Robyn Writes

Notes from the Keybed – This Month In Synths [November/December 2014]

Merry Synthmas, y’all!

It’s the countdown to Christmas and you’ll all be writing your lists for the big man in red, I’m sure. Stuck for ideas? Well, aside from Moog branded mugs and Roland 808 socks, there are some fantastic records on the horizon to fill a hole in your stocking or plug your own holes whilst the family murders another rendition of Deck The Halls…

Kicking off December comes a (sort of) brand new EP from personal favourites, Issues! I say only sort of brand new as it primarily consists of stripped-back versions of the biggest tunes from their self-titled album, as well as a couple of oldies such as the fantastic ‘Hooligans’. The RnB-core boys were responsible for one of my records of the year, combining ripping synths with pop hooks and metulz chugs. Whilst Diamond Dreams is set to be a more sedate affair, there are still plenty of jazzy keyboards, chilled electronic beats and, of course, those songs that won us all over at the start of the year.

Speaking of records of the year, topping my list alongside Issues would be Heartsrevolution’s electro punk odyssey Ride Or Die, Death From Above 1979’s long-awaited return on The Physical World, the quite frankly mental debut from Emperor Yes on An Island Called Earth, and Get Cape Wear Cape Fly’s delightful swan song London Royal. All of these would make perfect presents for synth-hungry music fans.

Next year is already shaping up to be a good one for music, with a new album from synth pop pioneers Ok Go! Lead single ‘I Won’t Let You Down’ packs in some tasty disco strings alongside the quartet’s penchant for catchy choruses and retro guitar and synth sounds. In typical Ok Go style, there is also an utterly bizarre video that is well worth watching. Expect single wheeled scooter dancing, a troupe of Japanese girls twirling umbrellas, and some unbelievable choreography. Standard ‘band playing in a room’ videos have never been their modus operandi but this one goes even further with a HTML5-based interactive version… as long as you’re using Chrome. Hungry Ghosts is available on download sites here in the UK from February but you can get it now if you’re over in the US.

Another early contender for 2015’s record of the year will certainly be the new offering from rave-rock crossover kings Enter Shikari. Singles from The Mindsweep are already suggesting a continuation of 2012’s monumental album A Flash Flood Of Colour, with the radio-friendly chorus in ‘The Last Garrison’ sitting alongside the bass-heavy tribal rhythms of ‘Anaesthetist’ and ambient intro into surprise hardcore beatdown on ‘Never Let Go Of The Microscope’! It’s set to be another mix of intelligent songwriting and boundary-breaking soundscapes from the genre-hopping foursome.

We said a lot of goodbyes to some established synth bands in 2014, it was clearly the year that new rave finally gave up the ghost (sob). Klaxons returned with their pleasant, if a bit bland, third album before playing a final run of shows, grindie kids Hadouken went on indefinite hiatus, and even hip-hop heroes Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip went their separate ways following a triumphant farewell tour. In addition, we lost noisy electro duo Crystal Castles, with frontwoman Alice Glass departing with the tantalising promise of a solo career for her and a separate continuation from producer Ethan Kath.

With so many great acts throwing in the towel it seemed a perfect time to salute a much missed Keytar Hero, Pete Cafarella from Shy Child. Technically, the synth and drums duo are still a going concern, but having not heard anything from them since 2010, any hopes of a new album have fast dwindled. However at the height of electro indie, Shy Child stood proudly aside from their competitors fronted by the keytar-totting Cafarella’s dancey riffs and New York drawl. Although he hung up the keytar in 2010 to concentrate on being a ‘serious band’ with regular horizontal ‘boards he remains a true hero of the instrument and an influence to shy nerdy synthesists across the globe. Stand up and step out y’all!

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

Straight Edge Keytar Hero has no time for your bullshit.

Loads of new releases hitting the airwaves this month for synth fans starting with the band that kicked off my own love of the things! Back in 2007 Klaxons came bursting out of nowhere in an explosion of lurid colours, distorted synths, and an indie sensibility that mined everything from 90’s rave to J.G. Ballard. This personally resulted in the mass raiding of my student loan to buy a MicroKorg and a fuzz box (we can pretend that the electric blue skinny jeans and pink bomber jackets never happened though). After under-the-radar second album ‘Surfing The Void’, via a teenage heart crushing marriage to Keira Knightly, the boys are back with new album ‘Love Frequency’ on 9 June. The single releases so far suggest that, although the noisy guitars are not going to be making a return anytime soon, the band’s knack for an infectious pop hook and love of retro keyboard sounds remain firmly at the forefront. The nu-rave pioneers are playing a number of small-venue shows to coincide with the album’s release before hitting the dance stage at the Reading and Leeds festivals.

Other new records to pick up this month include ‘Luminous’ by The Horrors, who move further away from their garage goth roots into psychedelic territory littered with shimmering synth hooks and celestial chords, Imogen Heap’s long-awaited new album ‘Sparks’, and ‘Do It Again’ by everyone’s favourite Swedish synth pop star Robyn, who teams up with production maestros Röyksopp for this saucily-titled mini album.

Continuing the Swedish theme, TBO were sent a smorgasbord of new music from this Scandinavian country this month! Whilst the heavier end of the spectrum was well and truly demolished by Murderofcrows I’ve picked out something a little easier on the ear. Donnie Castle describes himself as a 19-year-old indie-electro producer from Gothenburg. Retaining some of the dark and ominous musical vibes that his hometown is renowned for he delivers a viable alternative to the EDM dominance that has blighted electronic music in recent years. The instrumentals on the record suffer at times from familiar preset reliance but anyone who doesn’t spend their life surrounded by software synths wouldn’t care or notice as the strong melodies shine throughout. The true standout moments are on ‘Stutter’ and the title track where glitchy drum machine rhythms meet Crystal Castles-style vocals. Certainly one to keep an ear out for.

Back over in the UK and I’ve recently returned from The Great Escape, Brighton’s annual weekend of live music and mayhem. Stationed on the Alcopop! / BSM stage at Pav Tav, guitars were clearly the dominant sound of the day but there was still a strong showing of synths including the mighty Fight Like Apes’ contingency of 3 keyboards, numerous sample boxes and an Ableton-running laptop! The Dublin foursome brought all the punk energy and disco swagger of new EP ‘The Body of Christ and the Legs of Tina Turner’ to the seaside venue, finishing their set with trampled keys and flailing limbs to rapturous applause. Particular note also needs to go to emotronica three-piece Emperor Yes, who broke the indie mould to deliver a sound akin to a full-band PlayRadioPlay with ludicrously brilliant live vocoder backing vocals. The Londoners even have an 80’s synth strewn Misfits cover on their Soundcloud, which only reinforces their hipster-baiting genius!

Finishing off this month’s column is our Keytar Hero of the month we look back at the leading lady of the shoulder synthesiser Victoria Asher / Vicky T of Cobra Starship who is currently taking a break from music to work on cinematography for coffee adverts featuring George Clooney (naturally), whilst Gabe Saporta revives his own student days with Midtown. A new Starship album may be a little way off but Vicky T rocked the instrument back in 2007 and is thus justly deserving of this month’s award for services to keytardom!