Robyn Writes

Notes from the Keybed – This Month in Synths [September]

It’s Ken Jeong playing a keytar. Do we need to explain it any further?

September is traditionally a month of fresh starts and new beginnings. After a Chinese Democracy-esque 10 year gap, the second album from Canadian dance thrashers Death From Above 1979 has finally arrived and is on constant rotation here at Synth News HQ! The Physical World features plenty for synth fans with twinkling arpeggios, keyboard hooks and spacey pad textures nestled between the distorted bass riffs and cowbell-littered disco beats! Lead single ‘Trainwreck 1979’ had the most glorious piano melody but it’s the title track that is the real winner for electro enthusiasts with broken computer tones and vocoder backing vocals giving way into a 70’s prog riff and majestic organ outro! Now we just need a MSTRKRFT remix and it’ll be perfect…

There must be something in the Canadian water as, fresher than Avril and Chad’s breakup, comes a new album from Toronto trio The Rural Alberta Advantage. Their hipster-friendly folk pop combines beautiful piano and guitar textures with rousing boy-girl vocals and lo-fi keyboard drones, as heard in preview track ‘On The Rocks’. Carving out a similar sonic territory as fellow indie folksters Freelance Whales with classic songwriting along the themes of hometowns and heartache. The group come to the UK towards the end of the year in support of the new record Mended With Gold, which was released on the 30th September via Saddle Creek.

Some random Bandcamp trawling led me to an inspired discovery this month! By simply searching for synth punk (and skipping straight past the bizarre kraut-rock and experimental drone merchants hijacking this tag) I was led to the fantastically absurd Computer Class. Official information is sparse but according to their social media there’s five members, who inexplicably all do guitar and vocals, and they used to be called Death Ray but changed their name to be alphabetically superior… of course. Anyway, they’re from California and mix the best bits of 90’s pop punk with some seriously tasty synth lines and a good dose of geeky college humour in the vein of Atom and His Package. Characteristically vague, their new album Nah, Dude is out sometime around now but in the meantime you can pick up their last full-length featuring songs such as ‘Early Green Day’, ‘Dude, You Used To Be Cool’ and ‘Med Study Girl’ for the princely sum of a single US dollar from their Bandcamp.

The ‘lost’ final record from Get Cape Wear Cape Fly has found a release on the fabulous Alcopop! record label. London Royal will be the last outing for laptop and guitar pioneer Sam Duckworth before he sheds his pseudonym of ten years to go it alone under his birth name. It’s been a tough few years for Duckworth, having descended from the top of the charts to illness, doubt and political backlash since 2012’s disjointed Maps. I’ve been a big fan since the beginning (Chronicles… is on my all-time favourites list) but the last time I saw him perform live it was clear that the cracks were beginning to show, although the singalongs were as loud as ever he seemed unsure of himself and uncomfortable on stage. Themes of insecurity and facing the realities of growing up are evident in lead single ‘Remember’ with it’s refrain of ‘I’m scared of the kids in the corner shop / I’m scared of the day when I have to stop’. It’s a beautifully honest song, with a fragile yet defiant vocal over an uplifting backing track that concludes with a triumphant drum and bass outro. The rest of the record continues in a similar way with textbook Get Cape acoustic guitar picking, clipped beats and retro synth melodies. Closing track ‘After Hours’ is a positive conclusion to a record born out of turmoil. Although we now say Get Cape Wear Cape Bye to this project it’s certainly not the end for Sam, whose debut solo album proper is due for release in 2015.

Finally this month’s prestigious and hotly-contested Keytar Hero award goes to Dan Werb of electro-pop duo Woodhands. Drummer Paul Banwatt might be busy these days performing with The Rural Alberta Advantage (you see it’s all linked, I do my research!) but there was a time when he slayed indie clubs across the land with the righteous disco stomp of tracks such as ‘I Wasn’t Made For Fighting’ and ‘CP24’! In videos and performances Dan stood out from his rack of keyboards and tech to stride across the stage, Roland keytar proudly in hand! For keeping synths live and up-front, Dan, we salute you.

Notes From The Keybed – This Month In Synths [August]

The sun has been shining throughout much of August, but that hasn’t stopped the bedroom producer generation from locking themselves away and making horrible bass noises. In fact, you’d think it was officially brostep month with new releases from EDM staples Porter Robinson and Steve Aoki. Breaking the mould though is Rustie, whose new album Green Language was released on the 25 August through Warp Records. Lead track ‘Raptor’ is a sign of things to come, a slice of genre-defying electronica that is equal parts vicious and euphoric. It comes highly recommended for anyone bored of the aforementioned glossy EDM scenesters, former dubsteppers who haven’t discovered a decent drop in years, or just those who secretly like trap but are far too indie (or middle class) to admit it (shhhh).

On a gentler note Imogen Heap’s Sparks is another new one for August. The experimental pop singer-songwriter’s fourth album is set to be her most ambitious yet, with her usual mix of tradition and technology bolstered by crowdsourced field recordings, gesture activated music gloves, and a constantly evolving song that will be added to every seven years! Away from the oddities it’s business as usual with Heap’s trademark layered vocal textures matched with soft synthesiser tones and wistful melodies. It’s a welcome return from one of the UK’s most forward-thinking artists, who continues to inspire and confound in equal measure.

