New releases last two weeks: Coldwave/Synth

Review: By the time they got to their fifth album, Liverpool synth pioneers OMD were deep into their glossy, technicolor phase and this reissue of Junk Culture brings all the sharp edges and weird charms back into focus. It's a record that manages to be sleek and experimental at once, balancing pop hooks with a slightly offbeat sense of rhythm and sound. 'Tesla Girls' is manic in the best way, bursting with punchy synth stabs and that hyperactive vocal delivery. 'Locomotion' smooths things out with a more laid-back groove, still very much dancefloor-ready but built on bounce rather than rush. Then there's 'Talking Loud and Clear,' which leans softer, airy and romantic without slipping into cliche. The deeper cuts keep things interesting with 'Love & Violence' and 'White Trash' which feel darker and more cryptic, like glimpses behind the polished exterior. Even when it flirts with radio-friendliness, the record never really plays it safe. This album links the early electronic experimentalism to the polished and slick synth pop that would take OMD to a household name with the following album. Sometimes an overlooked album in their catalog but always respected for the work within. It's a snapshot of a band pulling synthpop in new directions, not afraid to get playful or strange.

Review: This 2xCD edition goes well beyond nostalgia, offering the definitive take on Soft Cell's most illicit and club-focused chapter. Originally released in 1982 their second album was a bold pivot: less of the noir cabaret that had its roots in their Leeds Poly days, more MDMA-drenched disco detachment. But what felt fleeting at the time now reads like a fully formed vision. The first disc captures the original six-track run, including a furious remake of 'Memorabilia', the twisted funk of 'Sex Dwarf' and their glam-stomp take on 'What' i a track that somehow hit Number Three in the UK while sounding like it belonged in a haunted backroom. The second disc expands the picture with extended cuts like 'Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go' and 'Torch', all of which showcase how Soft Cell flirted with pop but refused to smooth their edges. It's a new reissue, but more importantly, it's a reminder of just how ahead of their time they were i turning sleaze into sophistication and dancefloor detritus into poetry. Digitally remastered and packed with rarities, this is as complete a portrait of Soft Cell's ecstatic peak as you'll find.

Review: The band's companion piece to their debut album, with MDMA-slanted remixes (they were among the first E-dopters) and one new track, was always a strange, thrilling detour that delved deeper into the band's darker side. Reissued now and pressed on pink and blue vinyl, it leans into the playful and hedonistic spirit that fueled the duo's early years. 'Memorabilia' still slams with that proto-industrial funk, drenched in echo and attitude. Their version of 'What?' is gloriously off-kilter, part cabaret, part warehouse rave. Marc Almond's vocals are as dramatic and sly as ever, while Dave Ball keeps the synth lines rubbery and raw. There's a sense of controlled chaos here, where the line between irony and sincerity blurs beautifully. 'Sex Dwarf' is one of the band's most intense moments. A club hit that works today just as good as back in 1982. Even in its more minimal moments, there's a sweaty urgency to these tracks. The whole thing feels like a snapshot of a night that got way out of hand, in the best way possible. While the original album was darker and more introspective, this one lets loose, offering up a lean set of tracks built for movement and attitude. A record that was never afraid to get weird, which suits us down to the ground.