The Fourth Annual Synthetix.FM Synthstravaganza!

2015 is nearly all but a memory and it's been another huge year for the 80s inspired synth music scene. The progress seen throughout the year has been something that has genuinely amazed me. Instead of writing soundtrack style music producers are now writing soundtracks for actual products. Games, movies, TV and more media are looking to the 80s to provide the musical accompaniment for their vision as an almost commonplace occurrence. Massive projects like Kung Fury and Turbo Kid shone as hugely succesful examples of implementing 80s inspired synth music in the perfect manner. What I've seen this do is establish the music as something valid as opposed to it being a 'novelty' style of music in the eyes of many new listeners. The music evolves as does its audience and 2015 had some great music that will always mark out this year in particular, stylistically.

This year was the year that producers more regularly began digging deeper for 80s inspirations. If 2014 was the year Italo came back, 2015 was definitely the year 80s Library music came back. So many producers explored the obscure gems of 80s library and stock music and took those influences into their own sounds. The end result has been some of the most kick arse music I've heard the scene produce since the early days. Fresh sounds, full of excitement and energy. Sounds that bring new possibilities to 80s music in a modern context.

The exploration didn't stop there though. Deeper explorations of existing 80s styles occurred through so many genres throughout the year. Vocals developed massively through 2015 as producers literally found their own voices and also enlisted new voices into our beloved 80s soundscape. This year has easily been the most prolific thus far for 80s synth pop sounds with so many incredibly written and performed pop gems included on many albums. The diversity is always what breeds creativity and this past year has been rockin to the max for new and established producers to be inventive and break out in bold new examinations of 80s sounds.

For all the positives, there have also been some negatives this year. We've lost numerous parts of the scene in 2015, some that some would say were integral; other would say their loss was inconsequential. The loss of Maniac Synth's YouTube channel was one of the hardest for many as his channel provided marvellous exposure for many producers and had a huge following. A related huge negative impact on the scene throughout the year; (and one that will only continue to worsen through 2016 in my opinion, unfortunately) is that of perceived copyright infringements used by services such a soundcloud and YouTube. Throughout the year I've seen far too many cries from anguished producers having their music taken down, or accounts frozen due to automatic (and mostly incorrect) flagging of copyright breaches. Our own Neros77 wasn't untouched by this and nearly had his YouTube account closed during the year. And even yours truly is serving 'one strike' against his soundcloud account for some entirely unknown breach of copyright that I had no recourse whatsoever to even get the details of what the infringement was.

As the internet becomes more and more monetised and controlled by larger interests it closes tighter and tighter around those of us who use other people's music or imagery to promote it. Who knows where it will end, but it's definitely only just beginning as more and more automated routines scan and rescan everyone's content for possible copyright breaches. I fear the days of anyone being able to post fanmade content to popular services are behind us, but hopefully other avenues will appear as losing these people who do so much wonderful and entertaining work to promote the music we love hurts all of us.

Back to the positives of 2015 and another big change that happened this year and has had a huge snowball effect is the amount of producers and groups now playing live; and doing so regularly. So many great gigs have happened all around the world this year with cards of completely 80s inspired synth acts performing to audiences of old and new fans. For all the great work the internet can do for music promotion I'm still a very firm believer in the old school tried and tested grassroots fan base for the music and playing live is an important way to grow the music's fanbase. I've witnessed this first hand myself and really hope that more fans of 80s inspired synth music 'vote with their feet' and get out to local shows to experience the live magic of seeing producers you love in their true element.

So, what's up for 2016? Well, I have no idea what's in store for the 80s inspired synth scene but I'll be right there with you sharing the love for all the music that I think matters. This year we formed  a core of half a dozen regular writers who'll (hopefully!) all be rockin with you on here next year too, whom I thank deeply for donating their time and energy in creating content for the site. Also next year, as I mentioned in the most recent Synthetix Sundays, I'll be expanding Synthetix.FM's content beyond just music in 2016. I was originally going to start a new umbrella site that Synthetix.FM would be a part of but I think the best idea is to keep things as one on here and add new types of content under the Synthetix banner.

