I was just perusing the forum and saw someone’s post asking about sound design for a specific song from a specific band (Broadcast - America’s boy). I hadn’t heard of them before and liked what I heard but that got me thinking. I have my finger on the pulse of what’s happening in dance music within the specific genres that I like but I haven’t really been keeping up with or diving into old discogs of bands.
So I was curious if you guys had some good music recommendations of bands that are synth-centric, in particular if there’s anything similar to the French band: Air. I absolutely love most of Air’s work, I hold up Talkie Walkie as one of my favorite albums of all time, desert island material. I love how they intertwined electronic and acoustic, my favorite band of all time is Radiohead and they often blend acoustic and electric similarly but in their own way of course.
Obviously both Radiohead and Air have their own specific sound which are both brilliant in different ways. I’m not necessarily looking for bands that sound like either one of them but more looking for suggestions of “if you like this, you’ll probably like this too” kind of thing.
So what other bands do you guys think I might like that are heavily synth based irregardless of genre
Hi there. I can highly recommend Zero 7 in the same laid back electronic genre as Air. Love their albums.
Also Thievery Corporation and Morcheeba could be something for you. For some more dark sound give Massive Attack and Portishead a listen.
Hope you enjoy it.
Air are a wonderful band and make a wonderful mix of influences sound natural so you’ll probably have to dip into different pockets.
Broadcast are one of the greatest bands ever but the early stuff is a bit less synthy but just as brilliant.
I think peering into the 60s and 70s is your best bet to get similar vibes. A lot of brilliant records to get caught up in. Especially the bass lines. So much great chilled out soul stuff.
Otherwise:
Histoire de Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg
and
Song of Innocence by David Axelrod
have similar vibes to me somehow but aren’t necessarily similar.
In modern times The Avalanches’ recent records (obviously Since I Left You is the masterpiece but the new ones are lovely and quieter).
The Octopus Project are also a nice one to dip into.
Person Pitch by Panda Bear is another dreamy masterpiece that fits some of the same joys.
Also for the synthy things bands like Neu! and other early electronic artists.
If it’s the vocal parts of Moon Safari you like then Jessica Pratt is 100% worth checking out as she has a very similar vibe. But no synths there.
And if you’re into the loungey stuff another of my current heroes, Molly Lewis (the whistler) is perfect to sink into. I’d imagine she’d have done the whistling on that Talkie Walkie single if she were around at the time. But her stuff is far more than catchy melodies it’s beautiful atmospheric lounge with virtuosic whistling.
Always looking for a chance to recommend Stereolab. It’s got some of the lounge aspects of Air and some of the more experimental sounds of Broadcast. The albums Emporor Tomato Ketchup and Mars Audiac Quintet are a good place to start.
If you like AIR Perhaps you also like: The whitest boy alive? Another option would be Fred Falke. He’s is not a band but maybe you would like his stuff.
I always loved the Supermigration album by Solar Bears and it has a definite AIR vibe to it. Not least as it features one of Moon Safari’s vocalists on one track.
Hey! I think that Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltages in the Milky Night is as good as those three but seems to get passed up a lot. Gotta be because of the long title and also because it kinda retreads a lot of the same ground. Very “smooth” sounding i.e. a little over produced compared to Mars or Tomato. Definitely quality though, and I group it along with the others.
Another option would be Aluminum Tunes which is a compilation of EPs and B-sides from around that time. Might be a bit more interesting if you get bored of the other sound.
Love the Avalanches, Panda Bear, and Neu by the way, and I’m going to check out your other recommendations.
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