Category Archives: Synth Pop
CULT CLASSIC: MOONSHINE AKA MONICA RYPMA AND FRIENDS-CLASSIFIEDS.
Cult Classic: Moonshine aka Monica Rypma and Friends-Classifieds. When Monica Rypma’s released her album Classifieds as a private press in 1985, little did she know that one day, it would be much-prized rarity amongst collectors and fans of the folk-funk genre. That’s why nowadays, original copies of Classifieds are changing hands for ever increasing sums …
DO IT AGAIN! THE SONGS OF BRIAN WILSON.
Do It Again! The Songs Of Brian Wilson. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD Release Date: ‘28th’ October 2022. Brian Wilson is seen by some as the closest thing music has had to a genius. Proponents of this argument cite the Beach Boys 1966 progressive, psychedelic Magnus Opus Pet Sounds. By then, he was one of …
MOONSHINE AKA MONICA RYPMA AND FRIENDS-CLASSIFIEDS.
Moonshine aka Monica Rypma and Friends-Classifieds. Label: BBE Music. Format: CD. Release Date: 17th June 2022. When BBE Music recently released the compilation We Are The Children Of The Sun, one of the highlights was Monica Rypma’s Let Love Flow, a hook-laden Balearic groove hidden gem. The track was a tantalising taste of the album …
JON SAVAGES’S 1977-1979-SYMBOLS CLASHING EVERYWHERE.
Jon Savage’s 1977-1979-Symbols Clashing Everywhere. Label: Ace Records. Format: 2CD Set. Jon Savage’s 1977-1979-Symbols Clashing Everywhere is the seventh instalment in the compliant series he has curated for Ace Records. This long-running series has been released to critical acclaim, and like previous volumes features a truly eclectic collection of tracks. They reflect just what music journalist Jon Savage was listening to …
NICK LUSCOMBE PRESENTS TOKYO DREAMING.
Nick Luscombe Presents Tokyo Dreaming. Label: Wewantsounds. Format: CD. Release Date: 27th November 2020. Usually, the compilation market is buoyant with a myriad of exciting, eclectic and esoteric releases hitting the racks of record shops each week. Sadly, 2020 hasn’t been like most years and this has resulted in many record labels have scaled back …
CULT CLASSIC: LARAAJI: VISION SONGS VOLUME 1.
Cult Classic: Laraaji: Vision Songs Volume 1. During a career that has spanned five decades, American multi-instrumentalist Laraaji has released around thirty albums and countless collaborations. Many of these albums were self released by Laraaji on cassettes, and feature his unique and inimitable genre-melting sound. This best described as a fusion of ambient, avant-garde, experimental …
PACIFIC BREEZE 2: JAPANESE CITY POP AOR AND BOOGIE 1972-1986.
Pacific Breeze 2: Japanese City Pop AOR and Boogie 1972-1986. Label: Light In The Attic Records. Release Date: ‘15th’ of May 2020. In May 2019, Seattle-based Light In The Attic Records released Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR and Boogie 1976-1986 to widespread critical acclaim. This lovingly curated compilation was what many music fans had …
BOB STANLEY AND PETE WIGGS PRESENT THE TEARS OF TECHNOLOGY.
Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs Present The Tears Of Technology. Ace Records. Released Date: ’28th’ February 2020. For many people, whether critics, cultural commentators or record buyers, the sixties and seventies were golden eras for music that have never been surpassed. Since then, the argument goes, it’s all been downhill for music and especially during the …
ALE HOP-BODILESS.
Ale Hop-Bodiless. Label: Buh Records. Recently, Berlin-based Ale Hop, who is one of Peru’s leading composers and experimental electronic musicians released her new album Bodiless on Lima-based Buh Records. Bodiless is a carefully crafted collection of nine new songs that feature Ale Hop’s trademark complex pop arrangements. However, Bodiless is quite different from Ale Hop’s …
LARAAJI: VISION SONGS VOLUME 1.
Laraaji: Vision Songs Volume 1. Label: Numero Group. During a career that has spanned five decades, American multi-instrumentalist Laraaji has released around thirty albums and countless collaborations. Many of these albums were self released by Laraaji on cassettes, and feature his unique and inimitable genre-melting sound. This best described as a fusion of ambient, avant-garde, …
CHANGE THE BEAT-THE CELLULOID RECORDS STORY 1979-1987.
CHANGE THE BEAT-THE CELLULOID RECORDS STORY 1979-1987. In 2012, Strut Records released Only For You: The Sound of Cajmere and Cajual Records, which paid homage to Cajmere, one of the innovators of the Chicago house scene and his label Cajual Records. This proved to be one of Strut Records’ most critically acclaimed and commercially successful …
DISCO RECHARGE: VOYAGE-ONE STEP HIGHER.
DISCO RECHARGE: VOYAGE-ONE STEP HIGHER. By 1982, Voyage had established themselves as one of Euro Disco’s most innovative groups. Since 1978, Voyage had released a trio of critically acclaimed, cutting-edge albums. Their debut was 1978s Voyage, with Fly Away following later in 1978. Two years later, in 1980, came Voyage’s third album Voyage 3. Now …
INFERNAL DEVICES-LIFE IN STEREO.
INFERNAL DEVICES-LIFE IN STEREO. Having recently reviewed the debut release from New York’s newest label SpinSpinNYC, Nutritious Presents Duke Williams and The Extremes, they’ve since released their second release. This is Infernal Devices’ Life In Stereo, the debut E.P. from the Brooklyn based dance duo. Infernal Devices are Mark Allen and Andy Miccolis, and having …
LIPPS INC-MOUTH TO MOUTH.
LIPPS INC-MOUTH TO MOUTH. When Minneapolis based producer Steven Greenberg and the former Miss Black Minneapolis Cynthia Johnson entered the studio to record a single Rock It as Lipps Inc in 1979, little did they realize the commercial success that was about to come their way. Once Rock It was recorded, it was then released …
FAC. DANCE: FACTORY RECORDS 12” MIXES AND RARITIES 1980-1987.
FAC. DANCE: FACTORY RECORDS 12” MIXES AND RARITIES 1980-1987. Between 1978 and November 1992 when Factory Records became insolvent, Factory proved to be one of the most influential and innovative British labels. Indeed, it wouldn’t be exaggerating to say that Factory’s influence spread much wider, influencing independent labels worldwide. During this period, Factory Records were …
DARK ROOM NOTES-DARK ROOM NOTES.
DARK ROOM NOTES-DARK ROOM NOTES. Dark Room Notes, who were formed in Galway in 2006, will soon release their second album, the eponymous Dark Room Notes on BBE Music. This is the follow-up to their 2009 debut album We Love You Dark Matter, which contained their highly acclaimed single Love Like Nicotine. Since then, much …