Roladex – Anthems For The Micro-Age [MR031]

February 2, 2014February 18, 2019 hipodromealbum, electro, medical records llc, roladex, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

Medical Records presents it’s second contemporary artist release with Roladex. Using an arsenal of analog instruments, Roladex nostalgically borrows ideas from music of the past to carefully craft a unique brand of futuristic-mechanized pop, with an emphasis on songwriting and layered production. Weaving sparse, sequenced arpeggios into fuzzy bass and bubbly melodies to create a bed of sound where they layout a somehow bright melancholia. Part minimal synth-wave, part dream pop. The opening track “Anthem For The Micro-Age” sets the tone with dreamy atmospheric synth textures and interwoven male and female vocals. “Love Surgery” is chock full of pop hooks and synth leads interspersed with angular guitar accents. “Empty Streets” has an almost minimal John Bender bedroom aesthetic. Fans of early Wire (esp 154), Drinking Electricity, Fad Gadget and even noisy 90s shoegaze are sure to enjoy. Presented on high-quality 180gram heavyweight electric blue transparent vinyl and features a bonus LP insert with lyrics.

Featureless Ghost – Trance State Or Identity [AD008]

November 12, 2013October 23, 2018 hipodromeacoustic division, claire elise tippins, electro, featureless ghost, matt weiner, synth waveLeave a comment

Featureless Ghost take it straight towards the blackened ecstasy of dance- floor revelry with their Trance State or Identity EP, a collection of four highly crafted and mechanized emotions issued forth from the Acoustic Division. Known for their mastery of tense cybernetic synth-pop, the Atlanta duo bridge the more gothic strains of techno, electro, and clubland music into a precise and cutting future funk. This record runs the full course- hard and jacking right into the beautiful and disorienting warmth of the abyss. Electric romanticism and drum machine communion at its finest.

Featureless Ghost – Sugarcoated [CGI000]

November 5, 2013April 26, 2023 hipodromebeau wanzer, cgi records, claire elise tippins, featureless ghost, matt weiner, scott fraser, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

The newly forged CGI label debuts with a 12″ release from Featureless Ghost, a Atlanta-via- Brooklyn duo hotly tipped with the online content farm after releases on the Crash Symbols and Night People labels. Describing themselves simply as ‘synths/rhythms/voices/moods’ the Featureless Ghost pairing of Matt Weiner and Elise Tippins occupy the crawl space between synth pop, wave, industrial and nascent forms of techno, which manifests itself in two intriguing original tracks in “Sugar coated” and “Cybersapien”. Kudos to CGI for the remix commissions too, with both Scott Fraser and Beau Wanzer excelling – the latter’s take on previous FG single “Flash” is a particular highlight here.

Five Times Of Dust – Smile With The Eyes [MW048]

November 4, 2013February 13, 2026 hipodromealbum, electro, five times of dust, krautrock, mark phillips, minimal wave records, robert lawrence, synth waveLeave a comment

Minimal Wave present Smile With The Eyes: a double LP of selections of unreleased material from the prolific outsider duo Five Times Of Dust. Formed in 1980 in Bristol, Mark Phillips (MAP) and Robert Lawrence came together with a shared passion for Krautrock, Industrial Electronics and the burgeoning DIY tape scene, as well as being influence by the Dadaist movement and the works of Burroughs and Ballard. Unconventional, quirky and at times melancholic and romantic, their music acted as the perfect escape from the urban decay of early 80s Bristol and Cardiff, the two cities they travelled between on weekends to record. Although unashamedly electronic, the sound of Five Time Of Dust is far harder to pin down, perhaps in part due to their location. Both Phillips and Lawrence produced music that owed little to any scene happening in London, Manchester or Sheffield at the time. As a result, the majority of their output are perfectly formed electronic curiosities. The material on Smile With The Eyes spans recordings Lawrence and Phillips made between 1982-1986. As a follow up to The Dadacomputer, their debut cassette release as a duo which we reissued earlier this year, Smile With The Eyes remains lo-fi but is musically more complex. The recordings are catchy, curious and emotionally rich. Whereas The Dadacomputer could be compared with the early output of Robert Rental, Smile With The Eyes is a collection of works that stands all on its own.

