In 2021, the idea of editing yourself can sound cynical—it’s been tainted by social-media influencers who manufacture images and videos of a blemish-free life of luxury while struggling to make ends meet offline. But on their brand-new second album, Cutting Room Floor, dark Chicago synth-pop duo Wingtips suggest that self-editing can be part of a […]
Tag: synth-pop
Posted inMusic
Altin Gün adds synthpop to their eclectic arsenal on Yol
Altin Gün kicked off last year with a Grammy nomination (their 2019 release Gece was up for Best World Music Album) and major festival bookings such as SXSW and Coachella. But like virtually every other working band, they got sidelined by circumstances beyond their control. Nearly a year later, this group of Dutch, Turkish, and […]
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Shamir returns to the spotlight with nostalgic, 90s-influenced alternative pop
Shamir spent the first months of quarantine directing the video for “On My Own,” the first single from their new self-titled album, entirely within their Philadelphia home. Using wardrobe and hairstyle changes, the mononymous singer and multi-instrumentalist depicts themselves in various personas: a childlike figure surrounded by stuffed animals, a confident rocker swinging her hips […]
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Synth-pop trio Le Couleur explore beauty through tragedy on Concorde
Montreal synth-pop trio Le Couleur delve into some disturbing history on their new album, Concorde, named for the supersonic airliner that in the 1970s made it possible for elite jet-setters to leave their European estates and arrive at Manhattan nightclubs after as little as three hours in the air. Midway through the record’s title track, […]
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On Introduction, Presence Nation of Language make earnest synth-pop for the modern condition
When the present is a slog at best and the future seems aimed off the edge of a cliff, a pair of rose-colored glasses turned toward the past can be irresistible—at any rate, that’s how Brooklyn trio Nation of Language approached their debut album, Introduction, Presence. Powered by chockablock synths, hypnotic bass grooves, and the […]
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Tegan and Sara mine the past for Hey, I’m Just Like You
The last time Canadian twin-sister duo Tegan and Sara came through Chicago, they were on the road celebrating the tenth anniversary of 2007’s The Con. At the time, it seemed like a fairly standard move—lately it seems like practically every long-running band has dusted off a fan-favorite album for a special show or tour. But […]
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12 O’Clock Track: ‘Thought of Sound’ is the actual return of the Rentals
The Rentals return this summer with their first full-length in 15 years.
Posted inBlogs
Gossip Wolf premiere: Fielded’s enthralling “Gabrielle”
Check out Gossip Wolf’s exclusive premiere of “Gabrielle,” a roaring alt-pop tune from formerly local experimental synth act Fielded.
Posted inBlogs
12 O’Clock Track: Electronic synth-pop from Canadian hardcore vets Yacht Club, “A Little Messed Up”
“A Little Messed Up” is 80s-inspired new wave from Yacht Club, which is fronted by Canadian hardcore vet Ben Cook.
Posted inFilm
Artist on Artist: Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran talks to Mia Park
Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran talks to Mia Park of Chic-a-Go-Go