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Before After Again - Solitude cover art

Solitude: New Atmospheric Darkwave from Before After Again

March 4, 2024
Before After Again - Solitude cover art

It’s New Release Day here at Overlook Hotel Records! We are proud to present “Solitude,” the latest darkwave track from Before After Again.

An Atmosphere of Isolation

This isn’t just a song; it’s an atmosphere. “Solitude” captures the suffocating feeling of being trapped within one’s own mind, where the silence is loud and the walls are closing in. With driving synth lines and melancholic vocals, the track explores the tension between wanting to escape the “twisted mind” and finding comfort in the isolation.

Lyrics

Ten years of solitude
I’ve spent my time with you
Watch as these walls all fall down

Don’t know if I can be
Alone inside my empty mind
The time unfolds

Don’t notice this silence for long
Can’t escape I’ve nowhere to run
Suffering inside I brings me down

Don’t worry it comes and it goes
Hidden deep so nobody knows
I’ll keep you safely inside

Confine my every move
Clenched hands but let me go too soon
The grip won’t do

I’m running out of time
You’re always right in back of my
Twisted mind

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Perfect for late-night listening in the dark, alone, or in the basement of an abandoned building, “Solitude” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

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Cover art for Winds of March by Plastic Horizon

Winds of March: New Cinematic Synthwave from Plastic Horizon

March 1, 2024
Cover art for Winds of March by Plastic Horizon

Plastic Horizon returns to Overlook Hotel Records with “Winds of March,” a track that bridges the gap between atmospheric soundscapes and driving synth-rock energy.

A Cinematic Slow Burn

Drawing heavily from the visual language of Blade Runner and the nostalgic adrenaline of the Outrun aesthetic, this single is a study in tension and release. It does not rush; instead, it invites the listener into a dark, cinematic space.

The track begins with a “dark and easy” introduction, a slow burn of brooding pads and distant melodies that evoke the feeling of a solitary walk through a rain-slicked futuristic city. But as the “winds” pick up, so does the intensity. The composition patiently layers its elements, building a wall of sound that eventually breaks into a full-throttle synthwave rock anthem.

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This dynamic shift makes “Winds of March” the perfect companion for a late-night drive. It captures that specific moment when the empty road stretches out before you, the city lights blur into streaks of neon, and the only option is to turn the volume up and drive.

“Winds of March” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

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Cover art for Decay by Before After Again

Decay: New Driving Synthpop from Before After Again

February 26, 2024
Cover art for Decay by Before After Again

It’s New Release Day here at Overlook Hotel Records! We are proud to present “Decay,” the latest high-energy track from Before After Again.

The Sound of Decay

“Decay” is a study in contrast. It opens with a stripped-down, fairly quick pulse, a driving beat that feels urgent and immediate. This minimal approach in the verses creates a tension that demands release, which arrives in the form of a rich, expansive chorus.

The production here leans heavily into the “wall of sound” aesthetic during the bridge and chorus, utilizing layered synths to create a feeling of overwhelming motion. It is a track that sounds best when cranked up loud, allowing the listener to get lost in the “spin.”

Lyrics

Hold on this won’t take but a moment
Your head spins like a top goes round, round, round
Please understand this is intention
Not necessarily I’m down, down, down

I love the way you drop
The pieces on the floor
Decay of every touch
A slip away into nothing

You bind the ties that take us under
My grip it squeezes you for more, more, more
Shake lips and let me know when it’s over
You know it’s what we have in store, store, store

I love the way you drop
The pieces on the floor
Decay of every touch
A slip away into nothing

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“Decay” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

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Rings of Saturn: New Astronomy-Inspired Synthpop from Plastic Horizon

February 24, 2024
Cover art for Rings of Saturn by Plastic Horizon

Synthwave artist Plastic Horizon takes a slight departure from the standard retrowave formula to bring us to the “Rings of Saturn” in this astronomy-inspired composition.

