AIRBORNE

Plaisance - Leaving Room

By Rick Shithouse




Plaisance has returned with another EP, this one is titled Leaving Room, which finds the producer in a more mellow and contemplative mood, dedicating this release to the loss of a close friend. The Plaisance style has always been an intense experience, be they the high speed adventure of Havasu, the sweltering sensual explosion of Thunder In Paradise or his earlier coastal themed work. The bright and sparkling Plaisance aesthetic is foregone in this release for moodier tones and and muted synthscapes. A more mechanical feel manifests in the tracks through grayer shades. Even that unbridled quintessence of the Plaisance saxophone is given a more solemn tone.

This is a very welcome change of pace and pallet from this producer as it channels new emotional inspirations that whilst being less intense in presence and colour are no less rich in personal investment. The tracks become more and more deliberately melancholy as each track goes deeper into the Leaving Room aesthetic. 'June 79' plays out like a fondly remembered memory that now takes on a saddened reflection, 'Questions' has a feeling of hopelessness in the situation while 'Empty Spaces' delivers exactly that; quiet passages of thoughtful recollections.

It's a very intriguing side of Plaisance that exposes a deeper and soulful side to his sounds. As a devoted fan of Plaisance's work I found this very rewarding to listen to and encourage you to check this out as an interesting diversion from the usual avenues explored in 80s inspired synth music. There's much reward to be experienced amid the three suites. Pick up a copy of Leaving Room on Plaisance's Bandcamp page here.




Syntax - Sunrise

By Jason Taylor




James Mann could be described as a enigma, but there in lies the appeal in not knowing too much about the man behind Syntax. His debut 'Sunrise' falls easily under the standard genres of ambient and chill electronica, but it's so much more than that. You wont find pop structures or harmonic key changes here, instead it's a wonderful journey through floating sonic territories. Filled with lots of tumbling, driving textures and waves upon waves of lovely wavetable synthesis, 'Sunrise' reminds me heavily of a fantastic scene in Life of Pi where stranded out in open water at night, Pi is surrounded by a myriad of glowing Phytoplankton.

If there ever was a ideal way to listen to James work, it would be floating in the open water gazing up into the universe. The highlight track for me would have to be 'Cygnus' with it's overlays of sample and hold oscillations, dark trance percolated melodies and support from delicate cushioned beats. However this release is specifically designed to be enjoyed as a complete piece, you can tell the placement of each track has a purpose to allow cohesion, and more importantly enjoy the odyssey from beginning to end. 'Sunrise' is highly recommended from Synthetix.FM and you can pick up a copy via the Syntax bandcamp page for free here.




Kalax - Kalaxy

By Matthew Neophytou

Taking us on a pre-flight instruction process, before releasing Guardian later this year, the otherworldly synthwave rider Kalax drops Kalaxy, the appetizer of stellar proportions.

We begin with what could be taken off an 80’s Spielberg Soundtrack, 'Intro' with enough strings that will transform you into a kid daydreaming of adventures of things to come. Speaking of adventures 'Journey' (remastered) is just that, dream wave at it’s best, the musical arrangement of shimmering synths and cosmic beats blast you into the void of wonder and awe.

'Year Ends' has orchestral melodies and cascading waves pull towards an almost cerebral event horizon, in like a low key 2001 Space Odyssey way, not the 1997 film Event Horizon route (eek no!). 'Nebula' adds more energy to the warp drive fueling with more active beats and a sharper symphony. At the crest of the EP comes 'Acceleration' and boy doesn’t it just shout, “It’s not over, not by a long shot”.

Wave Runner Records presents Kalax's Kalaxy but it is but just a taste of what’s to come from the UK based producer, which deserves a very high recommendation from Synthetix.FM. Available for download here and also up for grabs is the limited edition Kalax t-shirts here, the uniform for the ride ahead. Keep this frequency clear for future transmissions!  




YXO - MIRAGE ● しんきろう

By Rick Shithouse



Presenting itself almost as if it was a vaporwave release from the artwork and EP title, YXO's MIRAGE ● しんきろう was quite the surprise upon listening to it. The minimalist synthscape YXO creates is something cool and clear while his ability to summon clean and crisp 80s flavours from the melodies makes for a delightfully refreshing experience.

The four tracks get better and better the deeper you get into the EP, slowly painting pictures in hazy lines the pictures get more lucid and develop lovingly crafted details the more you listen. Without the trappings of much 80s inspired synth standards the melodies are able to rise delicately and float in wistfully imaginative ways and the narratives are sweet and bright.

