Synthwave LA Gets Encrypted At The Echoplex

By Jerry Herrera

When I first began writing about synthwave, the retro revival, or however you’d like to characterize it, I honestly did not see it going further than being a small but beloved subgenre of EDM that only the biggest nostalgia nerds listened to. That was fine with me honestly. The community was made up of producers and artists who were also fans of each other so there never really felt like anyone was “above” anyone else, so to speak. But as the fan base grew and word started getting around, different producers started getting recognition on blogs, in mixtapes, getting featured in video games, movies of all budgets, and while I wouldn’t say the “scene blew up,” it was apparent that we were all aboard a train that was gaining momentum.

One thing that was a bit tough to nail down, however, were live performances. Sure we saw an odd DJ set pop up here and there but these were guys and girls creating in their bedrooms and basements, fans of the ‘80s look and sound that were deeply talented, but perhaps not performers or set up to perform. Also, the music itself was more stylistic and thematic, telling a story moreso than getting people moving. Not that there weren’t some danceable pop and italo disco homages, but I daresay the music was fueled by film and artwork, not club sweat.

Still, I think we all as fans and producers wondered at the possibility of live shows. Either for the glory of wearing sunglasses at night and making vintage synths wail, or just so we would be able to gather together for a common interest, many people began putting plans into motion.

Enter Synthwave LA. Originally another group of like minded retro freaks and artists on Facebook, it began the way many other groups did, as a space for artists and fans alike to connect and share music.  It was founded by Ernest Mancia and Julie Chang, whom you might also know as Future Holotape. This talented duo not only sought to produce their own music, but to promote their local music scene, as well as further the popularity of our beloved genre in general. 

It’s difficult for any artist to promote themselves, let alone an entire style of music, on their own. While I believe the synthwave community to be incredibly supportive of each other, getting Synthwave LA off the ground wasn’t easy. Ernest and Julie have done a lot of legwork promoting themselves and other artists, spending money out of their own pockets and playing small shows as much as possible. Their persistence and perseverance paid off when they met with Spaceland, a company that promotes and presents LA artists at a number of venues. Having a precise vision of what they wanted to do, they proved that they were ready for something a bit bigger in scale. The venue they’d be playing at was The Echoplex, a staple in the LA music scene. It would be oversimplifying to say that “everything fell into place” after this, but it did start a chain reaction. Ernest and Julie still had to do much of the promotion work on their own through Synthwave LA, with huge assists from Drive Radio and New Retro Wave to spread the word.

They reached out to their friends, Dance With The Dead and Protector 101 to do the show with them. Protector 101 then put them in touch with Syntax, and he was brought on board as well. Syntax then brought Joe Seifert in to do the visuals, and even though there were still a million things to nail down, the foundation for the night had been built. 

Syntax

Where do I factor in all of this? I was merely a face in the crowd, a witness to the evening. The Echoplex is on Sunset Boulevard in a neighborhood called Echo Park. Over the past few years Echo Park has become a beacon for artists of every kind, partiers, drinkers, misfits and outcasts while still maintaining a bohemian harmony. It was the perfect place for this show. It was very clear the moment I walked in that synthwave appeals to all kinds of people. I have never seen a more eclectic bunch gathered together. It was oddly heartwarming to see goth cyber punks rubbing elbows with shy music nerds who were drinking with Miami Vice wannabes, who in turn were hanging out with neighborhood hipsters who were in the mood for something different.

Future Holotape

The performances themselves were more than I could have ever hoped for. Syntax perfectly crafted a retro vision with hints of modern dreamwave, drum n bass and IDM and his performance alone was worth the price of admission. Future Holotape not only sounded the part but look the part as well, facing each other but rocking the whole crowd with their impressive array of synths, denim and shades. I should mention that Ernest was performing with a slightly slipped disc, but you would have never guessed. Both Protector 101 and DWTD absolutely electrified the crowd. I spent more time looking at the faces of awe than I did the artists.

One paragraph won’t do the night justice but there is plenty of video and photographic evidence, thanks to Allan Zepeda. Apparently the night would not have been at all possible without Manny Montiel, who did everything from loading and unloading gear, setting up and running the merch table, and DJ Codexx who kept things going in between sets. Another thing that was apparent was just how much people love the music. After each performance, every artist that came offstage and went to grab a well deserved beer was met with handshakes and praise, and they themselves were excited to see the other performances. It was a personal high water mark for me personally, to be able to meet the people I’ve written about, who I’ve come to admire, who are actually great drinking buddies.

Protector 10

April 22nd, 2016 really was a monumental night. It was our night. The talent was there, the people were there, the overall mood was full of positivity, and we showed the city and the people that said yes to Ernest and Julie that this is only the beginning. Indeed, Ernest and Julie are working on launching their own label, Room Robot Records. Not stopping there, they hope that the momentum from the Echoplex show will lead to more shows, and more money to bring out other synthwave acts.  Julie jokingly wants to have a synth festival (jamboree?) but I don’t see why not someday. One thing she said is for sure, LA is ready for synthwave.

Dance With The Dead

I’d like to thank Ernest and Julie for all their hard work and James, Jake, Tony and Justin for mind blowing performances. Oh, and shoutout to Street Cleaner for actually being a cool dude who reigned in his urge for vigilante justice long enough to hang out with me. Of course, all of this would not have been possible without Synthetix and every other like minded writer, producer, blogger and fan out there who has a passion for synthwave. I can’t wait to see what we achieve next.

Keep up with all the most rockin happenings with Synthwave LA on their Facebook page here.

The Behemoth Summoned By GosT

By Jerry Herrera

If any group of people can latch onto something and support and love it fiercely, it’s horror fans. We will defend films that we know are bad and the ones that are actually great are forever indelibly imprinted on our hearts, our minds, and our very bodies. Even in the face of a society that, by and large, looks down their noses at our taste in film, we soldier on. The only other group of people I know that can relate to our struggles, and with a lot of overlap in population, are metalheads. Now, take a love for metal, horror, and stack an interest in synthwave on top. Now you have one very specific but very passionate person.

And that very specific, very passionate person would hear someone like GosT and get very, very excited. GosT blew me away with his last release, S/T, so I had big expectations when he went over to Blood Music and released Behemoth.



By and large, GosT retains all the terror and brutality of S/T but perhaps spaces it out across more tracks. After an appropriately spooky intro, 'Genesee Avenue' explodes into what we love best, quick fingered synths and fat, angry basslines. 'Night Crawler' slows down the initial rush with a similar, somewhat more retro cruise sound. 'Master' brings the aggression back in a huge, ear melting way. I had to keep my headphones turned down a bit because this track has TEETH. What’s really great about GosT is that at the drop of a hat, he can switch textures and instruments without losing the essence of the track, fully exploring the ins and outs of every theme he tackles and 'Master' is a great example of that.

'Reign In Hell' is a short, sweet bit of...horror dance? It’s like Daft Punk took off their helmets and revealed snake-tongued skulls beneath. Speaking of, 'Tongue' is a bit of John Carpenter-ish, Goblin-esque outrun. While I loved the preceding tracks, 'Tongue' is the one that builds the best atmosphere the most quickly.  I’m being stalked by an unstoppable horror that’s wearing his sunglassess at night and maybe has a little strut in his ominous steps.

