Browsing Tag

Dark Synth Pop

All isn’t fair in love and war in millar’s indie alt-electro-pop single, hunting ground

Posted on 12 September 2023

By drawing parallels between blood sports and romanticism in her indie alt-electro-pop single, hunting ground, the up-and-coming London-based singer-songwriter, millar, delivered a striking exposition of how nothing is fair in love and war when unsuspecting diehard romantics are forced to play by the rules of mind games.

As the atmospheric space progressively shifts from light to dark in the same vein as The Neighbourhood, Cigarettes After Sex and Perfume Genius around the strikingly angular indie guitar work which bears reminiscences to Slowdive and the driving backbeat that gives the single a punchily vindicating energy, hunting ground, is one of the most stunning UK indie tracks to spill up from the underground in 2023.

We can’t wait to hear where millar’s candour and inexplicable talents in euphonically visualising melancholy take her next.

hunting ground was officially released on September 1st; stream it now on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

TaidiClub pours soul across a harsh electronic landscape in his latest single, Rome

Posted on 28 October 2022

The up-and-coming alternative artist, TaidiClub traversed love, life, and dreams in his scintillating LP, Lovin3D! The standout single, Rome, puts vulnerable, harmonised pop vocal lines across harsh and discordant beats as a striking exposition of what it means to be human in a jarring and inhospitable world that would chew you up and spit you out given half of the chance.

The industrial meets post-punk EBM beats is a markable sonic shift away from the mainstream, but TadiClub’s sweet vocal timbre that will be a hit with any fans of the Weeknd and the Midnight pulls the track right back to the realms of commercial potential. Only the soulfully defunct can let Rome fade to a close without being absorbed by the uninhibited ingenuity.

Rome will officially release on October 28th; check it out on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Prepare Your Playlists for the Phantasmal Candour in The Ninth Configuration’s Latest Single, Ghosts Around My Bed

Posted on 25 March 2022

Fans of Depeche Mode won’t want to let the latest single, Ghosts Around My Bed, from The Ninth Configuration pass them by. The monochromatic synth lines teasingly flirt with the post-punk and darkwave while the beats infuse the melancholic candour-swathed single with danceability.

With the pensive sting of the Verve’s earlier material and the no holds barred lyricism that cuts to the same core of fraught emotional disillusionment that we are all susceptible to during our lives, Ghosts Around My Bed is as unifying as it is darkly destitute. In the best possible way. The Ninth Configuration simply projected the sense of cold claustrophobic harrow that surrounds us in the wake of lost pieces of our lives.

The official music video premiered on March 9th. You can check it out for yourselves via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cavono has made his dark pop debut with the post-punk tinged album, Desires.

Posted on 14 August 2021
Cavono

Texas-residing artist Cavono has released his debut album, Desires; the best introduction to his post-punk-style crooning, dark trip-hop beats and alt-indie guitars is the hypnotic standout single, Glass.

If you could imagine the aural result from fusing styles of Hozier, Big Black Delta and the Editors, you can get an idea of how much sex appeal spills from this moody, folky feat of alt-indie pop. From the first verse, you’re pulled into the semi-orchestral soundscape by the sheer magnetism of Cavono’s soulfully morose vocal timbre, making the haunting ethereal tones in the genre-obliterating track so much more phantasmal.

Desires officially released on August 6th; it is now available via apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Synth-soaked Sapha styles the loops to perfection with stunning ”Isolated”

Posted on 19 June 2020
https://soundcloud.com/heysapha/isolated

Based in Wuppertal in Germany this is a loop-filled song with all-time goodness. Producer Sapha revives our battered hearts with this marvelously created Avicii (RIP) type beat that triggers all those hairs on my arms.

A purely instrumental song with no lyrics, this is all about helping us feel a but better after this dreadful lock down that has taken so many lives and torn the world. Pure music is hard to come by these days but this is a lovely treat that has been baked with love. ”Isolated” is a harmonious effort from a quality producer.

I like the vibe here as the sound is so pure and make me feel a bit happier and thinking less about what is going on outside. You can hear some harps here and the beat builds up to be very inspirational with that lovely piano beat. All in all this is a stunning single here that creates a lovely wave of energy that we can all climb and float on the water for a while. Staying sane in this time is the key to mental health and more music like this is always welcome with open arms.

Head through to Soundcloud to hear this fantastic track that will help with the blues.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Pop Meets Darkwave in Skull Smith’s Latest Single “The Ghost of Mr. Hyde”

Posted on 12 March 2020

There were many saccharine love songs released on Valentine’s day. Up and coming artist Skull Smith’s Gothically romantic release “The Ghost of Mr. Hyde” certainly was never in danger of falling into that category.

With lyrics revolving around the ghost of someone’s shadow-side, naturally, the single was a darkly tantalising tale.

The Ghost of Mr. Hyde doesn’t fall into the usual realms of Industrial or Synthwave. Instead, through Skull Smith’s Pop-style vocals mixed with the progressive instrumentals, you’re treated to a soundscape which is far more theatrical.

From ethereal organs to sonic blasts of almost psychedelic synths which would be fitting in a Rock Opera you’ll find a smorgasbord of influence in The Ghost of Mr. Hyde. Evidently, Skull Smith isn’t an artist who concerns themselves with genre constraints.

The instrumentals may be consistently progressive. Yet, one thing which remains as a constant is the captivating nuanced draw of Skull Smith’s effortless vocal harmonies. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but those with darker aural inclinations will undoubtedly appreciate what Skull Smith has to offer.

You can check out Skull Smith’s latest single for yourselves via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hannah Evans – Crying on Your Own: A Moody Alt Pop Playlist Essential

Posted on 28 January 2020
https://open.spotify.com/track/5BP6ty3SKncGPdYIxIwoml

With the release of her third single “Crying on Your Own” Hannah Evans has proven once more that she possesses much more than hypnotic vocal talent.

The beguilingly dark soundscape is bordering on Lynchian, but amongst the deep pensive reverberance, the snappy EDM beats bring a vibrant vitality to the mix allowing the sentiment to hit even harder. Undoubtedly artists such as Billie Eilish have influenced the Brighton-based artist’s sound. But Crying on Your Own contains an equal measure of striking soul and moody unapologetic attitude affirming that assimilation was never her intention.

Artists who are as bold with their sound and visceral with their lyrics deserve an infinite amount of admiration. It’s only a matter of time before her expressively nuanced sound hits the mainstream.

You can check out Hannah Evans’ latest single for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast