Back catalogue: Coldwave/Synth

Review: Army of God's 'Salvation'' back in 2012 soon became a cult coldwave cut. It was the one and only release by the pair of Aroy Dee and Miss Jagroe... until now. More than ten years on they are back with 'Endless Skies' which is a new EP full of analogue warmth, signature synth designs and aching strings. Of course, Jagroe's unique voice features and brings extra allure to the beats. Aroy Dee steps up with an edit of the title cut and lays in some more form drums and pairs back the vocals to make things even darker. On the flip you'll find the throbbing bass and off-kilter keys of 'Fear the Night' with a dark version going even more into the shady unknown.

Review: Berlin's renowned Iptamenos Discos its back with more great musical enchant in the form of this new white vinyl 12" in hand-numbered hand-stamped sleeve from Boys' Shorts. This dynamic queer duo comes from Greece and is made up of Vangelis (formerly of LAGASTA) and London-based Tareq. Their Something To Forget EP is a dazzling mix of disco with a whole world of subtle influences from other genres. Two originals come accompanied by innovative remixes from Gabe Gurnsey and Whitesquare to make this an effective outing that will likely win Boys' Shorts many new followers.

Review: Blkmarket Underground Music Party Edits is a sub-label to the influential Blkmarket, an esteemed label and event series in New York. Contrary to what that catalogue number might indicate, this is actaully their second release and has Facets at the controls. First up is 'Computers' with its raw and snappy analogue drum sounds and late-night synth details. 'Time Of War' is another full-fat blend of analogue drum thump and driving synth motifs, 'Talk To Me' has crashing cold-wave synths and deadpan vocals and 'Paranoia' has loopy vocals and moody atmospheres for freaky dancing. 'Lies' and 'Dub To Destruct' shut down this varied and retro-tinged EP with jerking rhythms that will do plenty of damage.

Review: Karolina BNV is not to be messed with, putting it lightly. The Berlin-based producer has garnered a loyal following among fans of EBM, New Beat, industrial, electro-goth and robot sex droid fetish production scenes. The latter we just made up but hopefully you get what we're getting at. Descriptions aside, she follows her 'Lessons On Good Behaviour' release with four more tracks born from a terrifying future we're probably already living in, we just don't really know it yet. From the apocalyptic sludge and punch of 'Unforgivable Decisions', to the electro rave squelch and staccato percussion of 'Context Abuse', the two tracks roll out relentless grit and grime. Then you have '1988' and 'Germany Calling', with their retro futurism, acid house totems held high in the air for all to see that there is still some resistance to the robots.

Review: DFA Records prime mysterious new Brighton signees Proper Monday Number with a sure start, flicking the proverbial Rube Goldberg machine into gear with a banging remix of their otherwise unreleased debut track 'High Horse'. Here, of course, it's LCD Soundsystem / DFA's very own James Murphy at the remix controls, together with resident DFA DJ and "decent human" Matt Cash. Toolroom dance moods extend over a lusciously simple seven minutes, bringing home FM stabs and LinnDrum faceslaps aplenty. And the lyrics: "stop what you're doing now... you ain't got no crown! get off your high horse! turn this ship around!" In our day and age, we need more anti-stagnation, ego-teardown anthems like this, so we welcome the sentiment by the masked duo.

Review: Bedford-based trio Zenana never made much of an impact when they were first active in the 1980s but have become the toast of the world's media following the rediscovery of their excellent, Italo and Hi-NRG-influenced 1986 synth-pop single, 'Witches', by crate diggers a couple of years back. Here that fine track, originally produced in terraced house in Cornwall by the brother of bandmember Anita Tedder, gets the reissue treatment on Rush Hour's RSS series - thanks, in no small part, to a new (but authentically 80s sounding) extended remix from long-established Bristol DJ/production duo Bedmo Disco. Their flipside 'Spell of Love' version strips back and stretches out the track, taking cues from NYC proto-house, Martin Rushent dubs and mid-80s Shep Pettibone remixes. It's the 12" dance mix the song never had first time round.

Review: Allegedly one of the first ever records to make use of sampling, Jean-Michel Jarre's seventh album Zoolook brought with it a unique vibe, one well worth looking back on in light of its latest Sony reissue. In terms of notoriety, Zoolook pales in comparison to the electronic music crackerjack's 1976-8 heyday, which saw to both Oxygene and Equinoxe; but this is understandable, as Zoolook came much later, and sacrificed the grandiose mood of otherworldly space-awe for an eerier menage of playful factory hits and cacophonous dance hubbubery. Perhaps this sound - a jankier one that grew in popularity in the mid 80s - was driven by Jarre's use of the Fairlight CMI workstation and sampler, an example of a piece of gear that had the power to define an entire sound. We'd venture to say that the titular "Zoolook" is a kind of gaze that, by virtue of us living in a machine society, makes animals of us all.

