The journey through 100 essential underground tracks of the 2010s selected by Burning Flame (Introduction) begins with a collection of discoveries, hidden gems and overlooked releases that capture the decade’s creative spirit. From minimal synth and darkwave to post-punk, synth pop and indie electro, these are tracks that may have slipped under the radar but deserve a second look — and, more importantly, another listen.
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#86 – Liste Noire – Afire Afire
Emerging from the Berlin underground, Liste Noire fused the icy elegance of minimal synth with the urgncy of post-punk, creating music that felt both seductive and confrontational. The band shared members with Velvet Condom, one of the key names in Germany's contemporary minimal wave revival, and carried over that same commitment to stark electronics and noir atmospheres while pushing toward a more emotionally charged sound. Though often overshadowed by better-known contemporaries, “Afire Afire” remains a compelling snapshot of Berlin's fertile underground at the time.
#87 — October Dance – Houses Falling
Conceived as an art and music collaboration between three Danish musicians and Austrian graphic designer Hans Tolford, October Dance was more than a band — it was a multimedia project built around a distinctive visual and sonic universe. Moving further into electro-dance territory, “Houses Falling” introduced that world through seductive electronic rhythms, shimmering synth hooks and a strong connection to the aesthetics of the 1980s European art scene. Released ahead of the group's debut EP, 7 Moon, the track stood out as one of those rare discoveries that perfectly balanced dancefloor appeal with artistic ambition. Burning Flame also featured the project in a Q&A, offering a closer look at the people and ideas behind its distinctive concept. And with October right there in their name, they make a fitting addition to this autumnal stretch of our countdown.
#88 — Petroleum By-Product – Rip Apart
Originally formed in Vancouver in 2006, Petroleum By-Product were part of the Canadian underground scene, blending new wave, post-punk and synth-driven electronics with a distinctive visual identity. The band was founded by Sally Dige and Vanessa Turner, with Dige also taking on vocal duties before going on to pursue a solo career of her own. Built around the concept of a generation increasingly shaped by artificiality, consumerism and superficiality, the project developed an aesthetic that extended beyond its music. Burning Flame first introduced Petroleum By-Product in February 2011 as part of its Next Wave series, followed by an interview with the band in June that year. “Rip Apart” later appeared on their two-track single, released in 2012 and shortly after this the group disbanded leaving this great gem behind.
#89 — Soft Riot – You Can't Please Everyone
The solo project of Jack Duckworth (JJD) made its debut in 2010 with the No Longer Stranger EP. Originally from Vancouver and later based in the UK, Duckworth has spent decades immersed in underground music, also fronting the post-punk outfit Savage Furs with whom we did an interview in 2011, the same year when we introduced his solo project Soft Riot. “You Can't Please Everyone” showcases his gift for combining driving analogue rhythms, melodic basslines and introspective songwriting. Rather than simply revisiting the sounds of the early 1980s, Soft Riot draws from post-punk, minimal synth, EBM and synth-pop to create a style that remains unmistakably contemporary. Still active and continuing to release music, Duckworth is one of those artists whose creative journey has extended well beyond the original wave of underground synth revival.
#90 — Roladex – Glass Statuette
Formed in Texas by Tyler Jacobsen and Elyssa Dianne, Roladex carved out a distinctive place in the 2010s underground with their futuristic take on synth-driven pop. Drawing inspiration from the films of David Cronenberg and John Carpenter, the writings of J. G. Ballard and the work of experimental video artists, the duo built a sound that combined analogue electronics, layered production and carefully crafted songwriting. Burning Flame featured Roladex in its Next Wave series in August 2014, when we were closely following the duo's progress and their debut album, Anthem for the Micro-Age, released through Medical Records where “Glass Statuette” captures this albums's retro-futuristic sensibility.
#91 — Selebrities – Can't Make Up My Mind
At a time when minimal wave and post-punk were finding new audiences through the underground revival of the early 2010s, New York's Selebrities took a different route, embracing a more direct and unapologetic new wave inspired synth pop revival sound. The band drew on the catchy melodies, stylish detachment and sophisticated pop sensibilities of classic new wave, giving them a contemporary feel. Perhaps their name, with its deliberately unconventional spelling, hinted at a desire to stand apart from the crowd while playing with the idea of pop stardom. We first introduced Selebrities here in October 2011, around the time of their debut album Delusions of which “Can't Make Up My Mind” was taken of.
#92 - Női Kabát - Make Room! Make Room!
London-based trio Dee Rüsche, Owen Pratt and Jonas Ranssøn, Noi Kabát emerged in the early 2010s with a sound rooted in the mechanical pulse of early industrial, new wave and EBM. Their music also carried a distinctly futuristic visual identity, drawing on constructivism, futurism and the atmosphere of 1970s science-fiction. “Make Room! Make Room!” was released as a 7-inch single together with “Industry” as b-side in July 2013 on Aufnahme + Wiedergabe. During the same year they released two more singles and sadly disappeared. Despite the great potential, there is no evidence any of new material after that.