A couple of recommendations for all you electro goffs this month – The Wrongchilde record has been reviewed elsewhere on TBO but here’s a reminder to check it out in case you missed it the first time! Goldblooded is ten tracks chock full of 80’s clichés and sultry synths from the Kill Hannah frontman, bringing up the dark side of the electro indie scene with sublime songwriting and understated production. As an alternative check out Anne, whose album was included as part of SoundSupply’s recent Run For Cover download drop. In typical style this is an artist who has decided to fold as soon as I discover them (here’s looking at you Dananananaykroyd…), but the man behind the name has vowed to do something new, which is certainly worth keeping an ear out for. In the meantime, album Pulling Chain is most unlike anything else on the Boston punk label, combining icy synth textures with yearning vocals reminiscent of much-missed New York indie dancers The Bravery. The final remaining Anne music and merch is available at cut-down price from his Big Cartel page.

This month’s Keytar Hero award goes to Kill Paris, producer, DJ, keytar enthusiast, and mate of Skrillex. Standing apart from the dubstep overlord’s OWSLA empire, Kill Paris delivers late-night disco vibes that are dripping with sex. Search out the Kill Paris & Bees Knees Keytar Mix of ‘Falling In Love Again’ for a slice of saucy synth pop punctuated with an ace keytar solo played on a custom painted purple and white Roland beast! Nice.

Notes from the Keybed – This Month in Synths: July 2014

Canadian dance-punkers Death From Above 1979 are back and sounding as vital as ever. It’s been ten years since the duo combined monumental fuzz rock riffs with danceable beats on 2004’s ‘You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine’, but their influence can still be heard in everyone from Bloc Party to DZ Deathrays. One of the biggest influences on my own music making I was beyond excited when the band announced that they would be touring and releasing new music this year. The result is ‘Trainwreck 1979’, taken from upcoming second album ‘The Physical World’, and it’s an absolute belter! Known for his huge bass tone that renders the need for a guitarist useless, it’s easy to forget that Jesse F Keeler also plays a mean synthesiser. His time making electro in MSTKRFT has clearly paid off as the new single is packed full of luscious string pads, twinkling arpeggios and a piano hook that lifts the chorus up. Matched by Sebastien Grainger’s trademark drawl and thundering drums it is clear that the two-piece are back to show the current crop how it’s done. The single is out now and the album is due in September.

A couple of months back we revealed how minds were blown by Emperor Yes at this year’s Great Escape in Brighton. It seems we weren’t the only ones wooed by the electro pop trio’s charms as the band have announced that they are now working with the fantastic Alcopop! Records to release their debut album later this year. First single ‘Paramesse to Tanis’ is a psychedelic tour-de-force of abstract lyrics about pulling mountains across Egypt accompanied by choppy synth chords, Phil Collins aping 80’s drum fills, and quirky sound effects. The vocoder backing vocals that dominated earlier releases have been replaced by floaty indie boy harmonies, but the change is welcomed by this listener at least as, contrary to popular belief, one can have too much robot voice. Definitely one to check out for fans of Friendly Fires and The Flaming Lips.

I want to end this month’s round up (don’t worry keytar fans, check the paragraph below) by introducing some of my favourite synth-based music from the local area. Michael D Wynn is a producer/musician from Worcester, who has been playing a variety of instruments in countless bands but is now focusing on electronic music. He was responsible for one of my favourite releases of this year back in January, combining contemporary pop hooks with analogue beats and Microkorg riffs ‘The Careerist / Pinks’ with Flossie-T on vocals is a must-hear. Check it out on Soundcloud and harass him to make more like this!

Another band from the Worcestershire area who have been making waves in the music scene are Shatter Effect. I first came across this group, who combine noughties indie rock with male/female vocal trades and catchy synth parts, a couple of years back and they’ve been going from strength to strength with each subsequent single release, always complemented with visually stunning videos. The band are currently in the studio recording new material and I’ve been constantly checking their social media for updates, as the results will undoubtedly be excellent.

Finally… Keytar Hero time! Here at TwoBeatsOff we like Boston (as in the city, not the soft rock band… okay, fine, both). it’s the home of hardcore troubadours Defeater as well as ace punk/emo label Run For Cover Records. Well, now we have another reason to love the Massachusetts capital as a Prince-loving anonymous man dressed as a bear has been spotted riffing out on a keytar, busking away whilst, in his own words, ‘killing racism’. Perfect. Keytar Bear, we may be 3000 miles away and we will probably never cross paths. But from behind a laptop in a middle-class haven of the Cotswolds, for services to keytardom and equality, we salute you.

Rise of the Two-Piece Band – Why Now’s a Great Time to Ditch Yr Bass Player

I’ve just returned from this year’s 2000Trees Festival and one of the things that struck me was the sheer amount of bands with only two members, leaving audiences wondering where they were hiding the extra guitarist or keyboard player! From Blood Red Shoes to Slaves, God Damn to Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip it seems that two is the magic number.