Continuing this neon nightmare is my favorite track on Behemoth, 'Without A Trace' featuring Hayley Stewart. While it may have been done before, I have to remark that this is the entwining of two very different tentacles of the synthwave beast. It’s soundtrack horror synth and vocal pop, something resembling Desperately Stalking Susan. It’s catchy and simultaneously foreboding; it’s answering the siren’s call and accepting the descent into the black, it’s letting the succubus steal your soul.

'Ripper' and 'Bathory Bitch' both scratch certain synth itches, 'Ripper' being a fuller, heavier and slower journey and 'Bathory Bitch' another bit of unrelenting horror OutRun. I have to note that 'Bathory Bitch' has everything I loved about 'Without A Trace', but without the vocals. But again, GosT switches up his tracks and careens down so many different avenues within the span of three or four minutes. 'Bathory Bitch' shifts into a downright terrifying gear during the last minute or so, taking me to a place that’s somewhere between Aphex Twin’s Come To Daddy and the scene in Thriller where they’re getting surrounded by zombies. I think people will gravitate most quickly to one or the other of these two tracks, and the only reason 'Without A Trace' wins my heart is because I’m a sucker for retro vocals.

'Sacrament' is a short palate cleanser before the title track.  'Behemoth' is the birth of the demon, it’s the creature rising from a wound in the Earth, it’s the spreading of black wings over the village.  It’s everything I love about GosT. Brutal, unrelenting, full of growling, grating basses and stabbing synths, tempo changes, and a certain technical wizardry that only comes from obsessing over every instrument and rise and fall in your wave forms. The last two tracks are remixes of 'Reign in Hell' and 'Behemoth', by Dance With The Dead and Perturbator, respectively.  DWTD extend a pretty short track by bringing their signature shred and glitched, stuttering insanity while also giving the track soaring, almost mournful moments, adding a bit of emotion to the brutality. Surely Lucifer lamented his fall from grace?  Perturbator cuts back on the original theatrics of 'Behemoth' but somehow squeezes more growling, roaring anger out of the track and the choirs and pads punctuate like horns jutting from the crown of the Beast’s skull. If a song could be called a spectacle, this would certainly qualify.

Behemoth is a study in terror and hopelessness, darkness, cruelty, and our own inescapable and ever present demons, demons that represent the worst parts of humanity, demons that will inevitably overrun this plane of existence. As an album, it’s technically astounding, if a bit heavy. Not complaining, but I had to turn it off and take a step away more than once. You wouldn’t read The Inferno all in one go, would you?  This is also a study on cross-genre notoriety. Synthwave fans and metals fans alike are responding to GosT and others of his brood and the unholy unity of the two worlds should yield some brutal results. I’m glad we’ve found desecrated common ground and this is exactly the kind of creative alchemy that propels our community into spotlights but more importantly, into new directions, however dark those avenues might be.

GosT presents Behemoth and is available on the Blood Music Bandcamp page here.

Behemoth is very, very highly recommended by Synthetix.FM

Dance With The Dead Send The Signal

By Jerry Herrera

Looking back on Dance with the Dead’s discography, and having had the pleasure of reviewing almost all of their albums, it sinks in just how adept they are at taking us to synth’s darkest corners and most bizarre dimensions. Some producers give us written backstory and other ancillary information to go with their music, just so we know exactly where we’re supposed to be thematically.  DWTD doesn’t really do that, instead they craft darkness and drama almost exclusively with their music. Send The Signal is yet another journey into the weird, another descent into madness, another tale of terror told through the medium of synth.


The intro track, 'They’re Here' is both shimmering sci-fi synth and pulsating horror bass, arriving at a place that is cold and ominous, like a clear winter’s sky. The theme of Send The Signal becomes apparent right away:  We are not star gazing in wonder, we are looking upward in fear.

'Poison' drops the listener directly in the middle of what I love about DWTD and is a perfect example of their overall style.  Heavy guitars and heavy synths rule this track, which escalates further and further in intensity until we are carried away by a terrifying melody. Fans of ‘50s sci-fi will appreciate the theremin-esque spookiness of it. Indeed, we are being taken to strange places, abducted perhaps.

'Not of this Earth' and 'Spacewalk' continue the stampede of the growling, grating synth juggernaut that is DWTD.  Throughout the year I’ve heard a lot of similar horror synth with similar basslines that I would describe as grating, but in a negative this-is-kind-of-annoying way. I am not aware of the production process nor do I have the words to describe it, but DWTD make their basslines sound like the purring of an engine or the growling of a beast, as opposed to the sputtering of a dirt bike. It’s this level of, shall we say, atmospheric awareness, that sets them apart.

Up next is 'Signals' which strays more into OutRun territory with some lighter synth work and echoed toms and some fist pumping snares. A Strange synth melody dances with an absolutely rocking guitar solo that’s over a bit too soon but I promise you will be yelling “Hell Yeah!” at your speakers.  'Take Me There' steps back a little for some tense drama building before breaking into more guitar teased mid tempo OutRun.  As with the previous track, there is a late blossom of sci fi terror/beauty that is absolutely arresting.

For the final act in their tale, 'Nightdrive' serves as a slower palette cleanser that doesn’t let up on any of the atmosphere but after spending the past few tracks in a state of breathlessness it’s nice to have a moment with something layered and reflective. It’s a track that lets us ask ourselves if what we witnessed was real or not, if the fire in the sky was just our minds playing tricks on us, if the faceless men who came to visit were just products of our own nightmares.

Whatever the answers are, what we are left with is yet another master stroke from Dance With The Dead. I am so proud of and pleased with these guys because they set the bar high for themselves and not only do they consistently meet our expectations with each release, they take us in different and believable narrative directions each and every time.  From the halls of the dead, to the depths of the ocean, and now to dizzying heights in the clutches of malevolent, otherworldly creatures, I have gone to many places with Dance with the Dead, and I will continue to follow them into whatever twisted nightmares they travel to next.

Dance with the Dead presents Send The Signal, which is available at their Bandcamp page here and this release comes very, very highly recommended from Synthetix.FM.

Flashback Friday

Trick Or Treat (1986)

Happy Halloween my fellow Retroholics!  Since it's now Hallow's Eve I've chosen a heavy metal horror flick that features a plethora of metal tracks, as well as a brief appearance by KISS's front-man Gene Simmons and a cameo by the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osborne.

1986's Trick or Treat, directed by Charles Martin Smith, is about a bullied high school outcast named Eddie Weinbauer, a metal head who's hero is a local musician named Sammi Curr.   After hearing about Sammi's tragic death in a hotel fire, Eddie is devastated and visits his friend Nuke(Gene Simmons), a local radio DJ who knew Sammi personally.  Nuke gives Eddie the only copy of Sammi's final unreleased album "Songs in the Key of Death."  While playing the album in reverse Eddie begins to hear hidden messages from Sammi telling him to get revenge on the bullies who torment him.  At first his revenge starts seems innocent, resulting in getting the bully's in trouble at school.  Eddie copies the demo onto a cassette and gives it to one of the bully's who's girlfriend is hospitalized after listening to it.

