The Astral Stereo Project Says Farewell To Paradise

By Sarah Halloran

Hey there synth citizens! If you’re in the mood for a synthwave album that has you smiling, swaying, raising an eyebrow (in a good way!), tapping your feet, nodding your head and sighing in reminiscence,  Farewell to Paradise accommodates all of your music-based bodily functions perfectly!

Hailing from Newcastle-upon-Tyne (home of the stottie, Newcastle Brown Ale, and umm...it’s probably best not to mention the football team right now) The Astral Stereo Project doesn’t have palm tree-lined LA streets or the pastel-brights of Miami to give him inspiration. What he lacks in 80’s backdrops, he certainly makes up for in musical inspiration. Citing greats such as Pino Donaggio (Body Double, Carrie, The Howling soundtracks) and FM Attack, The Astral Stereo Project draws from many different influences, and the result is spectacular!

Okay, enough of the geography and history lessons. Let’s hit play and do this!



The Astral Stereo Project has produced a number of great concept albums, and Farewell to Paradise is a “romantic soundtrack to a late 70s/early 80s European film set somewhere exotic”. First track ‘Islands’ is a jaunty little number featuring joyful melodies, bittersweet lyrics and punchy percussion. If this doesn’t make you smile, I’m afraid I’m just going to have to tag you, bag you and inform your next of kin.

If Andy Bell from Erasure ever visited an 80’s game arcade, ‘Night Flight Arrival’ is the track I think he would have gone home and made. I love this! It’s full of OutRun-esque synths with an almost 70s style running through in the background. As I’ve said before in my reviews, I’m not technical musically, but there are some really interesting sounds here, and lots of fun little melodies to keep you interested.

Okay, time to set the record straight about something. Next track ‘Scirocco’ is NOT about the Volkswagen car of the same name. The Astral Stereo Project did NOT have a love affair with his car and write a song about it. I know because I asked him, and cleared that rumour up. The first few notes put me in mind of the soft tones that Hello Meteor is so famous for, and they are soon overtaken by monumental synths, thumping bass, a little heavy breathing and fabulous 80s chords.

Usually I listen to music over headphones, but halfway through listening to ‘Sheltering Sky’, my headphones died, and so I listened to this track over speakers. You didn’t really need to know that, but it is a bit relevant. There’s cracking bass on this track that I’m not sure I would have appreciated half as much over headphones. If you like slightly melancholy tracks with a disco beat, you’ll love this.

Pino Donaggio’s influence is strong on ‘Body Heat’, and it’s a track full of wistful longing, regret and lost love. The production and arrangement is just beautiful, and full of soft breathy effects and bright synth melodies.

Title track, and my favourite on the whole album. ‘Farewell to Paradise’ really put me in mind of the opening credits of a show I watched in the 80s, and I can’t for the life of me remember what it was. It’s a track packed with smartly arranged synths and guitars, and it’s sure to push your nostalgia meter to the max! Distant memories aside, this is the track that really shows you the musical genius of this producer. What was that show?! That’s going to bug me.

‘A Rose For Annie Belle’ is a slight detour from synthwave, but a wonderful one nonetheless. This track put me in mind of Pink Floyd and those corny, wistful moments in cop shows. You know, where our law enforcement hero is driving through the night, windows down, moustache gently quivering, and having whimsical flashbacks about his lost colleague. Beautiful guitars on this track.

A little reggae pulse kicks off ‘Anything That Moves’. I love the synths and slap bass effect on this track. A catchy melody and vocals dripping with 80s references like “electric dream”, “videodrome” and “VHS” make this my second favourite on the album, and one that I’ll return to often.

‘Frivolous Lady’ features a bright and sentimental melody, light-as-air vocals, and an almost 70s vibe. I love how there are so many different genres and subgenres on this release, and how they all tie together so well.

I’ll leave you with ‘Forever Laure’, and its gentle goodbye. You can’t help but sway a little to this track, and it’s the perfect closer to an absolutely awesome album.

‘Farewell to Paradise’ educates, enthralls and entertains. It’s intelligent in production, courageous in experimentation and comes very, very highly recommended by Synthetix FM. Pick up a copy on Astral Stereo Project's Bandcamp here in the usual array of digitally downloadable formats.

AIRBORNE

Screen Memories - Python Blue & Jupiter 8

By Kaleb KFDDA



In modern times, physical formats of various goods are a dying breed. Python Blue and Jupter-8's newest EP 'Screen Memories' is an ode to one of those favored formats, the VHS tape. In the true spirit of things, these two manage to intertwine their unique sounds in a not-so-common way.

