Stranger Things 3

Say what you will about "Stranger Things," as it certainly has its ups and downs and i can understand and sympathize with every piece of criticism leveled at it, but the score from S U R V I V E's Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein is still lights out.  The soundtrack for the series' third season is available for download now, here from Lakeshore, with a vinyl release forthcoming in October.  In the meanwhile, listen to the poppy and incredible "Starcourt" below, an ode to the mall.

Deadly Avenger

Synth wave artist Deadly Avenger released a new album today, "The Girl with the White Orchid."  Giallo sounding title aside, the album moves in a quieter, more hypnotic fashion than the last couple of bombastic records.  Listen to "Sadness Apart" below and download the album here via Lakeshore Records.

Hollydoom

Have you been reading the relaunch of Fangoria?  Well, you should be.  And i guess to encourage you to do so, the magazine has assembled a soundtrack of sorts of 10 synth wave artists to provide just the right amount of horror synthesizers to accompany said reading.  "Hollydoom" features jams from Power Glove, Carpenter Brut, Umberto, Wojceich Golczewski, John Carpenter, and more.  Listen to the whole thing below, download it here from Lakeshore, and subscribe to the magazine here.

Halloween Sounds from the Upside Down

Remember those old spooky sounds records they used to put out?  Albums of eerie sound effects, creaking doors, rattling chains, wolves howling, and other noises of the sort?  Maybe that's just me hinting at my age, but it appears that S U R V I V E's Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein do.  And now the duo behind the music to Netflix's "Stranger Things" have their own LP of spooky sounds heading our way next week.  "Halloween Sounds from the Upside Down" is really more of an atmospheric kind of record though, not really songs or sound effects, but rather layers of ambience and unnerving sound design created by an assortment of synthesizers.  And just in time for the season too.  Listen to "Possessed" below, pre-order the download here, or order the record here from Lakeshore.

Spheres

"Spheres" is an experimental film series from Eliza McNitt, a "celestially immersive experience focusing on the human connection with the cosmos."  Cool.  And to make it even cooler, the filmmaker enlisted S U R V I V E's Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein (of "Stranger Things" soundtrack fame) to provide the score.  Equal parts new age planetarium synths and eerie interstellar ambience, the duo have crafted a very intoxicating piece of music.  Listen to the whole thing below and get it here from Lakeshore.

Mandy Soundtrack

So..."Mandy."  Wow.  The film is everything you've heard, a beautiful, violent, and trippy fever dream of a movie.  It wades lovingly through a heavy metal aesthetic, drawing powerful and rage-fueled performances from its leads, all while a deep, pervading sadness underscores each and every scene.  I LOVE this movie.  And like many a great film, its score/soundtrack is just as important as any performance or shot or edit.  This is the final film score from the late, great Jóhann Jóhannsson, and it's such a wonderful swan song.  Listen to "Children of The New Dawn" below and look for the full score soon via Invada and Lakeshore.

Carpenter Brut - Night Stalker

So, there's a documentary being made about 80's analog synthesizer music and its resurgence and revival in the last few years by a number of synth wave artists.  This is most welcome news, and the movie will be getting an accompanying soundtrack full of new music by many of the artists featured in the film.  The first teaser comes in the mold of a new jam from French synth act Carpenter Brut.  "Night Stalker" is full of wonderful horror synths and techno delirium.  Listen below and get it from Lakeshore Records.

Clint Mansell - San Juniper OST

Though i'm way, way late to get on the bandwagon for this one, i watched the "San Juniper" episode from season 3 of "Black Mirror" the other day.  The episode had received a lot of hype, and rightly so, for its very human sci-fi story, its hopefulness, and its dynamic score from Clint Mansell.  I'll probably have to check the whole series out, as it has purported to foretell the rise of Trump in one episode, and former British Prime Minister David Cameron fucking a pig in another.  Anyway, the music from "San Juniper" is very good.  Get it here via Lakeshore Records and listen to "Faith, Hope, Fear, and Falling in Love" below.

Stranger Things soundtrack

It's been a month, and i'm still pretty obsessed with all things "Stranger Things," the soundtrack in particular.  The whole thing is being released in two volumes, part one of which came out digitally and part two following on Friday this week.  Lakeshore will be releasing Kyle Dixon's and Michael Stein's score on CD next month, and vinyl versions should follow after.  If you haven't checked the music or the show out yet, get cracking.  They're both fantastic.  Listen to "She'll Kill You" below.