Realizing how sinister things have gotten, Eddie tries to end Sammi's plans but Sammi refuses to stop.  Knowing how dangerous the tape is, Eddie orders his friend Roger to retrieve the tape from the bully and destroy it.  Roger lies to Eddie about destroying the tape and ends up listening to it.  Sammi threatens to kill Roger if he doesn't play the cassette at the high school Halloween dance that night.  Obeying Sammi's orders, Roger plays the tape during the dance.  At the same time Eddie's crush Leslie calls him on the phone asking where he is and Eddie overhears the music.  Realizing it's Sammi's tape, he races to the dance to save Leslie and stop Sammi from causing more havoc but when he arrives Sammi has already resurrected and begun performing on stage, firing lightning bolts at the audience from his guitar causing the crowd to flee in terror.  With Nuke planning to play a midnight broadcast of Sammi's album over the radio Eddie must come up with a plan to destroy Sammi before it hits the air waves and wreaks more carnage throughout the town.

The soundtrack is packed with enjoyable metal tracks by the band Fastway.  If you're looking for some rockin' synthwave to accommodate this film, check out DANCE WITH THE DEAD's debut album "Out of Body" which is an absolute work of art amongst the scene and features some great guitar shredding.

So after you've been fattened up by all your Halloween candy, and nursing that Halloween party hangover this weekend definitely check this flick out!  To all of you planning to cause some carnage this Hallow's Eve, I would like to say be very safe, and have lots of fun! Catch you all next week, rockers!


-Magnum Crockett

Dancing With The Dead Near Dark

By Jerry Herrera

There are only a small handful of artists within our synthwave community that can really wail on a guitar so one would not be wrong in asking, “Is this Dance With The Dead?” when they hear shredding guitars over iron curtains of synth. The California based duo have already taken us through the crypts of undeath and down into the monstrous abyss with their first two releases and have set a course for the spirit filled netherworld with their latest album, Near Dark.


These guys are excellent at what they do so I don’t expect them to go too far off track with their formula, the way I wouldn’t expect a great white shark to be speeding toward me so it can tell me a joke.  It’s just not in their nature. The first two tracks, 'Invader' and 'Dressed to Kill' are a little more on the synth heavy side although there are some absolutely soaring guitar riffs that carry each respective song to very intense heights. In particular there is a moment in 'Dressed to Kill' where most every instrument is dropped for a few moments of calm before the track explodes into fiery guitar work.

DWTD have an innate ability to create or destroy space in a track. In previous releases they’ve worked with themes of claustrophobia and terror so the majority of their sound reflected these sensations of being relentlessly pursued or trapped in a coffin as the dirt piles on. With this new album it seems like they want more open, airy spaces, but open and airy the way an abandoned mental hospital feels after the sun goes down. This isn’t to say those tense, tight moments don’t exist on Near Dark, there’s just fewer of them.  'Waves' and 'Midnight Never Ends' are examples of this creation and subsequent destruction of space.

I won’t say that the guitar sorcery is the only reason I love DWTD though there are a lot of their fans that can’t get enough of their signature riffs and licks. Personally I think they are at their best when darkly gorgeous synth melodies meet wicked shredding, then duel back and forth like warlocks casting waves of ghouls and demons at each other. 'Andromeda' is by far my favorite track on Near Dark for this exact reason. The sky cracks with thunder and thumping, deep bass gathers power in the background before surging forward with simple but ominous keys that build for a moment before glittering synths meet flanged guitars for one of the catchiest melodies I’ve heard in recent memory. It’s like watching two birds race across the sky, matching speeds, turning, rolling around each other, soaring above then below, before one breaks ahead and shoots upward directly into the sun to spread its wings and cast its shadow on the ground below for a few awesome beats, before diving back down and letting the other do the same. It’s pure synth/guitar synergy and has to be heard.  Really, the track kills spectacularly.

If you can believe it, this high mark is only the halfway point of the record. 'Eye of the Storm' opens up the back half of Near Dark with gothic styled strings and sparse keys before slipping into lovely pads. It’s a moment to catch your breath before continuing on our journey but it isn’t much relief. Next is the title track and it reminds us that we are very far from the dawn and the ghosts are ever circling and ever soaring. Mournful riffs remind us that this is our fault, we played with the oujia board, said 'Bloody Mary' one too many times, and thought that séance was a good idea.

Indeed, the rest of Near Dark is decidedly more ominous in nature, spookier, if you will. The guitars stay a bit lower but the signature shred is still there but the synths are darker, more layered and more aggressive. 'The Pitt' and 'Graveyard Shift' conjure images of a sparse landscape of undead, restless spirits and we the living, tread carefully onward as twisted phantasms wisp around us. Much like the ill fated characters in the Fulci film, The Beyond, we press forward in search of safety or just in hope of outrunning the danger, only to realize too late that we can’t go back. During the final track, 'Riser', we see that our fate is sealed and that our souls are trapped in this dark place between life and death. It’s the slowest track on the album but grimly majestic.

Dance With The Dead exist at a strange crossroads within and outside of the synthwave genre. They appeal to rockers and metalheads as well as horror nuts and nostalgic synth fans. I don’t personally see any low points on Near Dark. Sure, there are slower moments or places on the record as a whole that get somewhat repetitive but there isn’t one outright disappointment on the track list. Every song has a few bars of melody or riffs that stand out as unique to it and they are the shining moments, the triumphs, the “Hell yeah!"'s. I am still grinning with satisfaction and pride for these guys and though I may not survive the journey, I will follow them to whatever macabre corner of this dark Earth they choose to go.

Dance with the Dead presents Near Dark, available on their Bandcamp page here,  and is very, very highly recommended by Synthetix.FM

Dance With The Dead Into The Abyss

Dance With The Dead (DWTD) were one of the biggest surprises of 2013 in the world of 80s inspired synth music. This duo had toiled furiously throughout the year and released of the albums of the year in Out Of Body. The album was epic beyond description in it's presence and power with monstrous arrangements being engineered to nefarious ends. DWTD's sense of atmosphere and building intensity is what makes their synthscapes so remarkably compelling, now with their new release, Into The Abyss, we get to experience the next chapter in the DWTD experience.

Into The Abyss is definitely a different animal to Out Of Body. The production is much more natural sounding, adding a new layer of atmosphere to the music and the huge amount of guitars and electronic strings give an organic and orchestral element to the movements. The rockin intensity and visceral nature of the DWTD sound is still ever present only now it takes on even more base instincts as the six tracks pummel you into submission with one arm while caressing the side of your cheek gently with the other.


Setting the underwater scene with sonar beeps and a cacophony of otherworldly sounds the terror begins to take form in 'Battle'. Massive drama is punctuated by huge drum fills and screaming guitars as the behemoth wakes from it's sea bed slumber and begins to rise from it's sandy grave. Synths drive the melodies into new, uncharted waters with guitars mirroring their movements in a calm before the storm that explodes with huge, pounding waves of ferocity. This opener sets up the rest of the EP incredibly well, tight and action packed, yet drawing much beauty in the melodic refrains.

The second track, 'Moon Runner' finds DWTD taking a measured and richly detailed approach to a piece that is much less brutal than 'Battle'. Melodies are delicate, full of sparkling nuance, and the backing string section adds a grandiose and robust background to the canvas. The music glides in its own zero gravity ballet, graceful and bright with the guitars charging the atmosphere with electrifying voltage.