#93 — Din – Oil
Formed in Los Angeles by Josie and Greg Vand, Din occupied a distinctive space within the late-2010s underground synth scene. Burning Flame featured the duo when they released their debut album, Real Dirt, in 2017. Their take on minimal synth balanced hypnotic repetition with mechanical rhythms, and “Oil” captures that combination particularly well. The music video for "Oil" is a perfect visual counterpart to the music, reinforcing additional layers in this complexity. Although Din never achieved the visibility of some of their contemporaries, Real Dirt remains one of the decade's more understated synth records, with “Oil” standing out as one of its defining moments.
#94 — YusYus – Forever
Coming from the Serbian underground, YusYus bring a distinctly local perspective to the wider minimal-wave revival. The duo, led by Nemanja Stojanović (Neomodern), combines stripped-back electronic sounds with a cold, synth-driven aesthetic. Active since 2013 up to mid 2010s, Yus Yus became part of a new generation of artists revisiting minimal synth and coldwave through a contemporary lens. "Forever" remains as YusYus' most recognizable underground track, helping them anchor a presence across European electronic music circuits alongside other acts like Belgrade's Sixth June with whom they performed together as part of Elektrana Neon Nacht.
#95 — Trust in Love – Future Perfect
Trust in Love is the musical project of Brooklyn-based artist Adriana Alba, who once described it as a “secret love project” inspired by colour, movement and dimension. Beyond music, Alba was also active as a music video director, having worked with artists including Xiu Xiu and Xander Harris. Her debut EP, Obliquity Series, was released on AMDDISCS and features five tracks of what she called electro-dimensional pop. “Future Perfect” captures the project's distinctive electronic aesthetic and it was featured on Burning Flame in 2015.
#96 — Echö – Daydream
Our next entry is a memorable single from Spanish-French duo Echö, who released just two EPs during their short existence. Comprising vocalist Mickaël (Mika) and Alexandre Portils Torner, the duo developed their own distinctive take on minimal wave, which might sounded raw but creatred otherworldly atmosphere. In 2013, Ty Voltaire interviewed the band for Burning Flame, offering further insight into their music and creative approach. At #96, we revisit “Daydream”, the title track from their 2012 EP with excellent vocoder work. Both EPs were released through Belgian label Romance Moderne.
#97 — Exotic Club – After Hours
Paris-born, Portland-based duo Simon Lowzy and Rémi Rose formed Exotic Club around 2010, creating a noisy, synth-driven form of electronic dance music somewhere between post-punk, coldwave, dark disco and noise. Their music embraced the darker and more abrasive side of the dancefloor, combining distorted electronics and synths with a deliberately detached, almost cryptic attitude towards pop. Burning Flame featured Exotic Club in 2013 as part of its Next Wave series, when the duo was releasing their two-track mini-EP Memories with “After Hours" which is a fitting reminder of the duo’s distinctive approach to underground electronic music.
#98 — Tuxedo Gleam – Faces Confused
Hailing from Modesto, California, Tuxedo Gleam is the musical project of Aunt Gleam, whose synth-driven sound blends cold minimalism with dark, intense electronics. Building on the foundations laid with the bands' first releases in 2013, Aunt Gleam has continued to explore the possibilities of minimal synth-wave, with the music and visuals shaped by a distinctly DIY approach. Out of the most relevant releases 'Pour Ferrari' EP, from which “Faces Confused” is taken and their 2017 LP subtleties . Tuxedo Gleam seem to be still active today and they last released dates back to 2021.
#99 — Ruble Gang – “Nowaday Feeling”
Heading east to the heart of Moscow, we find Ruble Gang and their distinctive blend of minimal synth-pop, post-punk and electronics. “Nowaday Feeling” first caught our attention in the early 2010s, reflecting a sound rooted in analog instrumentation that, in the band's view, has lost none of its relevance in either form or meaning. Their songs initially appeared on various minimal-wave compilations before the release of their debut album, War Machine in 2018, which also featured “Nowaday Feeling.” Still active today, the band is now listed as being based in France on Bandcamp.
#100 — Model Worker – “Someday”
Model Worker was a short-lived four-piece from the Chicago area, and they released only two EPs before disappearing, leaving behind a small but memorable footprint in the 2010s underground electropop. Balancing wistful synth melodies with understated emotion, "Someday" reflects the DIY spirit and fleeting nature of many artists who helped shape the broader Ex-Post Wave landscape. We introduced them for the first time in 2010 and around that time they also released their two EPs. Someday is taken from 'Squares & Triangles' EP, released in the same year.
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