Vercetti Technicolor's Black September

By Rick Shithouse

Some of the darkest and consistently most chilling soundtrack synth work created in homage to the classic 70s and 80s original work comes from Vercetti Technicolor. This producer and co-founder of Giallo Disco Records is always pushing deeper into the black and crafting intensely disturbing and engaging music.

This long awaited follow up to 2013's Bay Of Blood EP has been teased throughout 2014 and now it has finally been unleashed upon an unsuspecting audience. The premise for Black September is a fantasy soundtrack to the horrific events that occurred during the 1972 Munich Olympics (you can get your history lesson here) and by using these real world events to inspire this soundtrack makes things even more disturbing than the usual horror-inspired fare.

Basing anything on real-events is going to cut too close to home for many, and a question of taste may be brought into question for some. I'd like to think that the Synthetix.FM audience can take the music as art at its face value and not feel the need to question Vercetti Technicolor's motives for creating this any further. There is no glorifying or political agenda here; just a soundtrack to events that have obviously effected the producer deeply.

One's creative muse rarely has a self-censor and Vercetti Technicolor's has definitely been let entirely off the chain for the duration of Black September. The morose, bleakness of the atmosphere combined with the ragged melodies and gritty percussion make for an experience that you'll not soon forget.



Across six original tracks, one extended mix of the incredible title track and two remixes; Black September will crush you into an uncertain future that smacks wholly of Cold War era Eastern Europe. The tracks don't give an inch of tension away, building with complete single-mindedness and crunching down with sonic violence that will make you flinch every time.

The opening theme, 'Operation Munich', is unmistakable in its completely enveloping tension. The melodies sit uncomfortably at opposite ends of the spectrum with broodingly evil deep basslines contrasted by frighteningly harsh bright flourishes. The off kilter nature of this opening track will put you on edge entirely, and it's on that edge you will stay for the duration of the release.

As the second piece begins even darker clouds gather overhead. Synths reverberate with diabolical intent and the percussion is hell bent on violence. 'Ambassadors Of Death' draws you into its dark lair with a hypnotising refrain you can't look away from and then batters you into submission with its raw and jagged final act.

The sheer intensity of the synthscape used by Vercetti Technicolor is hard to take in. A coursing power of unconscionable, strident synths create a world where there is no comfort, solace or hope. 'Olympic Village Hotel 4:30AM' is utterly unforgiving in its delivery. The manner in which Technicolor controls the synthesized violence is daring, uncompromising, and so utterly unapologetic in it's vintage colours and flavours.

There really is tangible feel to this work, an age and a time, it brings to mind elements of Vangelis, Jarre, Oldfield, Tangerine Dream as well as early soundtrack work by Moroder. Vercetti Technicolor knows his canvas and his medium; using his tools to exact every single last drop of frightening terror.  However, there are elements of hope that appear, fleetingly through 'The GSG9 Theme' which offer an unbelievably rare moment of positivity amid the rest of the albums cruelty.

The final track goes back to Hell for the 'Bank Heist Finale' as snapping rim shots are played off against kettle drum fills and a beating heart bass drum with the synths slowly moving into place as the piece evolves. Technicolor's use of humanistic synth choir voices in many of the tracks adds a reverence to the coldly bitter synthscape and on this final piece the voices cry out hauntingly before being finally extinguished.

The last three pieces are all revisions of the opening track, 'Operation Munich', with some interesting takes on it provided by PLAYTONTO and Francesco Clemente but I definitely found the extended mix by Technicolor himself to be the most rewarding and complete vision of the idea.

Black September is hard to listen to, it gives the listener an unsettling and brutal window through which to view events of the past that are still in living memory for many. The honesty and completely grim manner in which the music plays out is never compromised in any of the tracks and via the sounds used and the arrangements implemented one gets a feeling of dread and hopelessness that few other musical excursions can provide.

