’ best days), but also embraced the pop side with a gusto and added some middle eastern flavored memories (he hails from Israel). The endgame: a self-assured, masterly produced record that will shine even more in the next spring/summer season.

4. GUNSHIP – Gunship

Probably one of the most ambitious releases in the history of synthwave (does Synthwave have a history? Funny to talk about it since not many can even agree what should be the name of the genre and what it is and what it’s not – perhaps that’s a good thing?) and definitely among the most hotly anticipated LPs in 2015, Gunship just about delivered on the promise of The Big Synthwave Record. The boys showed they are able to shape memorable synth landscapes that deconstruct old tropes and the emotional lyrics uttered by the charismatic Dan Haigh helped bring in the wider audiences that the band unabashedly aims to conquer.

 

3. TREVOR SOMETHING – Death Dream

As I wrote in my recent review, Trevor Something returned in 2015 with a vengeance. He not only expanded but also transcended the myth of a faceless womanizing producer and showed us new sides to who he is. This expertly paced album works both as a personal confession and edgy party background. Absolute cutting edge of the retrosynth scene as far as I am concerned. Favorite tracks: The Possession and Analogue Soul.

2. LE MATOS – Chronicles Of The Wasteland / Turbo Kid Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Le Matos’ ultra epic double side album acts as both a standalone release and the soundtrack to the much anticipated Turbo Kid film. It would deserve to be on this list for its sheer size and ambition alone – if it wasn’t also one of the best produced, effortless, most consistent releases on the scene EVER. I somehow missed the 2013 “Join Us” LP until recently. But with this album the Montreal duo belongs on my – and anyone’s – radar forever. Even if the only track on the album was No Tomorrow feat. Pawws it would still end up here.

 

1. TIMECOP1983 – Reflections

I’ve never felt the need to spell it out so far in my reviews, but I belong to the school of thought that music reviews are inescapably both objective and personal affairs. And nowhere has this been proven better so far than with this summer’s Timecop1983 LP. Released right around the time my grandma died and during my summer holiday in Barcelona, it served as a perfect backdrop to the sun-bathed emotional rollercoaster that played out that month. Sorry (not sorry) guys – I can no longer see this as just another synthwave release, it’s too interwoven with the fabric of my life. If pressed I would have to say the following about it though:

·         Perfect blend of instrumentals and sweeping vocal tracks

·         All the vocalists are unique in their own way and bring out a different tonality to Timecop’s consistently superb instrumentals

·         Full of heady summer anthems both uplifting and melancholic that touch your inner core if you let them

·         Timecop1983 distills all that’s good about the genre and bakes it into one breathtaking journey (and he never bombards your ear to prove his a pro producer either)

·         Let’s Talk feat. Josh Dally. Need I say more?

I never really got into Timecop1983’s Journeys LP but he totally won me over with this one. This is an album I’ll be listening when I’m 72.

 

NOTABLE MENTIONS:

Kristine “Kristine” – a beautiful love letter to the 80s female rock from Athens

Action Jackson “Miami Kill” – a renegade cop takes on the world in this solid LP that tells a story expertly

Ludrium “Pleasure of a False Past” – prog rock meets synths heavily infused with 16-bit video game nostalgia

Betamaxx “Plug & Play” – the ultimate album by one the scene’s greats

Kung Fury OST- Closest we got to a full blown Mitch Murder release this year + Lost Years + The Hoff

 

MOST ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF 2016:

Miami Nights 1984

FM-84

Jordan F – Timelines (out 1 Jan 2016 on NRW Records: https://newretrowave.bandcamp.com/album/timelines)

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]]> https://newretrowave.com/2015/12/28/top-10-synthwave-albums-of-2015/feed/ 0 https://newretrowave.com/2015/12/17/top-10-newcomers-of-2015/ https://newretrowave.com/2015/12/17/top-10-newcomers-of-2015/#respond Thu, 17 Dec 2015 15:48:29 +0000 http://new-retro-wave.com/2015/12/18/20151217top-10-newcomers-of-2015/ The NRW list for The Top 10 Newcomers of 2015 is finally here!

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10. ZVNE

https://soundcloud.com/zvnemusic

I really love the bitter sweet tone of the track ‘Landing’ and its unusual that a single song manages to reel me in as well as this one did. I’m really excited about the debut full length and anticipating something great when ZVNE shares more with us.

 

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9. Coca Boa

https://soundcloud.com/newf-3

Canadian, Coca Boa, first caught my attention following his amazing cover of Gotye’s ‘Somebody that I used to know’. Blending synth with elements of House, the sound is fresh and rousing.

