Xeno & Oaklander - Magic of the Manifold

Xeno & Oaklander have released their first new material since 2021 with the song "Magic of the Manifold." The track is available on Dais Records and coincides with the announcement of the duo's spring tour, which kicked off in Paris, May 14th.

Instant Hit: Oto - Anyway

 The French Minimal wave/Post punk outfit Oto who were formed in 1979 released two singles and one EP back in the 80s. "Anyway" was recorded and released in Paris, in 1984 while their EP Purge and Urge followed two years later in 1986 after which the band disbanded. "Anyway" was reissued in 2022 by Replica records with the original B-sides.

Selofan - Sticky Fingers

 Selofan have returned after four years break with a new single and video for the song "Sticky Fingers". Their new studio album Animal Mentality is announced for release on April 10th. The video for the song was directed by Tassos Gkoletsos.

Instant Hit: Android A 21st Century Band - My Love is Like a Shooting Star

Before Android became a ubiquitous mobile operating system, it was associated with humanoid operating machines, often referred to as robots. In 1980, a band named Android A 21st Century Band adopted this concept, embodying avant-garde ideals and a futuristic outlook. They were pioneers in synthesizing the human voice, a technique that would later be recognized as the vocoder. Here is "My Love is Like a Shooting Star," a track from their sole album In Tune with Tomorrow released in 1982.

Liena Aspera to Return with New Album in September

After 9 years, the dark minimal synth duo Alison Lewis and Ryan Ambridge have reunited for the second album titled LP II. The album is announced for release in September whereas the first single "Solar Flare" and the full track listing have already been revealed on Bandcamp. All these years in between, Alison has been busy with her solo project Zanias and Keluar with Sid Lamar.

Next Wave: Earth To Mickey

You will hardly find any info about this Minimal synth act on the internet which sounds as it could also be one of the obscure bands coming from the early 80's. As per debut EP which has been released this year, the duo comprised of Delroy Edwards and Mickey van Seenus, might be new to the scene but very much striking forward with their unique cold wave formula. Their debut EP is titled 'Brace&Beat'and it has been released through L.A. Club Resource this summer.

Inhalt's Part Time Punk Sessions Released

The San Francisco based synth trio Inhalt have released their debut album titled 'Part Time Punk Sessions'. This LP features the best of the band's signature synth-driven dark analog pop previously included on their EPs 'Vehicle' and 'Occupations'. This is both a live and a studio album, having been recorded in real time in collaboration with the Part Time Punks radio show in Los Angeles and now it has been released by Cleopatra Records.

Previously, both their EPs were featured on our year end EP lists in 2012 and 2013 respectively and one occasion, we also did an interview with Inhalt which is available through the link below. Thanks Ty Volatire and the band for this:

http://www.burningflame.net/2013/06/in-conversation-inhalt.html

Din Release Debut album 'Real Dirt'

Din have released their debut album 'Real Dirt' on DKA Records. This new album follows up on their 'Saturate' EP which was released in April this year. The textures and structures of the minimal synth in Din's music sound very innovating and hypnotic, especially in the way how they managed to connect with their listeners by illustrating their visuals in their music videos. "Oils" seems to be the lead single from the album and the video for it was directed by Amanda Siegel and Benjamin Turner.

  https://dkarecords.bandcamp.com/album/real-dirt

Instant Hit: Neuland- Gehirnamputiert

"Gehirnamputiert" was the only release for the German NDW band Neuland. The song was released in 1982 and was featured on their only album Neuland. The album was released via Ariola and to this date it was not reissued.

Tuxedo Gleam Release New Album

California based minimal synth-pop duo have released a new studio album titled 'Subtleties' in April this year. The album contains ten brand new tracks including "Decay", the first single to be taken from the album. The band is just continuing with what they have started with their first releases in 2013. Their music is synthetic, cold and very dynamic. Aunt Gleam and Angel Marie are responsible for the whole music arrangements and the visuals. The album is available here

Instant Hit: Rive Gauche- Friends Are Friends

Rive Gauche was a short lived minimal-synth duo from Belgium who only released one single during their brief existence in the mid-80’s. Both songs on the recorded featured the singer Carol who also released “Breakdown” in 1981 and who later made appearance on the cover of this song by Snowy Red. “Friends are Friends”/alt."Friends and Friends" was also featured on A Tribute to Some Bizarre Vol.12 compilation which was released unofficially.

Next Wave: Patience

End of last year, we discovered another interesting music act that we thought would be worth sharing here. Her name is Roxanne Clifford and she is not a new face to the music biz. Already with her band Veronica Falls she made first steps into indie pop. Now the things have changed for her, she took a new name and adopted a completely different music style and musical arrangement. Under the name Patience she discovers the new world of synth pop and minimal wave. Her debut "The Church" was released on Night School Records in 2016 and the second single "Pressure" followed soon after. She seems to be doing well in the new footsteps and we hope to hear more from her in 2017.