With new music on the horizon from stalwarts of the power-duo line-up Death From Above 1979 and the likes of Royal Blood and Drenge popping up on daytime radio there has never been a better time to ditch your lazy third band member, make dwindling gig fees go further, and claim some extra space in the van! Check out my top five new or underground two-piece bands that prove that whilst bigger isn’t always better, less is certainly more!

Slaves
Looking like you wouldn’t want to spill their pint and sounding like a cross between Gallows and the glory days of Dischord Records, Slaves are quite simply brilliant. From the unlikely hallows of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Laurie Vincent plays guitar through a wall of distortion whilst Isaac Holman skits around the stage playing a stand up drum kit and shouting. Live highlight ‘Girl Fight’ is only 15 seconds long, which says it all… Slaves are way more punx than you.

Also see: yr dad’s punk vinyl collection from the 80’s.

DZ Deathrays
If there’s one thing that two-piece bands like more than leg room its fuzz! This Australian duo play thrash punk that is loaded with the hairy stuff! Emasculating bassists everywhere, guitarist Shane Parsons has mastered the art of making his guitar sound like the apocalypse with double the amps and a floor full of effects pedals, whilst drummer Simon Ridley body-bangs his way through the gig smashing cymbals and eardrums in equal measure! Adding an extra guitarist for a few songs at 2000 Trees this year almost seemed unnecessary as they lit up the stage with pure party-starting fury. New album ‘Black Rat’ is out soon but in the meantime check out their often NSFW videos online.

Also see: Death From Above 1979, God Damn.

Slingshot Dakota
Carly plays keys. Tom plays drums. Between them they make happy-sad emo-pop with soaring melodies, intricate rhythms and thoughtful lyrics. The female/male vocal interplay and overdriven keyboard textures fulfil the absent-guitarist role as well as that of at least two other members. Latest release ‘Dark Hearts’ is out now on Topshelf Records.

Also see: Matt And Kim, Summer Camp.

Whoovez
Guitarist Jacob Campbell and drummer Dylan Chieffalo from Pittsburgh make feels-laden shouty 90’s emo in the vein of I Kill Giants or the recent output from Modern Baseball. Interlaced with film-audio samples and with titles such as ‘Do You Have A Kurt Vonnegut Book In Your Backpack?’ their latest release ‘Bantamweight’ is available on pay-what-you-want download from Bandcamp.

Also see: Nai Harvest, Playlounge.

Powder For Pidgeons
Another guitar and drums duo from down under that play the kind of hook-laden alt rock that takes Foo Fighters three guitars to pull off. Dirty low-down riffs and pounding drums, they’re everything a two-piece band is supposed to be.

Also see: Middle Class Rut, No Age.

Tales from the Keybed: June 2014

This month was looking a little lean for synth fans, and I was just about to put my virtual pen away when I read the news that I was waiting for… Anamanaguchi have a new single!

Cue worldwide celebrations as a thousand neon fireworks erupt whilst unicorns dance on technicolour clouds! The US chiptune foursome return with ‘Pop It’, a sickly sweet burst of J-pop vocals and Nintendo synth sounds that concludes with an absolute sugar rush of a key change that nobody else seems to do these days! It’s undeniably cute, in a way that makes even Avril Lavigne’s ‘Hello Kitty’ seem profound, and will certainly divide opinion but the sheer joyful brilliance will find fans in anyone who laments the days when video game music sounded like it was actually made on a Gameboy. Remixes come from Shirobon, who delivers a Kitsuné-style electro makeover, and GERALD, who retains all of the blips and bloops of the original with glitchy beats and choppy hooks. My favourite version though is the truly irresistible ABSRDST mix, which scores extra points for including a whole section of quotes from Super Smash Bros! The original and remixes are all available for free download from the band’s SoundCloud.

Another release that tickled my synth senses this month was Tom Vek’s new album Luck. The eclectic indie-electro pioneer returns with his third full-length record, which is packed with his trademark disco-punk drums, retro keyboard textures, and deadpan vocals. Lead single ‘Sherman (Animals In The Jungle)’ kicks off with striking synth stabs and Bloc Party-style guitar riffs, underpinned with dirty bass and ambiguous lyrics. There’s an almost drum and bass feel to the beats, but with live instrumentation that will appeal to people who aren’t fans of electronic dance music. Other highlights of the album include the bluesy bounce of ‘Broke’, filthy half-time bass monster ‘A Mistake’, and the 80’s synth riffery in closer ‘Let’s Pray’.

This month’s keytar hero destroyed my replay button on YouTube. Theremin Hero – who is fully justifying the hero title – has produced an 8-bit chiptune version of the Game Of Thrones theme played on a custom NESKeytar, which is a cross between the Nintendo console, a Guitar Hero controller and a toy keyboard! The video even features MIDI-controlled lasers for extra cool points. Quite simply this man owns the internetz for synth fans right now and I highly recommend heading over to his YouTube channel now to check it out! Or, you know, by clicking the video below.