Retrocution

RETROCUTION: Billy Mays Band premieres new track, “Videostore”!

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Billy Mays Band’s new album, Introspection, releases on August 30 via Lazerdiscs Records.

On Friday, Lazerdiscs Records announced Introspection, the debut album from French synth act Billy Mays Band. Over the album’s eight tracks, producer Kevin — nope, he’s not actually named Billy Mays — concocts an entertaining blend of synthwave and retro guitar rock. In an increasingly crowded synth landscape, it winds up being quite a memorable listen.

Ahead of the album’s release on August 30, Nine Circles is pleased to share a premiere of Introspection‘s second track, “Videostore.” Hit the jump to give it a listen!

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RETROCUTION: FM-84’s Ollie Wride goes solo with “Thanks in Advance”

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Welcome back to Retrocution, everyone. If you’re as much of a synthwave junkie as I am, you’ll be well aware that I’m just a bit behind with the subject of this week’s post. See, FM-84 vocalist Ollie Wride released his solo debut, Thanks in Advance, on NewRetroWave Records way back on July 19. And while I listened to it…okay, basically right at midnight when it hit Bandcamp…formulating my opinion on it has taken a bit longer. In the end, though, I think taking a bit of extra time with the album paid off.

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RETROCUTION: The Affirmation’s “My Way Home” helped me dig deeper into synthwave. Plus: a NewRetroWave Records charity bundle!

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Do you ever just look at an album cover and know you’re gonna like what’s inside? Now, I realize this doesn’t actually make much sense — the cover art, despite what a certain weekly feature of mine would suggest, ultimately has no bearing on the music that comprises its album. Coincidence or not, it’s been happening to me a lot lately, and you can add The Affirmation in as the latest example. The Blade Runner-esque cover of their debut full-length, My Way Home, instantly caught my eye, setting the table perfectly for what ended up being a pretty excellent collection of tunes within.

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Retrocution: A “Slave to the Passion” two-fer from Ultraboss!

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So, yeah, I guess Rosso Corsa’s well and truly back, aren’t they? After a gap of nearly a year between releases, the label’s returned for the second (and third!) time in a month with an absolutely stellar 1-2 punch from Vienna-based producer and guitar virtuoso, Ultraboss, titled Slave to the Passion. Released a week apart on June 23 and 30, the two albums in this set contain some of the catchiest synth jams you’ll hear this year, and make for an absolutely terrific, combined listen. So let’s dissect, shall we?

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Retrocution: Stuff We Missed, 1H 2019

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Welcome back to another edition of Retrocution! Now that I’m somewhat back on my post-writing game — only took me, oh, half the year — it felt like a good time to take stock of what the synthwave scene’s given us so far in 2019.

If you’re familiar with any of our previous 2019 featurees — AWITW, SelloRekt /LA Dreams, Lost Years or FM Attack — you’ll be well aware there’s been some great synth this year. But of course, there’s far, far more out there than just what we have time to cover in this column. (And thank fuck for that!) So, let’s take a look back at some of those non-Retrocuted albums now. Below the jump are ten of my other favorites from so far this year!

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