Saturday, December 14, 2024

Silent Daze - Invader


On its excellent debut album, Bulgarian synth-pop duo Silent Daze conceives a sound that's inspired by the '80s yet also quite modern and progressive. Invader is now available digitally from Girlsville, and a physical release on cassette will be out in early 2025. Ketty Marinova and Andrew Anderson (Freak Genes, Proto Idiot) are the formidable talents behind this band. The Cold War vibes and new wave, post-punk, dance-pop, and classic alternative influences are undeniable. But this is no retro trip. Anderson, a favorite of this blog, has long shown a flair for producing music that's original and wonderfully weird but always catchy and hook-laden. He and Marinova are definitely kindred musical spirts, and they have delivered something bold and exceptional with Invader. Yes, this is synth-pop. But it's not trying to sound like any synth-pop band you could name. Instead, there's this vague feeling you'll get from these songs — like you're peering behind The Iron Curtain circa the mid-'80s, but then four decades passed in the blink of an eye, and whatever gloom was in the air intensified to dystopian levels. Invader may take a few listens to fully sink in, but it's well worth your precious time and hard-earned cash.

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