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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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Before After Again debut album cover art

Before After Again – Self-Titled Debut: Atmospheric Darkwave & Post-Punk

March 9, 2020
Before After Again self-titled album cover art

Before After Again: Self-Titled Debut

Overlook Hotel Records is proud to present the self-titled debut from Before After Again. A collaboration between Jason Whitcomb and Kevin Hartnell, this project draws upon darkwave, post-punk, synthpop, and electro-rock styles to create a dense, atmospheric soundscape.

Released on January 1, 2020, this album marks a unique moment in the label’s history. Parts of the record were tracked in the original Overlook Hotel Records studio prior to its remodeling. As a result, the drum tracks capture a specific, “lost” room sound that no longer exists and can never be replicated.

Project Personnel

Before After Again is:

  • Jason Whitcomb: Vocals, Backing Vocals, Synths, Drum Programming, Bass, Guitars
  • Kevin Hartnell: Drums, Percussion, Bass, Guitars, Synths, Drum Programming, Backing Vocals

Special Guests:

  • Ty Whitcomb: Guitar on “Faux Devox”
  • Vic Bonato: Piano on “Core”

Mixed and mastered by Hector Ratt. Catalog R237-020.

Connect with Before After Again

Music Video: “Allison’s Gone”

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#BeforeAfterAgain #Darkwave #PostPunk #Synthpop #Industrial #KevinHartnell #JasonWhitcomb #OverlookHotelRecords

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