David Rotenburger
Can't believe this amazing, epic album of legendary status was not already in my collection! What was I thinking? This is a timeless, priceless masterpiece that needs to find a place in all of our music collections!
Favorite track: Safran.
Illweevil
To the Max truly hits the essence of Synthwave and if there is one track to tie it all, the whole genre, together its Ex Cathedra with its powerful and skillfully incorporated narrative. Furthermore, this album sparks new life into the Synthwave genre with its raw electric sound.
Favorite track: Ex Cathedra.
kmxexii
TtM is another nostalgia trip with callbacks to the Jupiter-8, fun times at arcades, and fast cars. "Supercharged" is a killer outrun track with cascading arpeggios. "Let's Do It" takes an urban sample and turns it rhythmic against a dreamy background. Helisir's vocals on "Some Dreams Never Die" are beautiful and clear, working great with the funky beat and nostalgiac haze to paint a bittersweet portrait for my favorite track. "Safran" is an unusually specific tribute, adding a personal touch.
Favorite track: Some Dreams Never Die (feat. Helisir).
OrangeWedge
Botnit is one of the best synthwave artists, and it's incredible what he can achieve with modern instruments. His tracks are very catchy but not distracting; perfect for a sunset drive by the beach, in a countach LP 5000 of course! ;)
Favorite track: Arcade Cowboy.
EX CATHEDRA - Remembering the 1980s, reminiscing about the technology of the decade, and introducing 'The Voice', who offers his thoughts on the best decade.
JUPITER STYLE - Roland Corporation has just released their flagship for the 80s, the Jupiter-8 Synthesizer. One user reflects on how it's changed him.
IT'S SUPERCHARGED! - You're led to the back of a garage, you tear the tarp off a hidden vehicle, revealing the shiny, noisy supercar - and it's supercharged.
LET'S DO IT - In gritty Hell's Kitchen NYC in 1982, you stumble upon children walking through water hydrants, the teens listening to radio broadcasts of the Yankees game, and in the middle of it, a man dancing on the sidewalk.
DON'T LOOK BACK - A song about a retro synthwave producer being unsure if part of his new track falls within the "guidelines" of creating 80's sounding retro synthwave music (use of a stutter effect), but continuing on with that part of the track despite a possible perceived lack of authenticity.
OWN THE ROAD - Parents getting in your hair? Siblings driving you crazy? Had an Algebra test go bad? Cut away and go for a drive with that special someone.
SAFRAN - Dedicated to Scott Safran, who set the Asteroids high score in 1982, at the height of the game's popularity. Nobody could locate him through the 90's, with news finally surfacing in 2002. It was discovered that in 1989, he was killed after falling from his apartment balcony while trying to rescue his cat, Samson.
ARCADE COWBOY - A truck-driving man from Texas reminisces passionately on his memories of the 80's gaming scene.
CHASING EMOTIONS - A fine dinner, eyes connecting, wondering how far you'll get, trying to figure out how far she's willing to go...
SOME DREAMS NEVER DIE - A relationship that has lasted the better part of the 80's has run its course, and with the forthcoming decade change, Jackie just wants to go back to the old days, to stay in the 80's forever.
"Some Dreams Never Die" Lyrics:
We started in love in '82
After school at the arcade
With Pac man glowing and an ocean view
You said this wouldn't fade
When it comes to you and I
Some dreams never die
In '86 you got the Firebird Trans Am
You were Top Gun sexy, and a free soul
Breakdancing, roller skating and listening to Wham
Day after day, we were steady, in cruise control
When it comes to you and I
Some dreams never die
And now the 90's are coming and you've changed
You don't care, you're distant and that's fine
Life and love and feelings rearranged
Can't we just stay in 1989?
When it comes to you and I
Some dreams never die
credits
released October 6, 2014
Production: J. Govoni
Thanks to: Overglow, Vincenzo Salvia, Apollo Zapp, Jacqueline Stempher, Newretrowave, Future Holotape, Betamaxx, Mike Beaulieu, Rick Shithouse, Maniac Synth, Wave Runner Records, Cheap Talk, Roburai, Max Override, Chris Baraniuk, Quick Sex FM, Matt Winegardner, Beef Dinkins.
It's hard to pick a favourite track. This is the only album i have so far deemed as "perfect", where every track, even the intro, is just a masterpiece in its own right. From the hard hitting Perturbator's Theme to the emotional title track, its 68 minutes of perfection. 10/10. connivingkhajiit
I don't know what it is, but in DWTD's discography this record really stands out to me. Picking a favourite track is difficult because all of the songs sound incredible to me, but POISON is probably the most fresh and energetic song in my opinion. zWarhead
Jeff Spoonhower brings his 20 years of experience working in video games to the dazzling synthwave he makes as Electron Odyssey. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 14, 2021
Lean, cutting synthwave with an industrial edge from this California artist, with icy keys slashing across thumping beats. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 22, 2021
Memories and Comeback Kid were my first introduction to this band. From then on - I've always gone to the Midnight for easy listening. Waiting for a bus - Standing in line - Going grocery shopping and pretty much everywhere and anywhere. You can listen to this track over and over again and I feel like it doesn't get old. solstra