Transfigure Release Debut Album Translation

First head up for this year is the news that Transfigure finally have released their debut album. Following their EP releases from 2014 and from last year, comes their first long player. The album will be entitled 'Translation' and it will contain 8 tracks, out of which the lead track "Fields" was already featured on their EP from last year.

Hailing from Newcastle, the duo reflects the city club feel in some songs while on the other hand they also tend to be emotional and introspective. Musically they collect and end echo the best from the late's and and early 90's electro forms from the likes of New Order, Pet Shop Boys and St Etienne.

Stream and buy here.

Next Wave: Black Magique

Black Magique is one of the most interesting dark synth-pop acts that have occurred to us in this year. Hailing from Canada, the band was formed around 2012 and released their first material this year. Their music is the state of the art where sound and vision meet to express the aesthetics of their creative universe. The world of Bianca and Gabriel draws inspiration from all decades and their respective styles and for now the dark 80’s impact seems to be the most evident. 

To this date they have revealed two videos for the singles “Sexercise” and “Fashion Kills”, also available on cassette. They are currently signed to Nite Time Records and we are looking forward to hear new material.

Xeno and Oaklander Release New Album 'Topiary'

Xeno and Oaklander have released a brand new album entitled 'Topiary'. This is their fifth studio album and the direct follow up to 'Par Avion' which was released in 2014. They have also revealed the video for the first single which is entitled "Marble". The album is out on Ghostly International.

Next Wave: L'Avenir

L’Avenir is the cold synth project of veteran electronic musician and sound artist Jason Sloan. Known throughout the space and ambient music scenes for his contemplative electronic soundscape work for over a decade;
Sloan founded L’Avenir as a side project in 2012 to explore his long time love of synthpop, and dark electronic music created purely from vintage and analog equipment. While releasing over a dozen solo albums and EPs under his own name, Sloan has played solo all over the US, Canada and Europe including the influential Live Constructions radio program at Columbia University, STEIM in Amsterdam and Philadelphia’s The Gatherings concert series, one of the country’s oldest continuing ambient and electronic music series.

Sloan is a Professor teaching full-time in the Interactive Arts department along with being the founder and program coordinator for the Sound Art concentration at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland. 

His debut album debut album 'The Wait' is now available on Barcelona’s Cold Beats Records on CD and digital formats while Vinyl will follow.  

https://soundcloud.com/jasonsloan

Daybed Release their Debut Album 'Weird Sailing' this Month

Daybed have released their debut album 'Weird Sailing' this month on Beläten. Following on from their 12” EP 'Preludes' from 2010, Daybed offer a diverse collection of songs set against analogue synthesizer landscapes. The album playfully jumps between the upbeat and pop-inspired to the reflective and lyrical and consists of ten original tracks as well as a special cover of KKD’s minimal synth gem “And Your Mind”. The album was released through Gothenburg-based Beläten Records.

 https://belaten.bandcamp.com/album/weird-sailing
 

Martial Canterel Announces New Album/ Label Change

Sean McBride, aka Martial Canterel who also performs as half of the duo Xeno & Oaklander is back with a brand new album. His new album is entitled 'Gyors, Lassù' and will be released on a new label Dais Records. It is announced that the album marks an important milestone in the evolution of Martial Canterel's music style, "Progressing far beyond the cages of “minimal synth” and embracing the noisier qualities of its sound". The Album is set for release on October 28th and you can hear the preview track below "And I Thought". Sean is currently touring as Xeno & Oaklnder.  

http://daisrecords.com/

   

Label Spot: Visage Musique

There was this wonderful Gold Zebra song I discovered few years back which led me to its mother label. You can see that I'm referring to Visage Musique, one of the finest record labels in Canada. Based in Montreal, the label was probably established in 2010 and since then, it has released material of very distinctive synth driven electronic sound. Best known for Brusque Twins and Gold Zebra who share the history with the label and are there since its launch. Visage Musique certainly is the Face of the Montreal's electronic music scene and I'm sure there are more synth pop artists lined up and waiting to be heard. One of my personal favorite from VM's catalog certainly is Violence who released their debut album this year. 

They will join us for an exclusive interview this month. Stay tuned!

http://www.visagemusique.com

Next Wave: Minuit Machine

Minuit Machine is a Paris based darkwave duo consisting of Hélène de Thoury and Amandine Stioui. Hélène was previously active with her band Phosphor when she decided to quit the band in 2013 and start her own music ventures. She soon met Amandine and together they started recording music as Minuit Machine. Their music is dark, very atmospheric and cold and it reflects all the struggles we encounter one day or another, self-destruction, fear and love. Their debut EP 'Blue Moon' was released in 2013 and this year sees the release of their debut album 'Live and Destroy' which is out on Desire Records.

http://minuitmachine.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/minuit-machine
http://www.desirerecords.com