Tagged: 80′s

[Tape Label Spotlight] Buddha Tapes

buddha tapes

I don’t think we’ve ever featured a cassette-only indie label here on what’s protocol? before but, there’s always a first for everything right?

Introducing Buddha Tapes, referenced before when we’ve featured artists Psittacines and Hectic Zeniths in the past, this little tape label is based out of Virginia doing some very special things. With a few releases under their belts, they’ve finally got another one to be proud of.

Wax Monsters are a dynamic synth-pop duo coming out of Ohio with a brand new self-titled full length album that recently dropped. Each track has got a different mood and tone keeping you fully aware of all of the tempo shifts. Available on gorgeous (and limited!) blue cassette, stream the release below and grab your tape here.

And be sure to keep Buddha Tapes on your radar and check out the rest of their releases here.

Even the best love leaves you open.

kisses

I believe I was first struck by LA duo, Kisses, back in 2011 when I first heard their single, “People Can Do The Most Amazing of Things.” A simple yet steady beat, futile lyrical content, and those droning vocals that just work so well with the group’s sound.

It only made sense to do a little personal research and revisiting when I heard them on my shuffle over the weekend. I love this slightly matured sound – there’s more electronic elements than their typical synth-pop. “The Hardest Part” is purely catchy with its snappy percussion and heavy 80′s synths. It’s an all around great track to get you psyched for new material. With an upcoming release slated for May 14th (via Cascine), I can’t wait to hear the rest of the track listing.

Check out their first single from the forthcoming album, Kids in L.A., below and be sure to listen to more of their music here.

Also be sure to check out this lovely teaser vid they dropped awhile back.

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[Meet] Sally Shapiro

sally shapiro

Listening and looking at Sally Shapiro is like doing two different things at once.

Let’s break things down, get to the nitty gritty. Sally Shapiro is a duo from Sweden which consists of a Sally Shapiro and a Johan Agebjörn on the synths. Heavily influenced by 80′s italo-disco (which I applaude), the two have been putting out glittery music together for years although the wonderful female vocalist still prefers to play under the anonymous moniker, Sally Shapiro. What I think attracts many people to this woman is her obvious shyness to the industry, it almost works in her favor. Not thrilled with being on a stage somewhere and certainly not on anyone else’s timeline is actually more appealing in my mind.

Listen to their preview stream of the duo’s latest album, Somewhere Else, which you can grab your own copy of here.

Looking for a little more reading material? I really liked this recent interview eMusic had  with the duo.

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[Coachella] 51 days

io echo

Eerie synths and a fabulous post-new wave sound, meet one of the hottest new acts coming out of L.A. I first caught wind of Io Echo when the Coachella lineup dropped a few weeks ago and I was instantly enamored with their sound.

With projects like the one where they scored a Harmony Korine short film or when they curated an audio visual festival at the Museum of Modern Art Los Angeles, Io Echo has shown within the recent past that they have plenty up their sleeves.

Their single, “When The Lillies Die,” is hypnotic with droning female vocals. I’m especially fond of the breakdown after the 2 minute mark, it’s almost psychedelic with the oscillating keys. Listen below and be sure to check out their spring tour which you can find via their Facebook page.

And lastly, Coachella is featuring this slow burner for today’s homepage.

[Inbox Submission] Skeleton Lipstick

Philadelphia-local, Skeleton Lipstick, fell into my inbox seemingly out of nowhere the other day. I just can’t keep up with this city.

Gritty 80′s-styled synths glaze over your eardrums smoothed out by glo-fi beats – and trust me, it completely comes together. There’s a lot of things I want to ask the man behind this synthwave project. More specifically, how are you producing this wonderful music and performing Maxillofacial surgery at the same time? Well, perhaps not at the same time. But still.

This is what I love, when artists give me a little context to work with. Not everything is a mysterious secret. Skeleton Lipstick is a working professional who manages to make some impressive electronic music that takes our ears decades back in time. His apparent skill for life balance allows him to creatively stretch his mind when he’s not performing his grueling 9-5. How cool, right?

Listen below to his newest release, Glows Then Melts and be sure to put this gentleman on your radar.

BONUS:  Just, wow.

And from SL himself:

The song above is a teaser for the new album. It does not appear on the album. I took the 10 tracks from “glows then melts” then cut them up, and organized the chaos into a NEW promo track! Every sound in the song (except the vocals) is a loop from one of the ten tracks on “Glows then Melts.” Nothing too special, just a little bonus song I worked up in an hour so. Head over to AIRLINES TAPES bandcamp for the real songs!

Visions of you are never-ending.

Now this is some fucking dance-pop.

A feel good banger, “Visions of You,” is a fantastic uptempo track from electronic duo, ROOM8, who’ve got that classic 80′s synth style down and perfected. They’re bringing back a generation of sound in a tasteful new way, collaborating with artists such as Electric Youth- known for their hit “College” that was behind the Ryan Gosling film, Drive.

Also catch their polished track, “Neon and Dice,” below. Bonus points: Anyone recognize that sax?

Enjoy.

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Songs For Your Weekend Moods: Vanish edition.

If this set doesn’t get you moving, then I don’t know what will.

10 bumping dance tracks from Denver’s Vanish to get you on through the weekend. And, they’re all free to download. Enjoy.

 

Love is paradise.

Wild Nothing’s newest single recently dropped and I’m digging all of it.

Dreamy and smooth, it’s everything I wanted to hear at this moment in time. Off of their upcoming release, Nocturne (due out August 28th), download the band’s track below.

Paradise – Wild Nothing

Right-click and enjoy.

Songs For Your Weekend Moods: AIMES edition.

AIMES met my ears at the perfect moment. Fresh out of work and ready to kick back and mellow out, this Brooklyn artist hit me with a chilled-beat and glazed-over 80′s synths. Commence immediate infatuation.

Released this past Tuesday, check out Aman Ellis’ collection of psychedelia in the form of electronic tones and the occasional guitar riff on his Beautiful Decay EP. AIMES’ sound is like a danceable chillwave, and I’m all about that at the moment. Listen below and name your price for the digital download.

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In Dreams – Another Green World

Now, this album will surely be the cure to your summer-nostalgia needs.

Another Green World is the moniker for Memphis-based electronic musician, Alec West. Released this past week, In Dreams, is a 10-track album full of searing synth-pop, guitar loops dripping with reverb, and a thick, hazy fog that brings out the deeply embedded lo-fi sound.

Sit back, stream the album below, and enjoy.