The EP begins with Juptiter-8's 'Straight From the Screen', this song opens up like any summer action movie would begin, enticing you with progression that are full of drama and sustain. I can see credits rolling as vividly as I can hear the music that is straight out of 80s. Led with powerful but not speedy leads, this song is the perfect opening to a box office hit. Albeit not long, the song is a perfect taste of what comes next.

'Movies' is the second track, also composed by Jupiter-8 (did I mention this ep is split in half?) That's the unsual part, unlike most collaborative pieces, this EP is literally 2 entirely different interpretations of the same thing. Jupiter-8 captures a haunting sound in this one. This one is FULL of tension, a clifhanger of sorts, with some smooth jazzy elements thrown in, I believe this is the song that truly captures what Jupiter is all about.

I instantly applaud Python Blue's progression choices in 'Golden Tapes'. The song begins with angelic chord progressions that reminisce of your most fond material memories, bustering with that one-of-a-kind Python Blue sound.

'Behind a VCR' is definitely an emotional piece of work. It's moody, yet inviting. It's the kind of song you'd like to play when you're heartbroken, or mad as hell. Not often is an artist capable of making a song with such duality, and that's something Python does each and every time. The ending and end song 'Home Videos' I belive is some of Python's strongest work to date, ending this experience absolutely beautifully.

The atmosphere these two producers have managed to create throughout this EP is unmistakably gorgeous, unique, and balance each other quite perfectly; Jupter-8's agressive and dramatic tones combined with Python's passionate and artistically rendered progressions make this one of the most intriguing and amazing EPs thus far in 2015.

Very highly recommended from Synthetix.FM



TSTR - An Evening With The Devil

By Henry West


Not much is known about dark-synth author TSTR, other than his works started to come out steadily since January 2010 with the PAURA E.P., and gradually exposed a consistent number of nightmare-driven releases over the following years. The North Carolina native insists on a peculiar minimal approach to horror-themed soundscapes in An Evening With The Devil, his fifth official effort, which features six tracks that successfully render a vicious atmosphere of tension and distress around the listener.

The trip into demonic dominion starts out with a formal invitation to a place of fear and darkness 'Come Inside'. Harrowing basslines, incursions of high pitched bells, evil leads and relentless beats work together to paint an ominous picture with blood-stained intensity 'Behind Closed Doors' and industrial fervor 'In The Basement Ov The House Ov Satan'.

We are left to deal with a single elusive moment of hope 'A Way Out?' before it all ends in despair and tragedy 'You Will Never Leave This Place'.

This is a carefully executed piece of work that will resonate extremely well with fans of the SPLATTERHOUSE soundtracks by Eiko Kaneda, K. Tajima, Y. Kawamoto and Howard Drossin.



Sayak Striker - Never Surrender

By Sam Beck


I stepped out of the bar, three double whiskey and cokes coursing through my veins, soaking every cell in my body with Kentucky Bourbon. Taking a deep breath of the cold winter Nebraska night, I turned up the collar of my jacket, leaned into the lighter to set fire to yet another cancer stick and pressed play on my phone.

As I walked home, the dark streets of Lincoln, melted away, transforming into the harsh pedestrian pathways of a dystopian  megalopolis. With each step, each instance of my soiled Chuck Taylors' hitting cold, grey concrete, the barren city-scape exploded into the neon wash of a future, imagined in the past and yet to be realized in the present. Each cranked-to-the-max kick drum propelling me further into the night and my own fantasy world. Then a guitar burst out of the void, only acting to reinforce every Deckard inspired day dream I've ever had.

The new Sayak Striker EP, well really it's an album that is crafted as one whole with many parts, takes the listener on a journey in the way few releases do. There's no attempt to coax the listener into a pseudo and oft-regurgitated false memory of a time that has passed. The piece builds its own world, and asks the listener to enter, should they dare.

It is a world full of monoliths of consumerism, casting a bastardizing neon glow on fans of underground motorcycle races, crime and hedonism. Where a man can realize all of his fantasies at the low, low price of his soul.

80's inspired synthwave operates using the commodity of half-memories and nostalgia. Never Surrender builds a world that feels like a half-remembered fever dream. This is a landscape that Kavinsky hoped to map in tracks like Blizzard, but Sayak Striker has no interest in map making. He's the goddamn Google Street View of your dystopian day dreams.

Highly recommended. Why reinvent the wheel when you can put hundred spoke spinners on your whip?



Astral Stereo Project - Bastard Squad

By Rick Shithouse



Synthetix.FM has long be a fan of Neil Holdsworth's wonderful music created beneath the monicker of The Astral Stereo Project,  with much love given to the previous Anti Hero and Disco Death Sleaze releases over the years. Now the latest adventure from Holdsworth takes new inspirations and directions and creates a beautifully crafted homage to many classic; and not so classic 80s inspirations. The overriding thematic of these pieces being the soundtrack for 80s action video nasty that doesn't technically exist, yet can find trace elements of the original inspirations peppered throughout the tracks in loving recollections.

Something else this release is, which is an important factor I was only discussing yesterday with a fellow synthficionado, is that this has a genuine element of fun emblazoned throughout all the pieces. It might seem odd, but much of the real essence of vintage sounds is that fun nature to them. The 80s certainly never took itself seriously at the time yet much 80s inspired music loses that important feeling in favour of drama, tension or seriousness. There's nothing wrong with these feelings being driving forces, of course, but the stoic and melancholy need a bit of fun and frivolity too. I mean, it's not the grim and gritty 90s anymore... I hope.

Back to Bastard Squad though and it's plainly obvious throughout this record that Holdsworth isn't taking the subject matter too seriously and it is definitely of benefit to the rockin tunes. For those unaware, Bastard Squad was the name of a fictitious ultra-violent TV show referenced often in the classic 80s BBC series The Young Ones (must see viewing if you've not had the pleasure yet, or recently).

It's this spirit of the fun and the ridiculous that drives much of this EP's music. 'Intro/Blag' is an anthem of 80s action that hovers like Blue Thunder against moonlit cityscape. The overt double entendre of 'Hard Promises' belies all kinds of slowmotion lasciviousness,  probably while Blue Thunder in silent mode is peering through those open bedroom curtains. There's lots of great crossover sounds that bridge the 70s and 80s palettes too with 'Wheels Of Fire' cutting a swaggering disco groove over some wonderfully phrased lyrics and 'Maltese Hideaway' feeling like an extra track from Air's Virgin Suicides soundtrack; smooth, groovy and full of subtle nuance.

One of the real highlights is the monstrously infectious theme song for 'Supersnout' which is one hell of a funky adventure you'll wish had a TV series structured around it. The vocals make a full return in the smooth serenade of 'Nothing To Lose' as Holdsworth croons that 80s love with heavy doses of Nutrasweet providing that candy coloured layer of longing. 'Armed To The Teeth' takes the action back out into the VHS jungle as one lone survivor risks all for honour against whatever topical villain stereotype the shoestring budget can do semi-convincingly. The final act completing the Bastard Squad is the poignant 'Nothing But Death', which really captures that end of movie credit roll very nicely. A fitting finish to the experience, and it wasn't even interrupted by a siege or something.

I really do love what The Astral Stereo Project has done with this release, it's entertaining and eclectic and really retains a (sometimes devilish) grin from beginning to end. The 80s were all about fun, and that feeling is handed out overtly in Bastard Squad's rockin tracks. Definitely a worthy addition to any retro synth lover's collection and yet another kick arse release from The Astral Stereo Project.

The Astral Stereo Project In Disco Death Sleaze

Synthetix.FM last visited with Astral Stereo Project in September last year with the Anti Hero LP in which many wonders of vintage synth sounds were explored and detailed. Neil Holdsworth has now released the follow up album to Anti Hero with the wonderfully titled Disco Death Sleaze album and the Astral Stereo Project sound gets taken into some very rockin new dimensions.

The actual sound of Astral Stereo Project is most unlike a lot of the 'standard definitions' of 80s inspired synth music. In Disco Death Sleaze we're treated to an even broader horizon of synthscapes that results in some remarkable combinations of sounds and melodies. Obvious inspirations from artists like Pink Floyd and Bowie run through much of the vocal oriented tracks while classical styled pieces meld with the disco synth moods seamlessly. This is album is highly ambitious in each track and it's a true indication of Neil Holdsworth's talent in songwriting that makes this album so engaging.


One of the most alluring features of the Astral Stereo Project, and this album in particular, is that you're never quite sure where you stand, from track to track and even chapter to chapter of individual tracks. In the opening piece, 'Discotheque', we're greeted by screams of terror before beautifully uplifting melodies take us on an intergalactic voyage. The samples and vocals and precision arrangements create something I guarantee you've never quite heard before. It's bewitching and comforting while causing just a hint of uneasiness. A tone that puts you in good stead for the rest of the album.

