The latest edition of The List maintains my interest in recommending some variety. This means you’re going to find some French EBM, some cinematic ambient electronic works, and even new synthwave that sounds classic. It’s not the most expansive offering genre-wise, but the tracks are all gems and worth your time.
Coleurs x Anechoid — “Evasion”
This gem is from an EP entitled Element Zero that’s out now via NewRetroWave. What drew me to it was its classic instrumental synthwave sound. There is still a modern production technique to it — this ain’t 2009 after all — but the shiny synth parts, screaming guitar lead, and overall musical color remind me of stumbling across pioneering synthwavers on MySpace nearly 20 years ago. (If it hasn’t been obvious over the years, Vehlinggo is a big stan of the first 10 years of the genre. Nostalgic for nostalgia and all of that.) The EP is out on Bandcamp and streamers.
Eric Angelo Bessel — “Double Helix”
Bessel’s new intergalactic ambient electronic piece, “Double Helix,” is an enchanting swirl of contemplative synthscapes that put your mind in a state somewhere between sleep and awake. It’s a single from the Mirror At Night B-Sides release, which is out on March 27 via Lore City Music. You can pre-order the physical and buy the digital on Bandcamp. The piece is also out on streamers. [Note: This is a good companion piece to Matthew Swiezynski’s “Dream Evocation.”]
Cyrille Champagne — “A Sunrise Glory Awakens Your Eyes”
This France-based musician’s recently released single unfurls like a massive cinematic synth score cue, with gorgeous soundscapes, minimalistic harmonies, and a catchy, resonating lead. It certainly evokes the scene and emotion around its title in a literal sense, but one could use this as a cue for a key revelatory scene in an elevated sci-fi flick just the same. Available now on streamers.
Monde Ray — “Silencieux Témoins”
This EBM single, “Silencieux témoins,” (“Silent Witness”) from France-based Monde Ray (Manon Guiol, formerly of Tender Tones) is an absolute banger. The dark dance instrumentation paired with Guiol’s Francophonic sing-speak female vox are a bouillabaisse of bliss. The song has a slow but steady build to a crystalline enchantment that lets loose an absolutely sick segment laced with a cascade of synths and massive drums. The only downside is the song ends abruptly, leaving one wanting to just put the cut on repeat to avoid further pain. Guiol says she draws inspiration from acts as various as Essaie Pas, Boy Harsher, and Chromatics (and even 1970s Italo film scores), and it shows. Out now on the usual streaming platforms. It’ll also be on her upcoming album, Attraction.
Romaance — “Touch”
The Portland, Oregon-based Romaance (a new project from Jason Wann of SINES) has a compelling new single out called “Touch.” The rhythm is epic and the synths are variously bright and beautiful, and warm and fuzzy. The vocals, by mysterious entities named Val and Emma, are, well, romantic and memorable. Overall, this cut is catchy and filmic. It’s out now on streamers and Bandcamp, and is part of the EP Dust Among The Stars.
For all editions of The List, walk this way.