I've had many, many ideas of things I'd like to cover and write about online from the 80s fascinations I have but I always kept them 'on the backburner' as I figured they'd need to exist in a separate space to this site. I then realised doing new sites just fractures things further and further. The content I plan on sharing on here that is not music related will essentially be 80s design oriented. Products, design pieces, art, photography and consumer items that I find essential to the 80s aesthetic. I'll be introducing these new sections after the site's fourth birthday in February, I hope it will be content you find interesting and entertaining. It will not effect the amount of music coverage on Synthetix.FM, the new content will be in addition to the regular music reviews and Synthetix Sundays episodes. I'm really looking forward to sharing many more of my 80s passions with you throughout 2016, it's gonna be rockin to the max!

I'd also like to thank Marko Maric for all he has done for the music in 2015. The Synthetix Sundays shows are a spectacular showcase for the best of the scene and offers so many opportunities for producers to share their stories and music. The endless hours that go into producing the show is something Marko does purely for love, and I greatly look forward to working with him throughout 2016. Many thanks to Jazzi, Paul, Dallas, Micky, Larry and the other regular contributors to the show. It's a phenomonal success that I hope keeps on rockin and it's an honour to have a spot on the show as well as it being a part of the Synthetix family.

Compiling this year's favourite music was an interesting, as always, experience in really focusing on what music I loved the most over the past 12 months. I must, as always, preface these Top Tens as being solely my own opinion. They're not based on sales or listens or anyone elses opinion but my own. One of the absolute hardest categories to do this year was the Top Ten Albums. So, so many great albums came out in 2015, so many wonderful experiences that thrilled from beginning to end that it was exceedingly hard to get it down to 10 only but the labouring I've had over the order of all these Top Tens over the last couple of weeks has got me to a point where I'm confident they reflect my musical loves and passions for the year. So, let's get rockin with the Top Tens of 2015 on Synthetix.FM

Top 10 Soundtrack Synth

1, Blood Ninja - City Project
2, Transport Beauty - Phaserland
3, Tequila Sunrise - Le Matos
4, Towards The Island Universe - Dynatron
5, Ninja Eliminator 4: The French Connection - Thomas Barrandon
6, A New Market - Chuck Shumann & Trevor Bennett
7, Mooginizer - Interstellar Travel
8, Story - Cobra Copter
9, Viracocha - Like Mowrey
10, News Report - Alpha Boy

Top 10 Electro Funk Synth

1, Quantum Flux - Damokles
2, Don't Stop - McKlain
3, Do The Math - Slanger
4, Tergiversation - Satori In Bed
5, Maverick - Fanateek One with Rach B
6, We Just Wanna Dance - Beat Ratio
7, On The Streets - Garth Knight
8, Shopotheosis - USA Gold
9, Negotiations - Robert Parker
10, Break Dancer - AlphaRISC

Top 10 OutRun Synth

1, Guided By Moonlight - Betamaxx
2, Feed To Kill - Thomas Barrandon
3, Felony Evading - Streetcleaner
4, Tony Chaw Is Dead - Volkor X
5, Ride All Night - September 87
6, Endurance - Destryur
7, Highway Lovers - VHS Dreams
8, Chase On Brickell - Bart Graft
9, Does He Look Like A Bitch - Occams Laser
10, Reality Time - Unitra

Top 10 Dark Synth

1, Paradise Warfare - Carpenter Brut
2, The Wrath Of Code - Dan Terminus featuring Perturbator
3, Bathory Bitch - GosT
4, Chryslerpés - REZNYCK
5, Operation Munich (Extended Version) - Vercetti Technicolor
6, Pathfinder - Vector Hold
7, Hour Of The Wolf - Oscillian
8, Una Notta Violenta - Nighcrawler
9, On The Verge - 20SIX Hundred
10, Purgatory Theme - Europaweite Aussichten

Top 10 Italo Disco Synth

1, Star Rhythm - Galspace Project
2, Everytime - 23rd Underpass
3, Tear - Lost Years
4, Glory Days - Plaisance
5, Complications - Ben Businovski
6, Glider - Dallas Campbell
7, Playing Space - Interval - Andrey Zhitnev
8, Let's Faux - Map Of The World At Night
9, Planet - TDHDriver
10, Sorceror - Paladin

