Coldwave/Synth charts

Review: Disco heads are considered Modern Talking's 1985 maxi-single 'You Can Win If You Want' a classic for many years. It's textbook Scandi synth-pop from the group that contained producer and songwriter Dieter Bohlen, vocalist Thomas Anders and various other guest members during the 80s. The group put out some 13 albums but this one was always the standout. The original comes as a Special Dance Version and Instrumental while 'One In A Million' is also included on the flip for extra dance floor fun. This superb reissue comes on luxurious gold vinyl making it even more special.

Review: 'Don't Worry' is a classic song by Modern Talking, the German duo of Dieter Bohlen and Thomas Anders which was released in 1987 as part of their fifth album, 'Romantic Warriors'. The song features the signature sound of the acclaimed duo, with catchy synth melodies, disco beats and harmonised vocals. The song is a classic example of the Euro disco genre that the West Berlin duo popularised in the 80s and has certainly stood the test of time.

Review: Modern Talking is the German duo of Dieter Bohlen and Thomas Anders - hit making disco artists from the 1980s who penned plenty of seminal tracks, many of which are in the process of being reissued now. 'In 100 Years' comes on limited and hand numbered 180 gram silver marble vinyl courtesy of Music On Vinyl. UP first is the long version of the single - a crashing and foot-stomping maximal disco workout with withering sci-fi effects and a heartbroken vocal. On the flip you'll find the track split into two equally dramatic parts.

Review: Savage Garden's Darren Hayes returned from the wilderness in 2022 after a hiatus of almost ten years. During that time, he tried his hand at stand up comedy, kept a social media presence in the form of shared videos featuring him bursting into song, and evidently spent a fair amount of time recharging. After all, you don't make albums with the energy of Homosexual, the comeback piece, if you're running on empty.
Let's Try Being In Love was the first single taken from that, and in many ways the whole package is more about message than music - a guy publicly celebrating his sexuality and marriage after spending a very long time not feeling ready to do so, during a period in which he was a bonafide global pop star. Here said track appears in both 12" extended form and a Louis La Roche mix, both of which are made for chugging dancefloors, filtered tracking synths firing on all cylinders and an overall sense of self.

Review: German duo Modern Talking's debut album, the helpfully titled The 1st Album, was a runaway success in Europe in 1985, so label Hansa - who played a big part in their creation - sent them back in the studio straight away to record a follow-up. Squarely aimed at the band's teen girl fan base, 'Let's Talk About Love: The Second Album' added even more layers of big studio polish and FM synth sounds - with a dash of Fairlight CMI trickery thrown in - to their chart-bothering blend of synthpop, Euro-disco and power-pop. It remains one of their strongest moments, as this surprise audiophile-friendly reissue proves. It comes pressed to translucent blue vinyl, making the release particularly alluring for fans and newcomers alike.

Review: Modern Talking is the German pair consisting of Thomas Anders and Dieter Bohlen who were rather prolific back in the 80s and beyond. There has been a revived interest in their music of late and for that reason much of it is being reissued, including this new, limited edition and nice heavyweight 12" edition of 'Give Me Peace On Earth.' It's a three track disco odyssey that starts with the sentimental and syrupy sweet vocals of the title track, which is doused in loved up 80s chords. 'Stranded In The Middle Of Nowhere' is just as devastatingly heart broken with its slow, crashing drums and yearning vocals then bonus cut 'Sweet Little Sheila' picks up the pace for a lively dance floor disco workout.

Review: Hugely successful German disco duo Thomas Anders and Dieter Bohlen are Modern Talking, and they made lots of sentimental as well dance floor-ready disco sounds back in the 80s. Much of it is being reissued by the behemoth that is Music On Vinyl and next is a limited edition marble red and blue vinyl version of this three-track 12". There is a campness to this which fans of the likes of Erasure are sure to enjoy - 'Jet Airliner# (Fasten Seat Belt mix) has big 80s drum sounds and glistening synths while the vocals drown in reverb. The instrumental is a little more clean though the drums and arps still make for a big impact and the radio version is also included to close.

Review: Modern Talking was one of the most successful German disco-pop acts of all time. It's an alias for writers, composers, producers and vocalists Thomas Anders and Dieter Bohlen and they put out a busy run of music back in the 80s that is reconnecting today with modern audiences. As such much of it is being made available again thanks to the Music On Vinyl label, and on various different coloured slabs of wax, no less. 'Lonely Tears In Chinatown' has all the playful pomp and campness of a Eurovision song winner with its big synth stabs and cold drum machine grooves. 'Give Me Peace On Earth' is an over-the-top ballad that drowns you in more 80s nostalgia.

Review: On his first album since signing with Ninja Tune offshoot Counter Records (his fourth in total), Roosevelt has tweaked both his working methods and the specifics of his songs and music. Embrace was recorded "on the road", with the Cologne-raised artist setting up his portable studio in a variety of cities, while the music itself combines a greater reliance on "80s disco basslines" (Gwen Guthrie's work with Sly and Robbie being an obvious touch point) and surprisingly honest lyrics that detail his feelings of alienation. In truth, it's not a huge departure - his glossy, wide-eyed take on electronic pop has always included nods to electrofunk, vintage synth-pop, nu-disco and contemporary dance-pop - but given the alluring nature of his sound, that's no bad thing.

Review: The legendary DMX Krew is as accomplished as they come when talking about electro innovators. Each time he steps out he proves that and this new one proves it, quite knowingly so given the title. The title track 'Still Got It' is a stomping electro sizzler with lashing of disco goodness and a catchy vocal hook. The dub fleshes out the low end while 'Paranoia' picks up the pace on the flip. It's a high speed cut with dazzling melodic sequences riding up and down the scale. Cold then shuts down with boogie energy and more lush Casino keys.