I launched the electroscape in June 2020 as a creative outlet. It has provided ample opportunity to discover new music written by incredible artists. But it also provided an opportunity I was unprepared for, and that has been to learn the personal stories of the people behind the music. Their stories have moved me intellectually and spiritually. It is with much gratitude to these people that I bring this year to a close at the electroscape.
It was a big year. The popularity of physical media grew, collaborations blossomed, and virtual concerts took hold. I spent the last few weeks of 2020 reflecting on the albums I returned to night-after-night for weeks on end. When an album takes me to a time and place, I know it will be one I pull off the shelf and revisit for years to come. It is these albums that are the fabric of our lives and the ones I chose to write about for my end of year story.
I constrained myself to eight albums because, simply, I had to choose a number, eight is my favorite and, probably not unlike yourself, I enjoy the challenge of making painful decisions about albums, front men, songs, eras, and so on. The albums are necessarily a reflection of my taste and personal experience listening to them. All the albums I chose, I felt, broke new ground and pushed genre boundaries. They all moved me with their energy.
The albums are listed alphabetically by title.
Aurorium by Terra Genesis
Aurorium tells a story of mankind. Almost nothing is left to the once lush, thriving planet of Terra. Humans have found their way across space to the planet Aurioum where gems with limitless energy are plentiful and, naturally, the corrupt government on Terra has an evil plan to use to rule the entire galaxy. Aurorium is a showcase for gritty cyberpunk textures and layers of dark retrofuture melodies, contrasting sounds and tempos, all of which imprint in memory. The songwriting on Aurorium shines. At times, you may find yourself running full speed through underground neon tunnels in the future, taking turn after turn, only to be immersed in the same surroundings. At other times, you may find yourself drifting through digital palm trees with the warmth of the sun shining upon your face. The sound of Aurorium on vinyl is truly sublime. It was mastered by Peter Zimmerman and released on vinyl by Lazersteel Records. Vinyl copies are still available here.
Dark of a Distant World by XENNON
Everything about Dark of a Distant World is big. The songs are well orchestrated, the vocal melodies move like a roller coaster ride through the grassy mountains in early spring, and the lead synth melodies play like a river meandering through the deep crevasses in the valleys below. Dark of a Distant World includes a stunning art book by Travis Wright which tells the story of a dark and distant world where peace once reigned, the desire for power rose, and good prevailed, a story that was perhaps all along the figment of a young boy’s imagination. The grand theatrics of classic rock on Dark of a Distant World cannot be denied and, I find, an endearing attribute. After listening to the album, one might even question if the seed from which synthwave grew sprouted long ago. Dark of a Distant World was released by Time Slave Recordings on cassette, minidisc, and digital. Treat yourself to this instant classic here. It would be quite the gift to hold Dark of a Distant World on vinyl in hand with the accompanying art book and story. Maybe we will get lucky in 2021.
Franz by Elay Arson
Franz is a synth-metal, rock opera that has a flavor to excite the taste of every palette. Franz is a concept album about Elon Musk and futuristic cybertruck designer Franz von Holzhausen who was accidentally killed when his own cybertruck creation fell on him. Musk brings Franz back to life – he can do whatever he wants, after all – creating a Franzenstein powered by his own cybertruck battery. A whole lot goes wrong. The humor and creativity of Franz impresses, as do the big riffs, funky bass lines, and high-energy vocals that will bring you to your feet often, courtesy of guests such as CZARINA and Becca Star. Read more about Franz at Westword here and snag your own digital or physical copy here.
Megawave by Dana Jean Phoenix & Powernerd
Megawave is magical. The album brings together the retrofuturism of Powernerd’s production with the vocal prowess of Dana Jean Phoenix. You will hear funk, jazz, and disco. The strong R&B and pop influences are some of Megawave’s most endearing attributes. The lyrics on Megawave are infused with empowerment and awareness of our individual and collective self and are delivered alongside surreal harmonies in a fashion as heartfelt, hopeful, and powerful as the words themselves. The product is simply supernatural. Read our story about Megawave here and pick up a physical or digital copy at Outland Recordings.
Midnight Store by Donor Lens
Midnight Store is a genre shifting release. Midnight Store was inspired by a real corner store in Cardiff, UK, where Donor Lens duo Thom and Jay frequent to pick up their weekend beers. Midnight Store is layered with warm, organic tones that clash with the cold and synthetic. It is populated with field recordings from real convenience stores, hard-hitting beats, and psychedelic spaces where time loops over itself and the listener becomes the actor in the movie on the screen they are watching. The album was aptly described by the band as exploring “in-between spaces and contemplation – finding yourself in an airport lounge, a 24-hour convenience store, or a Zoom call with poor connection.” The stunning display worthy cover art done by Tropical Virtual is a perfect match for this release. Read our story about Midnight Store here and head over to My Pet Flamingo and pick up your own copy and explore their vaporwave library.
More Than a Feline by Cat Temper
The title More Than a Feline says it all. It’s the first Cat Temper release to feature guest vocalists. The album has the signature meowave sound – the industrial synthpunk, songs built around unique synth sounds, and, of course, the nonlinear transitions that play like the soundtrack to a ride at the circus for the insane. Cat Temper invited 10 guest vocalists who bring electropop, funk, darkwave, and metal, including the singers Oceanside85, Swayze, Gulf Blvd, and more. The songs are all tightly held together by the driving force of meowave. You’ll hear “meow” in more than one place and, if you’re not careful, may just catch yourself singing it around the house. Read our story about Cat Temper’s discography here and swing by Cat Temper’s Bandcamp page and pursue the many digital and vinyl releases.
PAINSYNC by Virtual Intelligence
PAINSYNC is a masterpiece. The lyrics are deeply introspective, reflective, and tell perfectly crafted tales of end of days, pain, and love. The vocal rhythms grip your heart and infect your soul, blackening it at times and warming it at others. The songwriting on PAINSYNC is mindboggling. Virtual Intelligence creates open landscapes for you to step inside and navigate with bass lines, synth sounds, and beats infused with dark synth, goth, and industrial textures all alongside ghostly melodies. The music transplants the lister from the dark, cold, gray and damp industrial spaces to the hot, dry, and vast valleys spanning the spaces between desert mountains. Virtual Intelligence will not rush you from one place to the next. At times, you will be asked to dwell in uncomfortable spaces and, at times, you will be allowed to settle into the bliss. Read the personal story behind the making of PAINSYNC here.
Power of the Purple Flame by Venator
I have never heard an electronic album quite like Power of the Purple Flame. It is the second entry in a trilogy telling the story of a bioenhanced government experiment gone wrong – Victor Moore – and is set in a futuristic supercontinent glowing from neon lights, crammed by towering skyscrapers, and overrun by crime. Venator’s songwriting is progressive and exemplifies technical precision. At times, it is spontaneous, unpredictable, and exerts limitless energy, creating songs like a mosaic drawn through time. At other times, songs play like the unfolding of a well-executed plan, where melodies come into awareness only after full developed. Read our story about the trilogy here and head over to Steel City Collective and indulge in Venator’s work.