Signals From Afar generally hits the right synth notes and will get many the minimal wave mouth watering. Hopefully this new album will mean future releases, preferably on good quality vinyl.
[Listen | Purchase] One of the most surprising releases of last year came from The Shortwave Mystery. Out of nowhere this 80’s obscurity re-issued six tracks on Down and Out In Town Full of Yardsales, all off their own back. The record was, and is, superb; rich analogue synth wave dripping in the attitude of the decade. Now The Shortwave Mystery return with a full length CD album: Signals from Afar.
The album, fifteen tracks long, features a number of unreleased mixes of past tracks alongside some unheard material. “Signals from Afar (Vocalize)” opens and an immediate transportation into synthesizer richness ensues. The album is saturated in the unmistakable sound of The Shortwave Mystery, clever hooks and beats to produce synth pop gems. Past material resurfaces, such as unreleased versions of the addictive “Pilots” which is given two takes on here. “Laugh Tomorrow” aches with a lament of female vocals and wrenching lines. There’s a decent degree of melancholy running across the album, as in the despondent lyrics and unrequited synths of the absorbing “Special Girl (A Very.)” But, there is a break from Down and Out In Town Full of Yardsales. Instrumental tracks punctuate the album, some distilled from the analogue sorrow that permeates and others taking a cue from other influences. The likes of “Bump ‘N’ Grind (Rick Kevin Mix)” or “Scuby Ruby” fall into this latter category, but don’t ring true amongst the other heavy hitters. Other tracks have a future echo of EBM to them like “SynthTapeTest!” which turns the taps on full flow, watching the serpents dance on the overheated machine.
Down and Out In Town Full of Yardsales was one of my favourite records of last year, simply an excellent piece of synth pop that dodged many of the clichés. The one problem with that record was the sound quality, which was very chalky to say the least. Signals from Afar does not have that sound issue, but it is not as strong a record. There are some excellent tracks on here, and ones that will gain favour across the synth wave masses. Yet, there are some fillers that just don’t sit right and dilute the experience. But this does not detract from what The Shortwave Mystery have done. Signals From Afar generally hits the right synth notes and will get many the minimal wave mouth watering. Hopefully this new album will mean future releases, preferably on good quality vinyl.
Signals From Afar is out now on W|S Collective. [Listen | Purchase]
