Next Wave and Nostalgia: Channeling New Wave

[drsevrin]

If you’re like me, you’ve noticed that music and memory combine in the strangest of ways. Of all the Next Wave bands I’ve heard, only one has had this most bizarre effect on me. <B>Faith Assembly</B>, an active and talented Next Wave synthpop band, has had the singularly odd effect of making me swear I’m back in the 80’s hearing them for the first time, real time. To me, they have so effectively captured and embellished the timeless aspect of 80’s synthpop sound that I completely forget the music was penned in the 90’s or 00’s. It’s a weird and unsettling feeling – as though they’ve somehow transcended time and locked into and perfectly channeled the energy and spirit of the original 80’s synthpop sound. Even the album artwork affects me in this way.

I’ve plugged these guys before but haven’t heard much at all on the board about them. Has anyone else had an experience similar to this with a Next Wave band?? I know that's why it's called "Next Wave", but my response to Faith Assembly's music is unique. Some might say Editors have this effect.

Some tracks in particular (iTunes has them): Denial (Resurrection mix) (especially), Crash and Burn, Off the Highwire, Pool of Tears, Cascade.

Blir, anyone??

[Frau_Blucher]

Well their Ghosts I Have Been album cover instantly reminded me of Slow Children's Mad About Town's. And you're right that their style is probably the most uncannily new wave today - Yaz meets early Depeche Mode maybe? But it's almost TOO new wave. There's almost too little that's new to hook me. Either that or they just haven't penned enough decent songs to draw me in personally. There's that uniquely personal impact of music for ya.

Edit: oops, to your question...

I'm sure I've nauseated more than a few with my oft-mentioned British Sea Power. More in the Bunnymen/Chameleons mold than synthy. They've defintely captured my imagination ala an 80s band but not necessarily with an uncanny reproduction of the sound but more of a feel, whatever that means. On the synthier side but to a lesser degree, Metric is kinda in that same vein. The Mary Onettes staying power with me remains to be seen - if they're truly great pop in their own rite or pastiche, I don't know yet, but some of that weird timeless 80s feel for sure.

[djcraig]

Checked them out on iTunes. Kind of liked "Pool Of Tears" and "Crash and Burn (Fahrenheit Mix)".

The rest of what I sampled I didn't find too compelling. Nothing Depeche hasn't already done.

<a href="http://www.djcraig.net/los_angeles_dj">DJ Craig</a>

[drsevrin]

Thanks for the responses. The more I think about it you may be right, Blir, about the TOO new wave comment. Still, I find their sound compelling - maybe it's how well they've captured the spirit of the early synthpop period even while updating the actual synth sounds all the same. Stylistically, I'm drawn to their overall production - the art, samples, everything. Touched a nerve, or a memory, I guess. Point taken, djcraig, about DM.