Coldwave/Synth charts

Review: The world is full of heart-rendering electronic pop. So much so, you sometimes have to ask yourself if we can handle - or indeed actually need - any more. Rendered almost-immune to the emotionally barrage that seems to haunt our airwaves, playlists, and Made In Chelsea episodes, anyone who still has feelings in 2023 is doing well by all accounts.
Then along come Synthia, billed by the Big Crown label as a 'supergroup', comprising production don Leon 'El Michels Affair' Michels, and vocalist Claire Cottrill, AKA Clairo. Debate over what constitutes a 'group' aside, So Low, a startling double-A is enough to make you forget everything we just talked about, throw away the idea of overkill, and dive right in. As if born to score something cool, reflective, thought-proving and devastatingly romantic, fans of Electric Youth, Cocteau Twins and Almagris should be here already.

Review: RECOMMENDED
Post punk and dance music can be perfect bedmates simply because they are so often one and the same thing. Or rather the former is a form of the latter, with post punk's audio iconography frequently involving a rolling approach to rhythms, subtleties given room to shine and a sense of constant build about the atmospherics. All of which are also cornerstones of electronic club sounds, too.

Here then Soul Jazz adds to its extensive and consistently-impressive back catalogue of genre-themed compilations with a collection of tracks that take their lead from electro pop, industrial, punk, techno and more. Featuring a host of contemporary artists, including LA DIYers Automatic, German sonic artists Toresch and Philippines-via-California cult hero Vex Ruffin, it's refreshingly modern proof of how vital this stylistic meeting point is.

Review: NTS Radio host Francesca Macri aka System Olympia presents her second full-length album titled Racing Heart, a neon-lit soundtrack for an evening drive in a Mercedes Benz that she's released on her Okay Nature imprint. Highlights are the sensual, late-night boogie-down vibe of 'All Mine Now', the slo-mo synthwave of 'Link Of Truth' and the saccaharine '80s pop aesthetic of 'War Of The Hearts' could have been in a John Hughes film.

Review: Le Couleur consistently sidesteps complacency with each new album presenting a fresh musical experiment without ever losing its familiar foundation. With Comme dans un penthouse, the band takes its biggest leap into musical exploration yet as they revisit elements of 'Voyage Love' while delving deeper into disco infused with new wave nuances. The result is a cooler, more distant vibe compared to their previous work. The album crafts a narrative universe around Barbara, introduced in 'POP,' as she seeks excess, pleasure, and happiness amidst frenetic rhythms. From the Krautrock-inspired 'Autobahn' to futuristic tracks reminiscent of Das Mortal, Le Couleur deftly balances innovation with familiarity here on another sublime-sounding album.