Review: Originally released in 1984, this album remains one of the most experimental and groundbreaking albums in electronic music with Jarre's fans including everyone from Jeff Mills to Eno and Depeche Mode's Martin Gore. With its fusion of cutting-edge sampling techniques and rich, multicultural vocal work, the album stands out as a pivotal moment in both Jarre's career and in the history of music production. For its 40th anniversary, the album has been reissued in a remastered edition, with a bonus track, 'Moon Machine', making it an ideal time to revisit its timeless innovation. The album utilizes the Fairlight CMI sampler to manipulate vocal samples from over 25 languages, creating a truly unique soundscape. Tracks like 'Ethnicolor' and 'Diva' exhibit Jarre's use of avant-garde techniques, blending musique concrete influences with electronic textures and vivid, expressive vocals from artists like Laurie Anderson. The album's surreal qualities are further enriched by its diverse use of genres and influencesifrom the haunting 'Ethnicolor 1' to the funky, upbeat groove of 'Zoolookologie'. Though Zoolook diverges from the atmospheric, space-themed sound of Oxygene and Equinoxe, its experimental nature and complex structure push boundaries and make it an essential listen. While some tracks, like 'Woolloomooloo' and 'Blah Blah Kafe', slow the pace, they provide a contrast to the more intense moments, rounding out the album's broad, eclectic emotional range. Ultimately, Zoolook is a landmark in blending technology, culture and sound, and this anniversary edition is a fitting tribute to an album that helped shape the future of electronic music.

Review: Avant! enlist the services of roster-shifting Italo disco project Male Tears to envisage the 'Paradisco', a clever portmanteau that invites us into further speculate on the term as a thought experiment. Indeed, a disco thrown in paradise is the obvious imago; less obvious is the observation of a very real zeigeist; that all discotheques today occur in a sort of para-situation, in a space that is a cut above normalcy, thrown in discrete fantasy spaces. Male Tears know this all too well, with such escapist flights of fancy as 'Sex On Drugs', 'Regret 4 Nothing' and 'He Wants Everything' eliciting surreal extremes of emotion, with their reverb-laden voxsynth patches, insouciant masc-femme vocal switches, and longing hooks reminiscent of Talk Talk or Liquid Sky.

Review: This posthumous release offers a fascinating glimpse into the life and music of an enigmatic artist whose haunting voice and unique sound impressed listeners in the late 80s and early 90s. The collection brings together a treasure trove of previously unreleased tracks recorded between 1985 and 1995, showcasing the artist's diverse range that spans new wave, synth-pop and even house music. Each song is infused with her distinctive, smoky vocals, delivering a powerful emotional punch whether it's a haunting ballad or a danceable groove. The album demonstrates the artist's ability to transcend genres, with some tracks offering an updated, new-wave twist on her most iconic hit, while others dive into experimental soundscapes that reflect her creative depth. The compilation is a poignant reminder of her brief but impactful career, as well as the mystery that surrounded her life after her rise to fame. Accompanying the release is a documentary that delves into the artist's journeyifrom her early days as a taxi driver to her rise to cult status, followed by her disappearance from the music scene. This music, long hidden away, offers a powerful reflection on a life marked by both brilliance and tragedy, providing fans and newcomers alike with a chance to experience the full breadth of her artistic legacy. This version is available on 'summertime' green vinyl.

Review: Whether or not you head the first one, Jon Savage's second exploration of the diverse sounds of the post-punk era is another eye (or ear?) opening listen that will teach you plenty and join many dots you might not have done otherwise. Spanning electronic music, disco, experimental, and proto-techno, Do You Have The Force Volume 2: Jon Savage's Alternative History Of Electronica 1978-82 is a masterfully curated compilation that showcases an eclectic range of genres and influences all handpicked and well sequenced by the renowned cultural commentator, writer, and filmmaker that is Savage. This is a double LP version which comes with a 12 page digisleeve booklet.

Review: Berlin-based synthwave and dark disco band Dina Summer return with a sanguine new seven-track record, continuing their reputation for making 80s nostalgist music fans ever more ravenous for their distinct take on EBM and its adjacent styles. Following 2022's acclaimed Rimini LP, this freak zone of a record brings gravely detuned, yet DJ-ready instrumental backings and stiffly but passionately delivered vocal recitations to a modern production palate. This approach reaches its ultimate conclusion on the natural midpoint 'Alien', a track perhaps best describable as a hi-NRG number made in a cryoponic chamber and lent an extraterrestrial theme.

Review: Berlin-based Dina Summer - a synth-loving trio fronted by the suitably sassy and no-holds barred singer Dina P - impressed with their Italo-disco and turn-of-the-millennium electroclash inspired debut album, Rimini. Three years in, they return with an arguably even stronger set - the notably darker, more stylish and more new wave-influenced Girl's Gang. Many of their trademark elements remain to the fore - Dina P's dead-eyed spoken word vocals, the use of vintage drum machine rhythms and sequenced basslines - but this time round come accompanied by black mascara-clad nods to post-punk, New Romantic, goth-rock and Depeche Mode style synth-pop sounds. As previously stated, it is genuinely stylish and impeccably observed stylistically, but what makes it stand out is the substance behind the sheen.