My two favourite tracks are definitely CONTINENT ● 大陸 and WAVE ● 波, with their glass smoothness cut to a sparkling edge that is wholly relaxing and entrancing. It is beautiful music that one definitely needs to be in a chill mood for to get the full benefit, but it certainly takes the listener away on cool breezes of wonderful synth magic. Pick up a copy of this great little EP on YXO's Bandcamp page here.

Synthetix Weekend Update

In the short space of a year it has been wonderful to see the huge increase in physical releases in the 80s inspired synth scene. I once thought it was a fantasy to be able to own my favourite releases on cassette or vinyl (I'm not a CD collector) and in 2014 it has become a far more regular occurrence. As a fan nothing beats 'owning' a part of an artist you follow, the music industry in general is in danger of removing this vital link between the artist and their audience with digital downloads and streaming services, becoming something an entire generation will just take as a convenience.

Music shouldn't be convenient. It shouldn't be something we become flippant about and just assume will always be there for us. We as fans need to make investments in those making the music, this entirely the reason why Synthetix.FM came about, to get that connection between the music makers and their potential audience. Being able to have a connection with a an album via a physical representation of that work is a tactile and emotional experience that is hugely special and is something that makes the music a much more permanent part of what the music means to us.

The two business models that I see working very well currently are the pre-order and then the re-issue. The upcoming Perturbator release through Telefuture Records is a superb opportunity to really hype up this auspicious release. Perturbator has a larger following than many in the scene and the excitement associated with owning a prestige format physical release with all the extras is very enticing. You can preorder a copy here, which I highly encourage.

The other method, which I see as a very attractive model for minimal initial outlay is what Highway Superstar has just done. If you head on over to his Bandcamp page here you'll find a whole bunch of rockin merchandise and physical copies of his magnificent  Take My Time album from last year. The genius of this kind of model is releasing the physical version six months after the digital release is a far less risky decision based on how the record has sold as well as bringing those special albums back into the audience's psyche.

When was the last time you listened to Take My Time? A month? Two months? More? But the fond memories for this kick arse record are now part of your musical memories and the chance to now own it  in a physical format and revisit those golden moments is something I find massively attractive. I'm quite happy as a fan to buy an album digitally, fall in love with it, and then fall in love with it all over again with a version I can enjoy a whole other level. The 80s inspired synth scene's music has the wonderful quality of being timeless, meaning a reissue of an album from even five years ago would be something I'd certainly be willing to pay for. Who wouldn't want to own Mitch Murder's Current Events on vinyl? Or Tommy's Outer Space Adventurer in a premium format? This model serves as the perfect opportunity to bring that magic back where it belongs.

I'd like to personally congratulate all the rockin labels out there who are now releasing physical versions of the talent they have on board. To Werkstatt Recordings, Girlfriend Records, Playmaker, Future 80s Records and all the other labels and independent producers out there making my musical fantasies come true; I salute you, and hope that physical releases are a mainstay of the 80s inspired synth scene. Be sure to check out the links to these labels and more in the links section on the right hand side of this page and have a browse around, you never know what you'll find and what you might have missed. Also, get rockin on the Facebook group Synthwave Cassette Club here for more hot info and news.

And remember: if you don't buy them; they WILL go away.

Time to get rockin with some music that'll be sure to get you feeling the G's as we pull out of a nose dive into a spectacular barrel roll with this week's AIRBORNE feature releases!

WARD-IZ - The Chase EP Australia's WARD-IZ has a killer new two track EP up for your delectation that is a one-two punch of knock-OutRun rockin. The fast pace and climbing melodies are arranged in a fashion to maximise excitement with rubber burning and synths ablaze in a 80s four wheeled firestorm! Definitely a kick arse debut for WARD-IZ, proudly presented by Wave Runner Records who will be hosting his debut full length album sometime in 2014.


Jupiter 8 - Vigilante 2 It has been hard to keep up with all the Jupiter 8 releases as this rocker just keeps cranking out EPs on an almost weekly basis. I haven't felt the magic in much of his recent work but his Vigilante 2 EP is something rockin. The synthscape is sparking with electricity and the tracks are much more thought out and arranged with emphasis placed on the melodies rather than just the sounds. Stand out tracks like 'Fighting Back' and 'Ghetto Blaster' display Jupiter 8's stronger points, which I hope he delves into further in the future.


jAke - Cracks  A new three track release from jAke caught my attention this week. The Cracks EP is a great little excursion into some fantastic 80s moods and sounds with the title track being totally rad to the max. This song has a very impressive vocal that has a quality akin the Robert Plant's Principle Of Moments work, which is totally killer. The pop sensibilities of jAke are most prominent in 'Cracks' but the 80s magic glows with different colours in the also kick arse '(Who Stole My) Pony (?)' that has its tongue firmly planted in cheek with high energy 80s vibes rockin hard.

