Browsing Tag

Indie Synth Pop

LA indie darkwave duo Darkplay have released their latest single ‘Only You’

Posted on 28 March 2021

Ahead of their forthcoming album, LA indie darkwave duo, Darkplay unleashed their entrancingly atmospheric synthpop single, ‘Only You’ which takes the listener on a trip to the murky depths of 80s post-punk while never sacrificing the melodic gravity of the single.

With a similar revivalist nature to bands such as Spector, Darkplay succeeded in teasing nostalgia while putting a brand-new spin of a familiar sound. Each crescendo comes laden in reverb for the ultimate psychotropic effect, and to sweeten the track, the perfect balance of light affability and dark despondency was found. Just imagine what it would sound like if Joy Division and the Human League had an aural lovechild.

Only You can be heard on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lyon Tide are set to make a stunning debut with their tender Indie Synth Pop track ‘Closure’

Posted on 5 January 2021

Birmingham, UK Pop-Rock artist, Lyon Tide are set to make their debut on January 1st, 2021 with their entrancingly affectionate synth-led track ‘Closure’. If Lyon Tide set the precedent for music in 2021, it could prove to be the most exciting year for music since 1991.

The sensual-through-its-tenderness track serves a beautiful reminder that closure doesn’t have to come from the person you’ve parted ways with. It can come through the resolving lyrics, such as those penned for Closure, which affirms that our deeply personal pain and amorous tribulations are pretty much universal.

Any fans of Radiohead will undoubtedly appreciate the synthy reverb-laden throbs which create the arrestive heartbeat of the single which will remind you of your capacity to feel. If you’re not left an emotional wasteland of ennui after 2020, that is.

You’ll be able to check out Closure via Spotify

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Broken Bricks deliver a faultless slice of chartable pop with ‘Slow Down’

Posted on 24 November 2020

Stripped back yet full-on ‘Slow Down’, the new single from electronic luminaries Broken Bricks, is a perfect blend of ‘real’ instruments, programmed drums and sequenced melody lines, and beautiful, fragile vocals. There’s a touch of the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs to the chorus, maybe a smattering of Friendly Fires or Bat For Lashes across the track, and an element of Little Boots to the (mostly) female vocal delivery. A charming, perfectly-formed piece of electronica, dancey without being ‘dance’ and immediate without being throwaway, with ‘Slow Down’ Broken Bricks have delivered a faultless slice of chartable pop which insinuates itself firmly into your head, sets up camp, and simply refuses to leave.

Hear ‘Slow Down’ on Spotify. Follow Broken Bricks on Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Westerner is set to release their polyphonically enrapturing Indie Synth Pop hit ‘Restless’

Posted on 22 November 2020
Westerner

Indie Synth Pop doesn’t come much more entrancing and anthemic than the forthcoming release ‘Restless’from the LA-hailing trailblazing masters of rhythmic electronica, Westerner.

With lockdown claustrophobia thick in the air, this exuberantly dynamic release perfectly captures the collective frustration as the desperation to live instead of simply exist intensifies. All the while, Restless feeds you euphoria through the deftly crafted sticky-sweet polyphonic progressions which unravel with a kick of psychedelia.

You’ll have to wait a little longer before you can check out Restless for yourselves. In the meantime, head on over to the artist’s Spotify to check out their earlier releases.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

MOTIV – ‘Don’t Let Yourself Down’  

Posted on 14 November 2020
MOTIV

In a world of manufactured angsty alt-rock and generic R&B and trap-based pop-dance, it’s always refreshing when an artist does something different; with this track, MOTIV produces something close to eighties synth-pop – think Pet Shop Boys, Nik Kershaw, or Howard Jones – but with a modern, updated twist.

It’s ridiculously catchy, too. The ‘Don’t Let Yourself Down’ hook of the track’s title squirms its way into your head and refuses to leave for hours after the track has finished. Yet, it perseveres with an almost-ambient set of eighties-style production values – heavy reverb, old-school sequenced and gated drum beats, and a synth melody which mimics the vocal line, all whirling and writhing around that lyrical hook. ‘Don’t Let Yourself Down’ is a perfect slice of danceable, singable pop that’s a beautiful antidote to 2020’s lockdown blues.

