THE ASTRAL STEREO PROJECT – Farewell To Paradise (2016)
From time to time this blog features some lovely stuff from the new generation of ’80s inspired synthwave, and THE ASTRAL STEREO PROJECT is among the best exponents. We already presented an album a couple years ago, and now 2016 we have a new one titled “Farewell To Paradise“.
The Astral Stereo Project is the brainchild of musician Neil C Holdsworth hailing from Middlesbrough, UK, but his mind lives in Hollywood circa 1984. His music is a descriptor and blueprint for his ’80s ‘action movie’ soundscapes akin The Terminator, Miami Vice, Giorgio Moroder / Jan Hammer works and alike.
The home of The Astral Stereo Project doesn’t have palm tree-lined LA streets or the pastel-brights of Miami to give him inspiration. What Holdsworth lacks in ’80s backdrops, he certainly makes up for in musical inspiration.
Citing greats such as Pino Donaggio (Body Double, Carrie, The Howling soundtracks) and FM Attack, The Astral Stereo Project draws from many different influences, and the result is delicious.
The Astral Stereo Project has produced a number of great concept albums, and “Farewell To Paradise” is a “romantic soundtrack to a late 70s/early 80s European film set somewhere exotic”.
First track ‘Islands’ is a jaunty little number featuring joyful melodies, bittersweet lyrics and punchy percussion. If this doesn’t make you smile, I’m afraid I’m just going to have to tag you, bag you and inform your next of kin.
‘Night Flight Arrival’ is full of classy synths with an almost ’70s style running through in the background. Next track ‘Scirocco’ is full of monumental synth layers, thumping bass, a little heavy breathing and fabulous ’80s chords.
There’s cracking bass on ‘Sheltering Sky’ alongside a very cool beat, and you can hear really beautiful soundtrack-like arrangements in ‘Body Heat’, with soft breathy effects and bright synth melodies.
Title track, and my is one of my favorites on the whole album. ‘Farewell to Paradise’ really puts you in mind of the opening credits of many Eighties TV shows, packed with smartly arranged synths and guitars, and it’s sure to push your nostalgia meter to the max.
The Astral Stereo Project offers variation with ‘A Rose For Annie Belle’, a slight detour from synthwave, but a wonderful one nonetheless. This track put me in mind of those corny, wistful moments in classy cop TV shows. You know, where our law enforcement hero is driving through the night, windows down, moustache gently quivering, and having whimsical flashbacks about his lost colleague. Beautiful guitars on this track.
A little pop pulse kicks off ‘Anything That Moves’ driven by synth stab and slap bass effects. A catchy melody and vocals dripping with ’80s references to movies like “Electric Dreams” or “Videodrome” make this another album favorite.
There’s a really retro vibe in ‘Frivolous Lady’ with its sentimental melody, light-as-air vocals, and an late Seventies vibe. I love how there are so many different genres and subgenres on this release, and how they all tie together so well.
Then ‘Forever Laure’ is a gentle ending song. You can’t help but sway a little to this track, and it’s the perfect closer to an absolutely awe-inspiring synth-driven album.
If you’re in the mood for a synthwave album that has you smiling, swaying, tapping your feet, nodding your head and sighing in reminiscence, new The Astral Stereo Project opus “Farewell To Paradise” accommodates all of your music-based bodily functions perfectly.
I love the ’80s.
01 – Islands
02 – Night Flight Arrival
03 – Scirocco
04 – Sheltering Sky
05 – Body Heat
06 – Farewell to Paradise
07 – A Rose for Annie Belle
08 – Anything That Moves
09 – Frivolous Lady
10 – Forever Laure
Neil C Holdsworth: synths, guitar, vocals, programming
thanks to Rick Shithouse for the words
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