Back catalogue: Coldwave/Synth

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.