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April 3, 2011 4:06 AM Subscribe
What's hip and cool in the modern-day synthpop scene?
I love classic synthpop: The Human League, DEVO, Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, Ultravox, etc. In the wake of watching the LCD Soundsystem livestream last night, I'd like to get more into the modern indie/alternative synthpop scene. I had LCD Soundsystem's discography already, and I'm checking out Hot Chip, but I would love to know what else is synthpoppy, and new out there. What suggestions do you have? I already know about Freezepop, Daft Punk and Phoenix.
I love classic synthpop: The Human League, DEVO, Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, Ultravox, etc. In the wake of watching the LCD Soundsystem livestream last night, I'd like to get more into the modern indie/alternative synthpop scene. I had LCD Soundsystem's discography already, and I'm checking out Hot Chip, but I would love to know what else is synthpoppy, and new out there. What suggestions do you have? I already know about Freezepop, Daft Punk and Phoenix.
Some songs/artist I've liked from the last five years are:
Annie - Anthonio
mind.in.a.box - The Last V8
autoKratz - Always More
Margaret Berger - Samantha
Sally Shapiro - Find my soul
posted by martinrebas at 6:34 AM on April 3, 2011
Annie - Anthonio
mind.in.a.box - The Last V8
autoKratz - Always More
Margaret Berger - Samantha
Sally Shapiro - Find my soul
posted by martinrebas at 6:34 AM on April 3, 2011
The Knife. If you want to go more experimental definitely check out Neon Indian and Dan Deacon.
posted by tremspeed at 7:00 AM on April 3, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by tremspeed at 7:00 AM on April 3, 2011 [2 favorites]
LCD Soundsystem!
posted by shortyJBot at 7:07 AM on April 3, 2011
posted by shortyJBot at 7:07 AM on April 3, 2011
Sorry, got excited and didn't finish reading your question. Glad you are aware of LCD Soundsystem! I also really like Erlend Oye/ The Whitest Boy Alive.
posted by shortyJBot at 7:09 AM on April 3, 2011
posted by shortyJBot at 7:09 AM on April 3, 2011
Seconding Cut Copy.
Also, New Order. Most of the bands you listed heavily draw on their influence.
posted by schmod at 7:32 AM on April 3, 2011
Also, New Order. Most of the bands you listed heavily draw on their influence.
posted by schmod at 7:32 AM on April 3, 2011
Air France
Cut Copy
Crystal Castles
Delorean
Cold Cave
Games / Ford & Lopatin
Glasser
Hot Chip
Junior Boys
The Knife
Max Tundra
M83
Memory Tapes
Passion Pit
Starfucker
Teengirl Fantasy
Twin Shadow
YACHT
posted by naju at 7:42 AM on April 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Cut Copy
Crystal Castles
Delorean
Cold Cave
Games / Ford & Lopatin
Glasser
Hot Chip
Junior Boys
The Knife
Max Tundra
M83
Memory Tapes
Passion Pit
Starfucker
Teengirl Fantasy
Twin Shadow
YACHT
posted by naju at 7:42 AM on April 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
My friend who's really into synthesizers, and whose advice I trust on what's good, just tweeted that the John Foxx and the Maths album is a "masterpiece".
Also seconding a bunch of the bands naju mentioned, particularly Cut Copy, Junior Boys, Glasser (was fantastic at SXSW), the Knife, M83, and Passion Pit.
posted by immlass at 8:04 AM on April 3, 2011
Also seconding a bunch of the bands naju mentioned, particularly Cut Copy, Junior Boys, Glasser (was fantastic at SXSW), the Knife, M83, and Passion Pit.
posted by immlass at 8:04 AM on April 3, 2011
Disclaimer: I know these people
The Volt Per Octaves is the only one I know of who is still recording & gigging.
Malibu's "Robo Sapiens" is a great album full of synth goodness. (Malibu is Roger Manning Jr., formerly of Jellyfish, Imperial Drag, and The Moog Cookbook.)
posted by luckynerd at 10:17 AM on April 3, 2011
The Volt Per Octaves is the only one I know of who is still recording & gigging.
