Back catalogue: Coldwave/Synth

Review: Body Of Light are brotherly duo Alex and Andrew Jarson from Arizona, but you'd be forgiven for thinking they were from the mid 80s the way they nail the sound of heavy-hearted synth-pop and new wave. This new album was written in the wake of 2019's Time To Kill, and it arrives ten years into their career. The maturity in the music shines through, not least in the voluptuous instrumental parts - just listen to the bass slinking around 'Never Ever' and you'll hear what we mean. If you like your synth-pop shot through with a seductive darkness, this album has more than enough to whet your appetite.

Review: .Released in 2017, The Demonstration was the second studio album from Drab Majesty for California-based Dais Records, and certainly made their intentions clear, just in case there had been any doubts following 2015's debut LP, Careless, or during the preceding four years in which they had been active in some way or other. Dark, emotionally-charged futurism, with more than a subtle nod to the occult. While some have described the duo's work as 'lo-fi', for us that's a little misleading. As the difficult second goes to show, this is less about pared back aesthetics and more about retaining a real sense of what it means to be human in an increasingly electronic, processed, and artificial world. A big statement, even before you get to the lyrics themselves.

Review: TR/ST's Performance emerges as a striking testament to the project's evolution, now presented on eye-catching yellow vinyl. The fourth studio album from Robert Alfons, formerly known as Trust, dives deep into a haunting synth-pop universe crafted with the help of Night Feelings. Recorded in Los Angeles, this collection is a masterclass in balancing eerie synths, foggy low end, and Alfons's raw, emotive crooning.
The album's title reflects a friend's casual observation of Alfons's intrinsic performative essence. Tracks like 'Soon' burst with anthemic new wave hooks and caustic lyrics, while others such as 'All At Once' and 'The Shore' showcase a dramatic interplay between beauty and bitterness. Alfons's voice, both a tempest and an anchor, delivers a stream-of-consciousness narrative that navigates through realms of dread, lust, and emotional upheaval. Performance offers a mesmerising blend of melancholic grandeur and intense production, transforming each song into an immersive, emotional journey. With its unique soundscape and compelling storytelling, this album promises to impress and unsettle in equal measure.

Review: Xeno & Oaklander's Via Negativa marks their eighth venture into the realm of retro-futuristic synth-pop, blending meticulous electronic craftsmanship with emotional depth. Recorded in their modernist Connecticut home, which doubles as a two-story synthesiser lab, this album balances visionary ambition with technical precision. The duo, Liz Wendelbo and Sean McBride, translated embryonic piano sketches into intricate modular systems, layering harmonics, tuned percussion, and spectral devices that create rhythmic textures. Yet, despite its complexity, the music resonates on a human level. The title track opens the album with shimmering synths and a sleek vocal interplay, setting a cinematic tone for what's to come. Each track plays with mood and persona, capturing the band's fascination with theatricality and drama. It's a collection of widescreen anthems that feel both timeless and firmly rooted in the cybernetic present.