New Wave Stomp

New wave is quite a hard genre to categorise, as it comes in many different forms. It has elements of punk, post-punk, rock indie and pop, but it’s a style I’ve really come to love over the years. As such, I decided it would be a good time to do a round-up review based on the genre. All the bands and artists featured here are slightly different from one another, but whatever sub-genre of new wave you’re into, there should be something for you here.

Review by Jane Howkins

Photo by Lonely Gimmick

Lonely Gimmick – Beaches

London artist Lonely Gimmick is the brainchild of Max Pow, an anonymous multi-instrumentalist. Beaches is a joyous pop song, with the synths adding something of an 80s sound. It starts out slowly, before the beat kicks in, adding a lovely positive vibe to the music. The vocals have their own character, fitting perfectly with the rest of the music. The track breaks down a little later on, adding in some tribal style drums that make this song really stand out! It’s a distinctive piece of work, sounding unlike anything else I’ve heard this year.

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No One Mind – Nightmare

North Carolina act No One Mind has produced something really cool in Nightmare, which is actually the fourth track on the album, Secondary Gain. The beat is really interesting here – it’s quite fast, and has something of a military sound. The synths, guitars and bass meld themselves perfectly round the drums, as the vocals float away against the music in lovely style. More synths are added as the song progresses into the anthemic chorus, really elevating the track to higher heights. It’s a lovely piece of work and one you need to check out now!

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Good Time Locomotive – Lines of Symmetry

Lines of Symmetry is London band Good Time Locomotive’s debut single, yet it already sounds incredibly accomplished! As well as the new wave vibes, it’s also got elements of pop and indie, making for one awesome mix of styles! The beat is upbeat and catchy, seeing a pulsating bass line groove through the music. The piano adds a really nice feel against the synths, making it all sound very positive as a whole! The vocals are emotive too, ensuring the listener feels everything as the song progresses to its satisfying end.

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Saline Grace – Bar Moon

It’s time to head to Germany now with Berlin artist Saline Grace’s new release, Bar Moon. It’s a little different from some of the other songs here – the music has that classic jangly indie sound, yet the vocals are rather deep, having an otherworldly quality about them. It makes for a wonderfully unique vibe, perfect for those who like their new wave on the more experimental end of the musical spectrum. There’s actually something rather beautiful about it, especially in the way the vocal harmonies are used!

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Blueburst – Supanova

Atlanta band Blueburst have quite a prominent post-punk sound, as well as the obvious new wave and indie elements present in Supanova. It’s full of energy from the very start, seeing the guitars meld well with the huge drum beats. The vocals have a lovely melodic quality, making for a song that will have you singing along in no time! The vocals are slightly distant in the mix at times, but they’re still present enough, with the harmonies drawing the listener in straight away. The chord change on the bridge adds something a little extra special, creating more variety in this amazing tune.

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TheVerso – Take Me Out

Take Me Out sounds absolutely immense from the start, opening with a huge percussive beat that keeps the tempo high throughout TheVerso’s addition to this list. The guitars have that 80s indie sound that we’ve all come to know and love, although the song still has moments of new wave within it. The vocals follow the main melody perfectly, adding an anthemic sound on the chorus which will have you singing along in no time! It’s catchy in a melancholy way, making this the perfect background tune for your life.

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Picture House – Opposite Form

Opposite Form is one of the rockier songs on this list, jam-packed full of catchy guitar melodies and an energy that never lets up! The main guitar line weaves its way through the music in a lovely way, keeping your interest piqued throughout. The vocals have a lovely sound, seeing different voices join the track in a call and response way. The chorus will have you dancing and singing along to this indie banger in no time, making it perfect for the upcoming summer months. It’s also quite poppy at times, suiting those into multiple genres.

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Simesky+Fritch – Colour Running Away

British act Simesky+Fritch add more of an 80s vibe to this list, due to the gorgeous synths that run through their new tune, Colour Running Away. The vocals are very distinctive, but they really work with the eccentric feel of the song, adding a little more experimentation to the music. The bass throbs away in the background against the walls of synths, pulsating away in an irresistibly catchy manner. It really is a belter of a tune, designed to suck you in immediately. Try and listen to this without tapping your feet along!

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Starfish64 – Yesterday’s Favourite Smile

Yesterday’s Favourite Smile is a song that builds up over time, with the throbbing bass and high energy drumlines pulling you in straight away. Starfish64 has created a really nice sounding song, seeing the German band’s music drift along in a lovely manner. The vocals are a little quiet at times, but they still sound great when mixed in with the rest of the song, showing just how talented this group is! There’s a lot going on here, so you’ll have to listen to it a few times over to appreciate everything, but that’s not a problem when the track is this good!

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Griffin Robillard – Laws Of Longing (LOL)

Laws Of Longing (LOL) is a track from Griffin Robillard’s new album Big Pisces Energy, showing his style off perfectly. It’s another track with an 80s vibe, featuring a throbbing bassline that simply erupts with energy on this cool tune. The synths add some lovely textures to this tune, as Griffin’s deep vocals create a wonderful atmosphere. It’s very upbeat, and I found it hard not to dance along as I wrote this review! It’s also got quite a post-punk sound, appealing across the board. If you like this track, make sure you get your hands on Big Pisces Energy!

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Code E1 – All Is Fine ‘Til The World Goes Pop

All Is Fine ‘Til The World Goes Pop is the first song on Code E1’s album The Year Of The Bat Cat. It’s also perhaps the most experimental track on this list, but it’s still well worth your time. The synths sound absolutely epic when mixed with the bass and the beat, which pulsates along in a wonderful way. More and more layers are added over time, with some intriguing guitar motifs tailing off every so often, alongside the post-punk style vocal lines. It’s extremely atmospheric as a whole, sounding utterly unlike anything else I’ve heard this year so far!

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Fantasy Sequence – Slow Dagger Confidant

Slow Dagger Confidant is an awesome new tune from Fantasy Sequence, taken from their album, To Lie Awake Alone. It’s another track with an undeniably 80s sound, featuring a slew of fantastic synthlines that get under your skin straight away! The vocals use a lot of effects, which I’m not normally a fan of, but they’re used really well here, adding more to the overall ambiance of the tune. The fast beat collides perfectly with the synths and bass, making for something that will get you shaking your hips in no time!

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Shifty Poles – Avrg Bread Eater

Shifty Poles are fast becoming one of my new favourite bands, and Avrg Bread Eater shows just why! It’s a catchy tune that melds elements of indie, pop, rock and new waves together into one awesome package. The main melody is fairly simplistic and carries throughout the entire tune, but it’s fantastic as it is, making for a proper earworm of a song! The vocals are raw but they’re also highly emotive, creatine a nice tone against the awesome main melody. Just try and listen to this without getting hooked!

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Dreamstereo – Icy Cold

Icy Cold is another song that melds post-punk, indie rock and new wave together, produced by the amazing Texas band, Dreamstereo. The bass is really prominent here, adding a nice backbone against the percussion. The guitars have a cool tone too, aligning well with the main bassline. The vocals are heartfelt and strong, filled with a sense of clarity that envelops you instantly. There’s quite a lot of variation too, as the song sees different guitar riffs tailing off, changing the song up a little. This is another must listen!

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