'Mask' continues this measured approach with OutRun coloured elements cruising into a scene that builds its intensity with deliberate and calculated arrangements. The new DWTD design keeps things very much under control however,  even as aural guitar thunderbolts are cast down from the heavens the ambience is controlled and the reigns are kept taut. Its an atmosphere that is like being in a bullet proof shield in the middle of a hellish crossfire, invoking a calm serenity amid chaotic brutality.

You can drink in these heady atmospheres even deeper in the follow up track 'Odyssey' as a hard rockin guitar swagger strolls in from the horizon. Unrushed, unflappable, and cool as absolute fuck. The saunter remains unchanged as melodies ascend and the landscape is set afire. The drama and intrigue create nail biting tension while the lone figure continues unabated. Singularly minded; a natural disaster waiting to happen.

Things take a new turn and go decidedly more pop oriented on track five 'Suede'. Huge hooks of catchy melodies sweep beautifully in and around the totally rad guitar tracks and introduce a (dare I say it) playfulness to the synthscape which is totally kick arse. The synths rock even harder than guitars but are soon quelled of their combustible energies before the track becomes an neon explosion.

The EP finishes with much greater introspection with the orchestrally crafted 'No Survivors'. Introductory passages of uplifting reverence lead us into purely soundtrack driven components which are allowed to rise and fall with a universal heart beat. Fading away, into the setting sun on the horizon, the giant glowing orb takes one last dip before the glow of pinks, blues and oranges are met with the darkness of the new night sky.

I believe Into The Abyss is a bridging release, between the Out Of Body, and the next full length album from DWTD, not just because of it's chronological position, but more because the ideas and synthscapes crafted in these tracks are still yet to be fully realised. Many, many new possibilities for new definitions of the DWTD experience are hinted at in every composition and I feel these experiments will take off to even greater dimensions come their next album. What Into The Abyss does is take us deeper, into expansive new territory but the aural beings are yet to make full contact with us, and instead shimmer in the depths, alluding to incredible new treasures, ones just out of arms reach... for now.

Dance With The Dead present the Into The Abyss EP on their Bandcamp page here and Synthetix.FM very, very highly recommends this release as a demo-reel of what this kick arse duo are capable of with their ever evolving sounds. The tracks contained on this EP are all superbly crafted and are hugely rewarding to experience. I can't help but think Dance With The Dead are merely pulling back the curtain to us, ever so briefly in preparation for their next full length adventure. For now, take that trip, Into The Abyss and experience the wonders of another world courtesy of these wonderfully talented producers.

Dance With The Dead Move You Out Of Your Body

Theres been a tonne of music released this Halloween, it was always going to be a struggle to cover it all but there were some releases that have been 'event releases' in their own right. The second massive blockbuster of this Halloween (after Lazerhawk's Skull + Shark) is the long awaited debut album by Dance With The Dead; Out Of Body.

I've been following this act since Jaypeau's first experiments with 80s inspired sounds earlier this year and it's been a wild ride to get to this point. Much like Lazerhawk's latest record has been an epic journey so to has this one. Throughout the year we've been teased with tracks, demos and previews, all pointing to this album release. I must say, I really enjoy this process, Lost Years (who has just released a new record too) follows this style as well. The interest is kept high throughout the year and the end result feels like a road the fan and artist have travelled together, making for a hugely celebratory finale to this particular adventure.

The styles of Messrs Dance With The Dead has evolved along this passage of time and throughout 2013 ardent fans have been privy to these evolutionary changes. Initially a much more traditionally OutRun sound was the modus operandi, this then took a turn to the more grandiose soundtrack style and structure and with the addition of ToeKnee to the line up the final incarnation saw the inclusion of guitars as well as sharpened slash electro edges to the experience. This has made Out Of Body a diverse yet well themed package and all the set pieces line up as if destiny had prepared them for such auspiciousness aeons ago.



One can't help but succumb to the darker elements Dance With The Dead allow to seep and sometimes flood into their music however the duo have ensured this remains only a segment of the actual experience. Tempering the fires of evil with poignant melodies and energetic flourishes when needed while still being able to pull back to more delicate elements and keep the focus on the staple ingredients of each track. After hearing many of these tracks previously, and now being able to hear them in their ultimate format, I find the familiarity allows me to dive deeper into the make up of each piece.

After the introductory scare-piece the rockin tones of 'Robeast' awaken with a monstrous surge of electric energy and thundering omnipotence. This track was one of their more recent teasers and as an opener is sets fire to the synthscape with volatile synths and dimension tearing guitars. It's like going from 0 to 1,000 in a nanosecond with G-Forces assailing your senses with an intensely bludgeoning melee. The aural ambiance is heavy, heavy like lead. Thick with anger and hell bent on obliteration.

The structures of the pieces is one of the strongest parts of Dance With The Dead's music. It's all well and good to deliver this point blank intensity, but without a purpose to it a numbness is sure to follow. Exploring the musical landscape and drawing stories and possibilities is what this duo do best. One needs only get one minute into the incredibly rad 'Fracture' to be whisked away on emotive synth melodies that give contrast to the artillery like percussion. The pulling away of the threads and exposing the inner workings of the music allow them to create completely entrancing set pieces that are microcosms of rich synth brilliance.

Much like many of the best producers in the scene Dance With The Dead balance the modern and vintage on a razors edge, often with the emotional context of the 80s being used as opposed to authentic passages. On tracks like 'Thrasher' one is taken into a much more traditionally 80s synthscape with massively dramatic changes and excitement that is as pure as it is intoxicating. The lead melody is dripping with reverence to 80s emotions and coupled with the arse kicking guitars and drums makes for something that is an epitome of modern and vintage combinations.

Dance With The Dead can reign things in, and they do this regularly throughout the album as pieces of more subtle context are slotted between the violent synth storms that punctuate the landscape. These aural oasis take on forms that strike with a velvet glove rather than a megaton hammer. Their intensity remains high, the title track of the album introduces ghostly spectres that haunt with peaceful intentions instead of violent ones. Thankfully these pieces are not of a perfunctory nature and are explored with as much detail as the more explosive tracks.

As the album moves into the middle tracks the stories and relevance of other previously experienced tracks are now given much more importance. 'The Deep' does a fantastic rendition of slow motion OutRun that is then taken to new, loftier heights courtesy of the soaring guitars and shooting stars. In fact, the mid section of the album is almost completely devoid of slash electro elements in favour of bolstering triumphant melodies with imaginative builds and ethereal constructs. 'Dancing On Air' makes the mood ever so slightly darker, but it's a much more introspective contemplation and once again capitalises on the beauty of the melodies driving the experience into wonderfully verdant synthscapes.

Ironically or,  more than likely, intentionally 'Only A Dream' shatters previous hypotheses with a roaring rhythmic engine of vast power being unleashed in a synth and guitar fury. I absolutely adore the guitars in this record, possibly the best implementation I've heard of guitars in 80s inspired synth music, and this track just rocks that idea all the way through with riffs and solos detonating non stop in an all out attack on the senses that is thoroughly righteous in the most rockin manner.

The emotional depth of some tracks is what gives them all their allure, though the intensity can be packed at an atomic level there is always the beauty of the melodies that Dance With The Dead allow to create their own magic around. 'Hell Ride' is full of spritely melodic passages that resonate deeply while the Devil's own bassline recites diabolical incantations in another dimension of musical space. Everything ties together though, and the stories are always clear and sharp, never trite or forced with the balance of good and evil always making for intensely entertaining chapters.

