NERD MUSIC Album Spotlight: Xtreme Now by Prince Rama

Prince Rama's 2012 album Top Ten Hits of the End of the World is one of my favorite discoveries of the past few years, a heady mix of aerobics-themed retrowave, Hare Krishna devotional music* and a heavy dose of new age infused psychedelia. True to its name, Top Ten Hits of the End of the World came across like the soundtrack to a millennial version of Heaven's Gate.

Extreme Now is a more daring record in many ways, with the band branching out into chillwave ("Your Life in the End"), synth-folk ("Slip into Nevermore"), Joy Division-style post punk ("Would You Die to be Adored") and the kind of pastiche freakouts that Grimes specializes in ("Now is the Time of Emotion"). Yet every song is, unmistakably, Prince Rama.

Like Top Ten Hits of the End of the World before it, Extreme Now is a head trip--one that alternates transcendental euphoria and apocalyptic foreboding. And if you, like me, are the kind of music listener who craves that kind of consciousness-expanding listening experience, then you won't want to miss this. Highly recommended.


*The members of Prince Rama grew up on a Hare Krishna commune in Florida.


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POSTED BY: The G--purveyor of nerdliness, genre fanatic and Nerds of a Feather founder/administrator, since 2012.

NERD MUSIC Album Spotlight: Posthumanity by Unitra

Unitra's cyberpunk-themed single "Parallel Memories" is one of my favorite recent darksynth tracks, so I was super excited when I first heard about the new full-length! Posthumanity is, as the name implies, strongly inspired by science fiction (and cyberpunk in particular). But like actual cyberpunk literature, it's not all neon rain and cartoon dystopia. Unitra demonstrates range on this album, from the classic cyberpunk aesthetic of "Human Enhancement" to the to the romantic dreamwave of "Take a Deep Breath."

Now where'd I leave that copy of Mona Lisa Overdrive...



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POSTED BY: The G--purveyor of nerdliness, genre fanatic and Nerds of a Feather founder/administrator, since 2012.

NERD MUSIC Album Spotlight: Atlas by FM-84

I know it's still the first week of May, but I'm calling it: Atlas by FM-84 is the official album of summer. I mean, it's not *just* that Atlas is a pitch perfect homage to 80s romance (though it is). It's also that Atlas is an exquisite collection of pop songs. And if there was any justice in the world, the Katy Perrys, Rihannas and Carly Rae Jepsons of the world would be knocking down Colin Bennett's door, suitcases of cash in hand, demanding that he produce for them. But he'd say no because, well, everyone has already bought this album.

"Running in the Night" and "Wild Ones," both of which are collaborations with vocalist Ollie Wride, are of particular note.


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POSTED BY: The G--purveyor of nerdliness, genre fanatic and Nerds of a Feather founder/administrator, since 2012.

NERD MUSIC Album Spotlight: Police Heartbreaker by Absolute Valentine

Those of you who follow my weekend playlists know that Absolute Valentine is one of my favorite new synthwave artists. And guess what--the new album on Lazerdiscs is super dope! Plus it's got a great retro sci-fi theme to it, tailor-made for those of us who get that nostalgic feeling for the science fiction of our childhoods. Listen and enjoy!

NERD MUSIC Album Spotlight: Wavehymnal by Makeup & Vanity Set

By now you all know how much I love Makeup and Vanity Set. More than any other artist in the synthwave scene (with the possible exception of Com Truise), Makeup & Vanity Set pushes the boundaries of what this music is about and what it can do--to the point where Matthew Pusti's stuff both feels a part of and apart from what the scene's other mainstays are doing.

The new Makeup and Vanity Set album, for the French label Data Airlines, exemplifies that dynamic. It's much dancier than Pusti's previous output--"Stalker" and "Death Laser" border on techno, while "Ono-Sendai" is a near perfect--and funky--slice of cyberpunk-inflected darksynth. And yeah...every single track is dope as hell.

And there's one other thing about Wavehymnal that makes this old blogger smile. Recall that in my recent interview with Pusti, I pressed him on the connection between his music and William Gibson's cyberpunk classic Neuromancer. And now we have a track called "Ono-Sendai," which by rights should be the title track for the cinematic adaption that Neuromancer so badly deserves.

So do yourself a favor and buy/stream Wavehymnal--there are limited edition LPs and cassettes available as well!



Spotify Stream

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POSTED BY: The G--purveyor of nerdliness, genre fanatic and Nerds of a
Feather founder/administrator (2012).

NERD MUSIC SPOTLIGHT: Memories by Yuppie Culture (2016)

Memories is the debut album by Chicago-area synthwave producer Yuppie Culture. It's a very romantic record, mining the same thematic territory as Timecop1983 and FM Attack, among others. Musically speaking, though, Memories sounds pretty unique--it's synthwave in form, sure, but with a sonic vocabulary that borders on chillwave. The result is like a soundtrack for that quiet evening in Malibu, listening to the tides go out with drink in hand as the sun sets over the Western horizon.

Bottom line: Memories is a warm, evocative record that grows on you with every listen.



[Support the artist and buy the album, only $4 on bandcamp!]

NERD MUSIC SPOTLIGHT: Island Universe by Syntax

For the first NERD MUSIC album spotlight, I've chosen a relatively obscure synthwave record, sure to appeal to all you cyberpunks and retro gamers out there--Island Universe by Syntax. NewRetroWave named it one of the 10 best synthwave albums of 2015, and they are not wrong. Check it out--it's awesome, perfect for a night drive or that game of Shadowrun you've been planning. Oh, and if you like it, please support the artist!



Stream: Spotify.


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POSTED BY: The G--purveyor of nerdliness, genre fanatic and Nerds of a
Feather founder/administrator, since 2012.