See Thomas Howl - Dead Again


(Retro Synth Records 2018)

I am often frustrated by the subdivision of synthwave into the rival camps of Neon Sunset 1985 and Satanic Skrillex. Is this really all anyone has to say? So I am increasingly attracted to albums that avoid the cliches. For that reason, I was happy to see that See Thomas Howl's debut album, Dead Again, follows a different path--it's own. 



Dead Again is space synth, but not the way Syntax or Stilz are. It doesn't really sound like either of them. But like Syntax, it avoids the sound cliches of the genre, from gated reverb snares and twinkling bells (Neon Sunset 1985) to heavily modulated bass and metal guitar riffs played with a synth lead (Satanic Skrillex). In some ways, Dead Again reminds me more of '90s music that used vintage '80s synths than it does synthwave. There are modular-style arpeggios, thin, IDM-style pads and a very different harmonic vocabulary than you typically find in our genre. And the production quality is quite good. It is clean, clear, and not too loud.

Some of the tracks are fantastic. My favorite is the title track "Dead Again," which embodies that '90s-version-of-'80s-vintage aesthetic. It is full of emotion and highly evocative. "Robots Executed" has a sort of chillwave-goes-cyberpunk vibe to it. The arpeggios are infectious, and the track has a lovely, languid beat underneath. My other favorite is "Hard Candy," which goes in many unexpected directions and features some fantastic syncopation. 

The later songs on the album aren't as strong, in my opinion. "Diss Droid" has lots of great ideas, but they don't really gel. I found "Skateboarder Meets Ghost Boy" a bit tedious, while "Crashing Cortex" gets a bit noodley for my tastes.

Taken as a whole, though, Dead Again is a very creative and impressive debut album.

Score: 8.5

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