 

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8. Arcade Summer

http://arcadesummer.bandcamp.com/

Bringing sunshine and good vibes, as well as some brilliantly complex pieces of music, Arcade Summer is a new electro force hailing from Australia. We’ve been waiting eagerly for something new from our friends down under and its finally arrived!

 

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7. Moondragon

http://moondragon.bandcamp.com/

Orlando based Troy Simpson, creates incredibe synth music inspired by machines and those who pilot them. Its a rad concept and I have my fingers firmly crossed that he’ll get the call up to write a soundtrack to the new Top Gun movie because he would totally own it!

 

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6. Maniac Lover

http://maniaclover.bandcamp.com/

Straight outta Moscow, Maniac Lover aka Kane Gybrid is a Russian bad ass making some incredibly dark and intriguing synth music. His brand of retro Sc-fi is ominous and likely to keep your heart pacing long after the music has stopped.

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5. Floydshayvious

http://floydshayvious.bandcamp.com/

The hardworking Floydshayvious released 3 awesome EP’s during 2015. The Atlantan fuses vast synth soundscapes with retro video game influences, producing music that is incredibly thought out and progressive.

 

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4. LGHTNNG

http://lghtnng.bandcamp.com/

I reviewed LGHTNNG a couple of months ago and I really liked them from the get go. This 3 piece from The Netherlands are another notch on the belt for the European Synth pop scene, which is currently going from strength to strength.

 

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3. Pylot

https://soundcloud.com/pylot_music

Pylot is perhaps one of the most talked about artists within the Synth scene at the moment, with all the mystery surrounding the person(s) involved in the project being the question on everyone’s lips. Each musical release lends itself as part of unfolding story /puzzle that the listener is invited to piece together themselves. Its truly an inspirational project and is something I look forward to following.

 

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2. Foret De Vin

https://soundcloud.com/foretdevin

The incredibly energetic & heartfelt sounds from Sweden’s, ‘Foret de Vin’ take me back to those huge pop tracks heard in movies from the 80’s. You can guarantee that chick’s around the world have already dreamt about having the track ‘Carol’ serenaded to them at a ‘Foret De Vin’ show. Currently making a big splash within the retro scene at the moment, shits gonna go off when a full length record finally drops.

 

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Signal Noize

1. Gunship

http://gunshipmusic.bandcamp.com

The London based Producer has an almighty sound nailed down and its hard not to be engulfed by the energy projected from his music. The buzz is currently huge surrounding Gunship and his debut record is turning a lot of heads, scoring him legions of new fans along the way. Need I mention that THE John Carpenter guests on the debut release!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all you Retro Lovers!

]]> https://newretrowave.com/2015/12/17/top-10-newcomers-of-2015/feed/ 0 https://newretrowave.com/2014/12/22/wretrowave-com201412top-ten-eps-of-2014-html/ https://newretrowave.com/2014/12/22/wretrowave-com201412top-ten-eps-of-2014-html/#respond Mon, 22 Dec 2014 16:07:00 +0000 http://new-retro-wave.com/2014/12/22/wretrowave-com201412top-ten-eps-of-2014-html/  NewRetroWave’s Top Ten EPs of 2014

by Joey Edsall

(@JoeyEdsall)

10. Dynatron – Throttle
Up

My list begins with the first release I reviewed for NRW. I
initially described the release as “confident“, and after months of
listening this still stands.  Throttle Up has a thumping, driving quality
to it that never really lets up.

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9. Sagittarius V – Renegade

Sagittarius V’s thematic and dystopian release from September 2014 was one I found myself going back over several times.
Several of the songs balance this line between frantic and calming, a quality
which made this EP a standout.

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8. Midnight Static – Colorwave
No Album Art Available

The undeniably catchy and lo-fi tracks on Midnight Static’s
very recent release feel like they could be New Order demo tapes. Let me be
clear: A lot of the synths on this EP are not pristine and clear. Let me be
clearer: they sound beautiful and it makes this release memorable, unique, and
one of the ten best synthwave EP’s of the year. Oh, and it’s free.

Soundcloud

7. Com Truise – Wave 1 

Moving away from the most obscure on this list to the
closest this list has to “mainstream“, Com Truise released an EP this year, and
it was (unsurprisingly) groovy and awesome. While demonstrating the scene’s
love of certain words (“waves“, in this case, more on that later!), the
releases showcases a lot of funk sensibilities, a trait that I noticed popping
up in a lot of underground electronic releases this year.