Top 10 Synth Romance

1, Reminiscence - IamManolis
2, Virtual Sunset - Starbound
3, Roads - Vincenzo Salvia
4, Everything - LA Dreams
5, Drifting Away - Timecop1983
6,  Summer Rain - Myrone
7, Any Given Moment - RF Extreme
8, Last Days Of Sun - Sunglasses Kid with Phaserland
9, Ocean Drive - Sub Morphine
10, Lost With You - First Impressions with Ghost Mall

Top 10 Synthwave

1, The Pump - Flash Arnold
2, Future - Mahoney
3, Jimmy - Pumping Body
4, Running From The Past - Nitelight
5, Long Before Morning - Hello Meteor
6, Look At Me - Damokles
7, Allegiance - Mick Mclane
8, Amped - LA Dreams
9, Crime Ridden Wasteland - Mythical Vigilante
10, Summer Is Coming - Run Vaylor

Top 10 Synth Pop

1, Save You - Highway Superstar with Sebastian Gampl and Miranda Carey
2, Lifeline - Foret De Vin
3, True Survivor - Mitch Murder with David Hasselhoff
4,Julienne  - D U E T T featuring Stuart Lockwood
5, Chasing The Sunset - Miracle Cat
6, Motorcade - Beckett
7, Burning Fever - Kristine
8, Mesmerised - Jordan F featuring Dana Jean Phoenix
9, Nothing To Burn - Freeweights
10, I Don't Mind - Glass Apple Bonzai

Top 10 Electronica

1, Company Regulations - Amazing Police
2, Meta Valley (Extended Mix) - Abelard
3, Videoscape - B o d y l i n e
4, Back To Life - Killstarr
5, Send Him In - Oscillian
6, Body Heat - Robots With Rayguns
7, Meteor Wave - Skript
8, Wrong Number - Tanimura Midnight
9, Seaside - Z A N D A
10, Variations - Raikman

Top 10 EPs of 2015

1, Winner - Sebastian Gampl
2, Ep III - Carpenter Brut
3, Victory Lap - Pengus
4, OST - Thomas Barrandon
5, Mind Game - IamManolis
6, Jai Alai - Plaisance
7, Resemblance In Machine - Phaserland
8, Solar Drifter - Waveshaper
9, Interfaces - Format 440
10,Kosanagi-no-Turugi - Kyoto Dragon

Top 10 Albums of 2015

1, Volume I - TEK
2, Endgame - Highway Superstar
3, Retrograde - Beckett
4, The Wrath Of Code - Dan Terminus
5, Turbo Kid OST - Le Matos
6, CS005 - Maethelvin
7, Kristine - Kristine
8, Borderline - D U E T T
9, The Cold Rise From Sleep - 20SIX Hundred
10, Paper Objects - LA Dreams



And to complete this year's Synthstravaganza festivities we have the Synthetix.FM Ultimix 2015. The top four tracks from each top ten mixed into a two and a half hour plus time capsule of what music rocked me the most over the last 12 months.




Synthetix.FM will be on vacation now until late January 2016 when we'll be back and rockin hard. Many thanks to everyone who's become part of the Synthetix community and who supports the music we all love. Much love from the extended Synthetix.FM family to yours.

Sferro's Ornaments

By Jerry Herrera

Listening to Sferro’s latest album, Ornaments, isn’t like listening to other synthwave releases. Whereas many producers will stay in a particular subgenre or two, and will be the go-to guys and girls for when you’re feeling like OutRun or future synth or horror, there a fewer out there who are willing to experiment and deconstruct or pull from other retro influences. I believe this is purely a matter of choice for the most part; some want to master a particular sound while others just want to see what happens when different influences collide. With Ornaments, Sferro falls into the latter category. It’s challenging to describe the album within the vocabulary of the synthwave genre, so bear with me. The only thing I can promise is that there will be no Christmas puns.



I’ve said before that some producers create from a point of nostalgia. Their music is an homage to a memory. Others put themselves in the decade and say, “What did they have then? What were their creative tools?” In this sense, one artist is a historian (or historical storyteller) and the other is a recreationist (or time traveler). I think that Sferro sat down and gathered up the synths that were available at the time and used them to illustrate his inspiration, rather than trying to make a “retro” record.

If this was the case, then it explains why there are no “OutRun” or “Horror” tracks, indeed there aren’t any tracks that fit well under any category. Each song is deeply nuanced and changes from one mood to another, giving the listener the feeling that threads are being added to a multi-colored rope, as opposed to instruments being introduced as the track progresses.