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Let's kick things off with a hot new track from KALAX, a summer anthem for the burgeoning season aptly titled 'A Summer's Dream'. This piece has a really great energy in the bassline that the romantic sax parts play off of beautifully. It's a great mix of sounds that make for total 80s magic.




The off kilter timing in the new track from Android Automatic provides for an engaging and consuming experience. The atmosphere in 2024 gives off a night-stalker feel, being unbalanced and ever so slightly out of control. The dark of the night is a brooding shadow, hiding the pain of the tortured soul.




Rockin darker vibes this week also is Waveshaper with his 'Breakdown (Instrumental)' track that seethes and pulses with enigmatic sounds that echo danger and powerful melodies. The choked-out synthscape struggles against overpowering odds and each dramatic passage takes you further into the haunting melancholy.




Alter Sun has a superb new track out this week in 'Purple Clouds' which is a poignantly written excursion into 80s melodies. There are some darker elements at play but the tone is much more introspective and a bright positivity rings through the wonderfully explored melodies.




The glisteningly sweet synth romance sounds of Robert Parker will be sure to get you feeling that 80s love. 'Seventeen' is yearning and crushed out with uplifting melodies and bright nuances, full of wide eyed adoration and teenage passion. Definitely this week's home room anthem in Shermer. Be sure to pick up a copy of this great track for FREE via the download link in the player.




The first victim of my forced move from 'classic' soundcloud to the 'new' soundcloud was unfortunately Arc Neon's 'Body Talk' that came out a couple of weeks back, I do apologise for not covering this totally killer track last week, I hope I can get accustomed to the 'new' soundcloud so this doesn't happen often. That said, this track rocks hard and 'Body Talk' is currently available for FREE download via the player.




Droid Bishop keeps on creating superb synthscapes of verdant 80s lushness and with 'Momentary Love' he's captured a magnificent range of sounds that are both funky and atmospheric with emotionally charged melodies driving the experience. This track is available on the Stratford CT. Compilation available here.




Flexing his synth muscles and powering into oblivion is Grooveworthy with his powerhouse new slice of action packed drama titled 'God-Powered Android'. The build on this is totally kick arse as each chapter layers in new combustible elements that are then exploded with aural vibrations and dimensional energies in the final act. A great return to 80s sounds for Grooveworthy and this piece is also currently available for FREE download.




The late 2000s crossover with nu-disco and 80s sounds produced some fantastic moments in musical experiences and one of my favourite acts of that time are back with a hot new EP. 7he Myriads mix some modern ideas within arrangements that are both contemporary and retro oriented but always with a classy vintage vibe and in 'Out Of The Maze' they achieve this splendidly well. Here's to the triumphant return of 7he Myriads and their Labyrinth Of The Minotaur EP.




Speaking of mixing modern and vintage ideas, here comes Myrone with his kick arse guitars of distinction rockin down the highway in 'Virtual Island Paradise'. I've stated numerous times that Myrone is one of my favourite new talents of 2014 thus far and this track just reinforces that. The arrangements are incredibly rich and even with that oddly chosen rap passage, the 80s energies in this track just soar into wondrous new dimensions of the raddest kind. Rock it for FREE download while you can!




Whilst on the subject of exciting new talent someone whom I just discovered who totally rocked my world is Sebastian Gampl. This producer's innate understanding of 80s melodies and progressions is totally on point and his striving for authenticity is something very special indeed. His latest track 'Under Control' is a totally kick arse example of this but also check out his amazing 'Have You Heard' track, which is also available for purchase on Bandcamp here.




Heading out into bright lights and disco nights is the hot new rocker from Garth Knight 'Knight Of The Disco'. The powerful bassline and high energy drums create a thumping disco vibe that the spacey synth melodies just cruise along beautifully. Rock the disco vibes all night long by adding this to your Garth Knight collection via the purchase link in the player.



Pure Secks has been producing some really interesting sounds over the last few months.  Whilst I've really enjoyed the lion's share of them a lot weren't particularly 80s enough to cover on Synthetix.FM. With his latest work that is definitely not the case as 'Business Or Pleasure' really nails the 80s mood and creates a sparse, dreamy synth atmosphere. This piece is currently available for FREE download also.




