Beyond The Reservation: Makeup And Vanity Set’s Wilderness

By Robin Ogden

A double album is a rare, beautiful thing. Makeup And Vanity Set’s latest release just happens to be one, and I can’t think of a much better use of the format. Wilderness is the 10th full length offering from the artist, a very dense distillation of the musical ideas and narrative techniques explored in previous Makeup And Vanity Set albums and EPs, and the proper follow up to 2012’s full length 88:88. The double album also marks another venture with long term Makeup And Vanity Set collaborator, film director Joey Ciccoline, whose short film Eidolon is digitally bundled with the release.

I think for the purpose of this review it would be pointless, and most likely a disservice, to engage with Wilderness on a track by track basis, given the wealth of music on offer and its lesser seen double album status. There are however big thematic ideas running their course, and attuned innovative threads of nostalgia that hold the whole release together in so many ways. The album’s accompanying blurb cites the works of cyberpunk forefathers William Gibson and Stainsaw Lem as precursory, and places itself firmly in their locus. Science fiction is the order of the day, or perhaps rather the future.



Wilderness is an album concerned with life, technology and evolution. What’s especially wonderful is the number of collaborators appearing throughout the album, and how it feeds into this overall concept. I imagine, and would like to think, that most of these collaborations were facilitated and realised through the wonders of technology, and have always believed that collaborative efforts can chart marked evolution in the life of artists. The addition of four lead vocal tracks do not detract from its soundtrack mode, rather they elevate it to something much more. ‘Senses, Dynamics’ features the ethereal vocals of Big Black Delta, that soar over the thunderous live drums of Christian Williamson. The entire performance is completely complementary to Makeup And Vanity Set’s intricate synth work. It’s brilliantly organic. Similarly, ‘Remember’, featuring Raul Panther and Gambler Kirkdouglas of the Protomen, is an absolute triumph, with a pounding bassline and tight gated drums. If there’s an anthem in the Wilderness this is surely it: stunning and driven. For me though, the real vocal gem is Jasmin Kaset’s haunting and beautiful performance in ‘Hand In Hand’, which is perfectly placed amidst the reverb drenched arpeggio sequences.

Wilderness is punctuated by filmic narrative monologues that help tell its story from start to finish, and perpetuate its dark sci-fi mood. This is something Makeup And Vanity Set has used to great effect in previous releases, notably 88:88. Constructing the right atmosphere is aided by the use of non-synthetic sounds. Ideas from musique concréte and recurring aleatoric found sounds really aid in building the release’s overall ambiance, and balance the overall palette of sound. ‘Modification’ is a fantastic meeting point of electronic music and found sound elements, and the more experimental ‘Monomorph’, with pulsating bassline and whirring mechanisations, is a perfect example true synthesis, in every sense.

Though concerned with futurism, Wilderness equally seems to be looking backwards, an extended reminiscence and meditation on the past. This goes beyond lyrical and narrative content, especially with the track ‘Turing/Sequence’. Those familiar with Makeup And Vanity Set’s previous work will recognise the reprisal of the theme from the similarly named ‘Turing/Gone Dark’ from 2013’s EP 7.25.2148. This is so much more than a throwback indulgence: it’s a self acknowledgement of the album’s history, legacy and the artist’s evolution, and shares this with both long time listeners and invites newcomers to explore Makeup And Vanity Set’s discography. This really is what I meant by the album being a distillation. In a lot of ways Wilderness is a meta-album, an intense retrospective moving forward, and another progression in the artist’s metamorphosis.

There’s a measured dualism to every Makeup And Vanity Set release. Wilderness is both inimitably arty, bleak, dystopian, cinematographic, and simultaneously progressive, with popular sensibilities and big vocal hooks, a melting and meeting point for found sounds, live performance and synthesisers. It almost shouldn’t work on paper, but this release is beautifully realised, cohesive and wonderfully atmospheric, and, like most of Makeup And Vanity Set’s music, very much an audio visual experience. Makeup And Vanity Set has achieved what many set out to do and fail to realise. This is an extremely ambitious double album, and sets an exceptionally high standard for soundtrack synth music. Wilderness comes very, very highly recommended from Synthetix.FM and is available via the Telefuture bandcamp page here, as both limited edition double vinyl LP and digital download.

