A New Beginning

!! WE HAVE MOVED !!

Dear Readers of Playmaker,

It is with great pleasure we announce our new website. Fully integrated we welcome you over at:

WWW.PLAYMAKERMEDIA.NET

Set your bookmarks and enjoy the new blog, webstore, links and more!

We would also like to thank Kenzo for the new logo!

Zayaz

Toronto-based synthwave producer and relatively new kid on the block Zayaz keeps coming with one awesome track after another. Here's a short overview of some tracks he's recently put out there.

Let's start off with 'Delta City Blues', a crispy produced track that weaves it's head around with vocal stabs, a sawtooth lead and a booming bass arp.



Not just throwing around some random 80's cliches, Zayaz likes to dedicate his work other specific nostalgic or futuristic references, as in this case, that stellar 70's blues vibe through the band Chicago. It shows through his work that the artist has a rich and deeper understanding of historical importance.

Going for the more clubby sound, Zayaz's latest track is a dance floor stomper, filled with dreamy leads, sparkling bleeps and nicely side-chained bass waves. The song takes by the hand and leads you into a scientific, futuristic talk of singularity concept by the year 2045.



Let's cap it off with some pure retro bliss, his track 'Miami Motorfunk'. Pull up and no fronting, this one takes it straight to the streets with banging drums, stabbing synths, rolling bass and yes, a steeldrum midtro. Yes, this track is another floor filler or essential tune for those long drives home.

Label profile: Power Lunch

When it comes to good, authentic and original vaporwave, the Power Lunch label is doing a fantastic job. Besides the pitched down and slo-mo cliche's we'll take a closer look (and listen) to a few of their recent releases as we highlight three stand-out works.

First off, the recently released album by Azuresands大麻 does justice with some epic sampling as if 80's gold gets contracted somewhere out of a hidden, mystic music cave. Channeling the mysterious 'Chrystal Coyote' through some reverbing Casio beats, echoing keys, swoon basslines and twirling flutes, this release surely carries many emotions and sets wide waves into the spectrum of well assembled overlays and dubbed greatness.



Get ready for a uplifting plunderphonic power routine. Secondly, we have Echo Beach with the rad 'Slo-Mo Aerobics'. No haste on this tape, even the casual stoner can get along with this program. From slowed down italo disco to pitched pops songs, ironically, not all songs are exactly slo-mo, some tracks do carry a faster paced vibe, yet, they are killer sample cuts and if anything, they do make you bump your head to the groove.



And then... Enter at your own risk because last but not least, we'll take you on wild and somehow controversial trip with Meznoyume on the label's latest release 'Bohemian Groove', acting as a satire on the infamous Bohemian Grove (help! it's rumoured as the world's ruling elite "secret garden"). This release stands out in all it's tropical 80's glory with marimbas, the occasional steel drum and side-chained synths yet you need to be aware of potential danger lurking... The task is simple, don't get shot and get into the groove as you tag along some crazy sampling, wild bongo vibes, bohemian groove's arpeggiating semi-acid lines and zany drum programming.



That concludes this label profile. Check out more stunning releases through their respective pages. If you are on the ball and quick enough you might just be able to snatch some of their latest limited cassettes, too.

Bart Graft & Bubble Keiki

When two musical masterminds impact and write an album together you know something magical is bound to happen. So did synthwave mastermind Bart Graft and post-vapor prodigy Bubble Keiki and came out with this massive ambient, chillwave concept spilt album called Emerald.

Sparkling across the spectrum from deeper bass, futuristic and pitched down drums, floating synthlines with an airy ambience, this album truly stands out in it's own fashion.

Working towards the concept, both artists' unique sound leaks through but it's a cohesive enough collaborative work that puts you in a great uplifting and near meditative space of listening.

Who Ha

Gusting like a tornado with a new song in his fine playful, satiric tradition, The Who Ha is back on track as the in-house jinglemeister from the Beyond Synth radioshow and continues the series with a banging new extended version.

