Synthetix Weekend Update

Another massive week in the 80s inspired synth scene comes to an end and it's time to get caught up on  some of the highlights and recent happenings in the Synthetix Weekend Update!

Many readers have probably already heard this already, but I had the honour of being interviewed be Marko Maric on Synthwave Sundays last week. If you feel so inclined you can listen to the episode here and listen to me carry on about all manner of things related to the 80s inspired synth scene and a bit about the history of Synthetix.FM in general. I'll also be doing a weekly segment on Synthwave Sundays beginning next week too, which I hope adds to Marko's already stellar format. Many thanks to Marko and RPG for kickin it live and rockin the scene!

Big news from Telefuture Records this week as they've begun a new KickStarter campaign to secure more funding for some killer future projects, including more all important cassette releases! The campaign is all about taking Telefuture Records to the next-level and expanding in all kinds of exciting ways. The first of these is the spectacular new compilation Eternalist, which is available to listen to here on Bandcamp but donating to the Kickstarter project gives you a download of this wonderful compilation.  This killer release features new and exclusive tracks from Le Cassette, Vincenzo Salvia, Arcade High, Perturbator, Betamaxx, Protector101, Collins and many more Synthetix.FM favourites!

I'm very excited to be a part of this with the final tier reward being a customised 80s boombox designed by myself so you can rock all your killer Telefuture cassettes in the raddest way possible. There are a tonne of other rockin rewards listed on the page and I hope everyone in the scene digs deep and rocks this campaign harder than a melonfarmer!

Now it's time to take off to adventure with some of the scene's high flying superstars so pull back the throttle hard and get AIRBORNE!

Garth Knight - K.A.R.R. - Garth Knight has just unleashed the K.A.R.R. LP featuring lots of his classic tracks from the last year along with some new gems to keep them company. Many, many Synthetix.FM favourites are on this release and it continues Garth Knight's wonderfully vivid adventures in 80s funk synth as well as some fantastic other endeavours in retro sounds. This is your chance to pick up a whole bunch of great rockin action in one killer release.


WLDV (We Love Dolce Vita) - Night Blast  - WLDV are forging a heated love affair with Italo Synth sounds in the rockin new EP Night Blast. The homage to the classic 80s sounds is as diverse as Italo Synth itself with more 70s oriented disco tracks sitting suggestively well besides Space Disco sounds and emotionally driven atmospheric pieces. The four tracks presented on Night Blast are all rockin to the max and will be sure to get you feeling that warm, golden Italo synth magic.


Jordan F - Freefall - The return of Jordan F has finally arrived with the release of his new five track Freefall EP. I will be the first to admit I wasn't at all taken with the first single off this EP (Falling Like Diamonds) but the other tracks on this release have definitely kept Jordan F's 80s rockin as a driving force. 'The Void' and 'What We Believe' are absolutely kick arse tracks and the other chapters of the EP are full of revitalised 80s emotions with contemporary elements balanced throughout.


Das Mortal - Naissance d'un Zombie - Das Mortal is a new rocker to Synthetix.FM and he's definitely going to be well at home with his superb new soundtrack release for Naissance d'un Zombie. Although short in length, each piece conjures up much atmosphere and 'Exercise 1' and '2' really get things moving. This will be the soundtrack to the Nathaniel Pesant student film, of which I'm now champing at the bit to see. This great homage to the classic horror and sci-fi scores of the 80s contains some audible direct inspirations from modern producers too, I'm sure I heard a hint of Tommy in 'La Drogue'. This release can also be purchased via Bandcamp here.

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Let's open things up with some some marvellous music from The Northern Lights and their new track 'Elevation'. Part New Order, part Cure but all rockin this epic piece is full of 80s emotions and resonates deeply with its echoing melodies and subtle details. The space created is both massive and intimate at the same time, magical music indeed.

There is something about the new Janxen track 'Flightexcite 1.0' transfixing. The melodies are pure late 70s space synth magic while the overlays of dischordant sounds and highly treated vocals give an other-worldly presence to the pice. Fascinating to listen to and currently available for FREE download.




Fantastisizer is back after a three month hiatus (from sharing music on soundcloud, at least) with a hot new rockin piece of retro synth called 'The Changeling'. Melodies are full of mystery and pronounced fear as the music weaves its way in and out of our world. Very ethereal in its structure but also engaging, it has been well worth the wait for hot new Fantastisizer action.




HOME- is back again on Synthetix.FM with another great new track called 'A New Speed Of Light'. Opting for a highly muted aural canvas to work from and a stuttering structure to the percussion the melodies are allowed to rise like wisps of smoke through a glowing fire. This track is currently available for FREE download.




