Browsing Tag

darkwave synth

The Last Clouds take you to the sonic depths of dejection with their ethereal indie electronica track, Black Hole Lives.

Posted on 17 September 2021

With an intro that mashes The National-style tender piano keys with glitchy caustic electronica, the sense of duality starts resonating early in The Last Clouds’ latest single, Black Hole Lives.

There is an overarching sense of inescapable despair while the restive drum patterns epitomise our refusal to sit restless with ennui. Resonate with it, and you will find yourself consumed by the monochromatic tones, poetic lyrics and psychologically reflective rhythms as you’re taken to the sonic depths of dejection. I mean, do you really have anywhere better to go?

As the single progresses, the reverb that took the sting out of the naturally intimate, Paul Banks reminiscent vocals in the intro starts to slip away, allowing the emotion to ebb and flow with the crescendos, saving the most visceral for last.

I don’t make Paul Banks comparisons lightly, but if any new single is going to leave you an emotional wreck, it is Black Hole Lives and I can personally vouch for The Last Clouds when I say they pour plenty more into their live performances than Interpol.

Black Holes Lives is the second release from the Cheshire-based synth duo’s upcoming album, English Melancholy. The single was officially released on September 17th; you can check it out via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lose control of your rhythmic pulses with Riesenradler’s fiercely sonic electronica single “The Unsung Hero”

Posted on 2 November 2020

“The Unsung Hero” is the sonically-enticing recent release from Austrian artist and video game developer Riesenradler, with passions for both classical music and Electronica, the artist electronically achieved what composers have been doing for decades; orchestrating soundscapes which become so much more than an aural experience. ‘Mesmeric’ doesn’t seem to cut it when it comes to Riesenradler’s production style, you’re practically vexed by the visceral futurism contained in their releases.

The Unsung Hero is just one of the mind-melting mixes which you’ll find on their sophomore album Under the Nanorain which is due to drop later in November. If The Unsung Hero is anything to go by, you definitely won’t want to miss it.

You can check out The Unsung Hero which dropped on October 20th for yourselves by heading over to YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Joel Christian – Rise from the Grave: Entrancingly Super-Charged Darkwave EBM

Posted on 18 April 2020

Fans of EBM and Darkwave will undoubtedly want to check out the aural insanity contained in up and coming artist and producer Joel Christian’s latest release “Rise from the Grave”.

While it may be dark enough to appease Dance music fans whose playlists consist of the likes of Suicide Commando, Front 242, and VNV Nation, Rise from the Grave also carries a palpable amount of mainstream potential.

Alongside the super-charged euphorically danceable beats, you’ll find overdriven guitar riffs toward the outro giving Rise from the Grave extra added convictive bite.

If any contemporary produced mix could take the shine off iconic hits such as Kernkraft 400’s Zombie Nation, it’s this one.

Rise from the Grave is available to stream via Spotify or you can check out the official music video which premiered on March 22nd via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Goldielocks releases their latest pensively emotive 80s synth track “Dysphoria”

Posted on 14 October 2019

Dysphoria isn’t exactly the best feeling in the world. So, it came as no surprise that Goldielocks latest single “Dysphoria” ft. Elva Ray was a fairly pensive aural experience.

Usually, synth-laden EDM hits attempts to force-feed you euphoria, but with Dysphoria, Goldielocks wasn’t unsuccessful in creating a soundscape which accurately reflects the insidious disconcertment which comes along with doses of dysphoria.

Without a hint of shame, I’ll admit that I was choking back the tears by the time Dysphoria reached the outro. The Sydney, Australia-based artist and producer perceptibly has a deft ability utilise rhythmic pulses and ominous electronic effect to relay resonantly captivating melancholy. That may all sound a little bleak, but Dysphoria is still a stunning soundscape – especially with the inclusion of Elva Ray’s harmonically celestial vocals.

You can check out Goldielocks’ latest single Dysphoria for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast