Browsing Tag

Synth Rock

Super Love – Tell Me: An Alt-Rock Rebellion of Societal Oblivion

Posted on 29 March 2024

Super Love, the dynamic husband-and-wife duo, has unleashed ‘Tell Me’, a single that picks up where Le Tigre left off by blending lo-fi synthetics with complex time signatures and brashly protestive indie rock guitars. It defies convention and expectation, inviting listeners into a perception-shifting atmosphere which vindicates anyone trying to find meaning in a post-truth society.

The song’s unusual 7/4 time signature, combined with classic rock instrumentation and synths, creates a unique earworm which will pull you into the unapologetic rebellion time and time again. The dual vocal lines add a layer of dynamism to the track. While Jared’s imploring tones seek sanctity in these tumultuous times, Constance brings fire and frustration, painting a lyrical vignette of our contemporary search for salvation and optimism amidst fears of collective oblivion.

‘Tell Me’ is a rare feat – a single that not only ticks all the sonic boxes but also connects profoundly on a lyrical level. Super Love’s ingenuity shines through in this release; their ‘autonomous indie’ style, influenced by the local vibes of New York City, incorporates elements from various sub-genres, including punk and jazz, while never attempting to stay within the confines of any style or sound.

Tell Me was officially released on March 29th; stream the single on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Call Me Cannon rekindled the resonance of rock’s golden era with their latest nostalgic installation of soul, JAMEY

Posted on 4 March 2024

Call Me Cannon’s latest single, JAMEY is a nostalgically fresh breath of air. The pop-rock gem, infused with soulful undertones, is a masterful blend of past and present and echoes the robustness of rock with the catchy allure of pop.

The track is a harmonious blend of piano-driven melodies and rock-solid guitar riffs, creating a sound that carries the influence of the Human League, Billy Idol, and Aerosmith while reverberating a sonic signature steeped in a style of soul that could only belong to Call Me Cannon.

The trio, consisting of Michael Fitzgerald, Jonathan Clark, and Tony Brock, brings a wealth of experience and musical prowess to the table. Their chemistry is undeniable, evident in the seamless way their talents converge in their latest evocative earworm. The song is a testament to their philosophy of “doing what we want as long as it rocks”. We can definitively argue that it does.

Michael’s songwriting shines, offering a glimpse into his impressive repertoire of 17 independent albums and multiple award nominations. Tony Brock, with his extensive credentials, and Jonathan Clark, known for his collaborations with music legends, add endless layers of depth and expertise to the mix that you’ll turn to every time you want to feel the sanctity that only soulfully constructed rock can deliver.

JAMEY proves that sometimes, the most impactful innovations are those that skilfully revisit and revitalise the past.

Watch the official music video for JAMEY on YouTube or add your single to your Spotify playlists.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

NYC’s Lucid Lip synthed up their soul-rock signature in their achingly bitter-sweet release, No Ones’ Burden

Posted on 1 March 2024

Lucid Lip, a band which always knows which heartstrings to pull and notes to play, took their sound to more experimental synth rock territory while maintaining their evocatively impactful finesse with their latest single, No Ones’ Burden.

Staying with their signature sound of soulful alt-rock clearly doesn’t creatively hinder the powerhouse which has become integral to the NY live music scene after playing Rockwood Music Hall, The Bitter End, Our Wicked Lady and countless other renowned venues in their 10-year reign as one of the most versatile acts in the NYC circuit.

After a Grandaddy-meets-Owl-City-esque synthy prelude, No Ones’ Burden kicks into a melodiously energised alt-rock-goes-pop groove as the smoky with soul vocal lines project aching melancholy into the tonally dynamic, harmonically-heightened release. Chris Cornell himself couldn’t have conveyed the emotion in the intimate lyricism better; the candour-fuelled confessionalism of the release is bound to resound with anyone who knows how bitter-sweet it feels to be beholden to no one and be perpetually resisting the temptation to live fast and loose.

No Ones’ Burden will be available to stream on all major platforms from March 1st.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Embrace the retro-future with The Exotic Ices Project’s seminal track, Disciple

Posted on 21 December 2023

Stepping out from the shadows of their former band, Ruby Jones and Patrick Spillane of The Exotic Ices Project ignited a fuse on a synth-pop explosion with their seminal single Disciples. The standout from their debut album, Sunshine Desserts, is a vibrant testament to their musical evolution and a bold statement in the world of new wave synth-pop.

