Here are some releases you need to check out. Again, I’m trying to stay within the confines of one line. We’ll see how it goes.
Makeup and Vanity Set – Breaking News
MAVS’ character Charles Park is back for a fourth outing — this time the self-doubting hero finds himself in a fog of violence amid a time of great societal turmoil. MAVS (AKA Matthew Pusti) used all analogue synths and a combo of drum machines and live drums for this exquisite outing. This is a can’t-miss release. Pre-order on digital or vinyl right now. It releases on Oct. 18.
De Lorra – Unconditional
Call it “chillwave-disco”; De Lorra’s release on Anoraak’s Endless Summer brings on some truly fantastic feelings.
Various Artists – In Search of Darkness (Original Documentary Soundtrack)
This soundtrack to the rather comprehensive ’80s horror documentary In Search of Darkness, which recently got its premiere at Beyond Fest, does a great job of offering homages to legends like John Carpenter, Goblin, and Fabio Frizzi, while bringing something updated to the table. The collection is a potent mix of notable synthwave names and up-and-comers alike: Power Glove, Waveshaper, Tokyo Rose, Hexencraft, and Morgan Willis, along with Elevate the Sky, Josh Lim, and several others. For information on the film, refer to Facebook, which is the truest horror of them all. Follow the links in the embed below to purchase the album as a physical or digital release.
R3HAB and Ella Vos – “Exhale”
A dreamy pop number with a pulse. (This is considerably more “mainstream”-sounding than music I’ve featured in the past few years, but the music has a nice color to it.)
(Editor’s Note: As established in this post, the One-Liners column is a concise but meaningful way to highlight Vehlinggo-recommended releases. It’s not exactly weekly, but it can be. Entries are almost never one line, but they could be. Check out the most recent one.)