This time he's actually chasing tornados while making it really creepy, paying homage to the 1996 blockbuster 'Twister', spiking it full of samples and references to the movie in a way only he can do. The song really carries a dark undertone, satirical of course, as Who Ha shifts his persona to Who Hell and is pledging allegiance to the lay sacrifice, making a "Donation of the Beast" which is ultimately supporting your hard-earned moolah to the world's greatest synthwave radioshow 'Beyond Synth' with Andy Last.

A fun time guarnateed: Listen to new episodes of the Beyond Synth Podcast hosted by Andy Last
every Thursday at 8pmEST (following an all-live Vox Populi: The Podcast lead in hosted by Who Ha at 6pmEST).

Sferro

If you're accustomed to the scene and our blog since several years then the name Sferro must ring a bell (or two). Not only is Sferro a name in the scene that stands for brilliant and original synthwave, he's also behind the label Girlfriend Records, putting out quality content we love to promote.

Enter his latest offering where he leaves his homestall and releases a full album of gems on British Columbia's respected record label/collective Rosso Corso.

"All things converge" truly makes sense when you listen to it as Sferro neatly puts all of his different jams together in a well pieced together album that rages from vapor, synthwave, chillwave to italo disco and outrun electro, ... all with that sweet and dreamy Sferro touch.

Most certainly a must have for all Sferro fans out there as this is some of his most outstanding work to date.

As said before, the Rosso Corso Collective has released the mp3 version of this album, so grab it there. But wait, there is more, as Pure Destructive Records has a pre-order up for the vinyl version to come later this year!

Gyan Rosling

The Retro Promenade label, run by Who Ha, always delivers. After doing a bunch of great seasonal compilations and various other themed productions, they are back with a full 6 track EP by the up-and-coming Gyan Rosling.

Get set to go on an adventure with the Retronaut to move along on a journey to the stars and beyond. A mesmerising work of interstellar composition, executed without any haste, taking it's time and putting you in a space of unwinding.

Really sweet synthwave that just hits the spot.

Carpenter Brut

Boy, it's been a while since we've actually reported on Carpenter Brut. Alas, the way this act has evolved through the years has been truly remarkable and amazing. In fact, we had CB as a part of our first Halloween compilation 'Miami Cannibal Massacre' in 2013. It's just amazing to see this act grow to their full potential as CB is the perfect example of forming a killer live band, pushing the boundries of synthwave, growing out of it's shadowy depths.

Fast forward to 2017 then. The three CB EP's have taken the world by storm and have gotten a proper release as an album, gaining recognition on a wild worldwide scale. Part of that recognition isn't simply through the music recorded in the studio, though. A big part of that is thanks to CB's enormous live reputation as a full band. If you've seen them live then you know what we are talking about. It's an incredible act that just totally rocks your socks off and is probably the most complete synthwave band out there.

So, in await for new material, what CB have decided to do now is actually drop a full live album that truly captures the energetic feeling of what the live band is really capable of. That is truly amazing and it's showcases the extremely tight musicianship that brings the songs even more to life as their whole set just gets blasted through to a whole new dimension. Just wade yourself inside the live concert of the full CB band and dive into the moshpit as they are jamming their set subliminally while topping it off with a killer cover version of Flashdance's Maniac.

Elric

The mighty Elric rides again. This time the producer behind the Michael Moorcock inspired music project goes deeper into the epic fantasy woods and comes out with yet another brilliant work, dedicated to the sword-wielding prince Corum series.

Minimal 8-bit dungeon synth at it's finest, this is a killer follow-up to the first 2 previous albums 'Stormbringer' and 'Elric of Melniboné' and making us wonder what other adventures this mysterious synth crusader will take us next...

OUT NOW on Playmaker

Our label is back with an exclusive cassette release!

