Here are my favorite songs of the month in synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and adjacent genres. If you want to follow my music discovery this year, subscribe to my 2024 playlist on Spotify. New songs are added every Friday. Sort by “Date Added” to see new tracks appear at the top of the playlist.
10. Plague Pits – “Binary Stars”
“Binary Stars” opens Bukolik, the new album from Swiss collective Plague Pits, with vintage charm. Aiming straight for Cold War-era coldwave, the track features modular synths, a Vince Clarke-esque piano line, and starburst effects that perfectly capture its cosmic theme.
9. Glass Spells – “Without You”
California’s Glass Spells previously dabbled in synthwave on songs like “Shattered.” “Without You,” from their new album Crystals, leans heavily into Italo disco sounds that are so hot right now in the underground synthpop scene. The song’s built on a rhythmic beat, and stabbing electronic noises introduce Tania Costello’s reverberating, infectious vocals.
8. Vintage Voltage – “Remain the Same”
Mystery project Vintage Voltage returns with sophomore single “Remain the Same.” While the song’s lyrics may not be as immediately catchy as “I Hate to Love You,” its more complex structure demonstrates the duo’s range and achieves a danceable yet melancholic electronic sound that continues to build the band’s intrigue.
7. TR/ST – “All At Once”
The dark electronic pop project TR/ST is teasing a new album called Performance, set for release on September 13. We’ve already heard a few tracks from the album, including “Soon” and “The Shore.” On “All At Once,” TR/ST retains his dark, moody style and his signature nasal delivery. But the music and lyrics feel less chaotic, as if he’s shifting toward a more accessible sound.
6. Vogon Poetry + SCALA – “Immortals”
Earlier this year, the Swedish bands Vogon Poetry and SCALA joined forces for an enchanting track called “Hope of Heading Home.” This collaboration was just a preview of what’s to come. The Vogons and SCALA have now released an entire EP centered around a homeward theme. Opening track “Immortals” sets the scene with effervescent charm and evocative lyrics that hint at conflict.
5. PART2 – “Bound to Afar”
Underrated Swedish trio PART2 has already impressed this year with a deeply elegant track called “Feels Like Home,” my No. 1 song in May. Their follow-up single, “Bound to Afar,” continues to highlight the band’s talent for combining classic melodies with gorgeous vocals and sentimental lyrics.
4. Blutengel feat. Solar Fake – “Nothing Left”
This is one of those team-ups for the ages. Blutengel’s Chris Pohl and Solar Fake’s Sven Friedrich, two iconic figures of the dark music scene, join forces for a rousing anthem about depression and isolation. There’s something profoundly cathartic about these two flawless individuals expressing in harmony what it feels like to suffer alone.
3. Ashbury Heights feat. Ulrike Goldmann – “A Lifetime in the Service of Darkness”
Ashbury Heights has been teasing Ghost House Sessions since 2020. It’s finally here. Prior to the album’s release, they treated us to one more single that’s a blast of high-energy fun and a tribute to the dark circles they inhabit. Like many of the pre-release singles from Ghost House Sessions, “A Lifetime in the Service of Darkness” features a guest vocalist. Blutengel’s Ulrike Goldmann delivers a stirring duet with Ashbury Heights’ Anders Hagström.
2. CHROM – “Paralysed”
CHROM is back. We haven’t heard from the German project since their 2016 album, Peak and Decay. New single “Paralysed” stays true to the band’s signature style of pounding beats and melodic electro. But it’s the lovely, unmistakeable voice of Christian Marquis that we missed most of all.
1. Future Lied to Us – “Code”
Synthpop supergroup Future Lied to Us makes a dramatic return with their first new music in two years by completely upending expectations. “Code” shifts away from the classic elegance of previous single “Fly Away,” incorporating breathy spoken word vocals somewhat reminiscent of mind.in.a.box. What truly sets “Code” apart is its seismic rave explosion that evokes the raw energy of an after-hours warehouse party.
