Tag Archives: m-synthpop

Miike Snow – Genghis Khan

Amusing and playful (the video even more), this song will probably slot right in to the “happy dancing melodies” category of the 2010s’ musical history. It’s more catchy than an autumn flu!

“But the waves hit my head
To think someone’s in your bed
I get a little bit Genghis Khan
I don’t want you to get it on
With nobody else but me”

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_SlAzsXa7E^

For Spotify users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/6MDijuuArPJv1vbp7K1x3f^

For Deezer users (high quality):

https://www.deezer.com/track/120001738^

And here’s the Discogs entry for whoever wants to buy this album:

https://www.discogs.com/Miike-Snow-III/master/967294^

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Ugress – Lost In Time

Time’s short, so this tune doesn’t waste any second to reach its climax. It takes us on a quick ride through groovy beats, it rushes to the spicy blend of dreamy voice and echoed synths and then immediately proceeds straight to the dancefloor.

And then, just when you think you got it, it’s over. Thanks the Gods of Technology for effortless rewind capabilities (aka “abusing the replay button”).

“All that I have inside will get lost in time
This is all like fire
And you take me higher
You trip me off I’m flying
Can’t you see I’m trying
All that I have inside will get lost in time
Your information is playing with my mind”

You can listen to the melody for free, in good quality, on BandCamp, which is one of the best websites when it comes to supporting artists. You can also purchase the song (or album) from this same location. And in case you’re wondering, yes, I did purchase Ugress’s album :).

https://ugress.bandcamp.com/track/lost-in-time^

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miNvjkc2ZXU^

For Spotify users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/5KZojnBggNnXMbwYlraAqU^

For Deezer users (high quality):

https://www.deezer.com/track/593002352^

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Scratch Massive – Waiting For A Sign (feat. Koudlam)

Floating down from some dark mist comes a strange creation, one of those sound creatures that is almost impossible to peg to a certain genre. Sure, there’s quite a bit of electronica here – some from the big beat subgenre and some from the dark ambient subgenre. But then there’s that tribal wraith voice too.

So what it is then? It’s a damn good and ominous serving of menacing atmospheric bass with a side-dish of evocative filter-twisted singing.

YouTube (good quality, WARNING: dark, violent video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ52WfZfa5I^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/4sbn9wr97pJKTR7hyxTWhf^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

https://www.deezer.com/track/13854487^

And here’s the Discogs entry for whoever wants to buy this album:

https://www.discogs.com/Scratch-Massive-Nuit-De-Rêve/release/11310520^

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Michael Mayer – Mind Games (feat. Ed Macfarlane)

Enough, enough, enough, enough, mind games.

I couldn’t help writing that. It’s because I love how the song starts. And guess what: I love how it continues even more, otherwise why would I even type these words?

Welcome to a musically playful exploration of a mentally complex topic. I feel that the vocals are spot on given the way the topic is approached (Ed does a great job of communicating a feeling of “this must end”). And when it comes to Michael Mayer’s music, I can only say that the way this song is layered and architected is highly entertaining. It’s almost as if two melodies are playing with each other. They’re very much alike and yet, with the use of (mostly) three simple chords, so different.

I tried to find the lyrics for the song (there’s some interesting sentences in there), but only found results that are clearly somebody’s (very) broken interpretation of what Ed sings. I can probably write a better “translation”, but I think it’s the artists that should publish the lyrics if they wish to.

Enough mind games!

You can listen to the melody for free, in good quality, on BandCamp, which is one of the best websites when it comes to supporting artists. You can also purchase the song (or album) from this same location.

https://michaelmayer.bandcamp.com/track/mind-games^

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoTt4i9knCY^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/59FxcA9nXTJO7d88SlyZSJ^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

https://www.deezer.com/track/130937706^

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Platonic Scale – Three (feat. ALLA)

Here’s an audacious and groovy ride, pounding along witty lyrics and diverse instrumentation. Platonic Scale cooked the perfect sound garnish for singer ALLA’s sensual voice to be wrapped in. The only thing missing is a slowed down audio sample from a wrestling match played backwards. And it’s missing for a good reason ;).

Seriously now, if you want to enjoy some high quality synth-pop, check out the other songs on Platonic Scale’s “Out of the Blue” EP, which is freely listenable on BandCamp (the link is below).  The EP landed in my life completely out of the blue last year and I’ve been in love with it ever since.

“But we were always three
While you belonged to me
My body wasn’t cold yet
And she just had you sold

Boy
Boy what have you done
Are you having fun
Boy what have you done to me

Just right through you see
As I crawl inside
Where I want you to be

Now tell me something ‘bout her
Does she make you purr
Does she taste your shame
Where I carved my name”

You can listen to the melody for free, in good quality, on BandCamp, which is one of the best websites when it comes to supporting artists. You can also purchase the song (or album) from this same location. And in case you’re wondering, yes, I did purchase Platonic Scale’s album :).

https://platonicscale.bandcamp.com/track/three-feat-alla^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/5ORuvlggAvqD5pQRcgGqAr^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/117350780^

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Iamamiwhoami – Sever

This song starts off as a rather slow, melancholic piece. Her voice comes from far away, carried by ghostly choirs. Together with the careful composer, she’ll enthrall us so that we don’t even realize when we’re led towards the energetic end. And then she leaves again to… far away.