I must say, since LA Dreams has been working on other projects this past couple of months that I've really missed his regular album releases. But alas, all is not lost! He's still rockin hard and has released a great new track this week titled 'Open Air'. And the open air feels as good and fresh as LA Dreams' magical 80s synth music.




When it comes to rockin collaborative work there are few as prolific as STARFORCE and the latest piece in this ongoing series is a super hot new track with Action Jackson. My favourite part about 'Time Shock' is that it accurately captures the strong suits of both producers and mixes their styles into the perfect blend of Action Jackson's other worldly melodies and STARFORCES epic progressions. Totally kick arse, and available for FREE download via the player.




Our feature video for this week's Weekend Update is from none other than RF Extreme and a video he has created to accompany his beautiful new work 'Past Deflection'. The racing video is the  perfect accompaniment the RF Extreme trademark melodies that are both graceful and highly charged. It is an entrancing mix of audio visual entertainment the justly captures the RF Extreme magic.




That does us for another big Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM, I hope your weekend rocks that little bit harder with these kick arse 80s tunes providing the soundtrack.

I'll be back during the week with Kasia for more rockin tunes from the 80s inspired synth scene.

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

Synthetix Weekend Update

I'm back with another big Weekend Update to make your 80s neon glow that little bit brighter.

The first order of business on the agenda is the fantastic new compilation release from Retro Promenade, AKA Who Ha and his marvellous new multimedia edition of Class Action Volume 2. This not only has a spectacular range of the scene's most rockin producers but also the second issue of the Retro Promenade magazine. The magazine itself is full of kick arse interviews and reviews as well as panel discussion on 'The State of Synthwave' in which I was lucky enough to partake in. This comes as a FREE .pdf when you pick up the compilation or can be purchased as a physical edition too.

Your entertainment value with this package (that also has the compilation available on cassette!) is astronomical, so get on it and rock it hard.  Many kudos to Mike Who Ha for making this project happen. You can pick up a copy of the compilation/magazine/artwork/cassette in all manner of combinations via Retro Promenade's Bandcamp page here.

Let's put our seats into the take off position, buckle the seat belts tight and prepare to hurtle into the wide blue yonder with this week's Airborne releases!

Kalax - Outlands - Kalax's second EP finds the producer expanding on the soundscape created in his first EP, Journey, and constructing a wonderfully involving conceptual soundtrack theme. Outlands is a cautionary tale set in a dark future consisting of fast action-oriented cuts and also mellower pieces that allow for Kalax's melody's to soar beautifully. The structures are built solidly and make for expansive synthscapes and deliver a cohesive narrative, complete with vocals on two of the tracks performed by Dana Jean Phoenix and electrifying duet with Blokkmonsta that transcends genres, languages and decades.


Waveshaper - Sounds That Kill - Another concept EP, this time from Waveshaper and his super rockin new creation Sounds That Kill. In all honesty, one of the lines from the EP's description sums this up perfectly: "This is a story of a man whose only weapons are his synthesizers and a woman who fights by his side". The tracks are all beautifully written and create massive amounts of atmosphere and even contains a superb collaborative piece with Robert Parker. Waveshaper just keeps on continuing to impress and this EP sure does exactly that.


LA Dreams - Light Speed  - LA Dreams keeps on rockin like the 80s synth juggernaut we know and love in his new album Light Speed. Easily one of his most accomplished records yet, there is a marked improvement in his arrangements and his breadth of instrumentations. Each track is absolutely glowing with pure 80s love and is a genuine delight to experience. This will be LA Dreams last album for a while as he stated he is spending some time working on collaborations in the near future. I'm hugely looking forward to what this will entail, and will be sure to share these works on Synthetix.FM when they happen.

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Phaserland's rockin some smoothly cool synth pop sounds with Nikki on his great new song 'Hot Stunner'. This is one of the great tracks on the new compilation from Wave Runner Records called Running All Night. This features a tonne of Synthetix.FM favourites and some rockin new pieces like this great track. You can pick up your copy of 'Hot Stunner' with a plethora of other synthwave gems on the Running All Night compilation available on Bandcamp here fore FREE.

A different kind of smooth next with the massively atmospheric soundtrack piece 'Border Control' by DATAstream. The depth of narrative in this track is absolutely immense and really creates a totally immersive synthscape. Many thanks to respected synthficionado Alexandre Lemoing for enlightening me to this producer.