This is about as dark as vintage synth music can get, and in that respect it may alienate many listeners to retro sounds; however one can not fault the dedication and artistry Vercetti Technicolor has portrayed through the entirety of the album. Giallo Disco Records presents Vercetti Technicolor's Black September album on their Bandcamp here in digital formats and also on vinyl here. This release comes very, very highly recommended from Synthetix.FM and as uncomfortable as the subject matter may be for some, the music itself has a voice that is undeniably spellbinding from beginning to end.

Synthetix Weekend Update

For those of you unaware, every month I make a new Synthetix.FM Mixtape that goes up on my soundcloud page. These mixes are my personal favourite songs of the previous month and often contain some music I don't get the chance to cover on here. I've just shared the final regular mixes for 2013 and wanted to make a point that these will be the last mixes I do in the Side A and Side B format. I've seen over the years that the Side A often gets double the listens as Side B, so as of 2014 the mixes will be one complete ninety minute experience, possibly with a gap or interlude in between the two mixes.

The final mix for the year will be the 2013 Synthetix.FM UltraMix which will feature all my favourite tracks from this year in one monstrous mega mix of scintillating synth sounds. This will be part of the second Synthetix.FM Year End Synthstravaganza, which will hopefully provide much excitement around the mid December mark before Synthetix.FM closes shop for the holiday break.

For now, I hope you enjoy the latest Synthetix.FM Mixtape and feel free to go back through my soundcloud for any others you may have missed throughout the year.






Lets get rockin with a bevy of beautiful music in the Synthetix Weekend Update!


First up is a hot new funky synth odyssey from Starion. This is absolutely rockin to the max with catchy melodies and a futuristic, spacey atmosphere. Special mention must go to the brilliantly implemented bassline that holds the entire experience together.




The introductory passages to the new Android Automatic track had my interest piqued; wondering what direction this was going to take. The story evolves slowly with a deliberate pace that introduces bewitching melodies and structures with great beauty.




A new rocker for Synthetix.FM is City Project, and his wonderful new track 'Dirty Workout'. The tone and production of this piece creates a gorgeous neon vista of endless night skies, full of both earthbound and cosmic dancing lights. Spectacular in every respect with an epic narrative driving the experience.




Run Vaylor is rockin hard on his new track 'First Contact'. The build is immense with a huge payoff in the way of dramatic melodies and driving percussion. The unrelenting nature of the experience makes for a very exciting journey, complete with otherworldly synth layers bringing the alien theme together perfectly. This track is currently available for FREE download through the player.




The Giallo Disco master himself, Vercetti Technicolor unleashed another odious soundtrack to the cannibalistic tropical nightmare in 'Ferox'. This excursion into the inhuman horrors hiding in the darkest jungle depths is explored spectacularly as haunting synths accent the tribal inspired percussion work.




KFDDA is rockin the dark side of the synth this week too, with his melancholy piece titled 'Dark Answers'. The synthscape is accented superbly by the morose guitar track that adds a wonderful depth to the atmosphere. This track is currently available for FREE download through the link in the player.




A collaboration that came out of nowhere this week and blew my mind is the new track from the beautiful minds of Cougar Synth and Palm Highway Chase with their appropriately named combined venture 'Cougars On The Highway'. This undulating synthscapade is absolutely righteous with it's myriad of synth layers all coalescing into one rockin experience. Even better, it's currently available for FREE download! Be sure to check out Palm Highway Chases other release this week, Vangelis Gravity for even avant garde synth gold.




The debut EP from Orax was just released by Future City Records and it is a glorious synth journey that is as rich in beauty as it is in craftsmanship. Orax's Dreaming EP is delicately started by the wonderfully entrancing piece entitled 'Life'. This is so beautifully arranged and explored that it touches the soul with it's incredibly intimate melodies.  It also introduces the Orax synthscape as one of emotionally driven journey's into the subconscious powers and needs within us all. This motif is continued on the title track which ebbs and flows with the pulse of the universe, contemplating it's existence through melodic excursions inward via the mind's eye.