Flashback Friday

Savage Streets (1984)

Happy Friday Retroholics, it’s time to dig up another forgotten 80’s film. This week I’ve chosen a revenge flick starring a stunning, tough as nails Linda Blair and features a totally rockin’ soundtrack.

1984’s Savage Streets was written and directed by Danny Steinmann and stars Linda Blair as Brenda, a high school student enjoying a night on the town with her deaf sister Heather, and her girlfriends. After a gang named The Scar’s nearly hits Heather with their car, Brenda and her friends decide to teach them a lesson by stealing and trashing their car a few hours later. Looking to get Brenda and her friends back, The Scar’s gang-rape and brutally beat Brenda’s sister Heather while Brenda is engaged in a shower room fight with a jealous cheerleader. With only days until her best friend Francine’s wedding, Brenda and the girls celebrate at a local bar. The Scar’s show up and force themselves on Francine which causes a bar room brawl, where Francine cuts the face of Jake, the gang leader. Now looking for revenge Jake, the leader of The Scar’s, chases down Francine and throws her off a bridge. When one of the gang members shows up at Heather’s hospital room to confess he was sorry for what he did, Brenda confronts him. He tells her Jake killed Francine. Now fueled by vengeance, Brenda arms herself with a crossbow and sets out to deliver justice for her sister and Francine.

The score is full of suspenseful synths composed by John D’Andrea, and the soundtrack features some awesomely enjoyable tracks performed by John Farnham. An amazing synthwave album to accommodate this film would be Makeup and Vanity Set’s Charles Park Trilogy, which sets the tone for unstoppable vengeance. Certainly an album you don’t want to pass up. So if you’re looking for revenge on that long work week then kick back, grab your crossbow and enjoy some ass kicking vigilance! Till next week, take care and have fun rockers!

Magnum Crockett

Synthetix Weekend Update

Halloween Epilogue

It should be no surprise to anyone that I didn't get to cover all the music I wanted to over the Halloween period. To make some slight amends to this I wanted to quickly mention a few releases you'd do well to pick up in the post-Halloween aftermath. It's getting hard to prioritise releases I want to review on Synthetix.FM at certain times, like now, when there's a huge influx. I figure if I can't write in depth about them then the least I can do is link to them from here for your own further investigations.

A release I wanted to cover but never got the chance is the great new concept record from Protector 101. His soundtrack to Black Friday 2: Blood Money (The Uncut Version) is marvellous example of this producer's creativity that gets set ablaze by small sparks and then roar into a spectacular inferno. Beautifully realised soundtrack synth that will capture your imagination.

Taking a trip into darkly experimental areas we find Make Up And Vanity Set's new EP Manifold. The synthscape is dark and twisted and challenging to fully take in in some places but the MAVS synth soul seems to always be there to take the music back into less threatening passages.  Many contrasting emotions are explored and detailed and the bleakness of the opening pieces is given hopeful differentiation towards the EP's end chapters.

More rockin soundtrack oriented synth from Python Blue came out recently. His Cyborg album displays much understanding of descriptive passages and how to detail superbly implemented narrative sequences once again. Drama and anger can reach incredible highs while his introspective pieces add even more weight to the experience. The emotional investment in each track is clearly audible, making for an inspiring journey.

Another release that I couldn't possibly live with myself for not sharing is the new Droid Bishop EP: The Irrelevance Of Space & Time. This five track affair is rocking to the max with a noticeable exploration of his melodies that pumps even more galactic energies into his pieces. The EP displays an evolution in the Droid Bishop sound and a step up in production too. It's a fantastic experience in quality 80s inspired synth sounds with that futuristic space-themed edge that Droid Bishop does so very well.