Breaking the Orbit

While the genre of synthwave is often highly codified with specific rules regarding tempo and instrumentation, breaking those rules can yield interesting results. “Rings of Saturn” feels less like a drive down a neon highway and more like a drift through zero gravity. The production is clean and crystalline, utilizing bright bell tones and arpeggiators that mimic the icy, vast nature of the planet’s rings.

The Bridge at 1:41

The track really shines in its structural evolution. It establishes a hypnotic groove early on, but listeners should pay close attention to the bridge at the 1:41 mark. Here, the song shifts gears, introducing a melodic counterpoint that elevates the composition from a simple loop to a complex musical narrative. It is a moment of clarity and “lift” that defines the track.

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“Rings of Saturn” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

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Cover art for Scars by Before After Again

Scars: New Post-Punk Single from Before After Again

February 19, 2024
Cover art for Scars by Before After Again

Before After Again releases “Scars” today on all major streaming sites. This track is a love letter to the golden era of post-punk, blending the driving energy of modern darkwave with the melodic sensibilities of the 80s.

Influences and Atmosphere

You may hear the influences of bands like Killing Joke, She Wants Revenge, and The Cure just below the surface. “Scars” is built on a relentless, driving bassline and drums that demand movement. It balances this kinetic energy with melancholic vocals and atmospheric synths, creating a soundscape that is both nostalgic and fresh.

It is a song about running away, the healing process, and the realization that sometimes, when you find “something else,” you might realize there is nothing left inside.

Lyrics

Hiding like a kiss from the side of the road
Put your face down let the water unfold
Everyone knows that there’s nothing to hold so let’s go

Pretty one feels like there’s nothing to hide
Holding back the tears while the feelings subside
Maybe should have thought would have opened her eyes but no

Don’t stop running you’ll find out for yourself
The time heals wounds and the scars that you felt
Everyone knows that you’re out of your mind
If you found something else now there’s nothing inside

Feeling takes a toll but the humming in time
Faking all the smiles so that no one will find
All the hate boiling up so deep down inside it grows

She can be sure that her ending is near
Turn your head away and let the wind hit your face
Everything falls into place when you just let it go

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“Scars” is available now. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

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Cover art for Cybernetic Dreams by Plastic Horizon

Cybernetic Dreams: New Robotic Synthwave from Plastic Horizon

February 16, 2024
Cover art for Cybernetic Dreams by Plastic Horizon

Plastic Horizon ventures into a blend of Synthwave, Synthpop, and Downtempo vibes with the latest single, “Cybernetic Dreams.” It is a track that feels less like a human composition and more like a transmission from a machine soul.

The Ghost in the Machine

Somewhere hidden in this composition, there are shades of bands like Kraftwerk and early Ministry. The track is defined by its precision, clean, robotic melodic lines floating over a steady, mechanical beat. It captures the essence of the “computer world” aesthetic, where emotion is filtered through circuitry.

Unlike the high-speed chase energy of typical Outrun tracks, “Cybernetic Dreams” settles into a hypnotic groove. It is the perfect soundtrack for late-night coding sessions, digital art creation, or simply drifting through the neon-lit corridors of your own mind.

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“Cybernetic Dreams” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

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Cover art for Aeon by Plastic Horizon

Aeon: New 80s-Inspired Synthpop from Plastic Horizon

February 2, 2024
Cover art for Aeon by Plastic Horizon

Plastic Horizon delivers a dynamic listening experience with “Aeon,” a track that takes the listener on a journey through the sounds of the early 80s.

Big Energy, Classic Vibes

“Aeon” doesn’t ease you in; it opens with a bombastic, larger-than-life intro that immediately grabs your attention. From there, it shifts gears into an uptempo, New Wave synthpop rhythm reminiscent of bands like Berlin. The driving bass and shimmering synths create a sense of urgency and excitement that defines the golden era of the genre.

The Breakdown and Outro

Just when you settle into the groove, the track returns to the massive scale of the introduction, creating a powerful peak before fading out. The song wraps up with a soft, gentle arpeggio sequence, a perfect “cool down” after the high-energy ride.