With its cryptic lyrics, I was a bit anxious about the day I have to review this song because it’s a bit… different. It comes with a pretty strange video too. Beautiful art should be featured and written about, so it’s not like I had a choice – I had to see what words I can get out of this song and I hope you enjoyed them.

“I won’t be fooled by its touch or emotional supply
the scent of the fair and heavy allure will dry
the cold and the bare grasped so delicate by one’s eye
is why we can’t ally and elope to wry

almost forgotten the way we used to live for play
to be accepted i must blend into convention’s way
and sing in universal ways”

The album can be purchased from the label’s website using the link below. And in case you’re wondering, yes, I did purchase it.

https://shop.towhomitmayconcern.cc/collections/iamamiwhoami-kin/products/iamamiwhoami-kin-album-book^

YouTube (decent quality, interesting (?) video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7zyF2QJ1BA^

You can listen to the song for free, in good quality, on SoundCloud, a wonderful website for supporting both emerging and established artists:

https://soundcloud.com/twimclabel/iamamiwhoami-sever^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/1413phvVy0sYsEIwNjDgHs^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/69000219^

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Platonic Scale – Out of the Blue

What happens when a highly talented musician and producer pairs with a first class voice? Throw in some beautifully written lyrics and you get Platonic Scale’s newest EP, “Out of the Blue”. Singer ALLA is featured on all of the five songs on the EP, contributing to give each of them a different feel and personality.

I’ve been following the exploits^ of Platonic Scale for several years now. “Out of the Blue” signifies a departure from the electronic genre. It’s a foray into synth-pop and quite a successful one at that.

Not only is the music diverse, but it also showcases those tiny yet vital details that make you tingle with joy when your ears pick them up. The ability to keep the listener entertained and curious is a hallmark of great skill in orchestration. Even after several replays, I still found that Platonic Scale had a few tricks left, hidden between the vibes.

In the same time, the buildup and crescendos lead to predictive bursts of energy that contribute to a feeling of familiarity. But do not be fooled by the recognizable frame of reference. There are tricky little sounds that’ll jump at you when you least expect it.

ALLA has all the qualities I believe a first class voice should have. In less than twenty minutes, she manages to take the listener through an impressive range of moods. On “Fire” one moment we’re on a reverie, the next, she’s dazing us with a seductive, playful rush of words. While the music guides the listener, ALLA is the angel, the adventurous, the naughty, the seductive, the daring and the hopeful.

Often, we can hear Platonic Scale stealing a syllable or two from ALLA, prolonging or distorting them, toying with this most capable instrument of all – the human voice. These short but spirited experiments come to complete the intricate sound design.

Last week, I featured “Stardust” in the Weekly Song section and I wrote: “Building up from a slightly melancholic setting the melody blossoms to deliver a hopeful jolt. All the more impressive is that through well-chosen words the writer gives the listener something to ponder.

“It’s quite difficult to deliver a profound spiritual message in an unassuming, playful way, yet this is exactly what ALLA and Platonic Scale are doing here. Backed by beautifully paced music, ALLA’s voice goes from dreamy to provocative, ultimately reaching an uplifting climax. This is a well written song, in all the ways that a song can be well written.”

What I forgot to mention about “Stardust” is the discrete but beautiful tremolo at 2:02. This is but a single one of the many gems scattered throughout Platonic Scale’s 5-song release. Listening to “Out of the Blue”, I feel at home, relaxed, thankful for the musical adventure that this world has brought to me. Give this EP a serious listen folks, it’s quite an experience. Otherwise, how could I have managed to write almost five hundred words about it?

You can listen to the entire EP on Spotify:

Or on SoundCloud:

https://soundcloud.com/victormmusic/sets/out-of-the-blue-ep

You can buy the EP from the link below. And yes, in case you’re wondering, I purchased it :).

https://platonicscale.bandcamp.com/album/out-of-the-blue^

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Platonic Scale – Stardust (feat. ALLA)

The year has barely begun, yet this precious little gem by Platonic Scale looks set to become the song of the year 2016 for me. Building up from a slightly melancholic setting the melody blossoms to deliver a hopeful jolt. All the more impressive is that through well-chosen words the writer is giving the listener something to ponder.

It’s quite difficult to deliver a profound spiritual message in an unassuming, playful way, yet this is exactly what Alla and Platonic Scale are doing here. Backed by beautifully paced music, Alla’s voice goes from dreamy to provocative, ultimately reaching an uplifting climax. This is a well written song, in all the ways that a song can be well written.

Oh, and did I say that this cute – and in the same time deceptively intense – video does it justice as well?

“‘Cause there’s stardust in our bones
And there’s music in these stones
And there’re stories in the sea
And so much more we can learn to be”

You can listen to the song for free, in good quality, on BandCamp, which is one of the best websites when it comes to supporting artists. You can also purchase the song (or the EP) from this same location. And in case you’re wondering, yes, I did purchase Platonic Scale’s EP :).

https://platonicscale.bandcamp.com/album/out-of-the-blue^

YouTube version (decent quality, and the pretty video too):

For Spotify Users (high quality):

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/117350784^

The entire EP, including “Stardust”, on SoundCloud:

https://soundcloud.com/victormmusic/sets/out-of-the-blue-ep

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