It could be said that the first track, 'Devant', is OutRun but that would ignore the Kraftwerk influences I felt. It could be said that 'Basic Pleasure Model' is sci fi, but that would ignore the use of filters to create “distance” between the listener and the music, and the purposeful shortness of the track that acts as a punctuation mark in the album, perhaps a poster for an android companion in the subway tunnel. 'I Wanted To See You' is another punctuation mark, a sensual breath over the phone, a picture pulled from a wallet.

Ornaments travels to many places, including the airy heights of some of the best ‘90s EDM (weren’t we still calling it electronica back then?) with tracks like 'Blitz' and 'Blitz II', which serve as bookends to 'The Way Of The Bomb', itself a reminder of Orbital’s first two albums.

Each track has its own distinct charm and engaging qualities that draw the listener inward, but none moreso, for me anyway, than the title track. 'Ornaments' is simply magnificent from an emotional standpoint. It glitters and soothes, each instrument is a light pulsating in the darkness until the darkness itself is burned away and only thousands of brilliant, glowing colors remain.

'A Better Tomorrow' is a the cinematic end to Ornaments that blends intensity, longing, hope and mourning together. Again, these tracks are woven together organically, not programmed or produced.

I believe that Sferro has reached a high point in his creative endeavors and Ornaments demonstrates an emotional maturity as well as a nose for proper musical chemistry. The album doesn’t tell a story so much as it paints scenes that allow our emotions and imaginations to act and play freely in.

2015 was a great year for synthwave because there was a lot of stuff that came out that well, wasn’t so cut and dried “synthwave” and this album is a prime example of that. And I’m going to break my promise about not having any Christmas puns, because Ornaments is Sferro’s gift to us.

Girlfriend Records presents Sferro's Ornaments album on their Bandcamp page here and it comes very, very highly recommended from Synthetix.FM.

Synthetix Sundays

Marko's rockin another massive festive edition of Synthetix Sundays this weekend, only on Radio Pure Gently!

This week Marko has two exclusive tracks to premier from Retro Promenade's always anticipated and highly loved annual Christmas time compilation, this year's titled: Christmas Time, Mr Falcon!

Marko will also be chatting with the super talented Mario Bravo Bulasinski from Nitelight and Freddy & Jason and graphic designer at MABU art. Marko's also having a can't-miss indepth chat with Beckett about his stunning album Retrograde.

All the regular segments with Paul Daly, Synthetix Spotlight and Quality Time With Shithouse are rockin and all the best music from this week and heaps of cheerful Chrstimas synth songs!

Tune in to Synthetix Sundays LIVE on Radio Pure Gently here, at 10pm Perth, Australia time. Please click here to find out when this is in your part of the world. As always the fully downloadable show will be posted here on Monday along with the featured tracks from Quality Time With Shithouse.

Quality Time With Shithouse Feature Tracks

Street Cleaner Shuts Down

By Jerry Herrera


For some time now we’ve been following the adventures of Jack Slade, a one man army better known as Street Cleaner. Fans, admirers of his brand of justice, will be excited to see he’s continuing his quest, and this chapter is entitled Shutdown.


Shutdown begins with 'The Obsolete Man', an imposing intro not unlike something out of Inception, and continues with 'Felony Evading', which is wonderfully urgent outrun tinged with a bit of 80’s racing game flair. Throughout the first two tracks we hear a lot of police chatter on the radio, perhaps the cops are out to bring Street Cleaner to justice in this chapter? 'M.O.T.W.' slows down the tempo and cuts the radio chatter for a grimy descent into the streets. Street Cleaner has shaken the law for now, and there’s still work to be done.

'Guilt and Worthlessness' is a pause in the story, a moment of reflection and a synth vision of a troubled man looking at a troubled city. Why exactly has Slade become the Street Cleaner? Perhaps he lost someone, perhaps he couldn’t save someone…

'Boardwalk' brings a little of that retro game feel back, with an upbeat track that inspires an image of many bad dudes getting roughed up as the hero casually walks down a city street. 'Valley of the Shadow' is another punctuation point in the story. Synths glitter and basses thunder as planes fly overhead. Perhaps the Street Cleaner has found the true villain, perhaps the showdown is nearing.