The smooth melodies of Astral Stereo Project have definitely matured noticeably since Anti Hero and this brilliant, languid exploration of melodies is very pronounced in the second track 'Savage Narcissus'. The accents on the melody are sharp as a knife with crashing cymbals as high voltage guitars bringing and air of maliciousness to the calm tranquility of the lead refrain.

'DeSelle Intermezzo' introduces some highly refined and articulate classical embellishments to the synthscape. The high energy OutRun drums somehow manage to compliment the suite of strings and synths sing harmoniously working a magic all their own. This blending of classical and 80s sounds is absolutely one of my favourite new developments in the 80s inspired synth scene and Holdsworth conjures megatons of sweeping, emotional melodic structures that make two vintage sound forms all brand new.

The Astral Stereo Project's penchant for the dirtier side of disco melodies really shines in track four, 'Goin Boogyin'. The sleaze is positively dripping off the arrangements with grinding bodies administering all manner of funky frottage. The 70s sounds crossover beautifully with the 80s elements and the resulting mix is sure to get anyone hot and bothered in the best possible way.

Exploring more ambient pop moods becomes a new part of the Astral Stereo Project experience and in 'Skin Deep' we experience a new level of glowing pop magic. The arrangements are delectably delicate, gauzy with sentiment and reminiscence and the poetic vocal performance is earth shatteringly spectacular. 'Skin Deep' is pure vintage pop perfection and a real jewel in the crown for this record.

'Cruising (2AM)' takes things back onto the road with a rockin bassline ushering in dramatic percussion  returning to an OutRun motif. Melodies intimate a boiling beneath the austere surface which then takes on a new sense of being courtesy of the cool vocal track. The vocals add pathos and ask questions, leading to further ill intentions but this darker side is merely shadows flashing by, moments of weakness, moments you can't come back from, that lie down a path not taken.

The classical disco synth returns with delightful vengeance in track seven 'Death In Bavaria'. By enlisting glistening piano sounds the melodies are given refreshing contrast against the synth and strings backdrop. The second movement of this piece is exuberantly grandiose in the eloquently explored melodies. It's a beautiful piece of music that again mixes sounds of different past centuries into a timeless experience.

The final track of Disco Death Sleaze is possibly the complete opposite of all three title words as 'Lieben Suite' basks in the beauty created in ' Skin Deep' and adds a classy refinement to it that is absolutely glorious. The lyrics speak of moving on from the painful past romance while the feelings of days passed offer only a faint pain. Looking forward, to something more, to a better time without her. 'Lieben Suite''s lyrical refrain is painfully poignant and is uttered with reflective understanding. The soundscape provides a bittersweet melancholy which sums up the sentiment perfectly.

The Astral Stereo Project presents the Disco Death Sleaze album on Bandcamp here. I found this album brimming over with beautiful arrangements and visionary songwriting. The music and vocals work in perfect tandem with each other, complimenting nuances and giving massive gravitas and emotion to the experience. Synthetix.FM very, very highly recommends this album as wonderfully rich example of how styles of numerous decades and centuries can be combined into something far greater than the sum of its parts.

The Astral Stereo Project Scores The Anti Hero

Neil C Holdsworth's monicker, The Astral Stereo Project, is much more than a name plucked from a selection of retro associated idioms but instead is a descriptor and blueprint for his soundscapes. With Holdsworth's latest release The Astral Stereo Project has become a vision of cosmic sound waves with views to the past, present and future available to all those willing to take the flight into discovery.

The album is titled Anti Hero and it's varied chapters are tied together by spatial energies bound to earthly emotions. Instrumental tracks are picturesque and flow with much beauty while the songs on the album acquire a greater intimacy that feels genuine and honest. The overall story is richly told as the soundtrack describes the action and relationships of the titular Anti Hero.

The opening track, 'She Dances At The Metropolis' sets the perfect stage for Anti Hero's synthual repast. All the tracks on this record seem to contain otherworldly elements that either drive the experience or allude to other dimensional realities more subtly. This first chapter is full of emotive strings and swooshing stars that are propelled by a bassline of restrained elegance. The moods move from 80s passions into 70s disco synthscapades which are then allowed to fully mature in the second chapter 'L.A. Ripper'.

This second outing is definitely one of the most vintage sounding experiences on the record with a hugely 70s progressive synth atmosphere accented by a galloping rhythm section. It's a jazzy affair that allows for the lead the synths to take flight and soar in sumptuous cosmic vistas of crisp night air. This track is beautifully explored and realised, leading perfectly into the first song on the album 'Midnight Dancers'.