Opening with a cascade of twinkling synths, reminiscent of stardust spanning the entire colour spectrum, the auditory spectacle sets the stage for a journey through a soundscape that is both familiar and refreshingly, chaotically, novel.

After capturing the essence of the 80s and propelling it into the modern era, the track takes an unexpected turn as choppy, staccato guitars enter, bolstering the composition with a raw, electrifying energy. This shift creates a synthscape driven by the tumultuousness of unchained emotion.

While Disciples may not align with everyone’s musical palette, it is a treasure for those who revel in the brighter, more intense shades of retro synth-pop. The track encapsulates the fervid dedication of its namesake, transcending into a realm of electro-rock fervour. It’s a daring composition, one that challenges the listener while remaining undeniably captivating.

With their bold colours and explorative sonic universes, Ruby and Patrick are not just riding the wave of synth-pop; they are redefining it.

The official music video for Disciple is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Face the wrath of Moose Wrench’s synthesised surrealism through their latest single, Ginnel Dick

Posted on 18 December 2023
Not Dead Yet by Moose Wrench

Moose Wrench, a Leeds-based alternative outfit, propelled us into a vortex of macabre synthetics with their latest single, Ginnel Dick, from their debut album, Not Dead Yet. This track is an audacious escapade into the realms of electro-cyberpunk, infused with a Lynchian nightmare aesthetic and Kafkaesque surrealism. The song is a cacophony of genre-bending sounds that merge to form a unique auditory experience, making Moose Wrench a standout in the “dad-bod alt-core” scene, which they created because no other genre pigeon-hole is wide enough for the sheer insanity that ensues once you hit play.

After an 80s horror-adjacent intro, the single opens with a punchy, rolling beat reminiscent of Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, setting the tone for what is to unfold. As the track progresses, it spills over into a psychedelically dark atmosphere, transforming the listening experience into something akin to a séance rather than a mere song. The symphonic synthscape towards the outro echoes the dramatic flair of a Cradle of Filth release, adding an operatic depth to the already rich sonic tapestry.

It’s a masterfully twisted orchestration that mocks conventional structures and sounds and is a testament to the trio’s ability to confront and creatively express life’s annoyances, from poor driving to the existential dread of mid-life. It is a must-listen for those seeking a fresh, unconventional sound.

Ginnel Dick will debut across all major streaming platforms on December 18th; in the run-up to the official release, purchase the single on Bandcamp.  

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Post-Hardcore goes Pop (Punk) in Secular Era & Drexl Bowie’s single, Master Morality

Posted on 8 December 2023

Two juggnautical entities in their own sonic right, Secular Era and Drexl Bowie, converged to show mere mortals what ‘Master Morality’ sounds like with their latest release. With guitars augmented in the same vein as the hooks in MCR’s I’m Not Okay fused with Slipknot-esque nu-metal percussive proclivities and synthy melodies to keep the down and gutturally dirty track upbeat, Master Morality is an adrenalizing slice of ingenuity that will swallow you whole and spit you out drenched in rancorous euphoria.

While many heavier outfits turn their nose up at the tones of pop-punk, Secular Era & Drexl Bowie saw the potential within it. By using the stickiest and sweetest elements and infusing them into a tumultuously electrifying sequence, they made it impossible to find a track that hits harder while simultaneously keeping their finger on the guilty pleasure pulse. Putting Master Morality into words is no easy feat, but if you can imagine Nena’s 99 Red Balloons fused with Sugar We’re Goin Down and tasked Static X to pay ode to the cross-genre synthesis, you’d get an idea of the engrossing, ingenious, uninhibited insanity delivered via Master Morality.

Master Morality was officially released on December 1st; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

OCEANS OF TEARS – All Our Children Are Dying: NO MORE WARS – GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

Posted on 6 December 2023

OCEANS OF TEARS mused on the ugliest facets of humanity to bring beauty back into the human condition with their latest socially and politically conscious single, All Our Children Are Dying: NO MORE WARS – GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.