'Escape Clause' is another OutRun track that has a more liberating, less intense feel to it than 'Felony Evading'. Perhaps Street Cleaner is ready to face his enemy, and knows win or lose, he’ll be free. He just has one more piece of trash to clean up. 'Facing the Beast' changes the mood immediately and is borderline horror synth, complete with ominous laughter. It very much captures the spirit of the final fight scene in a film, or the last boss in a game. 'Never Again' is a pretty big hint that Street Cleaner got his man, and walks away triumphantly, perhaps retiring his fearsome title. It’s a proud track with an introspective string and synth ending. Has Jack Slade found peace? Will his vow stand now that there’s no one left to fight? As he speeds away into the horizon, only one person knows for sure if we’ll see Street Cleaner return.

All the Street Cleaner albums have had a distinctive narrative feel to them and they cease to be albums with each track following a musical style or concept, and more like pulp stories that construct themselves in the mind as one listens. Still, I have to judge the musical content and I will say that it’s a very strong entry into the synthwave zeitgeist. It’s got everything one comes to expect at this point, but with a singular purpose, which has set all of Street Cleaner’s work apart. I wonder where it’ll go from here, and if I may go on a quick tangent, I wish we could expand our beloved genre further. In the case of Street Cleaner, perhaps get some artists to draw some comic book panels to go with the music, sort of like the animated comics that are all over YouTube. But I digress, I’m fascinated with the character of Jack Slade and I hope his vigilante justice continues soon.

Street Cleaner presents Shutdown, which is available for purchase at his Bandcamp here, and comes very highly recommended from Synthetix.FM.

Synthetix Sundays

Synthetix Sundays returns with avengeance tonight on Radio Pure Gently!

Marko's back in full effect with interviews with Fixions, Neon Droid and scene mainstay and all round rocker to the max Noah Kaufman of the Synth Waves radio show on KFAI!

Regular segments of Quality time with Shithouse, Synthetix Spotlight and Paul 'Dress-2-Kill' Daly will be rockin the scene too and Marko has a whole mess of download codes to give away throughout the show including codes for Ex-Machina and Beckett and a free cassette tape to give away on the show for Ex-Machina's Transhuman album.

Tune in to Synthetix Sundays LIVE on Radio Pure Gently here, at 10pm Perth, Australia time. Please click here to find out when this is in your part of the world. As always the fully downloadable show will be posted here on Monday along with the featured tracks from Quality Time With Shithouse.





Quality Time With Shithouse feature tracks:

Beckett Ascends Into Retrograde

By Rick Shithouse


One of my most favourite things in hearing new music is being surprised. Being actually taken by surprise of what a producer has created is something that happens infrequently but when it does it's a very exciting time. Beckett has surprised me immensely with this new album Retrograde. Beckett is no newcomer to the scene and I really enjoyed his Search Of 34 album from 2014 but I was in no way, shape or form prepared for what Beckett was gonna rock with his new album.

The blending of 80s motifs has been a fantastic exercise to witness in 2015, the evolution of styles and taking of disparate vintage elements and combining them into something altogether new and cohesive has been a hallmark of much of the music I've really enjoyed this year. And once again, in this album, it's the 80s Library influence that combines with a well honed pop flavour and all manner of other 80s styles into an album that is absolutely rockin to the max from beginning to end.



It's all well and good taking tonnes of different influences and styles and making specific singular experiences but Beckett has managed to make an entire album that flows from chapter to chapter with grace and ease and blends the elements and ideas in a way that sounds completely natural. The opening track, 'Air Games '84' was the lead-in pre release that came out a few weeks ago and instantly grabbed my attention. The 80s Library sports theme aesthetic is about as true as you're going to get outside of a KPM Music release from 1986. The triumphant melodies and energising guitars make for something very special indeed. The production is rich and clean with a warmth in the synths that goes a long way to complement the superb guitar work. Beckett's understanding of creating a Library piece in such an authentic manner really shines in 'Air Games '84', and it marks for a wonderful opening-ceremony of sorts to the Retrograde experience.

Things move into less energetic but no less exciting climes in the title track which follows. Opting for a much more guitar driven atmosphere, in both bass and lead, Beckett summons brass, synths and even some bongos into the sweetly warm night air and rocks a jam your sure to feel deep.  The dialogue between all the instruments feels so true and natural, genuinely effortless and the high polish of the production just magnifies the experience. 'Retrograde' has a beautifully written narrative that moves from scene to scene in the most rewarding fashion. Chic, romantic, enticing and full of gorgeous 80s colours.