The back end of the album ramps things up considerably as incendiary elements combine in turbulent synth melodramas. 'Cobra' rocks into oblivion and back with break neck speed, hell bent on disaster or glory and taking no prisoners in the process while 'Mr Terror' adds a cinematic flair to the proceedings while retaining a force of unknown origin and intentions as orchestral passages combine with the shredding guitars and dancing synths in a sublime sonata of stygian surrounds.

On 'Zombie Night'  and  'Stitch' we find Dance With The Dead treading on much newer grounds with a much more modern aesthetic that dominates the soundscape. The vintage elements are limited almost exclusively to the melodies and much of the rhythm sections and percussion are devoid of their vintage details. This brings a different intensity that I feel just loses a little bit of the magic lustre present in the other tracks on the album. The combination of eras is something Dance With The Dead really do very well, but the compass guiding these two tracks just seems a little off the true direction. That said they're both still rockin tracks, full of energy and rockin thrills.

The final piece on the album is possibly my favourite track by Dance With The Dead thus far as a new intensity that slows things right down and focuses the melodies with diamond clarity. 'Sunset' has one of the most moving melodies I've heard in 2013, the combination of tear inducing grace and rolling thunder-like power is an awe inspiring combination. The drama of the piece is taken to incredibly vivid extremes as each rise and fall is detailled to absolute perfection. A fitting end to a totally rad album.

The journey for Dance With The Dead in 2013 has been on I've feel honoured I've been able to experience first hand. The trials and tribulations of their musical adventure has bore fruit that is full of new exciting flavours and transports the listener to new worlds of possibilities where new and vintage sounds exist in wonderful harmonies. Out Of Body represents a huge experience of so many fantastic chapters that are so insightfully played out that it's hard to fault in the slightest.

Dance With The Dead present the Out Of Body album on their Bandcamp page here, Synthetix.FM wholeheartedly recommends this album to all fans of 80s inspired synth, it is truly a Synthetix Reference Experience. The elemental alchemy that Dance With The Dead conjure in every track is brimming with emotional intimacy and unbridled and intense excitement. The combinations of new and vintage sounds are thoroughly explored and, most importantly, understood and implemented in a way I find completely entrancing. I hope you, too, get to Dance With The Dead and allow them to take you out of your body to beautifully realised synthscapes of stunning distinction.

Synthetix Weekend Update

This week's been exceptionally productive in the 80s inspired synth scene, it would seem that with the most 80s of holidays only a month away that producers are preparing for an onslaught of hot rockin tunes. Halloween on Synethix.FM will definitely be one to remember, but more on that in future posts.

Right now we have a huge amount of quality tunes to rock into, so lets take a trip into the past via the future with the new Synthetix Weekend Update!!

Aysyne's fast becoming a force to be reckoned with as each new track he shares expands his musical palette. On 'Ascend' we get to experience a stunningly beautiful lead melody that is given more weight with the dreamy synth accents. It's a joy to experience and is definitely one of Aysyne's strongest tracks.




Next up is a breezy new jam from Danger Mode, appropriately titled 'Timeless'.  Melodic exploration of passionate themes is the order of the day as synths are allowed to ebb and flow with subtlety and delight. This track is currently available for FREE download, many thanks to Vincenzo Salvia for sharing the hype on this one.




Grooveworthy is planning the launch of his Information Age EP in November and has shared a preview of the release. This should be a super exciting release as Grooveworthy's constantly pushing his own creativity and refining his sounds. The music featured includes the absolutely epic 'Information Superhighway' and is keeping the theme of 'emerging' internet technology as the theme. To get to know a bit more about Grooveworthy be sure to check out this week's episode of Beyond Synth that features an very entertaining interview with him here.




It was very interesting this week that two tracks found me that are very similar yet very different. Both are themed around the initial arcade game craze of the early 80s and are laced with samples and driving melodies. The first of these is 'VideoGameCraze', the first track to be shared publicly by Grand National. The soundscape is kept tight and on the minimalist end of the spectrum as news and game samples rock with the delightfully twee lead melody.




 Botnit's new track, 'Hi-Score' expands upon the theme further as the high energy OutRun music creates a great tension to the atmosphere. The sample usage also pushes towards these ends as the dark sides of the industry and addiction creep into the frame.  Both these tracks are kick arse in the own rights and make for a great double play experience.




Foreign Blade has graced us with a hot track this week that packs in the drama going by the name of 'Calling Mr. Big Shot'. Keeping things dark and brooding the music alludes to higher powers and glimmers of humanity amid the corporate back biting and hunger for power. This track is currently available for FREE download, so get it rockin as soon as possible.




Future City Records released a hot new three track EP by the rock hard Thunderclaw this week and it's definitely an experience in heavy handed radness. This Miami Vice themed experience combines high energy electro rockin action in strong doses. 'Recoleta' opens things up with smoothly ambient synths that are then blasted into sunset by high voltage electro passages. The combination typifies the contrasting nature of the Thunderclaw experience.

Moods shift darker and become more singularly minded with track two 'Castillo'. Haunting melodies fuelled with night time dangers and begin to choke with intensity. The Thunderclaw soundscape seems to be often pushed to breaking point to enhance the visceral nature of the narratives containing. The third chapter, 'Abel' is a fine example of this style of modern presentation with vintage music to allow for the contrast of beauty and brutality to co-exist in a timeless dimension.

You can pick up the B.A. EP from Thunderclaw through the link in the player below and I'd definitely encourage you to take a three part ride down the dark side of the Florida Key's with Thunderclaw at the helm.



Lets keep in the shadows of the night with the rockin new track from Professor Zonic Zynth and his latest work 'Doomsday MK-1'. The darker path is seldom travelled by the Professor but in this track he allows his synth funk to take on a nocturnal obeisance that is riveting and full of the dangers of the night.




When I go one about the stories and narratives in 80s inspired synth music this is a reflection on how the music evolves, draws you in and then takes you to new places and allows the experience to go beyond the more uniform structures of some electronic music. In RF Extreme's new track, 'Present Daze' we have a textbook example of the use of this kind of structure in an 80s presentation. The opening passages leads to a dramatic middle section before the enlightenment of the final climax. An incredibly beautiful example of quality craftsmanship in the synthient arts. Also be sure to check out a rockin interview RF Extreme has done this past week on Synth Waves here.




Lost Years is back and rockin the italo synth tones on his new gem 'The Kick'. Still in it's early stages of development this is certainly already hitting all the right notes for totally kick arse italo sounds. The pace is kept to a middling canter which allows for the huge percussive flourishes to really resonate for maximum effect.




Dance With The Dead are still yet to settle on the full track line up for their impending album due out this Halloween and with the quality of all the demo's they've been sharing of late it's going to be a hard job to select only one album's worth. Their new track 'Neon' takes on a far less dramatic tone than much of their previous outings, and has a touch of Arcade High about the lead melody that works beautifully well with Dance With The Dead's power house production.




PH Groove is heading for the gym with his new tune 'Legwarmers', and working up a sweat with hooky melodies and energetic arrangements. The PH Groove synth funk sounds are engineered for a more forthright disco flavour this time around and ventures into exciting new territories over it's epic near seven minutes. This track is currently available for FREE download, so make it a part of your work out as soon as you can.