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“Aeon” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

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Cover art for Mirage by Plastic Horizon

Mirage: New Cinematic Dreamwave from Plastic Horizon

January 26, 2024
Cover art for Mirage by Plastic Horizon

Plastic Horizon slows the tempo and deepens the mood with “Mirage,” a short but evocative track that drifts into the territory of dreamwave and chill synthpop.

A Melancholic Waltz

“Mirage” stands out immediately due to its time signature. Written in 12/8 time, the track has a swaying, waltz-like feel that separates it from the driving 4/4 beats of typical synthwave. This rhythmic choice, combined with lush pads and a gentle melody, creates a distinctively melancholic vibe, like a memory fading in the heat.

From the Score of “Gerald”

This composition has dramatic roots. It was originally composed as a theme for the Campfire Radio Theater episode “Gerald,” serving as part of a larger score featuring around 30 pieces of music. While it works perfectly as a standalone single for late-night listening, its cinematic origins are clear in the way it builds atmosphere and emotion in a short runtime.

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“Mirage” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

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Cover art for Vice Grip by Before After Again

Vice Grip: New Uptempo Synthpop from Before After Again

January 15, 2024
Cover art for Vice Grip by Before After Again

Before After Again picks up the tempo with “Vice Grip,” a track that wraps dark lyrical themes in a bright, energetic package.

A Study in Contrast

“Vice Grip” is defined by its sparse instrumentation and a snappy, driving drum track that immediately induces movement. Musically, the chorus feels uplifting and anthemic, a classic synthpop earworm. However, digging into the lyrics reveals a narrative of distress, brokenness, and a toxic dynamic described as a “siege.”

This juxtaposition, dancing while “falling apart,” is a hallmark of the best coldwave and synthpop. It suggests that sometimes the only way to handle the “fracture” is to move through it.

Lyrics

I can’t believe you’re broken now
It’s pitiful
Such distress it tears us all apart
No shame no blame no reckoning
Just look at you
A fractured piece will lie away in waste

She swings a delightful
Comatose no breathing
Don’t fight it now it hurts you in the end
A fall from where she’d thought she’d been forgiven
For all the things she never should have said

Under your siege now
Your vice grip it pleases
Screaming but nothing
It sounds so enticing

I like the way you look at me
It tears into
Seeking trust in eyes you know that lie
So please decide what’s right
What’s wrong it matters none
The end it comes in every way you know

She swings a delightful
Comatose no breathing
Don’t fight it now it hurts you in the end
A fall from where she’d thought she’d been forgiven
For all the things she never should have said

Under your siege now
Your vice grip it pleases
Screaming but nothing
It sounds so enticing

Under your siege now
Your vice grip it pleases
Screaming but nothing
It sounds so enticing

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“Vice Grip” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

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Cover art for Carousel by Before After Again

Carousel: New Dark Wave Ballad from Before After Again

January 1, 2024
Cover art for Carousel by Before After Again

Before After Again kicks off the new year by taking listeners into the deepest abysses of dark wave with their latest work, “Carousel.”

A Journey Through Dark Landscapes

“Carousel” is a slow, brooding track that feels more like a nightmare than a dream. With stripped-down instrumentation and a low-energy vocal delivery, it captures a specifically mournful atmosphere.

As described by ElectroZombies (Thomas Frenken): “This melancholic ballad, drenched in melancholy, takes us on a journey through dark landscapes. The song itself sounds almost depressive, with a slow, low-energy delivery that perfectly captures the mournful atmosphere.”

Lyrics

Daughter son
Don’t make a scene
It’s no one’s fault
Don’t pin your blame on me

Carousel
Don’t need to keep
Another fall
From grace you think you need

No one’s home
Nothing’s wrong
Rest your weary eyes my dear
No one’s home
Nothing’s wrong
Rest your weary eyes my dear

Water pools
Through vacant eyes
It leads you through
All of my Twisted lies

Down the walls
My mirror drags
It looks my way but darling don’t look back

No one’s home
Nothing’s wrong
Rest your weary eyes my dear
No one’s home
Nothing’s wrong
Rest your weary eyes my dear

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“Carousel” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

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