I also wanted to make sure no one misses out on Vector Hold's full length album that he's released on Bandcamp called Classics. This eighteen track behemoth is a compilation of all of his recent singles, many of which I've been covering on Synthetix.FM throughout the year, but in this huge format it becomes a force of renewed vigour and power. It's a diverse album that covers a tonne of genres, but Vector Hold rocks them all and the album serves as a wonderful document of Vector Hold's musical journeys in 2013.

Right on,  now let's get into the the nitty gritty of this week's Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM!


Bobby Outro's new track 'Smash Groove' is exactly what you'd expect of a track titled Smash Groove. The hook in this piece is totally kick arse and the excitement he extracts from it is purely brilliant. The percussion is full of classic presence while every synth elements is implemented for maximum pleasure.

Injecting dangerously high doses of funk into your weekend is Les Chic Voltage with his new track 'Club Malibu'. Theres a definite avant-gard angle to the synthscape but the music is solidly set in 80s moods. The progression of the track is jazzy and experimental in nature with a whole lot of funk rockin being the priority.




Cobra Copter keeps on matching his high work rate with high quality as this last week has again seen two tracks surface; both delivering rad 80s synth sounds. 'Eternia Knights' is a slow burning epic that builds with a marching reverence that introduces beautifully accented guitars through the adventure. Conversely on 'Murphy, It's You' we're treated to high energy electro breakin' boombox ammunition of a super high calibre.




Incorporating his recent Funk You EP Alpha Boy's just unleashed a new LP entitled For You. The familiar Alpha Boy sounds are taken into some interesting new contexts on For You as his playful Italo inspired melodies are allowed to take broader strides and intimate more varied narratives. Tracks like 'Superstar 911' and 'Flamingo' have instantly become some of my favourite Alpha Boy jams, be sure to check out the full release for the full experience of Alpha Boy's latest creation.



Something new from Riddlis now that I found very enlightening to listen to. 'Stories' is a very engaging track as it's melodies and arrangements are very interestingly put together. The combination of modern and vintage sounds are entrancing, with dancing melodies that layers like soft veils of electric light. It's a wonderfully positive vibe from beginning to end.




New from Bluezz Vylez is a hot rockin track called 'Craters And Lovers'. This piece marks a triumphant return for this producer after an absence of nearly four months and what a triumphant return it is. The quirky nature of this producer's music is evident once again as melodies are driven in exciting directions and the action is exciting through each of the track's passages.




Babylon 86 turned the rock levels up to maximum on his new track 'The Vice'. The Jan Hammer/Miami Vice inspiration is prevalent throughout as the action is densely packed in with guitars and synths trading blows in glorious vivid colours. This is a killer track, and is currently available for FREE download through the link in the player.




Nickee B has been one of my favourite proponents of quality synth funk for more than a year now, and whenever a new experience of his surfaces it's always a red letter day. In 'Can't Get Enough Of Your Love' the Nickee B synth funk machine is running hot classic 80s sounds arranged with an ear for more  modern styles but the story in this piece transcends all space and time, with a stunning final chapter that is completely spellbinding.




JEJE80 HomeProduction (or Spacious Sweep, to his close friends and admirers) just release a great new track called 'Defence Of The Ancients'. The drama is very apparent in the lead melodies and horrific samples that lace the atmosphere, while a driving bassline gives the experience a vital impetus.




In one of the dream team ups of 2013 we find Patrick Baker and Televisor joining neon forces to create a romping synth pop gem in 'Can't Get Enough'. The pure pop brilliance of both of these artists are apparent from the outset and the rockin just doesn't stop. 80s soul and a modern edge give this a magical aura that is unmistakably Televisor, add in Mr Baker's golden tones for bubblegum pop refined and re-engineered for a new age.




NightStop's been busy this week with two great tracks shared. It was a bit hard to choose between the two, but 'Aerobics' offers a majestic Winwood/Rain Sword-esque lead melody I simply couldn't resist. The music is light and energetic and full of 80s love, while his other piece 'Drive-By Stalking' takes his sounds into much darker moods with a penchant for nocturnal violence. Both tracks rock hard in wonderfully different ways.