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Facebook

6. Dead Astronauts –  ­Self Titled EP 2.0

If you’re like me and loved Dead
Astronauts’ full length, then you would be happy to know they
have a name your price EP also available on Bandcamp. It is technically a
rerelease of a 2013 EP, but has re-mastered audio and bonus tracks to keep you
more than satisfied. It has everything that made Constellations so memorable and enjoyable.

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5. Josef Kenny – Parallax

Parallax really
emphasizes the ­–lax in this subdued, chill EP. The album is dripping in
analog, being recorded with a slew of synthesizers, guitars, and a drum machine
all into a cassette recorder. While the digital vs. analog debate is…endless,
the EP has an identity all to its own and is refreshingly original from start
to finish. The guitar work in particular in this album is unlike any guitar on
any release this year.

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Soundcloud

4. Marco Maiole – Pollen­

Marco Maiole’s debut from November has one of my favorite
opening tracks of any release of the year. This is another very funky release
this year, with upbeat and euphoric synths and vocoder laced vocals. The entire
EP feels like the playlist for a dance club that closed when you were too
young, and you spend the rest of your life imagining how much fun it must have
been.

3. Timecop1983 – Waves

Wait a minute… Retrowave artists love Miami and the night.
Miami is in Florida. Florida gets a lot of waves. Retrowave artists really love waves. This website is
called NewRetro….Wave. Illuminati
confirmed! Open your eyes, people!

Nobody does dreamy like Timecop1983. His
absolute skill with setting mood and then refining it with beautiful melodies is what makes me return to his music time and time again. He is
hands down one of the best artists in the scene. This EP has a lot of long
songs, but not one deserves to be skipped.

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2. Arcade High – Heat
Wave

Waves again (shut up, it counts)! The record label
Telefuture has been all over this list with their unique batch of artists. The
titular track features vocals by Morissa Trunzo and its combination of joy and
sine waves is so good that it would find its way into the list on the strength
of that track alone. It is that good.  The reason it is so high up on the list is
because the other tracks on Heat Wave
are all impressive. The EP manages to make you really wish it had twice the
amount of songs it had.

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1. Starcadian – Saturdaze

Another countdown win for Starcadian! Two minutes of Saturdaze opening track, “Ultralove“,
should show you why. Starcadian manage to mix lush pads and retro sounding
synths with high-energy beats and a very Random
Access Memories-esque feel. No release this year left me wanting to dance this
much. The entire EP is gripping and interesting and really unlike anything else
in the scene. It is impossible to listen to it and stay motionless. You find
yourself possessed by Saturdaze.

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]]> https://newretrowave.com/2014/12/22/wretrowave-com201412top-ten-eps-of-2014-html/feed/ 0 https://newretrowave.com/2014/12/19/wretrowave-com201412the-top-10-best-retrowave-album-covers-html/ https://newretrowave.com/2014/12/19/wretrowave-com201412the-top-10-best-retrowave-album-covers-html/#respond Fri, 19 Dec 2014 18:19:00 +0000 http://new-retro-wave.com/2014/12/19/wretrowave-com201412the-top-10-best-retrowave-album-covers-html/ The Top 10 Album Artwork Covers of 2014

By Rhys Pearce

10. Le Cassette – Left to our own devices / Released on 10th July 2014

Artwork by Crystal Labs

‘A real basic design here, but really effective. This kind of art was super popular during the 1980’s and I like to imagine that Prince has wallpaper like this throughout his house’.

9. Timecop1983 – Journeys / Released on 10th June 2014

Artwork by Timecop1983

‘Another simplistic design that goes to show that album art doesn’t always have to be complicated and complex to be visually appealing. This cover has a super classic retro vibe and always leaves me wanting to play Out Run’.

8. Void Vision – Sub Rosa / Released on 11th November 2014

‘Definitely one of my favourite records released in 2014. This grey scale cover spoke to me before I’d even heard a note of the music and I felt it captured the essence of Void Vision’s sound in a single photo’.

7. Dead Astronauts – Constellations / Released on 16th October 2014

Artwork by J3 Concepts

‘Lets be honest, if you bumped into this creature on the street, you could pretty much guarantee that you’d shit your pants. But, no need to worry guys as its just just the product of someone’s imagination….at least I hope so”.

6. Mild Peril – Matter / Released on 3rd July 2014

‘First time I saw this cover, I was expecting to listen to some old British Metal band from the late 70’s. Turns out that ‘Matter’ is an awesome Medieval inspired Synth album Programmed & Performed by the talented C Gilbert’.