It's in this piece that The Astral Stereo Project begins to show it's hand and expose it's genius in a divine manner. Theres something about the vocal that reminds me of some of Peter Gabriels work, which is no bad thing, and the music is produced in a lingering intimacy of timeless beauty. The synths are met with    a beautifully complementary guitar track and combine with the vocals to make a spectacular pop synth experience that draws from many decades but is married to none.

The intimate moods continue in the next song entitled 'High Tension'. The atmosphere of earlier pieces is revisited and is given new directions and tales to explore as the smooth vocals are set betwixt smoothly undulating melodies and flickering stars cast an inviting light. The tension suggested in this track is given much more weight in the following piece 'Downtown Patrol' which ramps up the drama and exponentially.

Shades of John Carpenter-esque melodies give the track an Assault On Precinct 13/Escape From New York kind of flavour and the synths are fashioned in the perfect manner to describe finely crafted details while the robust and forceful percussion drives home the melodrama. 'Luna's Theme' finds The Astral Stereo Project delving into more 70s soundscapes with the mirrorball spinning on a cosmic axis across an dance floor planetoid. The music is so smoothly constructed with such a languid pace that it relaxes you down to your soul and caresses you with is velvet textures and soft lighting.

As if to shock you back from the romantic dreamscapes into reality arrives 'Fire With Fire' on the scene which I think works as the 'next chapter' to 'Downtown Patrol' after the affectionate interlude of 'Luna's Theme'. This instrumental sets the sky on fire with it's incendiary lead synths supported by shimmering falling stars and robotic rhythms. Holdsworth once again traverses decades in minutes while retaining the timelessness of space within the music's beating heart.

The next track on Anti Hero is definitely one of the most frenetic as a build more than half the length of the actual song leads into rocket fuelled synth delights as the 'Marina Freeway Pursuit' serves as a precursor to the final chapter, the action packed and explosive title track. Drama is thick with tension and quests for redemption amid flashes of light, fire and passion in the darkest hours before the dawn.

The Anti Hero experience is a complete soundtrack in it's formulation and the stories of love and baser human desires. It's told in a way that I find enduring as a whole but also the pieces as separate entities on their own intimate singular moments of emotional rewards and action packed excitement.

The Astral Stereo Project presents the Anti Hero album on Bandcamp here at a name-your-own-price point. The music on this record is full of rewarding experiences that feel both from distant worlds and from closer moments. Holdsworth has a weaved a pastiche of musical flavours from many decades into a focused and concise tale that is a joy to experience. Synthetix.FM highly recommends Anti Hero as a soundtrack/synth pop experience unlike any other and one that bodes well for future sounds from The Astral Stereo Project's creative machinations.

Synthetix Weekend Update

It's that time once again, the time to look back at the most rockin singles, previews and teasers released through the last seven days in the 80s inspired synth scene in another gargantuan Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM!

The Astral Stereo Project has been on my radar for quite a while now, in no small part to him being supported a great deal on Project Friday Radio. This latest track is a tad more dramatic than his pop style fare and as an instrumental works the melodies and ideas in a very engrossing way. 

A producer who continually impresses me with the growth within his music is Electric Disection. In 'Sweeping Airwaves' he really pushes the simplicity of sounds to magnify the melody's weight. The sounds are presented with very authentic personality that I greatly enjoy.

Project: Walker by Julian Anderson added a new experience to the thematic this week with a piece called 'City Runner'.  The project is a Blade Runner inspired story that is making chapters of music for each set piece. 'City Runner' is a slow synth burn which builds beautifully, the instruments are layered to perfection and I must give a special mention to the sublime bassline that holds the soundscape together. Currently available for FREE download.

A producers who's really nailing the disco/space synth/soundtrack/prog vibe is Achim Bloch with his killer new track 'Time In Space'. The sounds, progressions and production are all totally on point as this piece takes you in esoteric realms of dimensionless travel. A marvellously well orchestrated experience and also currently available for FREE download.

Time for some new rockers on the scene and the duo of The Boy & Sister Alma. Their latest track 'Lizard Eyes' is a beautifully lush synth pop serenade. Elements of 90s indie electronic lace the edges of the experience, but inside beats a heart full of 80s love. The chorus in this song is absolutely stunning and guitars introduced in the latter are truly inspirational, be sure to grab your copy while it's currently up for FREE download.