A new rocker for Synthetix.FM! I'm very pleased to introduce KFDDA to everyone and his gorgeous new piece of melting synth romance 'Flammamor'. The intimate melodies are beautifully crafted with intimacy and longing, the entire piece is one protracted, warm embrace the emits golden allure throughout.




More arse kicking synth from Python Blue! He's just released 'Eclipse' as a FREE download track and it's a hot rockin affair full of pounding drums, electric synths and high tension. Python Blue's gift for arrangements is wonderfully realised in this piece as each element is introduced and evolved with  pin-point precision. Refined to perfection and performed for pure exhilaration.




Timecop1983 is back with new emotional piece entitled 'Childhood Memories'. The synthscape is mellow and sparse with each element phased in and out time and space, adding a hugely nostalgic flavour to the experience. It's haunting and uplifting at the same time and quickly becomes very easy to get lost in. Be sure to check Timecop1983's 'Space Jam' track which he also shared this week, which is also a FREE download.




Our final piece for this week's Weekend Update is a rockin track from another new artist on the scene: Le Roix. Fusing dramatic and powerful percussion with smoothly angelic melodies, 'Goodbye' is a wondrous adventure in synth romance. Many thanks to Sam Haggblad for enlightening me to Le Roix!





One final note before I finish of this Weekend Update, I've received a few emails regarding some music tracks being out of wack with my writing, or pointing to an entirely different song. If you see this occur, please let me know through the contact form with the details of what needs fixing and I'll get onto it. I need to know what needs fixing exactly though. I'm not sure if it's a browser issue or just my ineptitude, so please bear with me and let me know if somethings amiss. I do realise, when looking back through posts, that some tracks are no longer on soundcloud, I can't do much about that and I won't be going back and adjusting them all however, if a producer wishes to remove a track that is their prerogative.

That does us for another Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM, I'll be back during the week with more of the hottest action from the 80s inspired scene. 'Til then, stay 80s and keep on rockin.

Makeup And Vanity Set Present A Glowing Light And A Promise

Makeup And Vanity Set (MAVS) were one of my favourite groups of 2012, their stunningly beautiful soundtrack synth work on the 88:88 album blew my mind when it came out and still does. Now in 2013 what I was very excited about in the promise of a new MAVS release has become a mere waypoint in a journey to much more auspicious destinations.

The newly released 7.25.2148 EP is essentially a prelude to a future dual album release. The tracks contained within are small cogs of a much more vast machine working within a thematic that endeavours to cross space and time itself. Touted by the group themselves as a 'prologue' it makes for a fascinating experience of not so much the now, but of what will be.



Through the five movements of 7.25.2148 we're transported through an abundance ambient synth meditations that are layered to perfection with the total balance of atmosphere and ambivalence. Opening with An Infinite Horizon the palette is drawn with endless echoes of sounds that reverberate
in on themselves and evolve into something vastly spatial yet close and full of life. This is MAVS doing the style the do so very well, making the epic and grandiose appear effortless and natural.

I always think of the two sides of MAVS as being reasonably unrelated, perhaps this is something they will be dealing with on the future albums, but the for me the more ambient soundtrack work is delightfully contrasted by their cosmic disco compositions. Track 2, Quadra IV, sets off into a crisply stylized space disco, replete with trademark MAVS climbing melodies and drama that builds over aeons of time. Shuddering and ghostlike this track brings to mind a great deal of the memories of 88:88 with a slew of moribund arrangements promising a much darker side than the surface gloss allows one to see through.

Taking things back to astronomical ambience is Versions, which seems describe foreboding planetoids containing powers beyond human comprehension. Their gaseous bodies forming through time unfathomable, yet presenting earth-like qualities that mirror our thoughts and imaginations. This leads into Turing/Gone Dark which seamlessly continues this thought and steals our memories in seconds that then stretch out into decades before us, disappearing in a reprisal of boundless energy. This chapter is closed by spoken words recounting spectacles witnessed yet entirely beyond comprehension.