Protector 101 ‘Dream’ — cassette edition of 50 limited hand-numbered, pro-dubbed, full-colour, yellow cassettes with 5-panel J-card and full liner notes. Including an exclusive cassette release bonus track. Order via Bandcamp, more info the link below:

https://playmaker.bandcamp.com/merch

Brigador, Up​-​Armored

Make-up and Vanity set has been hosting a round of great game soundtracks in the Brigador series. The latest to drop is a compilation featuring a bunch of scenesters upping the ante.

Witness a grimey tale and dark walk through the war fog land as the protagonist takes you through a series of controversial events. Who will prevail on this morbid quest? Go to the bitter end and find out.

Erang

Another world, another time; Erang's second offering of his series of synthwave doesn't disappoint at all. Songs of Scars is a great ride of Carpenteresque horrorwave and takes it further where his Anti Future already album took him.

The masked veil hangs over you as a dark wave of hidden gems that sits like a scar. In a very versatile and moody way you sense that only a true dark master can execute this.

So step in, go for the ride and indulge yourself in to the imaginary soundtrack of Songs Of Scars.

Bart Graft

Going all the way, Bart Graft is back with a massive album, riding that Yuppiwave on an all time high.

Crunching those numbers out and making mad moolah, this is suit and tie rock around the clock.

This album is filled with great songs and modulations that stand as tall as a skyscraper.

Get in with those dazzling high guitar leads while stabbing synths are taking control as he gets slap happy on that bass. Boy is this fun!

Aloe Island Posse

Aloe Island Posse's heavy sampled and 80's j-pop spiked future funk might just that hidden vaporwave gem you need right now. Catch that bassline groove, you found that rhythm? Good.

Banging bongos go full circle while you get looped into blissful nostalgia, accompanied by trumpet brass leads and strumming strats, twirling keys and a hint and punching drum beats, subtle floor toms and heavenly strings.

This is that soundtrack to you and boo, jamming feel good tunes and playfully switching radiostations without a care in the world.

If you are fast enough you might just make it in time to catch the cassette on Sleepless Tapes.

Wojciech Golczewski

Throbbing it's way through the creeper's maze, Wojciech Golczewski brings yet another amazing score of haunting synthwave galore.

Dark and fantastical, slowly but surely this deadly nostalgic album drops crescendo's of pulsating and hair raising compositions.

Get set for some serious indie horror slasherwave peaking at the witching hour, written and composed for Jackson Steward's latest cult film 'Beyond The Gates'.

[Screenplay] "After their father's unexplained disappearance, two estranged brothers – responsible Gordon (Graham Skipper) and reckless John (Chase Williamson) – reunite to sift through the contents of his stubbornly anachronistic VHS rental store. Among the inventory, they find an old interactive VCR board game. Intrigued, the brothers pop in the tape… and soon discover that this video is no ordinary game, but a portal to a nightmarish alternate reality – one with deadly consequences for anyone who dares to press "play."

DESYNC Soundtrack Vol. 1 and 2

Crawling through the darkness and originally written as the game soundtrack for Adult Swim's DESYNC, this dark cyberpunk soundtrack is a fierce beast, wielding it's sword, slaying all incoming danger and puts all your defensive senses into high alert.

Volume 1, written and produced by Daniel Deluxe sets the tone perfectly with long, epic dark synthwave tracks haunting the dystopian landscape.

Volume 2, written and produced by Volkor X continues the perverse tradition of growling darkwave cyberpunk and rides the beast majestically.

So, get your slayer modus activated, go in full combat mode or just enjoy the thrill ride that this music has to offer. All good, here in Cyberland.

[note] "DESYNC is an intense single-player first person action game that begs you to play dangerously and creatively. Eliminate your opponents as you perform violent attack sequences using the explosive digital weaponry and lethal side-arms at your disposal."

Darkest

Dark and dank sound waves come pulsating all over you like a huge piped wave rolling out of the ocean as Darkest comes back with a huge second single to his upcoming album.

Oceans hits hard and thunders on the beach like a crash of stereo-surround bliss.

With a hint of outrun and slow-pacing arpeggiators, Darkest is bringing that high fidelity sound to the max and sets great atmospheric soundscapes with a cinematic feel.