Many dreams are unexplainable, based on our mind's relating to us that which we can't fully comprehend in waking hours. In 'Memories' is feels like Orax is presenting these kind of theory as upbeat elements are restrained by haunting ghost synths, twisted with a dream-like skew that creates it's own un-reality. The saxophone pieces take this into even more fascinating territory throughout the piece. The 'Unknown Man' adds even more of an air of mystery to our unconscious surrounds as the pulse begins to race through nocturnal obeisance with frenetic melodies guiding the adventure.

Dreaming concludes with the delicate frailty of 'Dawn And Friends' which rouses the spirit in a building, intimate exploration of time, space and our place in it. The final ticking moments signalling the time of dreams has ended, we must now rise to new challenges. Throughout this EP I was drawn into moments and thoughts that were truly uplifting, Orax's grasp on how 80s emotions exist and thrive in music is marvellous to behold.

Synthetix.FM very, very highly recommends The Dreaming EP from Orax. You can pick up a copy through Future Ciry Records' Bandcamp page here, which I hope you do as soon as possible.



Time to rock some quality Italo Disco courtesy of Supervox and his new track 'Nature Of Earth (Version 2)'. I love the energy of this piece, it's full of authentic sounds and is fabricated in a way that explores all possibilities of the melodic elements. I'm a little unsure as to whether this artist is calling himself Super Magic Records or Supervox, so please forgive me if I got this the wrong way around.




Even more golden Italo Disco surfaced in the latest track from Paris76, 'Sandy Dreams'. The combination of modern and vintage elements is kept balanced beautifully as synths are layered in, carefully building to a majestic crescendo or glimmering brilliance.




NFD Music has gone back to school with his latest excursion into the 80s, 'Science Project'. The story is full of teenage inadequacies and those glorious emotions that lead to the memories we'll have with us forever. I love the spoken word piece through the middle that is directly inspired by the John Hughes classics of the day. This is currently available for FREE download.




The new track from Mitch Murder take his trademark style into a softer, plush environment that is luxurious and tactile but driven by melodic intimacy. The structures are finely detailed and exhibit muted colours of 80s pastels against a night snow fall. It's a warming experience in seasonal synthphonies that Mitch Murder intimates most eloquently.




Cobra Copter has proven to be a genuine force to be reckoned with in the 80s inspired synth scene over the last three months. Each week theres a new synth epic shared and each time it's an awesome experience in quality 80s sounds and emotions. 'Rebel Heart' does the Cobra Copter style action synth style spectacularly well with vivid synths pulsing with drama and heroism.




Our final piece for this week's Weekend Update is a totally kick arse video from Maraud. Using a wonderful clutch of talent from the 80s inspired synth scene he's crafted a very 'Drive' inspired video to explore the possibilities of a new camera lens. I know,  the premise is not to be taken too seriously, but one can't deny the perfect marriage of visuals and sounds throughout this piece. I hope this leads to more movies from Maraud in the future featuring our favourite artists.



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

Synthetix Weekend Update

I'm currently fighting through a harsh cold and my concentration span is borderline delusional, but I'm going to attempt to get through an abbreviated Weekend Update to make sure I don't get too far behind in all the rockin tunes that have come out this past week.


First up is another great new track from Alpha Boy. So soon after his spectacular Home EP Alpha Boy has now shared a new experience titled 'New York'. In this track we find a new ambiance for the producer's sound, with a clean and spatial soundscape that tells a wonderfully rich story.



New rockers on the scene Le Chat Et La Fille entered my world this week and this duo of feline and female have my interest piqued. 'Jean Paul (ne pars pas)' is a minimalist electro pop synth track has a classically authentic 80s sound and a delightful european refinement. Their previous EP sounds much more experimental, but I hope they've found their sound direction with this new track, which is available for FREE download through the player.