Charles Cohen – Music For Dance And Theater [DOSER021LP]

November 4, 2013August 8, 2019 hipodromealbum, charles cohen, experimental, minimal synth, morphine records, synth waveLeave a comment

Final part in the Charles Cohen trilogy on Morphine Records. Featuring various works made for Dance & Theatre productions between 1976 & 1988. Eleven tracks in total – lovingly spread over double LP and featuring some of the most beautiful material of the series. Another essential purchase.

Charles Cohen – The Middle Distance [DOSER019LP]

October 31, 2013August 8, 2019 hipodromealbum, charles cohen, experimental, minimal synth, morphine records, synth waveLeave a comment

Morphosis’ Morphine records boldly step into the archives of one of Philadelphia’s best kept underground secrets: synth composer, Charles Cohen. This excellent release beholds seven key tracks (recorded between 1979 & 1988) that go into uncharted polyrhythmic / ambient / cosmic territory. The label say ” First chapter in the trilogy of Charles Cohen retrospective works, featuring some of his early works from the Philadelphia’s “No Man’s Land” Art Installment, the “University Of Texas in El Paso” and “The Painted Bride” Art Center performances. This release also features the track, Dance Of The Spiritcatchers, which previously appeared on the Music From No Man’s Land EP by Ghostwriters, a split record with Jeff Cain, originally issued in 1980 on Zero Records.”

Leæther Strip – Teenage Demos LP [DE050]

October 31, 2013February 28, 2022 hipodromealbum, claus larsen, dark entries records, leæther strip, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

Dark Entries is celebrating its 50th release with Leæther Strip “Teenage Demos”. Leæther Strip is the solo-project of Danish electronic industrial artist Claus Larsen. “Teenage Demos” is a collection of Claus Larsen’s earliest recordings. Nine demo songs recorded between 1982 and 1986 never before released on vinyl. Influenced by Fad Gadget, Depeche Mode and Jean Michel Jarre, Claus began creating synth-pop melodies at age 14. Though the melodies were catchy and upbeat they had a hidden melancholy because Claus knew that he was different than others. “Dreaming” was his first attempt to “come out” to himself as a queer kid. Lyrically the songs reflected what was going on in his head: youth, hope and dreams. Claus used a simple set up: Moog Prodigy, Yamaha drum machine, delay pedal and spring reverb. He would record the bass and drums on a double cassette recorder, without midi, sequencers or preset sounds. By 1985, Claus composed instrumental songs as the final three tracks on this album illustrate. listen

I-F @ Krake Festival (Berlin) 11.08.2013

October 23, 2013April 22, 2014 hipodromeacid house, disco, electro, i-f, intergalactic fm, interr-ference, italo-disco, krake festival, suicide circus, synth wave1 Comment

download1 / download2

Factory Floor – Factory Floor [DFA2392]

October 8, 2013September 16, 2024 hipodromealbum, cold wave, dfa records, dominic butler, electro, factory floor, gabe gurnsey, nikki colk, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

The band drop their highly anticipated album debut on NYC post-punk stalwart DFA. Tracks from both of their singles appear alongside a slew previously unheard synth-wave / EBM gems. A vivid snapshot of a progressive band, still in the ascendant, smashing through yet another ceiling.