Absolute high class synthwave that is setting it's footprint firmly into the scene.

Beckett

Welcome sportfans! Live on Mars, the stakes are high and your host Jon Beckett gets you launched into the '88 Airgames.

The stadium in packed and BOOM!— so it hits off into the stars! The whole field is transcending and goes off in exceeding glory. Beckett just hits home so hard with this anthem like fireworks ending a perfect celebration, in wonderful dedication to Vince DiCola. Simply amazing.

"AirGames: The sport of the future. Inspired by awesome games like ‘Track and Field’ and ‘Ski or Die’ to the uplifting ‘go for glory’ attitude of film soundtracks throughout the 80’s, ‘AirGames ’88’ is an anthem for the latest sport to sweep Mars. Like the films ‘Rollerball’ and ‘The Running Man’ in the not so distant future, sport has stepped up a level, and now, the Air Games League of 2088, fuses Football and Jetpacks into one, bigger, better, beautiful game."

Brombaer

Feel the gentle rush of a calming breeze glide through a forest of sweeping pines as you watch the birds of prey hoover above, soaring at the dusk of day.

Dreamy and haunting at times, Brombaer settles you on an amazing modern classical soundscape of flawless piano and orchestral vibes, accompanied with majestical ambient spheres to enlighten your soul and awaken that magic we all carry inside of us.

Sit down and indulge.

Project Paula

Step in to the heart of the microchip computer and recompose the matrix of the music grid.

Project Paula is operated by a legion of cyberpunks regenerating those glorious sounds of the era where innovation was ruled by rad operators of the wicked machines.

So, tripping out down memory lane, drift away on this lovely, transcending compilation...it's a fun thrill ride and puts original tracker music on the highest pedestal.

Mega Drive

Going extra deep this time, the Mega Drive disk is inserted and spinning at full bore again.

Deep in to the ocean he delves beyond the abyss and infinity until he reaches pitch black.

Atmospheric swirls surround you as you get accompanied by mysterious deep sea dwellers hailing from the depths of a the cyber ocean.

Bringing a wall of waves to shore as haunting melodies and heavy rocking synths dive fast paced from track to track, this is an album for the rock ages.

Hedge Wizard

It's been a long time coming but the Hedge Wizard has returned to the kingdom.

In true obscurity he now found his way through the Local Portal down Kellogg Street, citing poetic justice and doing some Sidewalk Sorcery in a truly majestic fashion.

A great step from the wiz' and he's taking leaps of genre-defining, boundary pushing and magic-spell-casting magic which only a true wizard can fulfil.

Diamondstein

Zoned-out information runs into the scanner and works itself through the narrow streets of Diamondstein. A place where the sleek acid reign gets the boggling minds conjuring and the haunted gather. Wicked are those who're altering states of confusion yet setting a sun and blazing fires in a world gone mad by industrialisation and malfunction.

Protector 101

Journey onwards on a epic deep sleep turiyatita dream, flowering out the ooze and maze beyond the vortex limit, guarded by Protector 101.

His latest soundtrack offering takes it further than any DreamWorks score, offering and hailing up a haunting yet powerful Voltron Super Robot scenario made of cherished aspiration.

Fantastically brilliant synthwave, intensity with dazzling vibes from crescendo to piano and back again, taking it beyond anything he's ever done.

Dare we say, this is his best work to date.

Rainbowdragoneyes

We can't get enough of Rainbowdragoneyes and this is his latest offering where he goes way beyond his usual metal-chiptune vortex and takes it straight to the mountains with some feel-good polka vibes. This song is all about living it up and partying in the hills, undertaking a massive rework of Finland's folkloric song, the Säkkijärven Polkka.

Vektroid

Wonderful rework and extension of Vektroid's debut release Telnet Erotica. The vape queen sets the tone and ambience of true craftsmanship, leaving no tricks behind, thickening-up the soup and merging the sound, combining those heavy sample-based layers with exquisite drum programming and roaring basslines. Telnet Complete just leaves you in bliss and shows the true grandeur of what has become of this act althrough the years.