One of the finest purveyors of quality giallo disco is back with a fantastic new three track EP of dark soundtrack horror disco. Vercetti Technicolor was one of the originators of this new form of classic 70s and 80s horror synth and his new release, Arps Of Mythology is a trilogy of expansive suites that are constructed for maximum terror. Each track is full of presence and embedded with a supreme malevolence that is irresistibly brutal. Another quality release from this marvellous producer.



Let us stay well ensconced in the shadows and take in another new Noir Deco track from his forthcoming self-titled album. 'Maeror' is another deeply dark and pulsating opus with some absolutely beautiful passages of crystal clear calmness in the middle stages. Noir Deco's style distills even more in this track and all the elements seem to come together in an effortless manner.




It must be the time of the month for everyone's darker sides to come out as even Dallas Campbell has gone to the dark side of the synths with his new track 'Return To Earth'. The melodies form and then quickly dissipate as the cosmic winds take the music into dimensions unknown. The freeform nature of this track is highly engaging and Mr Campbell manages to always keep a finely tuned balance between light and dark elements. Currently available for FREE download.




MurderOne is taking things into his own hands with another totally rockin dark synth track with his new adventure 'Heartbeat 2009'. Spiked with sample upon sample and laced with a diabolical cocktail of sinister synths this is one really takes you into the darker places most of us fear to tread.




Moving ever so slowly into lighter territory we find Fantastisizer this week in 'Red Space'. This poignantly written soundtrack synth piece is full of haunting beauty and delicate details. The music has a deep narrative that shares it's secrets in slow motion before the listener's very eyes and the subtleties of the synthscape provides even more engagement.




Python Blue's own brand of soundtrack synth work always seems to make for an epic experience and his track 'Engineers' adds a slightly mechanical/industrial futuristic edge to the atmosphere. The drama is deliberately employed with a hint of danger and the otherworldly details allow for many twists and turns in the story.




The Electric Dissection modus operandi took on a very interesting new direction this past week with a sublime new track going by the name of 'Lonely Nights'.  The music is Library-esque in tone but tells a very intricately formed story that packs massive amounts of rockin into four minutes and nine seconds. The music really takes on a life of it's own and feels very natural and honest, be sure to add this to your collection through the FREE download link in the player.




Time to rock some hot Italo action and the great new track from Bobby Outro does this in spades. 'Italo X (Farewell)' is fully of classic sounds and arrangements that hook hard and bite deep with infection grooves and melodic transmissions.  I love how this track evolves and forms it's own destiny throughout the five plus minute duration, definitely lending a live-jam feel to it that is wonderfully energising.




A new rocker from the UK with an ear for vintage synth sounds is Mooginizer and his new track 'Getting Hot' finds him experimenting in some very interesting soundscapes. There is a great deal of modern elements and arrangements throughout this track but I can definitely feel an 80s soul burning brightly in it's inner core. However the track simply rocks, and thats what matters.




And speaking of rockin, the new Neon Vandal track, 'Furiosa' takes some hardcore synth rockin to the streets and blasts through the danger zone along the way. This pounding ride into hell is absolutely kick arse as the synth guitars trade riffs, blow for blow, over a turbo charged drum track. I'm surprised this kind of thing doesn't crop up more often in the scene, but I'm sure glad Neon Vandal went into six string oblivion for this piece, and was able to return and tell the tale.



That does us for this abbreviated Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM. I'll be back next week with new reviews as soon as this cold takes it's leave of me, which can't happen soon enough.

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

Synthetix Weekend Update

After a monster week of hot released the sounds keep on rockin on Synthetix with a fully packed, strapped and jacked Weekend Update!

Vector Hold had been a bit quiet of late but he's returned with avengeance with his new track Out Of Limits. It's boppy bassline and delectably delivered synth layers accent the moody melody. This feels like it should accompany something like Ghostbusters with it's haunting soundscape.




One of my most listened to tracks this week is a demo from Betamaxx called Punks In The Disco. I absloutely love the bassline in this, the high energy drums and synths make for a classically 80s experience. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this develops into a final version as this demo cut is totally rocktacular.