5. Muscle – The Pump / Released on 17th March 2014

Artwork by Youp Wehnes

‘The ultimate soundtrack to get your pump onto, ‘The Pump’ features an oiled up honey flexing her guns, what’s not to like about this cover?’

4. Perturbator – Dangerous days / Released on 17th June 2014

Artwork by Ariel B Zucker

‘This beautiful post apocalyptic image from Perturbator is totally bad ass and I’m convinced is something that even SLAYER would be proud of’.

3. Monomer – Labyrinth / Released on 6th November 2014

‘The artwork on this cover was designed by, Rufus Blacklock, of whom I’m a big fan. This incredible design was clearly born in the mind of someone with incredible skill and vision’.

2. Ron Cannon – Blue light murder / Released on 13th June 2014

‘This could have easily been the front cover of a Slasher Film in the 80’s and is without a shadow of a doubt something I would have rented. ‘Blue Light Murder’ is my unsung hero of 2014′.

1. Starcadia – Saturdaze / Released on 26th September 2014

Artwork by Starcadian & Iknonoklasm

‘This beautiful design fills me with nostalgia and takes me back to those feelings of being a kid back in the day. On this album, ‘Starcadia’ take classic themes from 80’s shows such as ‘Dance Or Die’, ‘Cody Laser’, ‘Lethal Response’ and spit out amazing remixes. I listened to this one constantly for over a week’.

]]> https://newretrowave.com/2014/12/19/wretrowave-com201412the-top-10-best-retrowave-album-covers-html/feed/ 0 https://newretrowave.com/2012/06/30/wretrowave-com201206this-weeks-bandcamp-80s-charts-top-10-html/ https://newretrowave.com/2012/06/30/wretrowave-com201206this-weeks-bandcamp-80s-charts-top-10-html/#respond Sat, 30 Jun 2012 13:25:00 +0000 http://new-retro-wave.com/2012/06/30/wretrowave-com201206this-weeks-bandcamp-80s-charts-top-10-html/

THIS WEEKS 80S (PRIMARY) CHARTS ON BANDCAMP

1. MIAMI NIGHTS 1984 – TURBULENCE  – (#1 FOR 1 WEEK)

2. INVERSE PHASE – RETROCOVERED  – (HIGHEST ENTRY TO DATE)

3. KAVINSKY – NIGHTCALL EP  – (#1 FOR 3 MONTHS)

4. THE NEW DIVISION – SHADOWS  – (HIGHEST ENTRY TO DATE)

5. MITCH MURDER – MARS  – (NEW THIS WEEK)

6. MIRROR KISSES – BAD DREAMS  – (NEW THIS WEEK)

7. IAN STOCKER – ESCAPE GOAT (???)

8. KAVINSKY – 1986  – (IN THE TOP 10 FOR 5 MONTHS)

9. MIAMI NIGHTS 1984 – EARLY SUMMER  – (DROPPED FROM 6 TO 9)

10. DJ TEN – RETROLOGICAL  – (GREATEST GAINER THIS WEEK)

BIG SURPRISES – NUSHOOZ DROPPED FROM 11 TO 19 AND KAVINSKY’S ROADGAME EP DROPPED FROM 12 TO 20

ARCADE HIGH PROMISES TO TOUCH THE TOP 10 RISING STEADILY EACH WEEK

THIS WEEKS 80’S (SECONDARY) CHARTS ON BANDCAMP

1. LAZERHAWK – VISITORS (1 FOR 3 WEEKS)

2. MIAMI NIGHTS 1984 – TURBULENCE

3. DESIRELESS – L’OEUF DU DRAGON – (NEW THIS WEEK)

4. MITCH MURDER – MARS

5. MIAMI NIGHTS 1984 – EARLY SUMMER

6. DJ TEN – RETROLOGICAL

7. JONATHON HALL COTO – BYE BYE BRAIN OST

8. CROZET – WE’LL E GONE BY THEN

9. ARCADE HIGH – THE ART OF YOUTH

10. LOST YEARS – NUCLEAR

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ALL WEEKLY BANDCAMP 80s CHARTS ARE DERIVED FROM WEEKLY PLAYS, SALES, DOWNLOADS, PAGE VISITS, AND WEEKLY BUZZ ON ARTIST PAGES. THE TOTAL WEEKLY AGGREGATE IS DEPICTED IN THE POPULARITY CHARTS. THE CHARTS HOWEVER CHANGE DAILY, BUT NRW ONLY REPORTS THEN ON A WEEKLY BASIS (ON SATURDAYS).

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