Microchip Terror

Trench-coated villains run the hood as sleek rain crashes down on the dark, lit streets. Smuggling microchips and terrorising the whole block, a brood of evil brothers swaying their terror all over the city as the relentless bug hunt continues down the damp no-go zones, serving the conspiracy of the cyber tyrants. Shocking the scene with Microchip Terror, this EP is groundbreaking work, including a stunning remix by Surgeryhead, a feature by Electric Dragon and a well executed cover from giallo legend Fabio Frizzi. The clock strikes as this is synthwave-cyberpunk in it's finest, most wicked hour.

 

ZONΞ ΞATΞR vs. §E▲ ▓F D▓G§

Behold the brutal sludge as the giant sandworm makes it's way through the terrain. This must be one of the sickest releases so far this year, combining a truckload of death metal samples, slowed down, pitched-up and jackhammering their way through your eardrums into your skull. This apocalyptic soundtrack sees ZONΞ ΞATΞR and §E▲ ▓F D▓G§ (with guest performances by 0F.digital, HELLCOM and KING QUARTZ) take on the a wild aesthetic of what can defined as their self proclaimed "dethwave", pushing the zany limits far beyond the average.

Synth Bard

Welcome to Castle Ravenloft. You have now entered the dark and sinister world of RPG AD&D modules, following the footsteps of Synth Bard, who's guiding you through the haunted mansion, sneaking in via the unofficial entrance to make it extra spooky. Make sure you have your booklet with you as you will encounter characters such as the Burgomaster, Madame Eva, Ireena Kolyana, Strahd of Zarovich, plus many more haunting surprises...  Available on double CDR + printed booklet; this is the unofficial soundtrack, reinterpreted by Synth Bard and inspired on 1983's TSR release AD&D module "Ravenloft" by Tracy and Laura Hickman. A thrill ride for the adventurously wicked!

Dallas Raines

The weather might be shite these days, yet the sun blazes too on this fine vaporwave release. Dallas Raines brings us a nostalgic weather report of collected VHS samples, saxophonic bliss and glitching all over the place with gems from weather channel forecasts, Stratocaster loops, thunder and lightning, mall soft vibes, coastal bird vibes, weatherman interludes and anything other that forecasts on Raines' radar.

TVVIN_PINEZ_M4LL

When you are a Back To The Future fanatic you surely must know where vaporwave artist TVVIN_PINEZ_M4LL got his name from... Indeed, it hails from that infamous "Twin Pines" mall parking lot where Marty flashes Doc's DeLorean past 88 mph and gets zapped back in time. Here, TVVIN_PINEZ_M4LL presents his new album on Japan's Seikomart imprint. A fine release of looped pop music glamour, reverberated into hypnotic rhythm mantras that sound like fragmented time-distorted aether flashes of wonderful nostalgia. Neato!

Lazerhawk

Completing on this amazing album that the mighty Lazerhawk has released a few months ago. We couldn't let this one slip under our Playmaker radar. Here, Lazerhawk returns with a very suiting, legit, cruise controlled album, flowing his speed-racing car down the electrifying grid on a very trippy ride. Firmly adrift the highway in his own universe called the "Dreamrider" landscape, this album is just wonderfully executed, including a powerful collaboration with Gunship. Arguably his most slow-paced work to date but oh-so-lovely.

Chevalier

Here's a great new minimal 8-bit dungeon synth artist that has recently debuted it's first release. Characterised by medieval themes, Chevalier's "Chateau" EP is a quirky yet melodic and transcending walk through a castle-filled landscape, accompanied by vectorised dragons, knights, weapons and a lost treasure map.

Johnny Broke

Johnny Broke's "Heavy sleeper" awakens from a haunting night of synthesized and arpeggiated pulsewave dreamstate. Wake up and get jamming with this heavy weight album, out now on digital and cassette on U.K.'s Extreme Ultimate imprint.