Dreamwave Dave came out with another solid track in Push this past week. Dabbling in some delightfully twinkling  chiptune sounds this piece is loaded magical melodies and a drum track that powers along jubilantly. This producer's consistency in delivering great music is something to be applauded.




It looks like Sternrekorder's recent hiatus is well and truly in the past, for which I'm eternally grateful. His two recent killer cuts, Carousel and Heimweh have been joined by another totally kick arse release entitled Comma Eight. Lots of italo love in this track and absolute perfection in the sounds. Incredble.




Giallo Disco pioneer Vercetti Technicolor unleashed the supercharged Sports a few days ago, once again providing chills, thrills and disco kills. This is the ultimate olympic anthem, coursing with energy, tinged with terror and unrelenting in delivery.




Lost Years is already up to version two of his new track Black Waves. Hitting a bit lower and darker than his last few tracks this moody drama has some of the most rocking handclaps I've heard in recent times. I can only hope version three will bring in some classic samples from American Psycho, as teased at by the cover art.




In what I'd describe as a near fatal wet dream of musical collaborations, Televisor has teamed up with 80s synth scene pin-up boy Patrick Baker and created something sure to get girls screaming all over the planet. Run Away is 80s pop synth magic that will hopefully find both artists working again together soon.




Last but most certainly not least we have a wonderful new track from Lueur Verte that's just come out. This is the follow up to Rockin' Summer and continues down a similar path. Once again we get a great dose of guitars to compliment the soaring synth work. It's a very polished experience and makes me wish for an EP or, better yet, an LP from Lueur Verte to really be able to drink in the atmosphere of this talented artists work.




Thanks for sharing all the action in the 80s inspired synth scene this week on Synthetix and I hope to share more musical magic with you next week!

Synthetix Weekend Update

I hope this week's Weekend Update on Synthetix finds you well and rockin the weekend hard, lets get right to it and keep the temperature sizzling!

Pilotpriest has release a magnificent new piece entitled Canyons, inspired by the upcoming Paul Schrader movie The Canyons. This is a sublime work of absolute quality. One of my favourite Pilotpriest ventures, it's thoroughly deep and mesmerizing.




Lost Years is keeping up his manic rate of production of superb synth sounds with his newest refinement of Breeze. This second version is cementing Lost Years' blending of italo synth and soundtrack synth in completely beautiful directions. This fine producer's work must be due for an album release some time soon, we can but hope.




DigitalNativeDance released a magnificently remixed version of Bikslow's Artanist. This has 80s love and power coursing through it's veins and makes for a totally high energy synthtacular experience. Very impressive work!




Continuing on the remixi theme we have had two brilliant remixes released of Lueur Verte's Night Slasher II. Both Perturbator and Arcade High have provided the reinterpretations and both are works monstrous magnitude. Perturbators dark synth stylings lend themselves well to the original's air of menace with rapid drum fills and thundering bassline terror. Arcade High brings in some kick arse video game drama to his remix and creates a new atmosphere of fear in the digital world. Both are must-hear!




Giallo Disco raconteur Vercetti Technicolor published another piece of horror synth work with L'incubo Senza Fine (Reprise). This genre is a thoroughly wondrous sub-genre of 80s inspired synth work and once again Vercetti Technicolor nails it, violently, into digital oblivion.




Dreaming Android Films has released the video envisionment of Klockhaus's Damage Report this week. A perfect companion to the aural majesty of the music, the video is a hypnotising mix of classic clips from 80s commercial ans promos. A perfect mix.



Another excellent clip from video editor extraordinaire Neros77 was released this week also. This man has once again made the perfect visual accompaniment to one of my favourite tracks released this year; Lazerhawk's Theme. Superlative work as always from Neros77, capturing the spirit and vision of this piece of music perfectly.



That does us for another week  on Synthetix. Next week I'll be covering, amongst other releases, AKAHandsDown and Sello RekT, so stay tuned for more music to keep you firmly stuck in the 80s, right where you want to be!