Praxis finishes off the 7.25.2148 experience with more magical MAVS space disco that expands upon the idea of Quadra IV while adding more inquisitive layers to the puzzle. The final evolution of this track becomes boldly brash with MAVS sounding quite possibly their grooviest yet.

As the sounds fade out, I find myself yearning for more of this experience, and knowing it's going to arrive in due course, whets my appetite even further. It's definitely going to be one hell of ride when the dual albums arrive and until then I'll be happy to revisit the world of MAVS as often as my imagination allows courtesy of this offering.

To complete this release there is a limited edition CD including the above tracks plus the five track Praxis EP with contains Praxis, A Prologue and three remixes of Praxis  by Magic Sword, Pilot Priest and Sabrepulse.  The remixes offer much diversity to the MAVS original and prove rather entertaining as individual parallel universes to Praxis's own dimension.

This limited edition package, and the regular digital download EP of 7.25.2148, can be purchased through Telefuture Records' Bandcamp page here. 7.25.2148 comes very highly recommended from Synthetix.FM as a beautifully orchestrated soundtrack synth experience of a supremely high calibre, which is magically complemented by MAVS own brand on uncompromisingly luxurious space disco brilliance.

Synthetix Weekend Update

Another week in the 80s inspired synth scene has come and gone and there's been some totally rockin new tunes surfacing. Also, on the horizon, a storm is brewing. I can feel a great power in the distance as new release after new release gets announced, all with the end of the month as their window of being unleashed. I foresee a perfect storm of 80s inspired synth music rain down from the heavens soon and Synthetix.FM will be there to make sure you've got some shelter when all else becomes chaos.

For now, lets get rockin with the most arse kicking new tunes in the Synthetix Weekend Update.

First off, we have the triumphant return of Adeyhawke after his absence for six months. This new track, Storm Runner, is a powerful mix of old and new with some high energy glitch work. The rawness of this piece is contrasted by the luscious 80s synths making for a totally rad combination of modern and classic sounds.




Some rockin new talent in the form of Qback came into view this week with his delightful Kimelops track. This smooth piece of dreamy synth love is kept clean and uncomplicated but still builds very nicely. The main synth lead that runs through the back half is totally rockin. Here's hoping to more Qback action in the future. Grab this while it's up for FREE download while you can.




Highway Superstar keeps on bringing out the big guns with every new track and he's really outdone himself on his new experience Boardwalk Sunset. Tropical heat and scintillating synths are the order of the day as bass lines roll with breakers and synths meet the setting sun with the rising moon. Totally magical.




Taking the night to levels of dramatic action is the Laurence McFunk venture: What Do You Do In Chinatown. The sounds are crisp and detailed while arrangements are maximised for danger and excitement. This feels like a soundtrack to some kind of mix of Big Trouble In Little China and Double Dragon, which is definitely a recipe rockin' good times. Download it for FREE while you can!




Out now on Mullet Records is a totally killer new two track EP from Casio Social Club called Little Luv. This is some exceptionally funky 80s synth magic right here with a few little modern touches and classic samples worked in for good measure. Both mixes Little Luv rock super hard with 80s love colouring the soundscape in a rainbow of neon.




Something spectacular from Mootbooxle was released this week with his stunning Main Title from Serrated Blade 2: Slice Of Death. This is some prime grade Ninja Synth with totally rockin guitars and suspenseful arrangements engineered for maximum atmosphere. I absolutely love how this piece evolves and hope it's the first of many using this theme. Download this track fro FREE while can and thanks very much to Kevin Funderburk for the heads up this track.




Garth Knight continues his sweaty and torrid love affair with 80s funk with his latest sordid escapade Lost In The Music. This is positively dripping with aural sexuality and raw animal power. Garth's really  nailing this style of late and each new funk experience adds even more delectable nuances to the music.





Final DJs and Gin Joints have joined forces for the new City Nights EP. The minimix preview released this week is full of wonderful sounds and classic Final DJs' arrangements. As with all Final DJs music there's a nice balance of 80s and modern sounds, but there are definitely some much more 80s sounding pieces on here than others from what this minimix delivers. The EP is due out on the 26th of March, right in the eye of the storm!




The always enthralling Betamaxx released another gem of total rockin 80s gold under the title of Nights Like This. The energy of this song is just so magical, the sounds traverse the spectrum of 80s influences while still keeping the piece on the rails, all be it at full speed around the dangerous curves of mountainous synthscapes. Betamaxx's sounds are really evolving beautifully and this song is definitely up there with the best of his work.




Another composer whom is always upping the ante is Action Jackson. His wonderful track called Start is an absolutely stunning piece of melodic synth love that is full of emotion and delivered with stupendous drama. I love the tones and textures of this piece, it really typifies Action Jackson's melody style and layering.




Lastly for this week's Weekend Update we have promising new preview for the new Make Up And Vanity Set record. Due out on the 28th of March this new record should prove very entertaining. I was a massive fan of their work released last year and although the previews for this new release haven't grabbed me as yet I can't help but feel huge levels of excitement for this new release. The preview video is sure to give everyone Make Up And Vanity Set fever for sure. We haven't got long to wait!



Makeup and Vanity Set "7.25.2148" Teaser from Telefuture on Vimeo.


That does us for another week of good times and great rock'n'roll on Synthetix.FM, I'll be back soon with more hot music from the 80s inspired synth scene imminently.
'Til then, stay 80s and keep on rockin!

Synthetix Year End Synthstravaganza!

2012 has been a great year for 80s inspired synth. Possibly the best year since the 80s. There have been so many incredible new producers arise and mainstays of the scene have perfected their craft even further. It was suggested to me a couple of months back by the always engaging Jordan F to do something different for the Best of 2012. Jordan's suggestion was to do a Top Ten for all the different 80s inspired synth genres.

I loved this suggestion, but thought I might be getting in over my head. Going through all my favourite tunes of 2012 I kept trying to separate tracks into genres. This took a lot of time and patience to work out, for a start I had to settle on genres. This became a bit of an obsession for me as I really wanted to so this right and make it a bit of a platform for how this music groups into set thematics.

One of the things that really vexed me for years in this scene is that there was no real genres that made much sense. The only one that made sense to me was OutRun, which is a hallmark of the Rosso Corsa stable. OutRun has it's own personality, the high energy night driving chase music that is instantly recognisable. But what about Dream Wave? Synth Wave? And the myriad of other variations. It became harder and harder to even relate these styles to the genres, often really just having the 80s as their sound inspiration, but the form this music was taking was constantly changing it's flavours; adding new ones, and bringing in more ingredients.

I'd like to state I'm no musician. I have no musical talent whatsoever. I don't understand how music is written and to me the whole making of music is a magical process beyond my comprehension. I do, however, have great passion for music. The 80s sounds I grew up with are now being revisited and reinvented by modern day magicians who make the past the future and are able to freeze time in individual moments. I don't want to know how music is made, I don't want to see what's behind the curtain and have it explained to me in bunches of numbers and formulas. Keeping music a magical and wondrous experience is what inspires me and gives me great pleasure.

So as I went through the genres I was making up, or adapting and grouping tracks accordingly, it rarely was about the nuts and bolts that make up the tune and more about the feelings it inspired in me. The mood it created and the ambience it exuded. This was all based on emotional response and it took much mulling over and deep contemplation about how to make these genres work. I don't expect these genres to be any kind of blueprint or standard for the scene, that's not my intention at all. This is more about how I as a reviewer and sharer of music can convey an idea or a response to what I personally have felt in the music.

It was rather serendipitous that without trying to I settled on eight genres of 80s inspired synth. These are: Soundtrack Synth, OutRun Synth, Synth Pop, Synth Romance, Dark Synth, Electro Funk Synth, Synth Wave and Italo Disco Synth. All of these have elements that can crossover into others and it's not like there are any strict rules, but for the sake of my sanity these seemed to work for any track I could listen to. This is not something I'm going go into any detail to explain, I let the music do the work there.

What this means for the year end Best Of 2012 top tens on Synthetix is that I have eight individual top tens covering my favourite music in all these genres resulting in 80 of my favourite musical experiences for 2012. I hope theres lots of familiar, and maybe some new experiences for you. There are a few tracks one might think are glaring omissions too, but I placed a couple caveats on what music was eligible. The first of these is that they have to have been released in 2012 and the second is that they must have been officially released. There were many tracks that have been shared on soundcloud but either not released or been downloadable. I made the decision of making these tracks exempt from the top tens as I wanted anyone to be able to enjoy these tracks, and that the artist was happy with them as their final evolutions. Unfortunately there are few tracks in these charts that have been removed or met their download limits since they were posted, but I hope this is only in a couple of instances and you might be able to get them still through contacting the artist.

The top tens themselves aren't based on anything by my own personal feelings and opinions about the music. Theres no set rules as to where the tracks are and they're by no means based on anyone else's opinion but my own, so please keep this in mind if you're not in agreeance.

Before we get to the charts themselves I have bonus gift for everyone in the Synthetix Ultimix 2012. This is a monster two hour mix containing  the top four tracks from each genre's chart. I hope you enjoy this mix as we blast off with the first of many Year End Top Tens on Synthetix!

Top 10 Soundtrack Synth

1, A Glowing Light, A Promise - Makeup And Vanity Set
2, Serve The Public Trust - Protector 101
3, Retrofutures - Starforce & Perturbator
4, Propulsion Overdrive - Dynatron
5, Silver Streak - LA Dreams
6, The Hour Has Come To Fight - Tommy
7, Golden '85 - Starforce
8, A Hero's Anthem - Flash Arnold
9, Rumblefish - Pilotpriest
10, 80s Muscle - Quasars

Top 10 Electro Funk Synth

1, Interface - Garth Knight
2, Cut Glass Accent - Aminova
3, Quantum Leap - 80s Stallone
4, Sleepover (Up All Night) - Rolly Mingwald
5, Streets Of Metropolis - Flash Arnold
6, Cardboard Kings - Rain Sword
7, Shadow Of Haumea - Bluezz Vylez
8, Mecha Cop - Kenji Run
9, Clockwise - SaiR
10, Funky Times - Evanton

Top 10 OutRun Synth

1, Overdrive - Tommy
2, Bal Harbour Shakedown - DigitalNativeDance
3, Vision Runner - LA Dreams
4, In Full Action - Flash Arnold
5, High Beams - Miami Nights 1984
6, Paralell Lines - Photosynthesi
7, Sunset Highway - Seipa
8, Highway Heat - Tommy
9, LA Dream - LA Dreams
10, Midnight Drive - DJ Ten

Top 10 Dark Synth

1, Run To Survive - Perturbator & Protector 101
2, Prey For Your Life - Arc Neon
3, L'incubo Senza Fine (Reprise) - Vercetti Technicolor
4, Welcome To Nocturne City - Perturbator
5, Crime In Fourth Sector - Jordan F
6, Mania - Phalanxes of Fingers & Congenital Pride
7, Electric Getaway - Mega Drive
8, Shadow Runner - Flash Arnold
9, Thunderground - Judge Bitch
10, Dark City - Neonflashdrive

Top 10 Italo Disco Synth

1, Disco Venus - Modular 1981
2, Beyond Saturn - Italo Robo
3, Powerline - Lost Years
4, Midnight Breeze - Vincenzo Salvia
5, Profondo Nero - Salta & Roma
6, Discobody Synthklash - The Klash
7, Alfa - Malibu B
8, Electric Midnight - The Dante
9, Everytime (Instrumental mix) - Quixotic
10, Scaglietti - Franz Tormer

