Sewer Skaters

A few years ago, synth wave label Retro Promenade released a string of excellently themed tribute albums of sorts, getting a slew of like-minded synth heads to create music inspired by "Twin Peaks," or John Carpenter, or "Tron," or "Miami Vice," and so on.  Then they were quiet for a few years.  But yesterday, they dropped a new collection of tunes inspired by "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," a kind of celebration of the 30th anniversary of the live action movie's release.  Wild.  Anyway, check out Le Cassette's "Truth of the Ninja" below and download the whole thing here.  Cowabunga!

Jarred Glenn

I do so love a fake horror film score.  And today we get "The Curse," a retro teens in peril concept from synth wave artist Jarred Glenn.  Check out the sultry and pulsating "City of Lights" featuring a vocal assist from Glitbiter below and get the album and more here from Retro Promenade.

Sonic Advent Calendar: Day 18 - Carol of the Bells

Synth collective Retro Promenade occasionally put out Christmas themed compilations.  The one from 2015 featured synth wave artist Jaunter taking on "Carol of the Bells" with all the beeps and boops you could hope for.  Listen below.

It's Christmas Time! IV: The Quest for Peace

These are always fun.  The folks over at Retro Promenade have just released their fourth volume of Christmas themed synth wave and synth pop jams, delightfully titled "It's Christmas Time! IV: The Quest for Peace."  They're cheesy sure, but can also be pretty infectious.  Listen to Vast Hill's cover of Wham!'s "Last Christmas" below and download the whole album here.

Gyan Rosling

So maybe the reversing of letters for a band name is kind of dumb and played out now, but who cares when the music is fun, right?  Anyway, the long silent Retro Promenade finally issued a new release yesterday with the "Decadence" EP from Gyan Rosling.  Dreamy, sometimes cheesy, synth pop for the masses.  Hazaa!  Listen to the title track below and grab the EP here.

Tears in Rain: A Tribute to Blade Runner

Speaking of "Blade Runner"...Ever since i came across label/artist collective Retro Promenade's "Twin Peaks" synth tribute last year, and then their subsequent John Carpenter and "Tron" tributes, i've been waiting for them to release a "Blade Runner" inspired collection of music too.  And someone beat them to the punch.  Future City Records just released "Tears in Rain: A Tribute to Blade Runner" featuring a whole slew of electronic and retro synth acts creating music to accompany to a walk or drive through wet and neon-drenched streets of 2019 Los Angeles.  Get it here and listen to Aquawave's "Synthetic Dream (Closing Credits)" below.

It's Christmas Time, Mr. Falcon!

Before the day is over, give Retro Promenade's Christmas compilation, "It's Christmas Time, Mr. Falcon," a spin.  Synth-pulsing, neon-tinted wonderlands to help you digest and rest.  Listen to Jaunter's "Carol of the Bells" below and download the whole album here.

Argento

So Halloween has come and gone.  Pumpkin beers have been consumed.  My kiddo's stash of candy has been raided by his parents.  And my football team decided to stay home today.  As there are probably a whole lot of folks still partying with all the goblins and ghouls out there, here's some excellent jams to wind your evening down to, another fantastic homage compilation album from Retro Promenade.  The aptly titled "Argento" takes its cues and moods from the works of filmmaker Dario Argento, and though it's only four songs, it's a perfect way to close out Halloween 2015.  Stream it below and download it here.

Absinth3

"She's Not From Here" is the latest release from Retro Promenade featuring four jams from synth artist Absinth3, drawing inspiration from Stephen King's "Christine."  And that's all you really need to know.  Listen to the whole thing below.

Grid Knights

Currently batting a thousand with their compilation releases is record label/art collective Retro Promenade, and their latest collection of synth explorations pays tribute to "Tron."  "Grid Knights" and all of its "Tron" inspiration, follows previous albums indebted to "Twin Peaks," John Carpenter, and "Miami Vice," and it's a pulsing, sweeping wonder.  Download the album here, check out the rest that the label has to offer here, and listen to Renz Wilde's "Mainframe" below.

Carpenter

It's turning out to be a banner year for synth and art collective/label(?) Retro Promenade.  After a trio of stellar "Twin Peaks" themed synthesizer albums, they're back again with "Carpenter," an homage to all things John Carpenter.  20 tracks of Carpenter-inspired haunting synth opuses.  It features jams from Lazerhawk, VHS Glitch, and so many more.  Check out album closer "Ghosts" by Hide & Sequence below and download the whole thing here.  You can also buy the bitchin' print above.

The Next Peak Vol. III

Retro Promenade have offered up the third installment of their synthesizer tribute to "Twin Peaks," this time around featuring an array of songs inspired by the TV series, rather than covers of the soundtrack.  There's some fun and interesting stuff going on here, the moods, themes, and even some dialog from "Twin Peaks" working and weaving through the synthetic soundscapes and neon afterglow.  Listen to Waveshaper's "The Ghost of Leland Palmer" below and download "The Next Peak Vol III" here.

The Next Peak Vol. 1

So, this is pretty awesome.  An Austin art collective called Retro Promenade put together a synthesizer tribute to the music from "Twin Peaks," and with a veritable "Twin Peaks" fever going on right now, thanks to the upcoming third season, it's just what everyone needs.  Also, on the contributors did a fantastic job.  Take a listen to The Astronaut Arcade covering Julee Cruise's "Falling," featuring project organizer Lucy Black on vocals below.  Then go here to download and grab a bunch of other goodies.