VA – Italia Synthetica 1981-1985 [SPITTLE034LP]

August 5, 2013October 13, 2022 hipodromecompilation, der blaue reiter, minimal synth, new wave, spittle records, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

This LP + bonus CD features the entire track listing, plus 5 bonus tracks from the Italia New Wave LP. This album represents the musical mutation that occurred after the post-punk hangover gave way to more frigid emotional shores, in-line with the synth-wave moment that was sweeping Europe and the white cliffs of Albion. This scene flourished in Italy between 1981-1985, and the musicians that came out of it are still revered today (particularly in the US). Robotic rhythms and intuitions that, besides sharing common ground with the electronic movements that had come before, also knew how to fill up the dancefloor! Featuring four previously unreleased tracks by Der Blaue Reiter, along with tracks by Modo, Actor’s Studio and La Maison, as well as the still fresh sounding contributions by true pioneers of the genre Neon and Naif Orchestra.

Tevo Howard – Nature of Love Mix

July 21, 2013October 19, 2015 hipodromechicago, cold wave, industrial, synth wave, tevo howardLeave a comment

VA – Circuit D’Actes Vol. 3 [LFL008]

July 21, 2013January 5, 2017 hipodromecompilation, electro, illustration sonore, kline coma xero, la forme lente, le furet, position parallele, post festum, shiny black mater, synth pop, synth wave, uj latasmod fuzioLeave a comment

The third installation of the Circuit D’Actes series from Belgian-French label La Forme Lente. In keeping with the spirit of its acclaimed predecessors, this new release offers a focus on modern acts (2 tracks each) as much as an overview of all things synth-based. From Position Parallèle (Geoffroy D of Dernière Volonté) and Kline Coma Xero’s dark romanticism to the self-described “No future pop” of Illustration Sonore (feat. members of Dolina, Âme de Boue, Jeunesse Fantôme and Froe Char) and Új Látásmód Fúzió /Post-Festum minimalistic soundscapes or Shiny Black Mater’s (former Le Syndicat Electronique) take on 19th century nursery rhyme, every track is striking evidence of the creative forces within the synth wave scene.

Silent EM – Case Unclear [FLEXI008]

July 21, 2013April 24, 2015 hipodromeelectro, flexi wave, jean lorenzo, silent em, synth waveLeave a comment

Moody wave by NYC based wave producer Silent Em who been releasing some tunes on different compilations and just did a cassette for the american label Function Operate.

Phantom Love – Phantom Love [MNQ036]

July 21, 2013July 17, 2019 hipodromeelectro, mannequin records, phantom love, synth waveLeave a comment

Mannequin Records is simply elated to present the debut 12” EP from Phantom Love, a mysterious Kosmische act from Southern Europe. Emerging from the majestic and fiercely sun-trapped lands of the Old Continent, Phantom Love takes you along a dazing journey through a spectral yet dreamy haze of spacey psychedelia. Drawing inspiration and guidance from the ever-revered mitt European and Mediterranean tradition of Kraut and Cosmic rock, Phantom Lovemanages to encapsulate and transcend the formulas normally associated with these genres. A retro-futuristic feast for the ears, a production that is equally analogue and digital, haunting and exotic, Phantom Love’s debut is a sonic sculpture of obsessive arpeggios and reverb-drenched strings. Against this arcane melodic canvas, tribal and shape-shifting drums structures fight and discipline the liquid interplay and superimposition of cymbals and cowbells delays.

XEX – Change [DE043LP]

June 21, 2013July 17, 2024 hipodromealbum, dark entries records, synth pop, synth wave, xexLeave a comment

XEX were an all-synthesizer band from South River, New Jersey in the late 1970s. The band formed when a trio of high school misfits with funny names (Waw Pierogi, Thumbalina Gugielmo and Alex Zander) teamed up with some friends from Rutgers College. They released their debut album “group: xex” in 1980 which Dark Entries reissued in 2010. “xex:change” takes a leap from where the band left off at the end of 1980. David Anderson left the group making xex a quartet. Recorded during the summer of 1981 and produced with Ziggy Rodberg, xex further developed the aesthetic of the first album. The seven songs here are more complex and hypnotic than the synthpunk outbursts of “group:xex.” Their new synthesizers, a Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 and a Minimoog, evoke the high-tech utopia of Patrick Cowley and proto-techno of Afrika Bambaataa. Thumbalina’s vocals have a detached, icy quality. Lyrics revolve around xex’ melange of oeuvres – pop, kitsch and New Jersey mall culture – offering commentary on species-specific adaptations for copulation, technophilia/phobia and the Jersey shore. “xex:change”, a multiple entendre that refers to the evolution of the group since its first album, group interaction in the creative process, and underlying sexual ambiguity. The group did not have the funds to release the album and it sat in obscurity for over 30 years.