The song, a brainchild of Steve W. Boily, echoes the ethos of U2 and Sting, while its sound takes a nostalgic turn towards 80s synth-rock, reminiscent of The Human League and Tears for Fears. The song’s arrangement and production are meticulously crafted, with each element serving the greater purpose of the message.

The nostalgia within the sonics amplifies the poignant urgency of the lyrical messaging; it rekindles memories of less tumultuous times, reminding of the necessity to protect our immediate future, and the days only the future generations will see. By addressing the dire consequences of war and the desperate need for peace, the message transcends language barriers, as evidenced by the translation of the single into over 30 languages.

OCEANS OF TEARS’ commitment to producing music that is provocative and emotionally resonant is evident in this single. This track is a call to action, urging listeners worldwide to advocate for peace and end the senseless cycle of war. By sharing this message through music, OCEANS OF TEARS hopes to influence hearts and minds, encouraging a collective movement towards a more peaceful world.

To feel the full weight of All Our Children Are Dying: NO MORE WARS – GIVE PEACE A CHANCE, stream the official music video which premiered on November 23 on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Confusion Field spoke to the outliers with their interstellar synth and guitar-driven rock opera, Atom Child

Posted on 19 November 2023

‘Atom Child’ is the latest seismic shift in synth-rock from the prodigies of sonic futurism, who banded together to forge Confusion Field. If you ever wondered what Sisters of Mercy would sound like if they assembled lightyears in the future, hit play and wonder no more as you experience the quintessence of the Finnish progressive rock outfit, which was formed in 2017 by the seasoned musician and composer, Tomi Kankainen.

After embarking on a solo path following decades of playing bass and exploring various genres in local bands, Kankainen’s project blossomed into Confusion Field. The band’s debut, “Disconnection Complete,” emerged in 2021, which delved into the shadowy realms of depression.

Their upcoming second album, “Future Impact of Past Diversions,” which will be hot on the heels of Atom Child, promises a rich tapestry of musical escapism. I don’t know about you, but I’ll jump in any vessel I can take away from our blighted and imbittered social tapestry; their presentation of a progressively interstellar synth and guitar-driven rock opera is the perfect ticket.

Confusion Field’s dynamic fusion of progressive, pop, and metal influences, which harmonises the old with the new and the bright with the heavy, all underscored by a distinctive touch of Nordic melancholy will undoubtedly resonate with a broad spectrum of salvation-seeking alternatively inclined music fans. For your own sake, hit play.

Atom Child was officially released on October 6; stream it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Harry Guntrip lured us into contemplation with the analogue synth ambience in ‘Overhead’

Posted on 24 October 2023

Guitars and synths take turns at the steering wheel in the seminal single, Overhead, from the Scottish singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer, Harry Guntrip (AKA Joel Moore), who prises influence from the alt-90s to craft his melodic narratives which beckon experimental familiarity.

With the vocal lines carrying as much resonance as Arab Strap’s slow and deep timbre fused with Grandaddy-esque lo-fi analogue synth-driven melodicism, Overhead achieves a beguiling balance between artistically assertive and intimately emotional to embrace you with striking poetic polyphonic tenderness.

We can’t wait to hear what is lingering in the pipelines from Guntrip; his art is the perfect companion to contemplative nights which necessitate amplifying the sweetness of the bitter-sweet dichotomy.

Overhead was officially released on October 13; stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sentia released the most seductive synthscape of the summer with ‘Make You’

Posted on 11 September 2023

Sentia’s latest single, Make You, kisses you through a cosmic installation of smooth analog synth-swathed rock grooves, comprised of velveteen guitars and basslines that funk up the seductively seminal reimagining of alt-rock just enough to put you on a proggy star-roving plateau of pure euphonic appreciation.

If you gave Editors the sex appeal of Alex Cameron, you still wouldn’t come close to what Sentia have crafted in their hit that encompasses the kind of carnal desire which leaves your psyche rife with indecision as the prospect of taking a chance leaves the line between right and wrong obscured with wanton lust.

With their consistently evolving discography, the iconic anomalies of the Australian alternative scene are increasingly hard to pin down, but considering that all their synthscapes are underpinned with sheer sonic beguile, fool on you if you want to force them into a pigeonhole choked with uninspired assimilators.

Make You hit the airwaves on August 18; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast