Recommend some modern synthpop.

November 29, 2004 7:39 AM

Recommend some modern synthpop (aka. futurepop. aka. technopop. aka whatever else)

I've been listening to the likes of VNV Nation and Covenant (amongst other similar industrial-tinged bands) for a while, but lately I've been really digging on the old-school stylings of ladytron.

Anyone have other recommendations for such synth-based (but modern -- no 80s-era stuff) music?

posted by mkn to media & arts (41 answers total)

Freezepop
posted by jonah at 8:08 AM on November 29, 2004

I'm currently loving I am the World Trade Center
posted by hummus at 8:11 AM on November 29, 2004

certainly, sir
posted by leecifer at 8:20 AM on November 29, 2004

-- Light, synth driven pop in the vein of Depeche Mode:
Wolfsheim
Iris (aka Forgiving Iris)
NamNambulu
Melotron

-- Harder, industrial influence:
VNV Nation
Covenant
Apoptygma Bezerk
Icon of Coil
Panzer AG
Imperative Reaction

(I could probably just cut'n'past my iTunes library... but I'd have to remove things like Man of Constant Sorror (Soggy Bottom Boys aren't quite synth-pop))
posted by C.Batt at 8:20 AM on November 29, 2004

Ahh, freezepop. Forgot about them (knew them from the Frequency and Amplitude games).

And I'm familiar with most of those C.Batt (I mentioned two in my post even), but I wouldn't go so far as to call "Imperative Reaction" synthpop, nor "Panzer AG". You have reminded me of "X Marks the Pedwalk", though. (and we can ignore the "Wolfshite" joke).
posted by mkn at 8:31 AM on November 29, 2004

Les Rythmes Digitales ? Though it may be too retro-80s for you.
posted by swordfishtrombones at 8:40 AM on November 29, 2004

Soviet, Daft Punk, Air. That is, if you're going for the irresistable cheese factor.
posted by whatnot at 9:31 AM on November 29, 2004

Try Assemblage 23, Doll Factory, Seabound, and Monofader. Maybe Juno Reactor too.
posted by Mars Saxman at 9:34 AM on November 29, 2004

I really like Figurine. (epitonic site with mp3 samples)
posted by vacapinta at 9:35 AM on November 29, 2004

The Faint
The Aeffect
Adult.
Some of the newer Of Montreal is leaning this way, too.
posted by brad! at 9:46 AM on November 29, 2004

mkn,

XMTP is good stuff. You're right about Imperative and Panzer. I just lump all that together into Futurepop/Synthpop/EBM/Industrial. I've never been good with distinguishing one from the other.

Anyhow, you're probably familiar with A Different Drum but I'll mention it anyway. Plenty of synth-pop to choose from.
posted by C.Batt at 9:54 AM on November 29, 2004

In the vein of ladytron, Add N To (X) and Broadcast "go with" very well - both are fantastic. Also try Felix Da Housecat, or anything involving Miss Kittin. Chicks on Speed.
posted by flashboy at 10:47 AM on November 29, 2004

Ganymede
posted by inksyndicate at 10:54 AM on November 29, 2004

Barcelona. The second Electroclash comp. Soviet. Fischerspooner.
posted by dame at 11:02 AM on November 29, 2004

The Postal Service.
posted by mmoncur at 11:23 AM on November 29, 2004

Lifestyle
posted by cmonkey at 11:28 AM on November 29, 2004

metric

synthpop rock crossover.
posted by fishfucker at 12:54 PM on November 29, 2004

Ms John Soda
posted by James_in_London at 1:10 PM on November 29, 2004

.o0o. tree wave .o0o.
Tree Wave is a band based in Dallas. They use unique instrumentation: music is performed using obsolete computer equipment for instruments. Currently they are using a 1977 Atari 2600 game console, a 1986 portable 286 PC, a 1983 Commodore 64 computer, and a 1985 Epson dot matrix printer. The equipment runs custom music software written especifically for the band.
posted by mds35 at 1:32 PM on November 29, 2004

Polysics
posted by Katemonkey at 1:54 PM on November 29, 2004

Röyksopp
posted by sleslie at 2:48 PM on November 29, 2004

It took me all day to come up with this name, so I hope it helps: Laptop.
posted by yerfatma at 3:03 PM on November 29, 2004

I know it took all day, so I feel bad doing this, but . . . Laptop sucks.
posted by dame at 4:29 PM on November 29, 2004

Echo Image, most stuff on Metropolis, And One, Merge, FC/Kahuna.

synthpop.net has more
posted by softlord at 4:45 PM on November 29, 2004

freezepop is fun stuff. the other sean t drinkwater's lifestyle is also good, agreed.

dubstar and sarah blackwood's subsequent client are among my all-time favorites.
posted by dorian at 4:55 PM on November 29, 2004

Mostly everything on the Suction Records label.
posted by davebush at 5:21 PM on November 29, 2004

And One: Second my rec for them.

Neuroactive is another really good band that hasn't been mentioned yet.

Along the same lines, [Active] Media Disease has the same vocalist as Neuroactive (at least on the album I have, "Organic") but is more hard-edged.

As mentioned, Wolfsheim is quite good, as is Imperative Reaction.

S.P.O.C.K. for really ridiculously cheesy sci-fi-themed synthpop.

Elegant Machinery kicks it with some serious old-school all-analog flava. There's an anthology of re-recorded versions of some of their best songs called "A Decade of Thoughts" that was produced by Eskil Simonsson of Covenant that's really good.

For some American technopop, I would recommend Psykosonik's second album "Unlearn" (phenomenal) and the Psykosonik sideproject Hednoize.

Melotron: These guys sound a good deal like And One, with the quirky synth stylings and all.

Mesh: They really, really want to be Depeche Mode. Some good songs, though.
posted by neckro23 at 6:42 PM on November 29, 2004

burn like nero ... a bit of Gary Numan, Joy Division/New Order, and Kraftwerk (depending on the song).
posted by jdfan at 7:57 PM on November 29, 2004

De/Vision is easily the standout band - think of them as a late 1990s early 2000s Depeche Mode (visit www.ADifferentDrum.com - where many of the other cds of the bands above can also be found)

The "Zehn" cd is what to start, a compilation from awhile back.

(And I can't believe that NONE of the people above mentioned them, much less First.)
posted by Kreylix at 10:52 PM on November 29, 2004

I know it took all day, so I feel bad doing this, but . . . Laptop sucks.

Wow, thanks for that. The power of your opinion is almost overwhelming.
posted by yerfatma at 4:27 AM on November 30, 2004

Dude, don't take your chagrin at your shitty music taste out on me. I'm just trying to keep people from wasting their money. And I was trying to do it nicely, because coming up with a suggestion to have someone shoot it down (and yeah, it's just an informed opinion) is sucky. Dick.
posted by dame at 8:01 AM on November 30, 2004

yeah, it's just an informed opinion

Good luck with that.
posted by yerfatma at 8:31 AM on November 30, 2004

Yeah, Laptop is great music to slop the hogs or saw wood or whatever it is you do in New Hampshire. Sophisticated urbanites were tired of Laptop before you even heard it. Dame is doing a public service by denouncing the band you like with "it sucks"-- saying that she didn't like it or explaining why it sucks would be beneath her position as spokesperson for a generation.

Also, polite is a relative thing. Saying "it sucks" is "trying to do it nicely" when you're cool.
posted by Mayor Curley at 9:57 AM on November 30, 2004

Mayor Curley: Stop stalking me because you once misinterpreted a question I asked. This whole inferiority complex bullshit is really getting tired.

And obviously it's my opinion. What else would it be? When I say "it sucks," the "I think" is kind of implied, isn't it? You know, BECAUSE I'M THE ONE WHO'S FUCKING TYPING IT.

And yeah, "it sucks" is polite. Impolite would be: "It is the worst CD I every wasted my money on and only a total moron who lived in cave in Tajikistan would even suggest that you pollute your ears with that mediocre attempt." But that has nothing to do with cool. (You'd have to live in Brooklyn to really understand.)
posted by dame at 10:20 AM on November 30, 2004

And yeah, "it sucks" is polite. Impolite would be: "It is the worst CD I every wasted my money on and only a total moron who lived in cave in Tajikistan would even suggest that you pollute your ears with that mediocre attempt."

So if you piss on someone, it's polite because you didn't shit on them? And the "I think" shouldn't be left to implication if, as you claim, you were "trying to do it nicely." Seriously, why would you even bother continuing to claim that you made an effort not to be rude?

Your denial of your own conduct is what sucks-- not being as full-on rude and dismissive as humanly possible doesn't equal "trying to do it nicely." Not that I'm an expert on gentility, but I don't go into denial when I'm abrasive. I'm being abrasive right now, but you deserve it.
posted by Mayor Curley at 11:00 AM on November 30, 2004

And the "I think" shouldn't be left to implication if, as you claim, you were "trying to do it nicely."

Really? I always think not treating someone as if they're a total idiot is pretty nice. You know, assuming they know how to tell an opinion from a fact.

Seriously, why would you even bother continuing to claim that you made an effort not to be rude?

Because I did. That's why I acknowledged that he spent all day looking. I don't do it very often, so I did it poorly. I suppose if I were terribly concerned with "being nice," I would work on doing it better. But if the worst I have to suffer is your inane defense of someone who seems quite capable of speaking up himself teamed up with your "you think you're so much better than everyone else" attack (terribly original, that), I suppose I can live.

I'm sure I was abrasive because I'm always abrasive (especially in the eyes of such hypersensitive whiners such as yourself). I'm not denying that. I'm denying that I was being so on purpose. That was the point of the example. If I'm gonna try, I'm gonna go all out. Believe me.

And if you really think freaking out on someone because they said something sucks is appropriate, you have perspective issues I couldn't begin to approach.
posted by dame at 12:19 PM on November 30, 2004

I'm not defending anyone. The focus is on you, baby! You being caustic. And you're definitely being caustic.

I'm sure I was abrasive because I'm always abrasive (especially in the eyes of such hypersensitive whiners such as yourself). I'm not denying that. I'm denying that I was being so on purpose.

Now we're getting somewhere! "I'm always abrasive." Admitting that takes guts. The problem is that you don't mean to do it, so you don't have control over this quality that others find offensive. So it's not whining when I dig into you when you're Too Cool for School-- it's correcting you, which I'm sure you find more offensive than whining (or anything else.) And I'm going to make a stink every time I see it because your pretentiousness offends me.

You do, in fact, think that you're superior. I'm sorry that others have used that sentiment before, but elitism isn't unique to you. But who am I to say that, right? I can't possibly understand you.
posted by Mayor Curley at 1:40 PM on November 30, 2004

Well HEY, would you look at this?
Recognizing the Abusive Personality
posted by spock at 4:16 PM on November 30, 2004

You are so out of control. Did a city kid beat you up once or something?
posted by dame at 10:04 PM on November 30, 2004

Did a city kid beat you up once or something?

I don't get it-- I lived in the center of Boston for six years, if you think that I'm trashing all city dwellers. Of course, Boston might not be a city that you acknowledge-- it's not So Big.

I'm not saying "urban equals pretentious." I'm saying "you are pretentious."
posted by Mayor Curley at 3:15 AM on December 1, 2004

Back on topic, Pride and Fall sounds a whole lot like VNV Nation.
posted by cmonkey at 8:51 AM on December 6, 2004