VVV

Here's some new dark electronic music from Austin based producer VVV to blacken your holiday skies.  Check out the brooding "Kill Switch" below and get it here from Holodeck Records.

Majeure

AE Paterra has been making music for years either as a solo artist, with synth prog duo Zombi, and under the moniker Majeure.  That last project sees a new release this September on Holodeck.  Check out the pulsing album opener, "Longing, Love, Loss," below and pre-order the upcoming "Mass Flashback" here.

Missions

LA by way of Austin artist Missions has an album of synthy, funky electronic pop headed our way in August via the wonderful folks at Holodeck.  Listen to cosmic disco sounds of "Truther" below and pre-order the upcoming "Subcreature" LP here.

Lou Rebecca

Austin by way of Paris artist Lou Rebecca has a proper full-length LP heading our way in September from Holodeck.  Check out the smooth and synthy dance pop track "Break It Apart" below and pre-order the upcoming "Restless" album here.

Virgin Pool

Last year when Holodeck Records released a compilation featuring a whole slew of old and new signees to the label, it appeared that their docket would be pretty full for awhile.  And that's certainly been the case.  The latest hits in April from Virgin Pool, an offshoot of the synth pop group Silent Diane.  The upcoming "Endless Evenings" EP finds the artist swimming through hazy, guitar-oriented pop, like something from a dusty dream.  Watch the video for "The Wanderer" below and pre-order the cassette here.

Omni Gardens

Crafting stark, sparse, and beautiful sonic landscapes, Oakland's Omni Gardens has just the tone you need for your meditative headspace.  Debut album "West Coast Escapism" is due this Friday from Holodeck Records (order it here), but in the meantime, watch the video for album opener "Thinking" below and believe that we're all going to be okay.

Grivo

Austin by way of Michigan band Grivo are set to release their debut LP "Elude" this November on the ever-expanding and excellent Holodeck label.  The band's low-tempo, reverbed, and ethereal brand of harder-edged shoegaze is a more than welcome addition to the label's roster, the sound of the universe sighing.  Listen to "Burnout" below and pre-order the record here.

Single Lash

Austin label Holodeck Records has been on a bit of a tear lately, their string of 2018 releases all ranking with the best that the label has ever offered.  And if my suspicions are correct, and the label sampler that came out way back in March is any indication, that tear is going to continue.  The latest is the upcoming "Providence" LP from the spacey, dreamy, shoegazey Single Lash.  Listen to "Come True" below and pre-order the record here.  It's due in October.

Sungod

August sees the release of Austin experimental psych band Sungod's new album "Wave Refraction," an instrumental, cosmic exploration of sound.  Listen to "Hypnotism" below, on what is sure to be a brain melting kind of record, and pre-order here from Holodeck.

Jake Schrock

I'm a big, big fan of practically everything that Austin record label Holodeck releases, but their bread and butter is typically more analog synthesizer oriented which is like bubblegum to my ears.  And if the showcase of upcoming talent featured on their label sampler, "Holodeck Vision One," released in March is any indication, we've got a great year or more of excellent music headed our way.  One of those artists is North Texas electronic wizard Jake Schrock, his upcoming debut LP, "Tropical Depression," out later this summer on the label.  Listen to "Cosmic Ocean" below and pre-order the cassette here.

Thousand Foot Whale Claw

Austin based experimental synth band Thousand Foot Whale Claw, a collective featuring members of S U R V I V E, Troller, Single Lash, and Future Museums, have a new album heading our way in June on Holodeck Records.  New age-y, electronic interstellar explorations to expand the mind with.  Pre-order "Black Hole Party" here and listen to the title track below.

Drab Majesty - Cannibal

Holodeck Records is a fantastic record label based here in Austin, releasing all manner of groovy tunes, dark electronica, prog rock, synth wave, and more.  And it appears that LA's dark and gothy synth pop artist Drab Majesty has joined their ranks.  The artist will be performing at the label's showcase during SXSW next week (something i'd love to get in to, but alas), and has included an epic and dreamy new song on the "Holodeck Vision One" compilation, the label's 50th release.  Listen to "Cannibal" below, a 9-minute piece that starts off like some kind of dreampop/folk hybrid before kicking into a full on synth cosmic exploration.  Then be sure to download the collection here, featuring other artists like Troller, Kyle Dixon of S U R V I V E, and more, more, more.

Lou Rebecca

Since its inception, Holodeck Records has released a string of excellent and beautiful records and cassettes from a cadre of different artists, and they show no sign of slowing down.  Next January will see the release of the debut, self-titled cassette from Austin-based Parisian Lou Rebecca.  Dreamy, dense, and cinematic, i can't wait to get my grubby little hands on it.  Listen to "Fantome" below.

Dylan Cameron

As far as groovy electronic, experimental, and synth pop music goes, you really can't go wrong with the slate of artists on Holodeck Records.  The label's latest offering comes from Austin musician Dylan Cameron and his debut LP, "Infinite Floor."  Cameron crafts a kind of organic electronic music, taking bits of dub, house, and ethereal ambience to make a sound that feels fluid and tangible.  Listen to "Forest Drone" below.

Troller - Not Here

When you buy as many records online as i do, you end up, inadvertently or not, on a lot of different record label mailing lists.  And sure, they can clutter up my inbox, but i also got a lot of great announcements.  In this case, it's that Austin darkwave trio Troller have a new record out in April on Holodeck.  Hazaa!  I love this band, and i've been jonesing for new tunes from them for a number of years now.  Take a listen to and watch the video for "Not Here" below and pre-order the "Graphic" LP here.

Flatliner

Austin electro-duo Flatliner released their debut "Black Medicine" EP today via the always excellent Holodeck Records.  Part video game adventure, part schlock horror score, part driving through European tunnels at night, the EP pulses and blips and thumps, a portal to some pixelated wonderland.  Listen to "Blasted Highway" below and get the record or cassette here.

Marie Davidson

It is all about the ladies today.  Montreal's Marie Davidson just released her sophomore album "Un Autre Voyage" last week via Holodeck Records, and it's a cold and haunting electronic monster.  Just listen to the pulsing and nervous "Kidnap You in the Desert" below and grab the record here.

BOAN

Austin, Texas does not really seem like the kind of city where dark and cold synthesizer tunes could soundtrack your night out on the town, but the folks over at Holodeck Records certainly seem to try.  June will see the release of the "Mentiras" LP from Austin electronic duo BOAN.  A sleek and sexy mix of Cold War aesthetic and electric hum, maybe it will help ease me in to the upcoming 100 degree days just on the horizon.  Listen to the title track below.

Sungod

Austin psych freak-out band Sungod have a new album of ear-piercing, mind-expanding, wormhole-opening noise-scapes to prepare yourselves for a trip through the outer reaches of the cosmos to.  The self-titled LP comes out next month via Holodeck Records, and based on one track alone, it's going to be an interstellar trip.  Listen to "Shiftless en Nkawkaw" below.

This Will Destroy You

San Marcos instrumental space travelling four-piece This Will Destroy You have a lovely, noisy, and ethereal new album out called "Another Language," perfect for drifting in and out of the ether, or for long road trips through the desert.  Take a listen to the swirling and moving "Dustism" below and grab the record from Suicide Squeeze or the cassette from Holodeck.