Coldwave/Synth charts

Review: Sacred Bones Records has a real coup here as they serve up yet another pressing of the debut album of Belarussian post-punk and synth pop trio Molchat Doma. Originally dropping in 2018 on Berlin label Detroit Records, it was an instant hit online and had more than a million YouTube views in no time at all. The band remains low-key back home but have toured Europe and six successive pressings of this record have all disappeared in quick fashion. With Egor Shkutko on vocals, Roman Komogortsev on guitar, synths and drum machine and Pavel Kozlov on bass and synths, the collective cook-up inviting fusions of new wave, synth pop and post-punk that is dark but alluring, danceable yet thoughtful.

Review: X Mal Deutschland formed in Hamburg 1980 into the post punk era. Most well known for being signed to 4AD records but are slowly being discovered and enjoyed by more fans in recent years. One of the top indie labels in recent years, Sacred Bones is an ideal home to house this early compilation of their work. This package takes all three tracks from their first two singles Schwarze Welt and Incubus Succubus plus adds two other compilation only tracks in 'Allein' and 'Kalbermarsch'. The music is raw and powerful; blending a German punk sound while sprinkling in some avante-garde electronics and atmosphere. You can hear the evolution and growth in the band in just the two years this release covers. Growing from a raw band experimenting with sound and structure to a powerful goth rock band. This version is presented on beautiful purple vinyl. If you are big fan of Minimal Wave discoveries then you will be happy to add this great sounding vinyl to your collection. Thank you Sacred Bones!

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: Canadian composer, arranger, songwriter, and electronic music pioneer Mort Garson just keeps on giving, even now, 15 years after his death. Archival releases since have come not-so-thick-and-fast, but occasional and well thought through, with Journey to the Moon & Beyond the latest example of this. Not, as the cover and title might suggest, the score to some forgotten 1970s animated classic, but instead a collection of stuff very few will have heard before, let alone had opportunity to buy, it's really something special. On the track list, then, you'll find the soundtrack to 1974 Blaxploitation movie Black Eye, or at least part of it. Similarly splendid, but in a very different way, are the grand tones of 'Zoos of the World', originally made to accompany a 1970 National Geographic special of the same name. Then there's the music he wrote for the 1969 moon landings, as used by CBS News at the time. History bottled, or rather pressed, get it while it's fresh (and in stock).

Review: Is John Carpenter the most formidable force in 20th Century US moviemaking? He must certainly be in the running. Say what you will about the genres he focuses on (horror, suspense, sci fi, slasher, those details aren't significant. Instead, what's important to remember is that for decades the director has dedicated his career to creating not just vivid on-screen worlds, but atmospheres and feelings. Taking ownership of his own scores is a big part of that, and in many ways Carpenter's tunes are as memorable as his plots. Here joined by son Cody, and Lost Themes I & II sparring partner Daniel Davies, many of the most iconic tones, keys, melodies, and hooks from more than 20 years of cinematic delights are presented as new - and we couldn't be happier.

Review: Sacred Bones is one of the top indie labels around releasing some of the best variety of great music also. This time they are on the reissue mission to highlight a band that is lesser known outside Germany. Hamburg's X Mal Deutschland. The all-female band were formed in 1980 and released four albums and a handful of singles throughout the 80's. Most notably known for being on the iconic 4AD label some time and even opening for Cocteau Twins in the UK on dates. This compilations collects their first two singles and two key tracks that were featured on compilations only. Eight tracks in total that show their early sound. From experimental sounding pieces to all out Goth Rock, in just the two years this CD covers, you can hear the evolution of the band harnassing their power.

Review: Belarusian post-punk and synth-pop group Molchat Doma have always reflected a brutalist aesthetic in their music which has been marked by cold, grey, and industrial tones. Following their 2020 breakthrough, the trio faced significant changes from leaving Minsk to headlining global shows. Settling in Los Angeles, they crafted their fourth album, Belaya Polosa, which symbolises transformation during tough times and celebrates the digital pulse of the 90s. The album combines sombre dance floor anthems with vibrant reinventions and tracks like 'Ty Zhe Ne Znaesh' Kto Ya,' 'Son,' and 'Belaya Polosa' showcase how they have moved their sound along to blend post-punk, synth textures, and melodic sophistication while maintaining their distinctive minimalist style.