Something a bit of out left field now with the stunning new song from Pistol Shrimp. 'This Moment' features AaronKnute and creates and incredibly beautiful vista of chill/dream wave synthscapes that swells with 80s love. The production is engineered for the perfect presence of each element and the vocal refrain is captured with much poignancy. This reminds me in parts of My Bloody Valentine and the Cocteau Twins, but with a more cinematic flair. It's definitely powered by energies I find much more engaging that a lot of the more sparsely arranged chill/dream wave songs I've heard and it's this huge wall of sound that is so totally enrapturing.




Hot on the heels of her VHS Dreams EP, Palisded has released a killer new synth experience this week called 'Lovestruck'. The bouncing bassline and minimalist melodies are complemented by a marching drum track that ties the experience together. The spatial nature of the synthscape is very engaging and the exploration of the melodies is wonderfully intimated. This track is currently available for FREE download, so get it while you can.




To finish of this week's Weekend Update we have something from the complete opposite end of the synth spectrum with a totally killer new tropical synth piece from James Baker titled 'Un Paradis Tropical'. I just can't get enough of this tune, it's gorgeous 80s naiveté and crisp synthscape is utterly joyous to behold. You can not help yourself but smile all the way through this track and thats one of the truly magical things about 80s inspired synth music. Totally k-rad to the max.



As James Baker's brilliance fades into the sunset it's time to say a bientot on Synthetix.FM for another week of rockin tunes and cosmic jams. I'll be back during the week ahead with more action from finest producers in 80s inspired synth music.

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

Synthetix Weekend Update

It's been another monster week in the scene with a bunch of very rockin tracks being released. The coming week's look to set the scene afire with some killer new EPs and LPs coming out, it's definitely a good time to be a fan of 80s inspired synth!

To really set this off we have a brand new EP released from Mitch Murder entitled The Touch. This record displays even further refinement in his sound as complexity is kept to minimum and the melodic harmonies and instrumentations are allowed to shine. Mitch Murder's love affair with classic Library music is very prominent throughout both tracks, but the luxuriously smooth production is what really holds the experiences together. Everything flows, nothing feels forced and personality of Mitch Murder's music is feeling much more live and natural as a result, there is nothing sterile or cold about these sounds, they are full of vitality and warmth. Both 'The Touch' and 'Race Day' are spectacularly orchestrated and executed originals and the remixes of 'The Touch' by Night Sprite and LIFELIKE add interesting new ideas to the original intentions while remaining true their organic souls.



The Touch EP is presented on Mad Decent and is available for FREE download through the links in the player. Be sure to rock this hard and often!

An extra Mitch Murder bonus arrived this week with a free download of his cover of 'Outride A Crisis' from the classic SEGA motorcycle racing game Super Hang On. This is more totally kick arse work from the scene's leading producer and is available for FREE download here.


Keeping our tires gripped to the asphalt is the rockin new track from Professor Zonic Zynth and his OutRun flavoured adrenaline rush 'Scoring Wheels'. I must say, it pleases me great that this totally kick arse producer is now releasing his singles so that his fans can purchase them. 'Scoring Wheels' is full of high energy synth leads set to a raging pace. Excitement is the destination and the journey is an adventure!



Gost is back to rockin his menacing electro synth aural nightmares with his new track 'Ritual'. I personally found Gost's last album, Skull, not to my own personal tastes. He seemed to lose the underlying 80s melodies and nuances his previous works contained. It brought me great pleasure to hear a return to the classic 80s horror synth melodies in this new track. It's still an all out blistering attack but the brutality is contrasted by the classic 80s horror ambiance.




Time to get a bit more atmospheric, this time with the wonderfully talented Pilotpriest and the latest demo version of 'White Blazer'. The music is set to a languid pace but the bright and jubilant melodies create emotional vortexes of spiritually enriching sounds. The Pilotpriest magic flows beautifully throughout this adventure.




I'm really getting used to having a new RF Extreme track to share on here nearly every week. RF Extreme has a very sound work ethic that resonates in each new composition he shares. His latest works have been leaning smoothly into synth romance territory and his latest track, 'Never Ending Desire' dives headfirst into limpid pools of warm affection. The melodies are intimate and hopeful while the synthscape pulses with a yearning desire. This instantly became one of my favourites form RF  Extreme and with the amount of music he's been creating I'm hoping an album or at least an extended EP is going to see the light of day soon.




The quality synth romance keeps on rockin with the latest release from Russia's Quasars called 'Girl In a Varsity Jacket'. Teenage emotions and searing 80s synths always go hand in hand and Quasars have captured the spirit and feelings tremendously well. The minimalist atmosphere allows every instrument to have it's own presence felt, which goes double for the rockin guitars that kick in. This track is currently available for FREE download so get on it while you can.




80s synth scene rocker Flash Arnold is back with some mood dark soundtrack inspired synth work with his new track 'Shadow Runner II'.  The foreboding atmosphere and dramatic percussion make for an entirely unsettling experience. The instrumentations are layered for maximum atmosphere and the surprising choices for the final chapters of the piece prove to be a stroke of genius. You can buy 'Shadow Runner II' through the link in the player to Flash Arnold's Bandcamp page.




The debut EP from The Boy & Sister Alma hit this week and it's a highly recommended experience in 80s driven synth pop magic. I've previously featured the glorious 'Lizard Eyes' on Synthetix.FM, which is included in this EP along with four other tracks. The EP covers a lot of territory with some tracks not gelling with me quite as much as others, but one only needs to hear the complete aural magic of 'Keep Your Head' to fall in love with their sounds. For a debut EP this is massively promising for the future of The Boy & Sister Alma as I believe their honest and intimate sounds are perfectly suited to 80s oriented experiences and it's these ideas and elements that shine throughout this release.



Gina Calabrese is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the 80s inspired synth scene as each of her tracks seem to contain a magical almost supernatural presence about them. This latest track, 'Back In Te World' is haunting and ethereal with a ghostly ambiance that reminds of something I'd hear in a David Lynch movie. There is never a maliciousness or evil intent in the music but instead it opens a window in the sky to new possibilities and unexplainable phenomenon.




Like Mowrey is rockin up some epic sounds with his new piece 'Timeless Moment'. The scope is huge for this experience that builds and expands with dramatic wonder. I particularly love the way this track uses such contrasting instrumentations but never loses the focus and atmosphere. The diversity of sounds adds vast amount of engagement to the piece and by it's end if feels like we've travelled light years in mere minutes, definitely a 'Timeless Moment'.




Lightening the atmosphere with a pink neon glow is the k-rad new track from Pumping Body. 'License On Women' is full to the brim with totally rockin 80s sounds built on a supremely catch synth hook that bites deep and refuses to let go. The synthscape flows and rolls with a dreamlike quality that is hypnotising and layered with gorgeous details and percussive work. Totally kick arse.




Garth Knight has come back to the electro funk rockin he's does oh so well with his new track 'Probable Target'. Using much influence from classic Paul Hardcastle this composition is full of high energy percussion, vocal samples, violent orchestral stabs and a groove that is unmistakably Garth Knight. I think Garth Knight is one of the scene's best producers of this style and 'Probable Target' reenforces this ten fold. Be sure to buy your copy of 'Probable Target' through the link in the player.