Continuing this introspective mood is MoweLan and his delightful new piece of atmospheric synth music 'The Last Hour'. The narrative is luxuriously crafted with a spareness to the synthscape that allows each instrument to extract rich emotional depth. This track is only available for FREE download for the next two weeks so rock it while it's hot.




Robert Parker just keeps on rockin and upping the ante with every new piece he shares and on his latest track, 'Eight Hour Drive' we're taken into new territory as Robert brings vocals into the synthscape. The aesthetic is haunting and adds much to the intimate ambience of Robert Parker's usually instrumental tracks. I hope he continues this theme as his songwriting is some of the scene's finest and to branch into vocally oriented experiences is definitely and exciting progression.




Hugo Rancho is back and rockin the 80s seaside dreams with his smooth as silk shore break anthem 'Echo Beach'. The structure sound and feel very liquid in their natures, ebbing and flowing with grace and power while allowing fragile melodic nuances to ripple elegantly on the surface. Utterly entrancing.




One my most favourite rockers in the scene is back with another gem of solid 80s gold. Chaconne's style of 80s synth always has an edge of classy refinement to it, I'm not sure if this is due to his perfectly tuned instrumentations or the highly refined structures, or more than likely it's the combination of the two. Every Chaconne experience thus far is k-rad to the max and 'Beach Scene' continues this trend. This is track is available at a name-your-own-price point on his Bandcamp page here.




Moving from the beach to the strip mall we next have SuperVox's sexy new Italo excursion 'Video Shop'. The light and breezy nature of the melodies keep spirits high and colourful while the bassline bounces with an energising zest. SuperVox has rocked us yet again with this track and he's also made it available for FREE download.




Kruiser shared a very engaging track this week called 'Before Midnight' and it really captured my attention. The slow, deliberate pace ushers in all manner of unsettling yet uplifting passages. Instruments are used like weapons but still summon comforting and enlightening sections where the danger seems a million miles away. This is a highly entertaining construct that displays Kruiser has much songwriting talent.




On the subject of great songwriting talent we have the totally rockin new track from Compilerbau up next. This producer's really kicked into high gear of late with hot new tracks surfacing with alarming regularity. With 'Dead Planet' Compilerbau takes the darkness of alien worlds to new dimensions of terror as melodies tear and rip through the void with echoing presence. The atmosphere is dense and unrelenting with percussive details creating thunderclaps in the lightning storm engulfs the alien sky. You can pick up a copy of 'Dead Planet' via Compilerbau's Bandcamp page here.




Taking a somewhat experimental path this time around we find RF Extreme marching a road less travelled in his new track 'Go The Distance Reach The Top'. The energy in this track is fierce and incredibly vital with the music feeling completely alive. The narrative moves into calmer climes that echo deep into the synthscape before the final push for a glorious end sequence.




Foreign Blade has a highly entertaining dalliance with the world of high fashion in his new track 'The Photo Shoot'. The pace is frenetic and full of dynamism as flashes fire and beauty is capture, frame by sumptuous frame. Guitars shred and synths add smooth pastel colours to the vibrant synthscape. 'The Photo Shoot' is currently available for FREE download.




Our video feature for this week's Weekend Update comes from James Mann and his video for Modular 1981's track 'Solaris'. Using vision from the highly underrated 80s sci-fi western, Outland, this  provides the perfect accompaniment to the cosmic synth energies of 'Solaris'.

That does it for another Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM, I hope you've found some great new music to make your weekend rock those 80s colours just a little bit more.

I'll be back during the week with more exciting music from the 80s inspired synth scene, 'til then stay 80s and keep on rockin.

Welcome To 2014 On Synthetix.FM With The First Weekend Update For The Year!

After a relaxing break over the holiday period Synthetix.FM is now BACK and ready to rock you all year long with the hottest music from the 80s inspired synth scene!

Firstly, I'd like to introduce to hot new Synthetix.FM experience in the official Synthetix.FM Plug.DJ room. This is a 24/7 party anyone can join and is hosted by the scene's hottest talent as Resident DJ's. It's up and running all the time and you never know who's going to drop some rockin tunes and even preview exclusive new tracks, as we've witnessed with yet unreleased tracks from Perturbator and Phaserland this past week. This new extension of the Synthetix.FM experience allows an avenue for us all to share new and classic favourites in rockin online party atmosphere. We're already talking about running some special exclusive events in the near future too. Your hosts in the room are Magnum Crockett and Marko McLovin and their team of bouncers. Many thanks to Magnum Crockett for making this a reality and for his constant support of the scene. I hope all Synthetix.FM regulars use the room for lots of good times and great rock'n'roll and I'll hopefully see you in there too!

