Ari Mason « Blair Scott: Synthentral

My theme this time is “2016 New Music!” I put all the music released in 2016 and sorted it alphabetically by album. This is Volume 1, with album titles A through E. Some bands put out more than one album in 2016, so you may see them twice in different volumes. 2016 was a fantastic music year if you like synth-based music! It was also a phenomenal year for concerts for me. I got to see some amazing artists in concert, from Assemblage 23 to the Pet Shop Boys. Here’s hoping 2017 is just as magical!

It’s music time again! Why do I do this? Well, in the hopes of introducing people to new synth-based music (EBM, Futurepop, Synthpop, Synthwave, Darkwave, Industrial, Industrial Dance, Electro, etc). So give the bands a listen and if you like what you hear, then go and pay for their album and support the bands!

NOTES:

I own (as in paid for, or was gifted) all of the music that I feature. I also attend as many local shows that I can to support bands when they’re on tour. Please do the same and support music!

ARTIST: Novakill
SONG: Promised Land
ALBUM: (D)anger
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: De/Vision
SONG: Essence
ALBUM: 13
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Espermachine
SONG: Lost Generation
ALBUM: 3RD
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Nattskiftet
SONG: Arendal
ALBUM: Aceton EP
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Circuito Cerrado
SONG: Let The Bass Fuck You Up
ALBUM: Arrhythmia (Deluxe Edition)
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: FM-84
SONG: Arcade Summer
ALBUM: Atlas
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Munich Syndrome
SONG: Neon City
ALBUM: Atmospherics 1: Urbania
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Sono
SONG: Heaven Is in Hell
ALBUM: Backyard Opera
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Underworld
SONG: Low Burn
ALBUM: Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Electro Spectre
SONG: A Kingdom Alone
ALBUM: Beautiful Lies
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Zoon Politicon
SONG: Run Forever
ALBUM: Black In White
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Covenant
SONG: I Close My Eyes
ALBUM: The Blinding Dark
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Liste Noire
SONG: Time Is Your Crime
ALBUM: Brace
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Fangoria
SONG: Geometría Polisentimental
ALBUM: Canciones Para Robots Románticos
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Rotersand
SONG: Monopole
ALBUM: Capitalism TM
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Adoration Destroyed
SONG: Voices Carry
ALBUM: Carnal Dirge EP
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Blinky Blinky Computerband
SONG: Sweet Thing (Cellular Circuit Edit)
ALBUM: Cellular Circuits EP
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Ari Mason
SONG: Beasts Tonight
ALBUM: Creatures
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Visage
SONG: Loving The Alien (Invasion Remix)
ALBUM: Darkness to Diamond
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Amnistia
SONG: Dawn
ALBUM: Dawn (Limited Edition)
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Front 242
SONG: Take One (Kant Kino Remix)
ALBUM: Detox Static EP
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Blinky Blinky Computerband
SONG: Elektromann (Dancefloor Mix)
ALBUM: Electric Mushrooms EP
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: The Midnight
SONG: Daytona
ALBUM: Endless Summer
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Assemblage 23
SONG: Endure
ALBUM: Endure (Deluxe Edition)
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: Sinestar
SONG: The Madness Of Control
ALBUM: Evolve
YEAR: 2016

Wendy Carlos working on the music from Disney’s TRON.

I love most everything synth-based, especially Synthpop, Futurepop, EBM, Industrial, Industrial Dance, Synthwave, Darkwave, etc. Hell, I even like synth-based New Age music (in other words, not Yanni). But you know what I really like? Those genres with women vocalists! So it’s music time with women vocalists in the Synthpop, Futurepop, EMB, Industrial, and Darkwave world! I didn’t realize there were so many until I actually started thinking about it. There are so many I’m going to have to break this up! So here is Volume 1: A to B!

So let’s get started!

ARTIST: Aiboforcen
SONG: Time & Space
ALBUM: Dédale (Limited Plush Edition )
YEAR: 2011

ARTIST: Alice in Videoland
SONG: Ladykiller
ALBUM: Outrageous
YEAR: 2005

ARTIST: Alkemic Generator
SONG: When We Fail
ALBUM: The Oniric Geometry
YEAR: 2013

ARTIST: Ambra Red
SONG: Oh Boy
ALBUM: Electronic Creations For Special People
YEAR: 2010

The first time I heard this song I was hooked on her voice, of which I said was “beautifully traumatic.” I went back to albums before The Dividing and have kept up every since!

Do yourself a favor and buy ALL of her albums!

ARTIST: Android Lust
SONG: Stained
ALBUM: The Dividing
YEAR: 2002

Creatures came out this year and if you don’t own it, you’re doing yourself a disservice!

ARTIST: Ari Mason
SONG: Beasts Tonight
ALBUM: Creatures
YEAR: 2016

I wish she did the vocals on every Attic Base song.

ARTIST: Attic Base
SONG: Drop It!
ALBUM: Night Vision
YEAR: 2002

ARTIST: Aural Vampire
SONG: Darkwave Surfer
ALBUM: Zoltank
YEAR: 2006

Austra is coming to Austin on 2/4 at Mohawk Austin, so make sure you come see her!

ARTIST: Austra
SONG: Annie (Oh Muse, You)
ALBUM: Olympia
YEAR: 2013

Ayria is also coming to Austin on 12/3 at Elysium Austin with Inertia! Make sure you purchase her new album Paper Dolls (it’s as awesome as all of her albums) and come see her on December 3rd in Austin!

ARTIST: Ayria
SONG: Feed Her To The Wolves
ALBUM: Paper Dolls (Bonus Tracks Version)
YEAR: 2016

ARTIST: The Azoic
SONG: Conflict
ALBUM: Illuminate
YEAR: 2003

ARTIST: Balligomingo
SONG: Purify
ALBUM: Beneath the Surface
YEAR: 2000

ARTIST: Beata Beatrix
SONG: Deeper & Deeper
ALBUM: The New Gothic Generation
YEAR: 2013

ARTIST: Bel Canto
SONG: Birds of Passage
ALBUM: Birds of Passage
YEAR: 1989

ARTIST: Belanova
SONG: Baila Mi Corazón
ALBUM: Fantasía Pop
YEAR: 2007

Yep, you’re reading that right. Berlin put out a new album in 2013 and it was really good. It was modern, with hints of 80’s Berlin and of course Terri Nunn’s voice is killer as always!

I know Berlin was touring back in October (including a 10/14 stop in El Paso, TX), but not sure if they’re still on the road.

ARTIST: Berlin
SONG: Animal
ALBUM: Animal
YEAR: 2013