Beckett begins flexing his pop muscles next and transitions into a bright bubblegum gem accompanied by the powerful vocals of Rachael Jones. The melodies of 'Better' are pop perfection, primary colours burst into sonic candy that you'll be unable to resist. The chorus, with its climbing bridges and highly frenetic bassline, just puts that sweet cherry right on top.  The tightness of all the instruments allows Rachael Jones' vocals to break the boundaries of the timings; adding a soulful and human element while retaining perfect 80s phrasing. It's pure pop bliss and you'll have it looping in your mind long after the track's stopped.

Continuing down the pop path, but opting for a distinct AOR flavour instead of bubblegum this time Beckett rocks like there's no tomorrow on 'Talk Talk'. The smoothly dramatic music sits dutifully in the background to the totally kick arse lead vocal performance from Beckett himself.  The yearning vocal is full of grand 80s nuance, sitting somewhere between Corey Hart and Jon Waite and rockin every lyric with a gloriously vintage melodrama. The songwriting throughout the album really shines brightly in every track, but these songs with vocals performances definitely have a lustre all their own.

Sauve night time instrumentals return with 'Hustle' as Beckett jams a groove full of vibrant energy that would do Steve Winwood proud and brings to mind colours and emotions I usually reserve for Rainsword's music. The swagger is unmistakable and Beckett really rides a musical swell that bobs and weaves with ease around the moonlit shoreline. Crisp, clear melodies get worked into jazz aesthetics that increase their potency tenfold.

Speeding off into oblivion rocks 'Motorcade' next. Sharp, decisive, powerful and then the vocals kick in. Once again Beckett's most manly of the manliest vocals turn a high energy synth instrumental into an epic vocally driven experience that goes beyond the danger zone. The female back up vocals add a pop flavour while the guitars bring out the essence of high energy emotions; rockin to the max at every turn and blasting into oncoming traffic without a care for the consequences.

Switching gears entirely Beckett breaks off into the realms of gauzy synth romance as the freneticism abates but the passions bring on a different kind of heat. 'Beach Central' has one of the most uplifting hooks on the entire album in a chorus that is incredibly profound and develops its gorgeous magical essence with each refrain. This is the embodiment of happiness into music and is inescapably wonderful to listen to.

The love-interest scene fades out into a smear of tail lights against a sprawling nocturnal urban landscape and the pace accelerates into adventure. These faster paced tracks really add a lovely element of 'colour commentary' to the Retrograde experience; always high on thrills and bustling with riffs and solos, trading blows in a dangerous asphalt duel. 'Chase 'Em Down' does everything right with this style of 80s inspired synth and it's, once again, the spectacular songwriting and deep narrative that powers the entire affair.

The elements of 80s Library Music are implemented so cleverly throughout the record that it surprises me often as traditionally written 80s inspired synth progressions get a smattering of Library love that really elevates them to new levels. The subtlety in which these flavours are introduced through the synths and guitars in 'Runner' really impresses. The audaciousness of the leads; complete with brass backing them up always feels completely together with the other elements. There isn't a single idea that ever feels tacked on simply for the sake of it and that feeling of purpose is one of the most inspiring aspects of Beckett's music.

Retrograde goes out on a bright, happy note with the delightfully bouncy 'Recall 1983'. The leads drive the music almost exclusively through the opening chapters before moving into a totally rockin bridge and chorus that sing their synth magic to the heavens. It must have been a seriously hard task for Beckett to decide which tracks on Retrograde were to be instrumentals and which ones were to have an accompanying vocal. Each instrumental is so well put together that I often thought I vocal could work on them but especially in tracks like 'Recall 1983' the instruments are given ample voice to fill the soundscape with beautifully formed stories.

That's really what drives the Retrograde album: detailed stories; full of 80s wonder and excitement with equal amounts of bright colours and exploring emotions emblazoned across the synthscape. Beckett has made a very special album in Retrograde and it's definitely one of my favourite experiences of 2015.

Beckett's Retrograde is presented on his Bandcamp here in the usual array of digitally downloadable formats. This album is without any shadow of a doubt a Synthetix Reference Experience.