FM Attack ‎– Stellar - 2017 Vancouver Synthwave Synth Pop Electronic - Green Vinyl - Sealed LP

FM Attack ‎– Stellar

Label:
Uniform Recordings ‎– UNILTD001
Format:

Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Aqua Green

Limited Edition of 500 Copies on Aqua Green Vinyl.

Country:
US
Released:
27 Nov 2017
Genre:
Electronic
Style:
Synthwave, Synth-pop, Nu-Disco

Tracklist

A1 Little Angel 5:09
A2 Frozen 4:27
A3 Inner Space 4:23
A4 Images Of You 4:27

B1 Echoes 5:08
B2 Oceans Apart 4:52
B3 Callisto 5:30
B4 Stella 3:34

Notes

Limited Edition of 500 Copies on Aqua Green Vinyl.
Barcode and Other Identifiers

Barcode (Scanned): 061634896377
Barcode (Printed): 0 6163489637 7
Matrix / Runout (Side A+B Stamped): Welcome to 1979
Matrix / Runout (Side A Etched): CƆH HDP1172 A
Matrix / Runout (Side B Etched): CƆH HDP1172 B

" That sound comes through soon enough and in significant quantities, though FM Attack has chosen the album’s airiest and most lighthearted entry to open the recording. “Little Angel” is the kind of minimal, slightly playful composition often found on 2009’s Dreamatic, and FM Attack lays a robotic, droning vocal track over the top with suitably retro results. Despite an inherently likable tone, the uncomplicated design and mildly attractive melody can’t sustain the music for its unnecessary five-minute running time, resulting in an opener that entices but never fully satisfies.

“Little Angel” gives way to the two aforementioned vocal contributions from Mnynms, at which point the album’s downcast tone settles in for the duration. “Frozen” comes first with a brooding atmosphere filled with deep bass notes, twinkling background tones, and a sliding synth melody, setting a faultless backdrop for the luxurious and haunting vocals. The contribution from Mnynms on “Frozen” stands as one of the finest and most notable synthwave singing performances of the year, and it helps the song’s perfectly somber and attractive spirit remain enticing until the end.

Incredibly, the high level of success of “Frozen” is surpassed on the very next track, “Inner Space,” which is easily one of the best synthwave songs of 2017. Each element of of the music is sublime, and FM Attack has brilliantly woven crisp percussion and chime-like background accents together with ghostly synth melodies, subtle guitar chords, and another inspired vocal performance from Mnynms. Individual components advance and withdraw throughout, accenting one another and pulling the listener into a cold and comforting embrace. It’s an absolute gem of synthwave music, and the song single-handedly makes Stellar worth hearing.

Following the tremendous achievement of the two Mnynms collaborations, FM Attack delivers three consecutive vocal performances of his own. “Images of You” takes more of a classic new wave approach, recalling tracks like Flock of Seagulls’ “Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You),” and its rock-oriented rhythm pairs nicely with a deep synth melody. Another deliberate drone on the vocals creates a memorable presence on the album, but sandwiched between the excellence of “Inner Space” and the ensuing “Echoes,” the song turns out to be one of Stellar’s more mundane efforts.

“Echoes” is arguably the best non-Mnynms song on the album. It’s reminiscent of several tracks from Deja Vu, including “Fade Away” and “Corazon,” but with a more pared down, sullen approach. It’s an addictive track with a shimmering and unmistakably sad synth melody, and FM Attack’s humble vocal delivery adds the finishing touch to a superbly understated effort. “Oceans Apart” picks up the desolate tone of “Echoes” and carries it to the most prominent level on the album with a sparse, achingly downtempo structure. The result is a first-rate piece fit for cloudy days and moments of quiet reflection." ( ironskullet)