Flash Arnold's riding atmospheric waves of soundtrack synth beauty too of late and with his hot new rocker 'Deserted Streets'. The build is huge and packed with excitement as synths from the bowels of the earth open up with caustic vigour and unquestionable power. This is currently available for FREE via the download button in the player.




An new EP is coming soon from Killstarr and 'Summer Drive' has been released as the promotional track for it. This sweetly orchestrated experience of soft pink Synth Romance is beautifully gentle with emotive progressions and sumptuous melodies. 'Summer Drive' is available for FREE download via the player too.




Short but sweet, any hot new track from Miami Nights 1984 is going to get your pulse racing and your appetite hungering for more. This snippet was shared recently and is rife with MN84 magic. I'm assuming I'm hoping 'Reflex Training' marks the start of a journey to a new album from this veteran of the scene.




Keeping things 'definitely Miami' is the hot new track from Miami Beach Force: 'Robotic Assassin'. The combination of rockin Italo vibe synth melodies and crushing guitar riffs makes for a very interesting combination of sounds that is rather captivating and almost hypnotic in its power.




Python Blue certainly knows how to rock with his new track 'Welcome To The Club'. Marching drums lead into rifftastic guitars and synths add the final layer of melodic brilliance. Though usually working on the more atmospheric side of soundtrack synth this track is full of raucous energy and beautiful 80s colours. Currently available for FREE download via the link in the player.




I simply can't stress enough how much I love guitars in 80s inspired synth music and with Sayak Striker's new track 'Hot Run' we get even more love for rockin guitars and synths duelling in a rhythmic ballet of high emotional excitement. Totally k-rad to the max.




One of the best names I've come across in the scene in recent times has to be Repomancer and his hot new soundtrack themed piece Midnight Special certainly makes you sit up and pay attention. The opening builds to an epic synth lead that is then taken in very cool new directions throughout the composition's chapters.




Riddlis shared two tracks over the last couple of weeks I really enjoyed but 'Clouds' is definitely something  special. The melodies in this remind me of classic early 80s synth experiences. The intentional distortion in the piece does take me, personally, out the experience a tad but the strength of the lead melody carries the magic on beautifully. You can also pick this up currently for FREE via the download button in the player. Also check out Riddlis' rockin 'Children' track which came out recently too here, and is also up for FREE download.




One of my favourite tracks of the last week is definitely Kid Quasar's 'Disco Radio Action'. The energy is absolutely kick arse and I love his modern take on the Electro Breakin' styles with  some very imaginative arrangements and superb sample work. Get on this ASAP as it's currently available for FREE download.




The new track from Batch Sound is another gem I just can't get enough of this week. 'The Cheesy Alternative' is another grand jam packed with hot synths and on point 80s percussive details. This is available as a single release on Bandcamp here with an edited version and also a piece they did for Beyond Synth. Totally rockin.




Dialling things back to a more contemplative ambience is the delightful new track from Pulse 80 entitled 'V I C E'. The atmosphere on this gets bigger and bigger as huge synth leads rise and fall with machine gun hip hop percussion igniting the combustible elements into a searing synth fireball. Currently available for FREE download also.




Trevor Something's moody and suave synth pop experiences keep evolving and achieving glorious new heights with each track. In 'SEGA Genesis' the airy synth melodies and haunting vocals are moulded into alluring new shapes and forms, using one of gaming's greatest consoles as the inspiration.




Pure Secks have been on my radar for a couple of months now and their odd mix of sounds and styles is something I've found very engaging. In 'Science Friction' the Pure Secks sound becomes are tad more crystallised as the sample laden synthscape gets tied together in a totally rockin piece of classic 80s eclecticism. Available currently for FREE download via the player also.




The final piece I'd like to share with you for this week's Weekend Update is something I found both totally rockin and very special. My love affair with Sternrekorder's wonderful music has been well documented on Synthetix.FM over the last couple of years but I have no real idea about him as a composer or producer outside of experiencing his music directly. Although I knew Sternrekorder has been a part of the scene since the early days in the late 2000's I had no idea how far back his music went. I've now found out a little bit more about his history courtesy a new track this week that is an unreleased track from 2002. This piece veritably comes alive with delightful 80s colours and it brings me much joy to discover Sternrekorder's definitely one of the modern synth artists that will be around for the duration.



That does it for another Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM. I'll be back during the week with more hot rockin tunes from the 80s inspired synth scene. 'Til then stay 80s and keep on rockin.