“…The vault doors have once again been re-opened. W|S Collective have taken the past, cleaned it up a bit and breathed new life into it. The tracks are a mix of colder melancholy and upbeat minimalism. Think a subdued Depeche Mode synth pop…”
(October 2010) California. Sun. Oranges. Toyota Prius. Arnie. There are a few things that pop into the average head when we think about CA. What about minimal synth music? Probably not. But labels are beginning to grow in the Sunshine State. Dark Entries have been trailblazing for a year. Recently another label, this time from San Jose, has come onto the scene: W|S Collective. For their first instalment the newcomer has gone back to 1985, opening the archive on the lost sounds of California locals The Short Wave Mystery.
The Short Wave Mystery have been silenced for twenty five years, fading into the mist of time after their Pilots EP. W|S Collective gives a platform for the group to release Down And Out In A Town Of Yardsales. Gregory Windrum Scoggin was the epicentre of the project, with Jason Wright, Tom Wright and Dave Skinner having varying degrees of input. The tracks on the mini album were written between 1984 and 85, but were remixed in 2009/10. This doesn’t mean to say that a rank element of modern electroclash has been inserted into the originals, quite the opposite. The tracks have been cleaned up and finally given the light of day on a snazzy slab of marble vinyl. The record opens with the solid synthesizer bars of “Whoever Knew” and sets the tone of the LP, a melting of analogue and cold lyrics. The intro gives the cold wave mix enthusiast a chance to bring in the track, building beats and synthlines culminated in delayed melancholic vocals. “Without Cause (Vocalize)” opens with a similar strength of chord with sharp beats dissecting the depth.”Signals (From Afar)” enters on a wave of analogue emotion, with shard of vocals drifting in and out. The downtrodden sounds of “Turn Time Away ” opens the flipside, with vocals entering a much more sombre mode. “Separate Divisions ” has a touch more bravado to it, with brasher synthlines propping up sharp beats and muted vocals. A powerful piece with a serious degree of dancefloor friendliness. The synth heavy notes of “Still Laughs” brings the album to a close. The track rounds of the album nicely, working an uplifted minimal synth sound with dark lyrics.
The vault doors have once again been re-opened. W|S Collective have taken the past, cleaned it up a bit and breathed new life into it. The tracks are a mix of colder melancholy and upbeat minimalism. Think a subdued Depeche Mode synth pop. A new West Coast label has set off on the synth wave track, and it’s first outing oozes quality. One of the most exciting releases of the year.
Down And Out In A Town Of Yardsales is out now on W|S Collective.