I'd also like to welcome Drive Radio as a new Synthetix.FM partner. This team of rockers are devoted to the scene are doing a wonderful job of spreading the love for 80s inspired synth sounds through Europe. Here's to rockin' with much radness through 2014, Drive Radio!

The first compilations are already hitting for 2014 too, the first one I'd like to cover being the debut compilation from Pink Neon Records entitled auspiciously titled The Compilation. This is a spectacularly star studded affair with the likes of Batch Sound, Vincenzo Salvia, Sam Haggblad, Protector 101 and Arc Neon amongst many others providing scintillating synth slices of sonic sumptuousness. The cassette release has already sold out, but be sure to grab a digital copy and support this new label. Pick up The Compilation from Pink Neon Records here, or via the link in the featured compilations on the right hand side of this page.

One last thing I'd like to mention is the Kung Fury Kickstarter that only has a few days left. I'm sure there aren't too many, if any, readers of Synthetix.FM that don't already know about this but it's most definitely one the single most exciting things I've ever seen. Laser Unicorns are working with Rosso Corsa Records for the soundtrack and this is something that'll expose a lot more people to the music we love. The viral nature of the video for Kung Fury has gone a long way to display how on-the-verge of the mainstream this music is so please dig deep and support the Kickstarter here.

On to matters at hand! It would be futile of me to think I can cover all the hot music that has been released over the last month, as well as keeping abreast of new releases so this Weekend Update is a mixture of brand new rockin anthems and some of my favourites that came out over the holiday period. There are a few really kick arse EP and LP releases I'll be reviewing over the next few weeks that came out in this period too.

Just as a bit of a refresher the Weekend Updates on Synthetix.FM are all about sharing my favourite new tracks in the scene, but I always try to give space to new and upcoming producers to expose them to a wider audience. As the scene keeps on growing it becomes impossible for me to cover absolutely everything that comes out so the tracks shared here are what I believe are the 'cream of the crop' based on my own personal feelings. I always prioritise tracks that are now available for download/purchase, and I won't cover tracks that are titled as still being in demo/unfinished states, simply because I don't have the luxury of being able to fit them all in and I'd rather share fully realised ideas than incomplete ones out of respect to the producer and their audience.

This is all based on my personal taste of course, but Synthetix.FM will always want to deal with quality over quantity and as we embark on new and exciting adventures in 2014 who knows where these magical 80s inspired synthscapes will take us!

So let the radness begin, with the first Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM for 2014!!


First up is a the hot new tune from Photosynthesi. His seductive Synth Romance sounds are always so emotive and enriching, he has a true gift for making sparkling synth love poems. 'Saying The Three Words' is full of 80s love and beautiful passages of deeply caressing synth sounds.




Compilerbau is rockin hard with his great new track 'Weird Guy'. This slightly of kilter track is layered with some very interesting passages and the creativeness of the producer is allowed to flourish beautifully. This is currently available for FREE download. Also check out his awesome brand new track 'Tachyon' he's just released.




Time to get dark and epic with the kick arse new Soundtrack Synth release from Matt Creamer. 'Prolonged Anti-Evolution' is about as dystopian as it gets with equal parts of futurism and nihilism painting an atmosphere that details a beautiful story. The sounds verge on the triumphant while building to a contemplative conclusion. This marvellous experience is available for FREE download too.




A new rocker on the scene now as Beat Plastic begins his 80s synth journey with '(There's Something) About Us'. The Beat Plastic synthscape is energetic and vigorous with driving percussion and wonderfully constructed passages. It's refreshing and totally kick arse! Many thanks to Randall Rex for introducing me to Beat Plastic.




Pumping Body was one of my favourite new producers last year and he continues to push the rad levels into the danger zone in 2014 with his stellar new track 'Picture Of The Future'. The story evolves with much excitement and explores some totally electric melodies. Available for FREE download currently too.




More new talent now, this time from France's Sandrine Harrouet and her enticing new track 'FM Radio'. The pace of this experience is what gives it such a resonant presence, I find. It canters along at just the right speed to explore it's details in an unhurried and cool manner.




Keeping things at a decidedly languid pace is the great new experience from Cartridge 1987 with 'Love Lost'. The deeply cutting chords are drawn with much despondency and heartfelt pain as the music takes us into sensitive passages of cold emptiness before being set afire with explosive energies during the final sequences. Incredibly beautiful, arranged to absolute perfection and available for FREE download through the player.




