Coldwave/Synth Juno Download

FEATURED RELEASES

Answers 2 Trouble Permanent Vacation Germany

Over the course of the last decade, long-serving German producer Philipp Lauer has become associated with a colourful, wide-eyed style of electronic music that seems to draw just as much influence from glossy 1980s synth-pop as turn-of-the-90s Italian dream house. His latest album, Answers 2 Trouble, largely explores similar sonic territory, though there are far more nods towards 1980s new wave and Bobby Orlando style synth-pop than vintage deep house. For proof, check the Bobby O-meets-Spandau Ballet flex of 'Ghost (featuring Jesnau)', the Pet Shop Boys-with-extra-acid vibes of 'Switec' and the mid-80s Euro-pop goodness of 'Make It Stay'. Elsewhere across the album, highlights include Italo-meets-Balearic house gem 'SNNO', throbbing Fabrizio Mammarella hook-up 'Atalenati' and the early Human League style synth-clang of 'Fait Accompli'.

Leitstrahl

Chromium Dioxide Bordello A Parigi Holland

If you're in the mood for a mixture of sparkling synth-scapes, revivalist Italo-disco chuggers, cowbell-powered electro-disco groovers, toughened-up Euro-pop dancers and sparkling, 1980s movie soundtrack sounds, we'd heartily recommend this long-awaited debut album from Austrian trio Leitstrahl. Their trademark sound is naturally retro-futurist by its very nature, but you'll struggle to find any of the cheesy elements often associated with 1980s synthesizer music, just a string of polished and ear-catching highlights including 'Europa Supersaw' (featuring vocals from Bronski Beat's Jon Jon Foster), the Bobby Orlando-esque 'Albatross', and the chunky electrofunk giddiness of 'Long Lines'. In a word: terrific!

Ivan De La Rouch / Mike Sacchetti

Curame Play Pal Music

Ivan de la Rouch seems to love collaborating with other artists. He began 2021 by joining forces with Javier Busto for an EP on Emerald & Doreen and has now followed that up by hooking up with Mike Sacchetti on the duo's first Play Pal Music outing. We get two quietly impressive original tracks: 'Curame', a fuzzy, rock-tinged romp through arpeggio-driven electronic disco, and 'Moving', which adds spacey sounds, John Carpenter chords and eyes-closed electric guitar solos to another throbbing, Italo-disco style bassline. These two treats come backed by a quartet of remixes, of which Skelesys' psychedelic disco/proto-house take on 'Curame' and Mufti's Andrew Weatherall-meets-New Order style interpretation of 'Moving' stand out.

Various

Versus Vol 1 Aeon

Aeon's streak arrives at its 50th release which Alex Niggemann's label decides to represent with a new compilimentary series - Versus. Taking in seven collaborations from a select core of artists, the mini-album of sorts sees Bawrut & Benjamin Frohlich meet with waves of synths in "Kirmes" next to a dubbed-out terror vault of electronic antics in Panthera Krause & Peter Invasion's "Fiesta Hunuku". Power synths combine with UK pop and Euro dance leanings in Darlyn Vlys & Amarcord's "Talking Modern" with Biesmans & Jepe flying the Italo flag proudly through "Fashionably Late". And for your touch of industrial new wave: Kimshies & Futuristant.

Depaart / Mister Sweatband

Division EP Diynamic Music

Diynamic Music bring us a split EP from Spanish duo Depaart and Atlanta, Georgia-based Mister Sweatband that's quite aptly titled, because it's very much the proverbial 'game of two halves'. The EP opens with the latter's 'Leotard' and 'Eyes', which have a very commercial, 80s feel - 'Leotard' to an almost comedic extent with its workout tape-style vocal - before Depaart steps up wth two darker and much more experimental/leftfield cuts, 'Take The Love Now' and 'Le Tour'. How well the two halves really 'gel' is debatable but the EP does showcase just how broad a church Solomun's label has become.

Oddio Factory

It's A Factory Paper Recordings

Oddio Factory, a Parisian duo with members by the unlikely names of Mysextape and Black, come to Manchester stable Paper with a leftfield-leaning EP packing three tracks in a total of five mixes. The three originals - 'The Prophet', 'U Slip' and 'Got Bolts' - generally operate in the musical zone delineated by Giorgio Moroder, Italo-disco and John Carpenter soundtracks, and it's not unreasonable to assume the legendary synth of the same name may have played its part in the genesis of the first track, which comes in full-length and Video Edit passes. That just leaves Keita to flip the script, remix-wise, with his deep/tribal/prog rework of 'Got Bolts'.