UPDATE
The Progress Productions 100 compilation is out today. You can purchase a physical copy and find it on Spotify.
Of particular note, it features a lovely new song from Unroyal called “The Cruelest Design.” Unroyal is one of the best new artists in synthpop, and their debut album, Mainstream, was number four on my list of the best synthpop albums of 2019.
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If you love Swedish synthpop as much as I do, you are no doubt familiar with the outstanding record label Progress Productions. They’ve introduced me to many of my favorite artists, including Kite and Agent Side Grinder.
Progress started in 2004, and this year they’re planning to release their 100th CD, a compilation featuring some of the biggest names in the Swedish synth scene.
Progress 100 consists of 45 tracks of previously unreleased and new material from acts such as Agent Side Grinder, Henric de la Cour, Cryo, Spark!, Code 64, and many more. I am particularly excited about a new song from Unroyal, whose fantastic debut album was not on the Progress roster. It remains to be seen if they’ve joined the label.
The 3-CD comp is out on August 21. There’s no word if this will get a digital release, so I’m planning to order the physical CD just to be safe. You can order Progress 100 here.
Check out that incredible tracklisting:
CD1
01. HEARTS OF BLACK SCIENCE “SERVANT” *
02. AGENT SIDE GRINDER “INNER NOISES” (ASH CODE REMIX) *
03. XENTURION PRIME “DARKTIDE” *
04. NECRO FACILITY “YOU WANT IT” (B-SIDE 11 REMIX) *
05. LUCIFER’S AID “STEP BACK” *
06. IAMBIA “COLD HARD WAR” *
07. DUPONT “TIME TO GO HOME” *
08. T.O.Y. “SILENT SOLDIERS”
09. WHITE BIRCHES “SOMEBODY TO LOVE” *
10. SEVEN TREES “VEINS OF CHARCOAL” *
11. KROPP “DIN HALS” *
12. NATTSKIFTET “ASFALT” *
13. 8kHz MONO “INFANT MIND” *
14. DNR & DO “MANDALADEFEKTEN” *
15. COSMIC OVERDOSE “MODERNA DADAISTER” (HÅKAN LIDBO REMIX) **
CD2
01. THE NEW DIVISION “DREAMS ARE MADE” *
02. KENNELKLUBBEN “SPRUCKET SKAL” (VERSION 1.0) *
03. CRYO “JUDGE JUDY ADJOURNED” *
04. CULTIVATED BIMBO “DR PENETRATION” (DECORATED 2020) *
05. CHILDREN WITHIN “DANCE OF THE STARS” (2020 MIX) *
06. DAILY PLANET “AFRAID” (2020 MIX) *
07. SAFT “FÖRLORARE I MASKOPI” *
08. RED CELL “DANCING WITH TEARS IN MY EYES” *
09. NEED FOR SPEED “THE FINE DETAIL” **
10. SPARK! “I KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON” *
11. JOHAN BAECKSTRÖM “FIX YOU” *
12. MR JONES MACHINE “SAVE YOUR WORDS” *
13. VANLIGT FOLK “IDIOTER AV FÖRSAMLINGEN” ***
14. ANGST “TA BORT” **
15. MHMH “FENTANYL” *
CD3
01. HENRIC DE LA COUR “DRUG, I MISS YOU” *
02. UNROYAL “THE CRUELEST DESIGN” *
03. KAPITALET “EN FÖRLORAD VÄRLD” (XENTURION PRIME REMIX) *
04. WHITE DOOR “SIMPLY MAGNIFICENT” (EXTENDED) *
05. HYPE “WE FEEL GOOD” *
06. TITANS “KNOW THE SCORE” *
07. CODE 64 “GUARDIAN” (2020 MIX) *
08. DELAYKLINIKEN “THE LEAP” (FEAT. IRIS) *
09. SCAPA FLOW “THE WAY WE WALK” (OVERFLOW VERSION) ****
10. NEXUS KENOSIS “CONTACT/DOWNLOAD” (FEAT. LABANNA BABALON) **
11. SYSTEM “MÄNSKLIG FÖRÄDLING” *
12. MARTIN SKÖLD “CADENS” ***
13. RA “OCEANS” (DÖDEN REMIX) **
14. THE KINGDOM OF EVOL “LIVING FOR TODAY”
15. HAUL “I WON’T FORGET” *
* PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
** PREVIOUSLY ONLY RELEASED DIGITAL
*** PREVIOUSLY ONLY RELEASED ON VINYL
**** TAKEN FROM THE ORIGINAL DEMOTAPE “OVERFLOW”
