Back catalogue: Coldwave/Synth

Review: Sound Metaphors sub label Thank You continues to explore lesser known niche records from visionary artists of the 80s by revisiting this single from Jah Wobble. 'Blow Out' is a shoe-in for any Balearic set worth its salt, pairing boxy drum machine rhythms with wistful keys and some blue-eyed soul vocal turns for a meandering ride through prime mid-decade sonic territory. Bleepy where it counts, just a little dubby around the edges and smooth up top, it's a refined, long form cut which sounds great with a modern remaster. Backed with the instrumental version on the flip, it's a no-brainer for diggers who might have balked at paying top whack for an original 85 edition.

Review: Generations of modular might fold in on themselves as legendary Buchla pioneer Suzanne Ciani patches into accomplished French synthesist Jonathan Fitoussi for this outstanding album on Obliques. The title is clearly a tribute to Morton Subotnick, whose own Silver Apples Of The Moon is a true ground zero for West Coast synth albums and as you might surmise Ciani and Fitoussi opt to create something more shapely and inviting than the wild, brilliantly alien tonal mutations Subotnick conjured up back in the 60s. If you're familiar with either artist's work you won't be disappointed, as exquisitely rendered melodic flourishes, delicate spatial processing and subtle textural shifts unfurl around your ears across these eight beautiful pieces of synth perfection.

Review: With its use of a motorcycle engine speeding off into the distance, an emerging drum pattern that vaguely recalls Brad Fiedel's The Terminator Theme and slowly building tension created by the synth refrains and piano underscore, Magnus Javerling knows how to create atmosphere. As the opening to Bowdark proceeds, that sense of feeling transforms into a sense of place, which makes sense given the album title is 'borrowed' from a fictional US town where strange things happen, here rendered in music form through quirky electronic keys, whirs and tones, melodies that are not dark, but certainly steeped in mystery. Gothenburg-based Javerling spent no less than six years conceiving and recording the contents of this latest example as to why Sweden's second city is a hotbed of leftfield and avant garde musical talent. Owing at least something to the likes of John Carpenter, the result is a record that transports you into a visceral adventure through the unknown.

Review: Who doesn't love a good compilation? And a good compilation is exactly what we have here, as put together by the golf standard digger that is JD Twitch. Ever since he first head out to the land of the rising sun to DJ he has been bewitched by it. Sub-titled 'A Beginners Guide to Japan In The '80s' this assemblage of ambient, cosmic and electronic sounds is beautifully escapist, taking you right out the Far East in an instant with its curious melodies and gentle ear worms. There is a purity and beauty to the music that is utterly cleansing with all of Japan's most legendary names included.

Review: Among that coterie of visionary artists who left their bands to fly solo on the cusp of abundant riches and fame, John Foxx flew from Ultravox in 1980 to pursue his own creative vision. He quickly cemented his own style with albums like Metamatic and The Garden, but arguably delivered the fullest iteration of his sound on this 1983 album. The Golden Section straddles synth-pop and pop rock with ease, and it stands shoulder to shoulder with the greatest of the era. From his former band to Duran Duran and even moire niche concerns like Freur, this is the sound of the new dawn for pop music in the UK as the vast possibilities of synthesis were finally being understood.

Review: Minimal Wave is honored to present a reissue of Jyl's self-titled full-length album from 1984, originally released on Klaus Schulze's Inteam label. Born and raised in California, Jyl travelled to Europe in her twenties to dance and met several talented and like-minded collaborators along the way. She ended up in Germany, and worked with Ingo Werner, Angela Werner, and Klaus Schulze, on what would become one of the most important and forward thinking electronic albums of the time. Shortly after its release, the song "Computer Love" became a mini-hit along with the album's opening track "Mechanic Ballerina". The lyrics of "Silicon Valley" and "Computer Generation" are reflective of the times and have become even more relevant now, 36 years later. The production and song arrangement on the album is immaculate. The synthesizers, drum programming and vocal contributions complement Jyl's voice perfectly. The album contains an incredible depth beyond a regular dance album likely due to the spirit of the people behind it - the list of contributors add to its significance and near-mythological mystery.

Review: Sam Prekop and John McEntire made their debut as a collaborative partnership on Thrill Jockey with this album. Sons Of came on CD and limited, long since sold out cassette in 2022 and now it arrives on wax as a double LP that also includes the bonus cut 'A Drink At The Banquet.' Their experimental sound is a nimble mix of supple synth work an involving beats. Texture and timbre plays heavily across each freeform cut as moods build and grooves grow. There are rueful, far sighted star-gazers like 'Ascending By Night' and more lush dancers such as 'A Yellow Robe" (part 1)'.