Follow MOTIV on Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

The ultimate Indie power couple The Civil Union has released their synthy sweet Pop Rock track “You&I”

Posted on 26 October 2020

“You&I” is the synthy sweet Pop Rock earworm orchestrated by the Indie power couple The Civil Union which puts to shame all of the artificially composed love songs which consistently flood the airwaves.

When they say, “You and I are the only thing that needs to happen”, you believe it. The passion, determination and unfaltering love resonates just as much through the lush synth lines it does through the dual vocals as they coalesce under vocal reverb for a retro-futuristic effect.

The Civil Union had to triumph over adversity for the release of their debut self-titled album. The album which became so much more than a project. It turned into purpose, catharsis and the testament of the love that breathes between them.

You can check out You&I for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

TriPed opens up their amorously romantic soul in “Driving with Tears in My Eyes”

Posted on 10 October 2020

If you thought the title to TriPed’s latest single “Driving with Tears in My Eyes” is candid, just wait until you hear the raw, fraught introspection which acts as a window into the melancholic soul of this exceptional artist.

It’s an organ-tensingly evocative experience which is sweetened by the striking talent on display in the Synth Pop hit.

Driving with Tears in My Eyes will throw you back to the 80s with the throbbing synth notes while simultaneously projecting you into the future, which will undoubtedly be bright for the London-based solo Pop artist.

Whether you’re a fan of the Midnight or still a staunch fan of the Human League, you won’t want to miss this electrifyingly powerful release.

You can check out TriPed’s latest single via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Camp Cosmos invite you to succumb to the slick synthy Indie catharsis in latest track “Minnow”

Posted on 20 August 2020

If you’re looking for slick, synthy Indie aural goodness, hit play on the latest single “Minnow” by up and coming Indie artist Camp Cosmos.

If you’ve been feeling like you’re swimming against the tides recently, Minnow acts as 3 minutes of pure cathartic escapism on offer.  Minnow convincingly invites you to float along with the synth-carved stylistic rhythms which simply ooze those frequently sought good vibes. The playful eccentricity and personality in the vocals combined with the indulgent up-vibes melodies offer all of the organic feel-good vibes you could ask for.

All things considered, it’s the perfect mellow Summer Synth Pop track. Impress your friends, add the hazy delight to your playlists now.

You can check out Minnow for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

US Indie Pop artist Help Society has released their debut album “Gettin’ Low & Lettin’ Go”

Posted on 4 August 2020

From the first few sonically-charged synth notes in US-based artists Help Society’s latest single Better, we were hooked.

Better is just one of the immersive and connectable tracks from Help Society’s album Gettin’ Low & Lettin’ Go. Each Darkwave track tackles a different facet of grief. And each track has plenty of organic and sincere resolving energy poured into it.

Largely, grief goes unspoken about. People tend not to like broaching the subject, but Help Society definitely wasn’t shy about laying down warm and compassionate sentiments over the shimmering synth-carved soundscape in Better.

If any track has the power to unite the goths and the Indie kids, it’s Better. There’s a gritty dark allure under the high-vibe tones giving Better a full-rounded feel which mirrors the complexity of grief-stricken emotion. It’s a constant battle to feel fragments of euphoria when experiencing grief, Help Society will help you get there.

You can check out Better along with the rest of the album for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Gold Record – On Notice: Nostalgically Accessible, Futuristically Fresh Funk-Soaked Indie Synth Pop

Posted on 5 July 2020

Up and coming trio Gold Record’s debut release On Notice is a nostalgically accessible, futuristically fresh feat of Funk-soaked Indie Synth Pop.

The sultry grooves in the infectiously melodic soundscape are paired with vocals which carry reminiscences with artists such as John Grant. Naturally, On Notice drips with commercial potential.

It’s a rare track which offers energetically danceable beats, but no matter where or when you hear On Notice, it’s guaranteed to lift your mood with the organic good vibes which spill from the persona of the artists.

If the lush synth lines don’t do it for you, the sax solo which brings in the outro definitely will.

You can check out Gold Record’s single On Notice for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

For more info, head on over to Gold Record’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast