Saturday, April 12, 2014

Synthetix Weekend Update

This will be the last Weekend Update for a couple of weeks as I'll be taking a little vacation over the Easter period and will be back and rockin April 29. There'll be one more review I'll cover this coming week before the break, however.

Another big week in the scene has elapsed and I've got a bunch of hot rockin tunes to share with you in this week's Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM. The first thing I definitely need to cover this week is the amazing anthology release compilation from Werkstatt Recordings released recently. The Werkstatt Chronicles is an incredible documentation of the history thus far of one of the scene's most prolific labels.

Spanning five years this compilation covers fifty six (yes, FIFTY SIX) tracks from a tonne of musical denominations but always with retro vibe. Lots of the scene's most loved and respected producers show up on this release, including the likes including Protector 101, Fantastisizer, Sam Haggblad and Gost along with a myriad of producer's Werkstatt has continuously promoted. This label is one of the central hubs of the 80s inspired synth scene and I'd like to take this moment to thank Kostas for all his work and determination in sharing so much wonderful music. Here's to the next five years, my good man.

You can pick up a copy of The Werkstatt Chronicles on Bandcamp here at a name-your-own-price point. Please support this release as this label is vastly important to the development of the scene.


Time to switch on your inflight entertainment console and blast off into the wide blue yonder with this week's AIRBORNE hits on Synthetix.FM!




Run Vaylor - Star Knight - Rockin a new six track EP straight out of France comes Run Vaylor with his Star Knight release. This producer's sounds combine great vintage progressions and melodies with a modern energy that makes them sound very club oriented. His work on this EP really hits some big high points with 'Saturn V' and 'Orbital Cocktail' really taking the Run Vaylor synthscapes into exciting new realms.



Dan Terminus - Rêverie - Resident synth antichrist Dan Terminus has eschewed his lusts for the aural violence he so wantonly creates and has instead gone for a much more positive aspect with his new diversion Rêverie. Distorted terrors are replaced with sweet, breezy melodies and are arranged with delightful care and nuance for the most part, but Terminus can't help himself and unleashes the beast in the final chapter, I guess he needed to add something darker to balance out the lovingly crafted synth serenade to Vincenzo Salvia which precedes it.


Spacious Sweep - Searing Chains - When it comes to Italo flavoured synth action there are few as prolific in the scene as Spacious Sweep/JEJE80 Home Production. This rocker has been one of my favourite creators of 80s synth that is written with a wonderfully fun aspect and oodles homage to the classic sounds. Searing Chains is a package of ten tracks from the last few months that really encapsulate the Spacious Sweep magic. Although the release is officially being hosted on DepostiFiles, please give him some love on his soundcloud page here and continue supporting his music.



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The first of a few new rockers for Synthetix.FM this week is Daniel Deluxe and his latest work 'The Getaway'. Maximum levels of intrigue and intensity in the opening stages lead to full throttle excitement as OutRun styles are taken on a collision course with Michael Cassette-esque elements. The experience is rockin from beginning to end and is currently available for FREE download via the player.




Having been on a bit of a break for the last couple of months Cougar Synth have triumphantly returned with a sublimely beautiful new slice of warmth Synth Romance titled 'Denying Everything'. The mood is fragile and intimates undertones of need and emotional sensitivities ensconced in the glowing haze of that Cougar Synth magic we love so much. Currently available for FREE download.




The scene continues to go all wonderfully topsy turvy this week as a new chapter has arrived in the Garth Knight story. He's taken a trip off the funky well lit streets we're accustomed to finding him in and is instead now exploring darker alleys of festering decay and untold horrors. 'Nightmare City' gives the Garth Knight synthscape the Giallo Disco treatment and it rocks harder than a melonfarmer. Available for purchase via the player.



Someone who we all can rely on to bring things back to normality is Who Ha. His new album project has begun with his homage to the shapeliest of derrieres in 'Cutiest Petutiest Gluteus'. The album is going to be an ongoing work with songs added to  the Bandcamp page for Pop Goes The Who Ha  as he  sees fit. Expect radness, badness and madness in equal portions as Who Ha rocks the 80s all around the world once again.




MegaDrive's brand of high energy synth necromancy has returned with a great new track called 'Slum Lord'. The music is dark and bubbling over with maleficence while melodic details sharpen their wits in electrifying passages from which there is no escape. Be sure to check out a marvellously entertaining interview with MegaDrive in the latest episode of Beyond Synth if you'd like to learn more about this totally kick arse producer.




To celebrate the beginning of Spring in the northern hemisphere Sferro has been very public spirited in offering a phenomenal new track called 'Let's Take The Top Down' for FREE download. This is one of those amazing pieces of music that hooks you deep within seconds and never lets go. I absolutely love this track, and I'm sure you will too. Thanks, Sferro rocker! Happy Spring to you too!




A brand new producer just beginning to rock the scene has opened his account with a hugely impressive track. Shock Street's 'Andromeda' is being groomed to have a vocal track at some stage but this instrumental version was something I just couldn't pass up on covering. The way this track has been constructed is wildly engrossing. Synths soar and passages become uplifting in their presence throughout the narrative. This is currently available for FREE download via the player too.




Must be something about Spring that brings a lot of producers back into the fray as Vestron Vulture has also released a new track for the first time in quite a while but my word; it was well worth the wait. 'Dethboy' from its name and art work would appear to be a work of dark synth brutality but is instead a very positively constructed journey that is held together by a synthually wondrous refrain. This is available for FREE download currently too.





We haven't visited with Right Knider for a while now but this situation is definitely remedied with his epic new jame 'Cosmonot'. The ambiance and spatial quality of this track a joy to behold as mind altering synths take you into the galaxies above upon wings of pure retro synth magic. The passages of this track are crafted with a keen appreciation of narrative based soundtrack synth and the perilous journey becomes one we simply must see through to the end.




Block 35 has been on my radar for a while now and his new track certainly made me sit up and take notice. 'Splashing Waves' is an entrancing blend of Italo sounds that are bright and sparkling in a most alluring way. Details are sharp and full of joie de vivre and are thoroughly energising in their overt display of glorious 80s love. You can pick up a copy of this rockin track at a name-your-own-price point via the link to Bandcamp in the player.




One of my all-time favourite collaborative teams in the work STARFORCE and Dynatron produce; whenever they get together magic surely follows and with their latest track 'Cyborg Cyclops' we get to experience that rockin magic once again. An ever so slightly 70s prog element is present in the lead melody which adds even more impetus to their retro synthscapes. Arranged and engineered for seriously rockin good times this killer track is available for FREE download via the player.




Another hot new rocker for this week's Weekend Update, this time FlashROM with his beautiful new track 'Forever'. This passionate composition is like supercharged Synth Romance as the layers of synths and guitars meet in an electric embrace. There's a whole lot to love about this superb track, I can't wait to experience more of the FlashROM experience!




Thundering out of the starting grid and hitting top speed in nanoseconds is the thrill ride known as Tokyo Rose with his powerhouse new track 'Zender Overdrive'. Thumping OutRun percussion and swerving synth melodies accelerate past the competition and disappear over the horizon in a dazzling display of refined engineering and pure adrenalin. Totally kick arse.




Continuing the OutRun flavour let's scorch the asphalt into dangerous oblivion with Will Burn's death defying frenzy 'Wrong Wayz'. Everything on this track is turned up into the red zone and one's pulse is sure to be sky rocketing into the stratosphere as each chapter pushes harder than the last. This incendiary tracer bullet of synth energies is available for FREE download via the player.




Miami Beach Force are back with a killer follow up to 'Robotic Assassin' called 'Neon Ninja'. The eastern flavours are marvellously well woven into this action soundtrack oriented piece. The chapters are assembled seamlessly with a magically potent refrain tying the tension together into a bundle set to break its restraints and exact revenge upon all and sundry.




The final track for this week's Weekend Update just snuck in before the cut off point and I'm very happy it did. New 80s Stallone music is always cause for much excitement and his new track 'Bollinger' is as smooth and refreshing as the drink itself. The 80s Stallone blend of quality 80s craftsmanship within modern arrangements is always a joy to experience and this is totally rockin all the right ways.



Not one but two videos are to be featured as the final part of this week's Weekend Update. First up is a beautifully pieced together video for AloneWolf's track 'The Way Of The Wolf' as made by the original composer. The editing is cut perfectly to the track and adds a complimentary visual component to this great track.


AloneWolf: The Way Of The Wolf [Music video] from AloneWolf on Vimeo.


The second video is a totally rockin new teaser for Perturbator's next release: Dangerous Days. Employing the talents of Mykola Dosenko we're presented with a cityscape in a 16bit heat haze, burgeoning in glorious parallax with a soundtrack filled with wanton desire and fiery emotions. This is just short clip, but my lord does it leave one champing at the bit for more.




That does us for an XXXL Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM, as I stated earlier I've still got one more review I'll be posting during the week before taking a week and a half off over the Easter period.

'Til then, stay 80s and keep on rockin.


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