Review: A decade since his groundbreaking Lost Themes debut, John Carpenter, along with son Cody Carpenter and godson Daniel Davies, has revitalised his career. Lost Themes IV: Noir delves into the essence of film noir, infusing Carpenter's iconic synth-driven style with dark, atmospheric elements. Termed "soundtracks for the movies in your mind," these compositions summon the enigmatic charm of classic noir films. Departing from traditional orchestral scores, the trio crafts a distinct sound with synths and guitars, capturing the genre's essence. With this latest release, they redefine Carpenter's musical legacy, moving beyond homage to create immersive sonic experiences that transcend expectations.

Review: Luis Vasquez is the artist behind The Soft Moon and on his latest album we find him in his most confessional and self-reflective mood to date. An array of his inner most feelings are laid bare here for all to wallow in on this cathartic and soothing fifth full-length album. It brings all new emotion to post-punk industrial with two standout collaborations with fish narc and Alli Logout of Special Interest adding further greatness to this instant classic. It is now 12 years since Luis debuted his first album, but this might be his best work yet.

Review: A decade after John Carpenter's groundbreaking Lost Themes debut, his collaboration with son Cody Carpenter and godson Daniel Davies, the pioneering composer and director has revitalised his career. Lost Themes IV: Noir explores the essence of film noir, infusing Carpenter's signature synth-driven sound with dark, atmospheric motifs. Described as "soundtracks for the movies in your mind," these compositions evoke the mysterious allure of classic noir films. While traditional noir scores relied on orchestral arrangements, Carpenter, Carpenter, and Davies craft their distinctive sound with synths and guitars, capturing the essence of the genre. With this latest installment, they continue to redefine Carpenter's musical legacy, transcending mere homage to create immersive sonic experiences.

Review: Don't believe the hype - we certainly don't. Halloween Ends, 2022's trilogy-concluding horror flick that brought the story of evil Michael Myers to a bone chilling climax, is almost definitely not going to be the last time we hear the terrifying piano riff John Carpenter came up with for his original 1978 slasher classic, Halloween. Nor will it likely be the final outing for the mask-wearing, knife-wielding menace of Haddonfield, Illinois; fictional town the franchise centres on.

Let's face it, the most recent outing in the saga only represented the conclusion of the last three films, but since the first time there have been 13 movies, many comic books, one video game and tons of merchandise. All that aside, you can believe the hype surrounding the latest score, which sees synth and atmosphere master Carpenter, alongside son and regular collaborator Davies, invoke the eerie unease that first catapulted Halloween into the pantheons of all-time greatest scare fests. Don't sleep after listening, then; who knows what's out there.

Review: After a string of viral hits as well as a standout live performance documented in front of the iconic Panorama Hotel, which served as the visual centrepiece of their breakthrough album Etazhi, Belarusian darkwave band and viral sensation Molchat Doma now present the vinyl edition of said live performance in vinyl form. Known for their distinct Soviet-era, gothic post-punk, this new live record vivifies three beloved tracks from Etazhi and their subsequent record Belaya Polosa: 'Toska', 'Sudno' and 'Cherne Cvety'. Bleak, washed out and yet never sacrificial of a moment's performative energy, Egor and company weave compelling synth and guitar arrangements about blurry mixes, evoking the desolation of the backgrounded Slovakian landscape captured in the live video. The limited one-time pressing 12" includes the three live tracks on side A and the etching of the iconic hotel on side B.

Review: Is John Carpenter the best soundtrack composer of all time? The jury will always be out on that one, but chances are if you're reading this you'd prefer to tuck into the score to Assault On Precinct 13 than the pomp and pageantry of, say, John Williams or Hans Zimmer. Not that we don't have a huge amount of time for both those maestros, too. Lost Themes IV: Noir isn't really a soundtrack, of course, and goes some way to positioning Carpenter as a true musical genius well beyond any connection with the silver screen. Like listening to midnight blue descend over the endless sprawl of an unnamed city in soft focus, the album is packed with after dark overtures steeped in the kind of atmosphere you can cut with a knife.

Review: John Carpenter's knack for cinematic storytelling without the screen takes centre stage on this deluxe reissue, marking ten years since the release of the great American soundtrack artist's first Lost Themes edition. The new expanded edition, complete with artwork by Greg Ruth, offers more than just a nostalgic revisit; it adds a new 7" featuring two unreleased tracks, 'Cruisin' With Mr. Scratch' and 'Dominator', both pulled from the original sessions. When it first came out, the album stood out for its vivid, visceral style, blending horror, science fiction, and eerie synthwork into standalone pieces that could easily score unseen films.