The Album Review Club - Christmas Break Until 8th January

As said in my initial thoughts on this, it is of its time, yet was released later. It does feel as if it is an 80s/90s creation. It took me back to clubs/discos on a school exchange in Germany in the late 80s.

I tried to compare it to some of the stuff I listened to back then, DM, Yazoo, Blancmange etc but it does have a very different feel to it despite being synth driven.

Right from the off I got that Miami Vice vibe from it. First track beign quite surprising and enjoyable. "Sunset" I liked also as the female vocals on it reminded me a bit of the voice on "Little Fluffy Clouds".

Daytone was another good one as I likened it to almost Aphex Twin meets Rick Wakeman.

As @RobMCFC says, its an album that is nice enough to listen to but doesnt grab you and demand that you listen to it again and again. Perhaps more dinner party music again?

...And then there is the sax! have to say I did quite enjoy it and thought that vampuires would have been better without any lyrics and just keep it all sax...sadly after that I thought the album just sort of petered out, with me almost thinking that Crocketts revenge sounded like an end of the night "erection section" finale at Cinderellas in Chester...Oh happy days!

High points were Endless Summer, Sunset, Daytona & Comeback Kid. low points being Synthetic & Lonely City

Overall its going to be a 6 from the Derry jury

Right off back to the Liverpool thread to continue my intellectual debate with City Mike
 
LGWIO said:
I tried to compare it to some of the stuff I listened to back then, DM, Yazoo, Blancmange etc but it does have a very different feel to it despite being synth driven.
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This pick by @BlueHammer85 has been very enjoyable and as a leftfield choice has highlighted a few things one of which is that Synthwave isn't necessarily what it's name might imply. Your comment is spot on and points to the fact that the synth has long since come of age and we need to talk about synths in the same as any other musical instrument rather than as something that is it's own thing.

In the same way we don't lump metal and jangle pop bands together simply because they focus on a guitar driven sound, the world of synths users is massively diverse too. Similarly in the same way that a Schecter Reaper sounds nothing like an Epiphone Casino, something like the FM8 engine is designed for a different job than a MatrixBrute and will be used by different types of artists.
 
threespires said:
This pick by @BlueHammer85 has been very enjoyable and as a leftfield choice has highlighted a few things one of which is that Synthwave isn't necessarily what it's name might imply. Your comment is spot on and points to the fact that the synth has long since come of age and we need to talk about synths in the same as any other musical instrument rather than as something that is it's own thing.

In the same way we don't lump metal and jangle pop bands together simply because they focus on a guitar driven sound, the world of synths users is massively diverse too. Similarly in the same way that a Schecter Reaper sounds nothing like an Epiphone Casino, something like the FM8 engine is designed for a different job than a MatrixBrute and will be used by different types of artists.
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It's certainly stirred up some great posts.

what I found intriguing with this particular Album and i suppose synthwave in general is that it takes me to a nostalgic past that I've never been too, I mean, I was born in 85 - so I have no concept and upbringing being around the neon lights of say Miami, yet when I hear 80's synthwave it's like I have some sort of past recollection.
 
BlueHammer85 said:
It's certainly stirred up some great posts.

what I found intriguing with this particular Album and i suppose synthwave in general is that it takes me to a nostalgic past that I've never been too, I mean, I was born in 85 - so I have no concept and upbringing being around the neon lights of say Miami, yet when I hear 80's synthwave it's like I have some sort of past recollection.
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My problem is I never liked the miami shirt, jacket sleeves rolled up era. GTA Vice City was an exceptional game for its time but that was it. Pitted against the DM album Black Celebration music of that era sounds dated and very dull.
 
BlueHammer85 said:
It's certainly stirred up some great posts.

what I found intriguing with this particular Album and i suppose synthwave in general is that it takes me to a nostalgic past that I've never been too, I mean, I was born in 85 - so I have no concept and upbringing being around the neon lights of say Miami, yet when I hear 80's synthwave it's like I have some sort of past recollection.
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Great point and I think that's true of most of it's fans who are in the same position as you agewise and you're right it's quite an intriguing phenomena. If you've not watched Rise of the Synths definitely try and watch it if you can. Most of the bands making the music are even younger than you are and there's a bit of argument about what they all think is going on with it as a genre.

As I said in my review, for me personally I didn't like the sound the first time around so it's no surprise that I'm not fussed this time either but the fact that it exists as a genre at all is quite interesting and the artists themselves seem genuine.
 
bennyboy said:
It was never going to be my cup of tea going by the first song.Endless Summer.
Some how it got worse from then on.
Soft Cell it ain't.
Sadly a 1 out of 10 for getting folk to buy this boring nonsense.
Was in my daughter house yesterday but never had the bottle to put this for her opinion.lol.
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The good news is based on this review you qualify for free membership of our recently formed "80s New Wave Chancers Who Can't Sing Appreciation Society". The bad news is it's your turn to bring the biscuits to the next meeting.

Of course if Rob claims copyright on the term we'll need to change our name.
 
threespires said:
The good news is based on this review you qualify for free membership of our recently formed "80s New Wave Chancers Who Can't Sing Appreciation Society". The bad news is it's your turn to bring the biscuits to the next meeting.

Of course if Rob claims copyright on the term we'll need to change our name.
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Quietly confident of my pick tomorrow will get a 2 at least.
 
threespires said:
The good news is based on this review you qualify for free membership of our recently formed "80s New Wave Chancers Who Can't Sing Appreciation Society". The bad news is it's your turn to bring the biscuits to the next meeting.

Of course if Rob claims copyright on the term we'll need to change our name.
Click to expand...
Well Soft Cell are definitely in that society!
 
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