Five Times Of Dust – The Dadacomputer [MWQSMP046]

June 7, 2013February 13, 2026 hipodromealbum, cold wave, five times of dust, mark phillips, minimal wave records, robert lawrence, synth waveLeave a comment

The NY Minimal Wave label present a limited edition reissue of The Dadacomputer cassettes. The Dadacomputer was the first incarnation of what would later become Five Times Of Dust. It was the result of a collaboration between Robert Lawrence and Mark Phillips who came together during the summer of 1981 living between Bristol and Cardiff, UK. They collaborated by sending tapes back and forth through the mail and also worked together in their respective home studios. Later that year, they self-released The Dadacomputer on both MAP tapes and Quick Stab.

June – Golden Era [JUNE003]

June 6, 2013September 21, 2023 hipodromeelectro, june, june records, minimal synth, synth wave, tsampikos fronasLeave a comment

Cover art - June: Golden Era

A set of minimal synth recordings, captured live with in-studio performance. These pieces are a tribute to the golden era of electronic music that mainly emerged in Europe between 1978-1984 and is often described as minimal electronics, synthpop, synthwave etc. Sinister melodies, shadows and frost making up a haunting, dystopian sonic environment. Drum machines driving step sequencers and mono-synths, hand played polyphonic synthesisers, all enveloped by the industrial sound of the spring reverb.

Alessandro Parisi Live @ Loch (Zürich) 13.04.2013

May 6, 2013May 6, 2013 hipodromealessandro parisi, cold wave, electro, live act, loch, synth waveLeave a comment

VA – Dark Matters Too: Tales Of Enlightenment [LSD010]

May 6, 2013March 29, 2022 hipodromecompilation, dark wave, electro, light sounds dark, minimal synth, synth waveLeave a comment

The superb Light Sounds Dark return with perhaps our favourite release so far in the shape of Dark Matters Too: Tales Of Enlightenment. This 13 track collection was allegedly compiled with the august help and knowledge of Intergalactic Communication Network, a group said to include the following individuals; Rick Strassman (M.D) and Slawek Wojtowicz (M.D), Mutant Beat Dance and Beppe Loda. Whether we believe Light Sounds Dark or not, Dark Matters Too: Tales Of Enlightenment remains a superb compendium of rare and obscure dark wave, primitive electro and cosmic slop with not a artist the Juno review team recognises! The opening two tracks demonstrate the sheer variety here with ramshackle shamanic underworld funk of Dementia Precox followed by ultra-rare vocoder jam of Popsong’s Factory (think a Japanese Felix Kubin). Beyond that CHBB’s “Go Go Go” sounds like the pummeling prototype to the superb recent Streetwalker LP and “Giving Head To Kilian” could be mistaken for White Savage Dance era Karl O Connor.

Alessandro Parisi – Draconia [LXRC012]

April 5, 2013March 16, 2018 hipodromealbum, alessandro parisi, cold wave, lux rec, synth waveLeave a comment

New album on Lux Rec. Alessandro Parisi recorded this album just with a Roland TR-707 and a Roland JX-3P. The heritage from his home in the northeast of Italy is clearly present in the music of Parisi. Back in the late seventies and early eighties Pordenone was an industrial city with a vivid underground post punk and wave scene. Cold weather electronics. Fog and darkness surrounds the place to this day and deeply pervades this record: the history of a city called Draconia. Who will do wrong shall not be forgiven.