Malibu's "Robo Sapiens" is a great album full of synth goodness. (Malibu is Roger Manning Jr., formerly of Jellyfish, Imperial Drag, and The Moog Cookbook.)
posted by luckynerd at 10:17 AM on April 3, 2011
No Ladytron here yet? Ladytron.
posted by mikeh at 11:33 AM on April 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by mikeh at 11:33 AM on April 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just to add a few of my favorites to the list:
Future Islands
Twin Shadow (NSFW video) (already on here, but hugely seconded)
Bear in Heaven
Empire of the Sun (Not huge huge fans of them, but they totally scratch the synthpop itch sometimes)
Metronomy
Diamond Rings
posted by Schismatic at 12:02 PM on April 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Future Islands
Twin Shadow (NSFW video) (already on here, but hugely seconded)
Bear in Heaven
Empire of the Sun (Not huge huge fans of them, but they totally scratch the synthpop itch sometimes)
Metronomy
Diamond Rings
posted by Schismatic at 12:02 PM on April 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Goldfrapp - first album is all ethereal Portishead styles, then Black Cherry is stomping sexy synth love.
posted by Sebmojo at 7:06 PM on April 3, 2011
posted by Sebmojo at 7:06 PM on April 3, 2011
Lots of stuff in this thread from my playlist of the last year. I would also recommend:
Pnau
Van She
If you like Cut Copy and The Presets, you'll like the above. They are all Australian synthpop/electropop bands. (Someone braver than me should do an FPP on whatever Australian music scene is producing such great music from a resurgent genre)
posted by SugarFreeGum at 8:26 AM on April 4, 2011
Pnau
Van She
If you like Cut Copy and The Presets, you'll like the above. They are all Australian synthpop/electropop bands. (Someone braver than me should do an FPP on whatever Australian music scene is producing such great music from a resurgent genre)
posted by SugarFreeGum at 8:26 AM on April 4, 2011
More synthpop-ish:
Royksopp
Ladytron
Fischerspooner
Conjure One
Scissor Sisters (Video may be nsfw)
More EBM-ish:
Seabound
VNV Nation
Ellen Allien
posted by lekvar at 11:59 AM on April 4, 2011
Royksopp
Ladytron
Fischerspooner
Conjure One
Scissor Sisters (Video may be nsfw)
More EBM-ish:
Seabound
VNV Nation
Ellen Allien
posted by lekvar at 11:59 AM on April 4, 2011
Nthing Twin Shadow. Saw them play the other night and they were fantastic. Also, Ratatat and Mike Posner.
posted by c lion at 12:34 PM on April 4, 2011
posted by c lion at 12:34 PM on April 4, 2011
You might like Wire's newest album. I browsed a few tracks on emusic, if you happen to have that.
posted by shortyJBot at 6:30 PM on April 4, 2011
posted by shortyJBot at 6:30 PM on April 4, 2011
Client has that cold/sexy Human League sound.
Assemblage 23 is EBM dance-y, but seems to be going more in the Depeche Mode direction lately.
Ashbury Heights is a bit goth, but does remind me of Human League too.
Do yourself a favor and listen to Fairlight Children (YT Link to a cover of Soft Cell's "Bedsitter") They're a one-off Apoptygma Berzerk side project but chocked-full of synthpop goodness.
Wolfsheim is a great melancholy synth act. Sparrows and the Nightingales is just the best song ever to listen to when it's raining.
De/Vision is also very Depeche-Mode-y. Their video for Rage seems very influenced both musically and visually by DM.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 10:36 PM on April 6, 2011
Assemblage 23 is EBM dance-y, but seems to be going more in the Depeche Mode direction lately.
Ashbury Heights is a bit goth, but does remind me of Human League too.
Do yourself a favor and listen to Fairlight Children (YT Link to a cover of Soft Cell's "Bedsitter") They're a one-off Apoptygma Berzerk side project but chocked-full of synthpop goodness.
Wolfsheim is a great melancholy synth act. Sparrows and the Nightingales is just the best song ever to listen to when it's raining.
De/Vision is also very Depeche-Mode-y. Their video for Rage seems very influenced both musically and visually by DM.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 10:36 PM on April 6, 2011
Seconding Black Cherry by Goldfrapp.
posted by freya_lamb at 2:13 AM on April 7, 2011
posted by freya_lamb at 2:13 AM on April 7, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
You'd also like Cut Copy.
posted by GilloD at 4:41 AM on April 3, 2011