Review: Dark Entries is back with Back Up Dos: Mexican Tecno Pop 1982-1989, which is a much-warranted follow-up to 2021's Back Up. This compilation features ten tracks of synth-pop and New Beat with seven previously unreleased on wax. It highlights the evolution of Mexico's DIY music scene as it moves from post-punk and new wave to aggressive EBM and cyberpunk. Reflecting the political turbulence of the era which was marked by rising drug cartels and conservative shifts, these tracks showcase how bands used home recording and drew inspiration from the Human League and Wax Trax Records while also including pop anthems by Casino Shanghai and Los Agentes Secretos, alongside rarities from Ford Proco and Maria Bonita.

Review: Dark Entries looks to Portugal for this new and swinging collection of vintage Iberian synth, post-punk and wave. Rock Rendez Vous: Musica Moderna Portuguesa 1985-1986 is the sound of a legendary club which opened in 1980 and helped to usher in a new wave of sound for local emerging bands. They drew from national musical identity and fused it with contemporary international influences and came up with some of the prime indie tunes you hear here, from brooding post-punk 'Levante' from Jovem Guarda to more playful and Balearic-laced synth-pop stunners like D. W. Art's 'Mate'. This one is perfectly presented with a double-sided insert featuring lyrics and liner notes.

Review: Rusty Egan Presents Blitzed! offers a vivid sonic journey back to London's Blitz Club circa 1980, capturing the essence of the New Romantic movement with meticulous detail. As the resident DJ at the epicenter of this cultural phenomenon, Rusty Egan curated a soundtrack that defined an era and shaped the future of British pop music. This compilation meticulously captures the eclectic mix of influences that fueled the Blitz Club's electric atmosphere. From Bowie and Roxy Music to Kraftwerk and European electronic pioneers, Egan's sets seamlessly blended diverse musical styles, creating a sonic tapestry that transcended genres. The tracks on Blitzed! reflect the club's diverse clientele, from fashion designers to art school kids, post boys to pop stars in the making. The compilation's contemporary photography by Sheila Rock, Peter Ashworth, and Terry Smith, along with insightful sleeve notes by Alexis Petridis and Rusty Egan himself, provide a comprehensive look into the era and its cultural impact. Blitzed! not only celebrates the music of the time but also serves as a historical document of a revolutionary moment in British pop culture. It's a must-have for anyone interested in the New Romantic movement and the influential role of clubs like The Blitz in shaping music history.

Review: The music of London's Blitz nightclub is celebrated with a new box-set curated by Rusty Egan, the man who, with Steve Strange, helped usher in a transition from the late 70s musical gloom into a glamorous, sonorous new 1980s. After their prior band, Rich Kids, disbanded in 1978, Egan and Strange saw through their enterprising excesses with a new venture, launching the Blitz club as a wine bar in Covent Garden. Bottling the unique, generic essence of the nightclub - at a time where the styles and sounds of David Bowie, Sade, Spandau Ballet, Boy George, Billy Idol, Ultravox, Visage, Marilyn and Gary Numan reigned supreme, yet were often not heard all in one physical place - this new reminiscence compilation brings both well-known and lesser-heard gems of the Blitz era to a fantastically fresh set of ears, proving that even you, too, can be a hero, just for one day.

Review: For the last ten years Japan's reissue market has blossomed into one of the most fruitful for western listeners eager to explore very rare Japanese releases and artists from the 70s and 80s specifically. In no other genres has this been most displayed then in the new age, ambient, folk and synth realms. Alfa/Yen Records 1980-1987: Techno Pop & Other Electronic Adventures In Tokyo follows this fantastic era of passing on to a new generation. This compilation features many luminary figures in the Japanese scene with an extra emphasis of it honing in on Yellow Magic Orchestra and its members. After the popularity of similar compilations in the past five years, this looks to be one of the most successful reissues of Japanese electronic music in 2024!

Review: A compelling selection of unreleased tracks from influential Italian artists and producers who continue to shape the underground electronic scene. The project features a mix of electro, synth-pop and new wave, each track pushing boundaries and exploring new sonic frontiers. Rimini Metafisica, led by Paolo Gozzetti (known for Sigma Tibet and Italoconnection), presents a fresh exploration of sound, while TenGramsione of the Piatto brothers' aliasesidelivers dark, minimal synth with an essential edge. Diego Montinaro, aka Sandiego, contributes a cybernetic ballad, while Mono Han, another Piatto project, shines with bright, authentic synth-pop, powered by a Linn Drum and Roland Jupiter 8.Other standout contributions include Deep Field, a synth-pop venture from Danilo Carnevale and Castelli's new-wave disco track. Fogli and Ventura's collaboration brings isolationist minimal synth, while Through Twelve offers a post-punk-synth-pop blend with contemporary flair. Body System, a collaboration between Enrico Colombo and Ventura, aims to revive the EBM sound and Italoconnection, with Francesca Gastaldi, presents a "lost" track reinterpreted by TenGrams in a Kraftwerkian style. Spittle Italy continues to bring out some excellent compilations for their followers.