Top 10 Synth Romance

1, Perfect Summer - LA Dreams
2, Summer Breeze - Rain Sword
3, The Secret Letter - Crystal Bridge
4, After Chasing Sunsets - LA Dreams
5, Departure - Mr Nissness
6, Dream Of Me - Arcade High
7, Bikini Girls - Jordan F
8, Make Love - Tommy
9, This Last Dance - Chaconne
10, Restless - Betamaxx

Top 10 Synth Wave

1, Star Hustler - Lazerhawk
2, Rockin Summer - Lueur Verte
3, Flash Workout - Flash Arnold
4, Breakpoint - Garth Knight
5, Daybreak - Cut Slack
6, Valles Marineris Pursuit - Mitch Murder
7, Rafales - Plaisance
8, Pittsburgh Nights - Betamaxx
9, Miami Lights - Scream & Dive
10, Running Man Fever - Hot Hot Hawk

Top 10 Synth Pop

1, Get 2 Know U - Patrick Baker
2, Romeo - Tempogeist (feat. Lisa Dank)
3, Modern Love - Kristine
4, It's OK - Bastian's Happy Flight
5, Takeover - Mirror Kisses
6, Dark Ride - Mirana
7, You Are You Are - Le Cassette
8, Fight - Tyson
9, Electric Touch - Hot Hot Hawk & Patrick Baker
10, Never Let You Down - Cut Slack



As a bonus Top Ten for 2012 here are my favourite top ten electronic tracks that came out this year that aren't specifically 80s, or are hybrids of numerous styles. These tracks were just too good not to give some love to for all the joy they've brought me in 2012.

Top 10 Electronica

1, Brainchild - Klockhaus
2, We Need A Beat - Navigateur
3, Icarus - Madeon
4, Pinup - Televisor
5, Analog Ending - Action Jackson
6, Psychic Feelings - Occult You
7, Walk With Me - Oliver
8, Luckystar - Paul For You
9, Spoken Word - Lancelot
10, Getting High (Final DJs Remix) - Lifelike & Popular Computer


This completes our musical journeys and adventures on Synthetix for 2012. It's been a great first year for this blog and the 80s inspired synth scene feels like it's really establishing self with a magnificent range of artists who are finding the love for the 80s sounds their true calling. I'd like to thank all the members of the scene and the Synthetix Facebook group who make all of this happen.

I hope you have had a rockin  good time on here this year and I hope you have a most radical festive season. I look forward to having more good times and great rock'n'roll with you in 2013.

Til then, stay 80s and keep on rockin.

Makeup And Vanity Set At 88​:​88

I've only just come to know (and love) Makeup And Vanity Set. I stumbled upon their Charles Park III release of last year and have now come across their newest release entitled 88:88. This is a very, very special record and it's probably the most soulful and deep 80s inspired synth music I've heard. Theres a magic feeling about each piece of every track that permeates and reverberates from within.



To be honest it was very hard to choose only two tracks to include in this review, but I think both give an insight into the entire 88:88 experience. I think the biggest ingredient that makes the biggest difference in this release's sound can be summed up in one short four letter word: prog. This album is a glorious mix of 80s synth art combined with a heaping helping of 70s prog synth.

Combined it makes a timeless sound that has infinite depth and limitless scope. Their masterwork, simply entitled Val, sounds like it's been cut directly from Vangelis' Bladerunner OST; a higher regard I could not give.



88:88 is a markedly more atmospheric release compared to Charles Park III, both records are sublime and are loaded with integrity, but this latest album is something else. The majesty and evocations of 88:88 create entire galaxies to experience, utterly entrancing and wholly encompassing. Allow yourself to be taken on this synthesised adventure and you'll come back enlightened, invigorated and totally enriched.

You can buy 88:88 off Makeup And Vanity Set's Bandcamp here for only $8.99. Make sure you follow them on souncloud here and Facebook here too.