Riddlis is a producer whom I believe is still experimenting in finding his own sound and with his new track I think he's taken great strides in achieving this. 'The Lost Days' has an air of dramatic Italo about it but also explores more cinematic territory in it's journey. The end result is uplifting and joyous and totally rockin.




Cluster Buster is rockin 2014 with his fantastic ode to the exploitation classic Maniac. Surprisingly, however, this is not a dark synth dirge but is instead a thoughtful exploration of the humanity behind the monstrosity. Cluster Buster has also just shared his own vision of the classic Airwolf Theme, which is available for FREE download for a limited time.




Lurking in the shadows, awaiting their next victim we find Miami Beach Force. Taking a break from their day time beach lifestyle to indulge in some nocturnal insanity with 'Night Stalker'. The mood is definitely full of danger and caution while the soundscape is a delectable mix of 80s sounds with 70s progressions, creating a Goblin/Tangerine Dream-esque ambiance that works exceedingly well. Miami Beach Force just opened their Facebook page too, so get liking them here.




Android Automatic's ear for classic 80s melodies arranged in a modern manner has really been exemplified in his new track 'Future Eyes'. The structures are built in a wonderfully exciting way and the 80s love weaved through out the melodic structure is thoroughly intoxicating.




Redefining intensity in 80s inspired synth is the amazing new track from Twilight Racing: 'The Kawasaki Ninja'. This ode the superpowered street machine is cranking into the red zone from beginning to end. Hold your breath, wrench the accelerator and take off into oblivion!




One of the few producers in the scene really writing with guitars as the driving force behind the music's structure is Jon Of The Shred. His metal background has now ushered in an 80s inspired synth journey that he's taken to with much passion. 'Infiltration' has a Soundtrack Synth styled arrangement that rocks hard into the future with symphonic guitars and spatial synths. This is currently available for FREE download but also check out his kick arse other new track 'Premonitions' for more intense action.




RF Extreme was most certainly one of my favourite producers of deeply emotional synthscapes in 2013. His journey throughout the year was one of the most inspiring as each new track explored his passions further. In his new piece we get to experience this even deeper as melodic tendrils of light ebb and flow in an esoteric orchestration of glorious majesty. In other RF Extreme news, you can now purchase his first EP consisting of Synthetix.FM favourites 'Eyes Of Blue' and 'Never Ending Desire' courtesy of Wave Runner Records here.




More new talent, this time from London's OFFIC3R with his latest track 'Pursuit'. The drum programming in this jam is totally kick arse as the fills fly like a hail of bullets above the darkly constructed synth melodies. This kind of track is just begging to have an accompanying video, I think.




Manolis appeared to me towards the end of 2013 but certainly made a lasting impression and his offerings in 2014 are already kickin hard. His latest track 'Wave' is incredibly strong it's arrangements and develops an epic narrative that is absolutely stunning. Be sure to check his 'After The Sunset' piece that came out recently too, which is available for FREE download currently.




Transcend is another new producers on the scene, this time out of Norway. His synthscapes really piqued my interest with the modern and dramatic percussion being contrasted by ethereal 80s melodies. Definitely constructed with a contemporary flow, there is an 80s soul within that glows bright and warm.




Amazing Police continues to blur decades, sounds and emotions in his own inimitable way with his incredible new experience 'Speed In Reverse'. The entire piece is completely enthralling and full of excitement and ascends to all new levels on enlightenment through it's multidimensional synthscapes.




Hugo Rancho is rockin one of the catchiest melodies I've heard in recent times in his track 'High Noon'.  The piece is engineered to maximise to excitement of the lead melody and does so with aplomb. The build up towards the back end before the final passages just magnify it even further. Be sure to grab a copy of this while it's available for FREE download.




It's a pleasure to usher in the new year with a hot new track from Evanton in this first Weekend Update for 2014. The Italo vibes of Evanton are always seriously hypnotising with their trademark pumping basslines and sharp melodies. There's always distinct machismo to Evanton's modern take on Italo and 'Moderno Sintetico' certainly delivers that. Currently available for FREE download in celebration of them achieving 25k plays on soundcloud. Keep on rockin, Evanton!




And speaking of hypnotising, the final piece for this first Weekend Update for 2014 is a totally rockin new video from Orax for his great track 'Dreaming'. This is a really well conceived video that takes the music to all new levels of enjoyment and excitement. If you've not picked it up already, please grab your own copy of Orax's Dreaming EP on Future City Records here.




That does us for the first Weekend Update for 2014 on Synthetix.FM, it's good to be back and rockin hard and I look forward to sharing lots more kick arse music from the 80s inspired synth scene throughout the year ahead.

I look forward to seeing you during the week for more rad synth action, 'til then stay 80s and keep on rockin.