Elsewhen is another producer on the scene who's making me sit up and pay attention. In his track, 'Mortal Machines' we get to experience dramatic soundtrack synth that harkens back to the classic giallo horror soundtracks of Goblin and Tangerine Dream. The mood is slightly unnerving and detailled with just enough flourishes to keep your pulse rate high. The introduction of the drum track at the midpoint which opens up killer new possibilities and will ensure you're kept on the edge of your seat until the final act.




One the most surprising, and inspiring, tracks of the week is the new preview for Tommy's next record. 'Vision Of The Future' brings noticeable new changes to the Tommy soundscape which I found very exciting. The overall atmosphere is much brighter and cleaner, and feels more vibrant and live sounding. There is an uncomplicated and natural sounding personality that is carried through the melodies that I find all together intoxicating. Tommy's 'Vision Of The Future' is indeed a glimpse at whats to come from one of my all time favourite synth producers and it is most certainly very exciting.




Another favourite all time producer in the scene, which will be no surprise to any regular reader of Synthetix.FM is LA Dreams. This producer continually captures my heart and imagination with his beautiful music and has done so yet again with his new track 'Avenue Electric'. Lead melodies are stunning and the LA Dreams bass work is yet again exemplary. I feel like the LA Dreams production style is getting an extra layer of polish in his last couple of tracks as sounds are definitely packing more dimension, like when the final melodic refrain crashes in towards the end of this track. Wonderful music, as always.




Our final track this week is something very special with two of my favourite producers joining forces to create a huge 80s synth pop masterpiece. The totally rockin Dance With The Dead and the irresistibly amazing Kristine have unleashed 'The Power' and it's something spectacular to behold. I don't think I've heard Dance With The Dead sounding as pop-oriented as they are in this track and it's something that works exceptionally well.  As collaborative projects go this is definitely one of the big highlight of 2013. This hot rockin slice of 80s pop heaven is currently available for FREE download through the player so make sure you add this to your music library and crank it to the max.




That brings us to the end of another Synthetix Weekend Update, I'll be back during the week with more action from the 80s inspired synth scene, 'til then stay 80s and keep on rockin.

Synthetix Weekend Update

The Synthetix.FM Experience keeps on evolving and rockin and the latest addition to the great ways you can enjoy 80s inspired synth music is a bran new soundcloud group! The Synthetix.FM official soundcloud group is now available for further adventures in retro synth goodness in the link box on the right hand side of this page permanently, or by clicking here.

I'm always ready to encourage and evaluate new and useful ways for people to find and be informed of the music we love, so if you have any suggestions for this I'm very receptive to new ideas. There will eventually be a Synthetix.FM Twitter feed, but as I'm not a user of Twitter this will take some time to get rockin.

Let's get down to the hot rockin business of all the kick arse tunes from this past week in the scene with the Synthetix Weekend Update!


We're getting dangerously close to the promised full length album release from Dance With The Dead (formerly Jaypeau and Toe Knee). I do believe a July/August release is in the offing, meaning our long wait is nearly over. These two rockers have made some absolutely stunning experiences in epic synth suites that cross over numerous genres but always have a deeply emotive and polished presence about them. Their latest track, which is a demo of 'Sunset', personifies the Dance With The Dead sound in every way. I, personally, am expecting this full length album to be a spectacle of dazzling proportions as the longer format seems like the perfect option for their vast soundscapes.




There's definitely an interesting trend going on at the moment in the scene with numerous producers delving more into the Library goldmine of 80s music for inspiration. Thought to be 'too cheesy' for many I think the classic Library music is one of the purest forms of the 80s synth experience and I applaud all the current producers taking inspiration from it. The latest is a killer piece of hard rockin good times from  Vector Hold.  'Last Day Of School' is triumphant and joyous in it's personality with the warm days of freedom and summer beckoning. Beautifully orchestrated and hugely uplifting.




Synthetix.FM favourite Chaconne is back with a delicately delightful new track 'Interqualude'. Taking a departure from his usual high drama synthscapes, this introspective piece smoothly dances in soft resonance, intimating melodic refrains with nimble dexterity. Definitely full of that rockin Chaconne magic, and currently available for FREE download.




Rocking into the future at breakneck speed is the latest EP from Neo Neo. The Last Dance EP is presented by Future City Records and consists of the title track plus two remixes. The title track is an explosion of OutRun synth set to dangerously high speeds. The way this track is arranged with a more modern flavour adds even more acceleration and drama, reaching life threatening top speeds. The two remixes are provided by Tero and MegaDrive, who both take to the tarmac in a race against the clock. I quite enjoyed MegaDrive's darker take on 'Last Dance', but I think Tero's loses a bit too much of the 80s soul in his version. You can buy your own copy of this rockin release by clicking the 'Buy' button on the player below.



Nowtro is definitely evolving and fine tuning his sounds and his new track is definitely one that grabbed my attention and didn't let go. 'Space Race' has a marvellous slow-burn build that then ignites into a synthscape of sparkling wonder. This track feels like it's arranged with a view to a vocal mix as the structures are very song-like in their delivery. As an instrumental the music shines brightly and the narrative is wonderful, the synth solo towards the back end being a real highlight.




Miles Prower's new EP is due for release soon and his latest video teaser for the song 'Outatime' is sure to build much excitement. This darker, EBM styled affair makes the drama level high while a superb vocal track performed by Colleen Quinn adds heavy doses of emotional discord. Another, this time instrumental track from the EP is up on Miles' soundcloud page here which is totally kick arse as well.




More promises of exciting things to come, this time from MoweLan and his unnamed teaser for his full length album due out towards the end of northern hemisphere's summer. Initially this didn't grab me, but the build leads to a totally rad final segment that is sounding very encouraging. Alas just as the rockin kicks in the, the fade out does too, leaving us hanging. I hope MoweLan shares some more of these teasers soon.




A producer going by the name of Hawker introduced himself to me this week and enlightened me to his own work and latest release. Dark Lines is a sumptuously created six track EP of beautiful synth soundtrack work coloured with a pronounced 80s palette. Opening salvos are epic in wonder and massively orchestrated with stunning melodies. Tracks vary greatly in their emotive qualities, often with rich stories and deep passages that have been fabricated with much care. Other more frenetic energies are explored on tracks like 'Siege' but all six chapters feel like the parts of one complete narrative. If you're a fan of soundtrack synth experiences I encourage you to take in the Dark Lines adventure in it's entirety in your own time for the full effect.



It warms my heart when the pioneers of the early days of the 80s inspired synth movement release new tracks, and even more so when they're of such incredible quality. Palm Highway Chase is one of these such producers, his Escape From New York album from 2009 is one of the early high points in the resurgence of 80s synths. His new track 'Shoreline OutRun' ushers in new soundscapes and very interesting details while still glowing with classic Palm Highway Chase melodies. I adore the evolution of this track, it's riveting and totally k-rad to the max in every respect.




Alpha Boy is definitely one of the most prolific producers in the 80s inspired synth scene and his work since his collaborative album with JF Conrad last year has definitely found his music take on new and exciting dimensions.  This short preview for his next EP (due out tomorrow!) gives a hint and some very interesting new Alpha Boy soundscapes. The opening track, 'Come In' is something that instantly made me fall in love with it. Over it's scant twenty seconds of preview this piece alone has me champing at the bit for the 'Home' EP. I'll be sure to give it an attentive listen as soon as it's released.




