I’ve been on an electronica/synth kick lately. It’s
best for blasting in the car at night on your way home. Here are my Top 5 picks
this week:
1. Symphonia IX (My Wait Is U) – Grimes
I’ve been loving Grimes all summer. I discovered her on my
own in 2012, but never truly listened to her until this year. Her voice can take
some getting used to at first, but the beauty of her music lies within the way
she blends her vocals, lyrics and beats together. She’s a modern impressionist
of music – her music evokes an immediate feeling, and is fairly undefined upon
a first listening, but undeniably mysterious and gorgeous.
2. Behind The Wheel – Depeche Mode
A classic ‘80s new wave anthem, “Behind The Wheel” is addictive,
catchy and existential. What I get out of this song is a sense of wishing you
could take the backseat in your own life, but knowing that it’s rather hard to do
that most of the time. With lyrics like, “There are times when I feel/I'd
rather not be/The one behind the wheel,” and “I prefer you behind the wheel/And
me the passenger,” I think my reading is fair. Point is, we’ve all been there
in our lives. Besides, I’d rather lose myself in this song’s long intro than
think about all I have to do to prepare for move-in day in 2 weeks.
Side Note: The
Beatmasters mix of the same song is featured in this clip for White Bird In A Blizzard, out
this September starring Shailene Woodley and Eva Green.
3. Say My Name – Holy Ghost!
I know next to nothing about this band except that I’m
supposed to be seeing them Thursday night. This is the only song on my iPod by
them, but it’s still awesome and catchy in a new wave way. Maybe they’re part
of a new new wave? Either way, Holy Ghost! is definitely worth a listen if you
love modern throwback music. They fit in with new wave music without ripping it
off.
4. Back In The Tall Grass – Future Islands
I love this band to death. The lead singer Sam Herring is a
dynamic performer. The lyrics of this song are poetic, and the images of woods,
salmon and heat make it the perfect song to blast on the way to a spontaneous
end-of-summer camping trip. For me, its quick, sharp intro also captures that adrenaline
rush you get when you’re trying to fit in all the things you wanted to do
with your summer a week before it ends.
Side Note: Future
Islands’ label, 4AD, has also signed Grimes
and tons of great synth bands in the past, like Modern English and the Cocteau
Twins.
5. Your Silent Face – New Order
Forever a new wave classic, “Your Silent Face” is essential
to any synth playlist. Its title makes me sad, but also makes me think. It’s so
vague, and the music itself doesn’t feel like it has a positive or negative
connotation to it. It’s an anthem for those in transit, or don’t know how they’re
feeling. Overall, New Order lets you decide how to emote – they just compose
the score as you figure it all out.
[All videos are courtesy of Youtube.]
Which electronica and synth bands and artists are in your Top 5 this week? Comment below!
—A
No comments:
Post a Comment