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 4, with album titles T through Z. 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!
NOTE: 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!
I missed Marsheux in Volume 1, so rectifying that now…
ARTIST: Marsheaux
SONG: Like A Movie
ALBUM: Ath.Lon
YEAR: 2016
I also forgot Tonebox in Volume 3, so rectifying that…
ARTIST: Tonebox
SONG: Mechanism Pilot
ALBUM: Nocturn
YEAR: 2016
ARTIST: Metroland
SONG: Synthetic Sound
ALBUM: Things Will Never Sound The Same Again
YEAR: 2016
ARTIST: Phantogram
SONG: Funeral Pyre
ALBUM: Three
YEAR: 2016
I love most everything synth-based, especially Synthpop, Futurepop, EBM, Industrial, Industrial Dance, Synthwave, Darkwave, etc. Hell, I even like some 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 (and musicians) 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’ve had to break this up! So here is Volume 3: F to J!
ARTIST: Glow
SONG: Gabriel
ALBUM: Rain Theory
YEAR: 2004
Without a doubt my favorite local band here in Austin. The genius musical talents of Mike Peña, the awesome percussion work of @Shawnie Doogans, and the brilliant and wrenching (as in tugs on your soul) vocals of Lisa Perkins make for an amazing combination. If you live in Austin keep an eye out for this up-and-coming band who recently opened for Assemblage 23.
And go buy their album! You won’t regret it. It’s a nonstop barrage of awesomeness and synth magic. Oh, and they just released a cover Journey’s “Who’s Crying Now?” that’s beautifully tragic and gloriously magical at the same time, so give that a listen as well.
ARTIST: Hamerzya
SONG: Are We Likely
ALBUM: Welcome, Strange Visitor
YEAR: 2016
ARTIST: Helalyn Flowers
SONG: Before The Sunshine
ALBUM: White Me In Black Me Out
YEAR: 2013
She doesn’t sing on every track, but when she does it’s magical…
ARTIST: Hidden Place
SONG: Legendary Divers
ALBUM: Novecento
YEAR: 2012
Some songs by HMB have a male vocalist, but I really love the songs where she sings…
ARTIST: HMB
SONG: Revelation
ALBUM: Great Industrial Love Affairs
YEAR: 2001
Such an influential band in the synth-based music world (even to this day)! This is definitely a band that cannot be left off any Women of Synth list (even if the women vocalist were often background vocals for the lead male vocal)!
ARTIST: The Human League
SONG: (Keep Feeling) Fascination
ALBUM: The Very Best of Human League (Deluxe Edition)
YEAR: 1983 (song)
Blair Scott: Synthentral 