Ever wish songs just sang what was happening in the music video? Dustin McLean did – and you’ve got him to thank for this literal take on the classic synth-pop song Take On Me, from the phonetic one-hit-wonder band Aha. via APC
Thomas Dolby has announced a new March tour, with shows in Northern California and Texas, including SXSW in Austin on March 15. Dolby is pioneering a new blend of instruments: high-tech electronica plus live jazz brass. His spring touring ensemble will feature real-time looping on a computer laptop, along with a three-piece horn section (the… Read More Thomas Dolby Plans March Tour with Jazz Mafia Horns
Brainchips, the latest release by German sound artist Robert Schroeder, is a collection of accessible synth music that ranges from quirky instrumentals to R’n’B influenced vocal tracks. Schroeder was discovered in the seventies by Klaus Schulze, and had a successful first album, Harmonic Ascendant. Since then, he’s released both solo CDs and work as Double… Read More Robert Schroeder – Brainchips
Here’s an interesting video by Moog Cookbook, an electronica band that does covers of modern pop tunes in the style of Moog records of the late 1960s and early 1970s. No MIDIs were hurt in the making of this video. Moog Cookbook at Amazon.
Oglio Records is releasing a new by electropop synth pioneer Jean-Jacques Perrey & Dana Countryman, The Happy Electropop Machine. The CD is described as an insanely happy instrumental collection of original tunes, and also includes five melodies by other composers. Using classic “Moog”-style analog synthesizers, as well as acoustic instruments, the CD is styled to… Read More Now on Tour: Pop Synth Pioneer Jean-Jacques Perrey
The latest CD from punk electronica duo Babyland brings punk rock attitude to electronica, and takes no prisoners. The Finger, Babyland’s fifth album, is a great collection of “electronic junk punk” music that features punk rock vocals over electro-pop beats. The twelve tracks vear towards industrial synth-pop, electro and retronica. The strained, sprechstimme vocals about… Read More Babyland – The Finger
ZTT Records has released Andrew Poppy on Zang Tumb Tuum, a 3 CD box set compiling classic recordings, unreleased and rare material commemorating the 20th anniversary of Poppy’s period with the label. One of the UK’s leading contemporary composers, Poppy arrived at ZTT in 1984 having studied under John Cage and founded the avant-garde collective… Read More ZTT Records Releases Andrew Poppy Retrospective
Hollywood Records has released Moog, the companion double album to the Plexifilm documentary about electronic music pioneer Bob Moog. Moog, inventor of the modern synthesizer, has been building electronic musical instruments for nearly half a century. Along the way, he’s made prodigious contributions to modern culture and music, including today’s electronic dance music scene. The… Read More Moog Movie Soundtrack Features Two CDs of Music
Ready to go Back in Time? Silver Plastic Records has something for fans of eighties-style synth-pop with its compilation album Return of the Permanent Wave. The CD features tracks from 10 artists that are creating new music that draws on elements of classic synthpop. Silver Plastic describes the compilation as “a mature exploration of the… Read More Return of the Permanent Wave
Electro, the latest CD from Aalacho, re-examines the sounds of new wave and electro-pop, mixing synths, rock guitars and vocals. Aalacho is made up of Nathan Scott, who handles synths, guitars, vocals and programming. He’s joined on this CD by guitarists Sam McIlvain, Chris “Reemus” Brown & Derek Armstrong; and vocalists Joe Randazzo, Trevor Hesse… Read More Aalacho – Electro
