Friday, September 27, 2013

Jacob 2-2: Like the Com Truise of your Childhood



I recently came across Jacob 2-2's album "Herbivore", which sounds like a remix of 80's TV memories (station idents, Saturday morning cartoons, vintage toys), combined with the warbly synth sounds (similar to that of Com Truse or Neon Indian). However, the semi-IDM, kinda-sorta Synthwave sound is hard to classify. Generally though, it's awesome.

Something else that I loved about this album was the description. Jacob 2-2's successfully articulated something that I've felt for a long time about my childhood:



A common motif found in youth-oriented sci-fi and fantasy films of the 1980′s is the image of the young protagonist, isolated in his/her own playroom. Often he/she is placed under such supervision for purposes of research or quarantine due to psychic powers, alien interaction, or robotic physiology. Alone with toys and televisions, the child is free to create and to consume stimuli from the outside world, but not to interact with it. 

Jacob 2-2‘s new album Herbivore attempts to re-create this fictional universe, or perhaps an expression of the child’s psychology that extended into adulthood, suspended in an isolated, diminutive, and asexual state, where the only joy is found internally within the imagination. 
I just bought the 17 track album digital album (currently for $6 at his labels' Bandcamp), and it's good listening. I'm fairly certain a track or two of his will make it's way into some upcoming mixed sets, as that pitch-bent synth, fuzzy VHS sound really appeals to me. 

For more of the same, I'd recommend checking out my earlier posting about SMASHTV 'Memorx' Video/Music remix sets.




Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Sidewalks and Skeletons



I've been listening to "Sidewalks and Skeletons" for the past month or two, and I'm thoroughly impressed with what he's doing.

Taking some soundsets associated with (what's generally thought of as) Witchhouse, mixed with an almost Memory Tapes vibe, he's produced an album and a few remixes thus far.





More here:
http://sidewalksandskeletons.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/jakeleeismyname

 

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Sources of Dreamwave

One of the few uses I have for Facebook is to access an RSS feed-like updates to various graphic artists and music groups.

One of the best gateways to what's available in the genre of 80's-esk modern music is "The Future Sound of the Past":
https://www.facebook.com/TheFutureSoundofthePast

It's well worth subscribing to if you're interested in seeing Dreamwave / Space Synth-wave / Electronic Dreams / Gold Funk / and Film Soundtrack posts in your news feed, and less into photos of what people had for dinner.




Thursday, July 4, 2013

Mr. Kitty Synthpop




I came across Mr. Kitty through the great IdieYouDie music blog, which includes a full set of the 'LIFE' album that I sadly can't embed here. Album info here.

The album review by Alex at IDYD is thorough, and I agree with the unique sound this synthpop presents, while sounding comfortably familiar. Some tracks remind me of Depeche Mode, others of Crystal Castles, etc. Well worth checking out.

Monday, June 17, 2013

MEO - Rescue Me EP & new Makeup and Vanity Set Album

Via the Thomas Barrandon remix,
I came across this really neat (and currently free download) EP for MEO's EP. For some reason, the female voice over reminds me of Makeup & Vanity Set's 88:88 Film score track 'A Glowing Light, a Promise". Makeup & Vanity Set also appear to have a new mini-album out too, which is worth checking out:

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Latest Tracks

 Soundcloud is a great site. Taking the best elements from the old myspace, last.fm, and other music-related websites, it's created an amazing resource for finding new music.

For an every growing array of synthwave, chillwave, and other music that sounds like it came from an alternate universe circa 1980, visit the 'ThisStuffIsWonderful' Soundcloud 'like' page.