Welcome back to the world of One-Liners, which are reviews that are supposed to be, but never are, one line. I’m recommending a host of great stuff today. Check them all out, if you know what’s good for you.
GUNSHIP — “Ghost (Feat. Power Glove)”
Two synthwave powerhouses — UK-based Gunship and Australia-based Power Glove — team up for a darkly beautiful, down-tempo blast of delightful synthesis and chunky guitar riffage. It’s a nice blend of 1980s retro and contemporary modalities. (As you’d expect from GUNSHIP, the music video is captivating as hell.) Out today.
Initial Talk & Roxi Drive — “Dream Lover”
Initial Talk is mostly known for his successful remixes for the likes of Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue, Dua Lipa, and Perfume Genius, but he’s also a gifted synthwaver, releasing on Andy Diamond’s Luca Discs. This time around the Japan-based Initial Talk teams up with UK synthwave siren Roxi Drive for a beautifully upbeat and catchy pop number laced with delightful splashes of nostalgia. Come for the main song and stay for Diamond Field’s reworks. Out today via Luca Discs.
NINA — “I’ll Wait”
Originally from the soundtrack for the film There’s No Such Thing As Vampires, NINA’s new version, touched up by her collaborator Radio Wolf, is a grander, meatier interpretation of the original. The cut still has NINA’s gorgeous vocals bouncing around your head space like specters trapped in reverb, but this propulsive new version has jangly guitars and an electronic rock foundation that is ripe for live performances in dimly lit European clubs. (At times it’s as if Trent Reznor and New Order collaborated on a project in the late 1990s.) Out today in the usual places.
GIFT — Momentary Presence
A couple weeks ago the Brooklyn psychedelic outfit GIFT released their stunning debut LP, Momentary Presence. I witnessed them play a bunch of the cuts live in Woodstock, NY, which was a truly special experience, but a lot of that energy carries over on to the album. Over the record’s 10 songs, the band flies through various spaces, such as krautrock, late-1960s psychedelic rock, dream pop, post-punk, noise, and even a dash of electronic music. It’s a stunning experience and I hope you enjoy this music as much as I do. They’re currently on tour.
Florida Room — Saint Barthélemy
Bunny X affiliate Florida Room’s debut EP will make you feel nostalgia for nostalgia — essentially, it calls back to the colorful and laid-back period of early synthwave between 10 and 15 years ago. Even though there is that looseness and a general feel-good vibe, Florida Room ensures the arrangements are glued together tight enough to keep a steady momentum. Overall, the release is a great mood-setter for those days that leave you with a polluted and cluttered mind.