Another rockin new act that contacted me this week was the Cassual Leopards, their latest EP entitled Close Encounters provides a rich mix of disco and 80s synths with leanings to modern arrangements, while still retaining much vintage love. The five tracks are very individual in their presentation and bring to mind much of the crossover nu-disco/french house music that was so vital a few years ago. The balancing act of old and new elements is very well performed, with some interesting twists. 'Fractal Love' for example walks a very traditional 80s synth path with dramatic melodies and minimalistic synthscape. Conversely the out and out disco rockin 'Don't Stop' provides a funkified counter point with it's catch loops and much more modern story.  The Close Encounters EP is full of good times and kick arse music, it really traverses a lot of ground but retains a warm honesty and love of quality 80s sounds throughout. The EP is available for FREE download of the individual tracks through the player below.




I always look forward to hearing new music from Farfletched. His individualised brand of 80s inspired electronic music always manages to include varied elements and his writing is always delightfully eclectic. 'Karate Follow' is by his own definition 'arcade synth pop' and it's a wonderful track full of incredibly rad melodies and entertaining details. The music bounces verily with ChipTune elements going hand in hand with some Steve Winwood-esque synth work. This is definitely the Synthetix.FM feel good tune of the week.




Our final excursion in the the electric world of 80s synth for this week's Weekend Update comes courtesy of the totally tubular Professor Zonic Zynth. His latest work, 'Sensation' finds the Professor experimenting in some kick arse Library sounds and working on a 'sports event' thematic that conjures up a great deal of exciting possibilities. Once again this producers melodies shine like beacons amidst the camera flashes and roars of the crowd while the athletes take to the field in a battle for glory and a place in history's pages. Totally epic and totally k-rad to the max.



That does us for this week's Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM, I'll be back during the week with more hot rockin 80s inspired synth music and I hope I get to see you again then.

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

Synthetix Weekend Update

It's been a week of heavy, incessant deluges of rain once again with the month of April continuing on with a heavy downpour of rockin new music from the 80s inspired synth scene. On the horizon next week is a megaton lightning strike that is sure to rock you to your foundations, but for now the rumble of thunder works in tandem with the luscious synth sounds of this week's Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM

I really need to post this first, as it's going to make a lot of people, as it has myself, very happy. MPM's return to the scene has been heralded with a sampler he shared on his YouTube yesterday and I have word directly from the man himself that he's trying to get something out this year. I'd honestly given up on ever getting any new MPM music, but these words that he's 'trying' plus the incredibly rockin new preview have rekindled some of my faith in MPM's come back. Time will tell, but for now this preview and whisper of a promise will have to suffice.





Rockin back into the brutality of Gost's brand of synth action darkness is his latest track: Cursed. This producers mix of new and old styles is once again executed beautifully with highly violent sounds combined with delightfully delicate melodies.




Kid Machine shared a very cool new demo this week for Hyperion. Kid Machine's moody side is presented here with a dramatic flair that add real substance to the experience. I'm unsure as to whether this is to be used in a separate project or an EP/LP release but either way it's full of Kid Machine's trademark quality.




Cougar Synth keeps on rockin with his latest track that's also FREE to download currently. Conqueror has a slightly ninja synth mood about it but elements of synth romance add vast amounts of emotional investment. The story is rich with beautifully orchestrated arrangements and perfectly vintage sounds.




On a similar dimensional plane is James Baker's new composition: Inside The Game. This classically styled work is full of authentic early 80s synth sounds and melodies and has that beautiful naiveté in it's personality that always feels so honest and engaging. This piece is also currently available for FREE download.




Bluezz Vylez is back with his new adventure in Moonlight Camp. This producer's individualised soundscapes are something I always find absorbing and this latest work does so yet again. Synths
sounds are taken out of their comfort zones and the arrangements are energising in their delivery.




The Evanton sound continues to evolve with this duo's new track Disco Heat In Meatpacking District. The powerhouse basslines are set to maximum but this piece displays a new tenderness in the melodies that really adds a new dimension to the soundscape. This is taken from their upcoming release Electric City which will be sure to provide vast amounts of Evanton italo electro gold.




Python Blue shared an outtake from his submission to the next New Retro Wave compilation release and has made it available for FREE download. This is track is a superb hybrid of this producer's soundtrack and synth wave styled work making for an atmospheric and engaging adventure into the future.




Babylon 86 is a new rocker on the scene and is kick some classic 80s sounds with his track Technoir. The energy in this piece is fierce with driving percussion and high speed melodies. He's released five other tracks on his soundcloud which encourage you to partake in also and all are currently available for FREE download.




The latest release from Farfletched is totally rockin my world. The melodies are just so catchy and thrilling but it's the way the experience is structured that provides the most enjoyment. The many breakdowns and builds accentuate each element magnificently.




LA Dreams published two tracks this week but Young Scavengers became my pick for the Weekend Update. This guitar driven rocker is full of LA Dreams synth magic delivered with a deep emotive refrain that is thoroughly exciting. Be sure to check out his other release this week, Wild Tiger, on his soundcloud too.




Turning the drama up past the point of safety comes Dr PECCO with his new foray into the forests of fear: Green Inferno. The music is almost video game like in personality, but it contains a depth to the synth sounds that add a very atmospheric layer. The rhythm section is unrelenting throughout but those soaring synth melodies provide the perfect contrast to the soundscape.




Plaisance has teamed up with Shio-Z for a vocal rework of his track Deep Blue. The end result is a hugely immersive experience that vastly magnifies the presence of the original. Shio-Z's vocals performance is right on point for the classic early 80s new romantic style and Plaisance's soundtrack feels like it was made for the vocal. I hope this is only the first of many projects between these two talented producers.




RF.Extreme shared his exciting new track LED Lead Foot this week in it's latest evolutionary form. Still a work in progress this promises to deliver thrills and chills out the yin yang with it's thunderous bass line and distilled melodies. Really looking forward to where this piece is going.




Glass Mirrors keep on rockin their own brand of 80s influenced synth pop with their new song Wanting You. The combination of new and old sounds work together in harmony while the vocal track adds a great deal of impetus to the emotional thrills and chills. I hope these guys keep the 80s strong in their music as they have an excellent combination of all the right skills to produce totally rockin synth pop.




Time for some epic space synth disco with Sirius B from Like Mowrey. This artist keeps honing his craft with every new release and Sirius B feels like a fully realised idea that's been worked to perfection. Full of emotive melodies and a vast spatial quality this track is pure energy.




A bit of a Synthetix.FM Public Service Announcement now. An artist whom I've grown rather fond of in the form of Jaypeau has consolidated his partnership with Toe Knee and launched their project as Dance With The Dead. This is now their official monicker, so please follow them on their new Facebook page here. With that done, let's get rockin with their totally rad new track Fracture. These guys have a knack for extracting equal amounts of terror and atmosphere in their music but always manage to keep super-hooky melodies as the force that drives the experience. Dance With The Dead are planning a full LP release in July and based on all their previous tracks I'm greatly looking forward to enjoying their music in an album format.





That wraps things up for another Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM, I'll be back early next week with a very special release that I seem to have been waiting forever for, but all things come to those who wait, as they say. 'Til then, stay 80s and keep on rockin!