The eminently rockin Professor Zonic Zynth is back with another stellar piece of 80s inspired synth called 'Sonic Boom'. This apparently Top Gun inspired track is packed with action, drama and emotion with classic 80s soundtrack synth. There is so many stories in this track, so densely arranged that is positively overflowing with glorious 80s wonder.

Based on their previous history, I don't expect 'Drifter' to be around for long before Dance With The Dead take it off soundcloud, but for those lucky enough to read this while it's up (and hopefully it does stay up for longer than recent tracks they've shared) you're in for a stunningly emotive experience. Winding things back to a much sparser soundscape 'Drifter' finds this duo adding some incredibly beautifully vocal elements to their sound. 'Drifter' is both vastly epic and soulfully intimate at the same time.

PH Groove is back with a new homage to Alan Vega's seminal work with a new track 'The Calling'. Going under the genre of '80s Punk Dance' that's pretty much exactly how I'd describe it. The sounds are warped and modern in approach, but the 80s vibe rocks this track in totally rad way. Currently available for FREE download.

Alpha Boy is back with a new album to be released on the 3rd of June called 'Future Man'. This preview gives us a brief look at what's in store,  and definitely contains some new territory for this producer. Based on his last few singles and how he's pushed the Alpha Boy sound into new directions I'm going to be very interested to see where this full length takes us.




Delivering frenetic 80s energies in every conceivable way is Elsewhen with their slightly ChipTune edged high energy synth odysseys. This track entitled 'Zenith' would be well at home on the soundtrack release of any of the games from the Thunderforce series of shooters, who's soundtracks I hold in very high regard. Many thanks to Jon 'Grooveworthy' Mussell for introducing me to Elsewhen.

On a similarly 16Bit kick is Strange Aeons and his new work of b-grade inspired horror cinema 'I Was A Teenage Slime Sucker'. The personality of this track is rather quirky with it's instrumentations but the melodic work and stories alluded to in the arrangements are genuinely entertaining and the ending is fantastic. Currently available for FREE download.

80s synth scene icon LA Dreams shared a very interesting new experience during this past week which shows some new sides to his many facets. 'We're Not Human' is one of his most introspective and chilled tracks yet. The pace is slow and laboured with melodies that prove insightful and illuminating.
Incredibly beautiful work, with sublime key changes and perfect arrangements.

Transcend shared something rather beautiful this week in 'Hazel Eyes'. Tinged with classic 80s synth romance and flavoured with a bright and colourful soundscape this track is a joy to behold. The arrangements are much more modern, but one can't help but feel those smooth 80s sounds giving this experience all it's magic. Currently available for FREE download too.

Next up is a short teaser for the new MegaDrive record 'Hardwired'. Even though this teaser is almost a teaser of a teaser in it's brevity it does allude to exciting new soundscapes from MegaDrive. With a release date set for the 4th of June we don't have to wait long for more hot rockin action. 

It's been about a month since we last heard from Rain Sword with his exceptional track 'Drift Away' and he's now returned with totally rad new track 'Slick'. The music is full of Rain Sword 80s magic, but theres also some housey/nu disco even balearic vibes I'm getting which provides for some interesting soundscapes indeed. Definitely a rockin good time, and currently available for FREE download.

rf.extreme has really been perfecting his craft of late and his new track 'Topped 6th' takes him to even greater realms of synth possibilities. The music is very tightly controlled but still allowed to create a very tactile presence. The use of cleaner natural keyboard sounds add even more tonal qualities. The ending seems to meander a tad and the abrupt finish probably means it's in a currently unfinished state, but even still it rocks super hard.

Synthficionado Highway Superstar shared a totally rad new track going by the name of 'The Chase' this week that takes him back to the East in a ninja synth epic. Full of adventure and shadowed denizens of assassination this packs a punch you'll be feeling for weeks. The narrative is a web of deceit and betrayal, played against a moonlit backdrop of flashing blades. Superbly arranged from beginning to end.

Our final highlight for the week is new experience from the enigmatic Dr Pecco. I'm definitely a fan of his exploitation cinema fuelled synthscapes and with his new piece 'Our Hearts, The Stallions' we're finding the good doctor experimenting in some brighter and happier sounds. The music is very upbeat and full of colourful melodies. I'll be reviewing Dr Pecco's new 'Crystal Eyes, Diamond Tails' next week on Synthetix.FM, but make sure you grab this single for FREE download in the mean time.

That does us for another Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM. I hope you've found some rockin new tunes to  make your weekend glow in the most radical shades of neon and I look forward to sharing more new music with you next week. 'Til then stay 80s and keep on rockin.