Can We Travel Back?: Ghosts of Miami - Von Kaiser (Album Review)

We can definitely travel back! Von Kaiser delivers a pure blend of melodic summer retro vibes, along with the gritty immersion of a futuristic take into Miami’s cybernetic underworld.

Von Kaiser is back with “Ghosts of Miami” and it really does bring that Miami heat! For a group that has only been around since 2018, they have made a solid statement in the synthwave community for their modern production and moody sounds. The atmosphere in this project is a bit different from their last album “Landline” which takes their signature sounds into wide open spaces. “Ghosts of Miami” is a stylistic view of Florida’s retro metropolis that splits between the notion of nostalgia, and futuristic in it’s overall tone. A great soundtrack for those long coastal drives in the hot summer.

The first couple tracks of the album really sets the scene of pure nostalgia. Tracks like “Wavelengths” and “J O I” are long, groovy, and keep a solid tempo. While tracks like “Hypersleep” and “When We Were Young” are more dramatic in tone and lyrically complex that drives the album into a pseudo-story; a roller coaster ride if you will. The coaster has its ups and downs, and a few bumps but it’s enjoyable. There’s even a vaporwave/lofi track right in the middle for a good intermission called “A Q U A M A R I N E” and it’s very vibrant and bassy. Right after that, we take a quick trip into space with “Shadows On Mars” which sounds like a mix of a space launch that happens right int he middle of Ocean Drive; and it sounds amazing!

The album closes out with some more melodic tunes like “Sorry In Advance” and “Escape From LA” which really drives the album home. The closure track “Misery City Skyline” really sticks into over drive as you head out into the Miami sunset. Veterans in the synthwave community will heavily enjoy “Ghosts of Miami” for it’s variety in sounds. Definitely the kind of music you can relax too; whether you’re in middle of downtown Detroit, or cruising down Hollywood Boulevard in California or Florida for that matter. It’s a well produced album, and a lot of time has been put into these tracks and it shows. Highly recommend if you want some groovy summer tunes!

Synth Zone Score: 7/10

Buy the album here: https://vonkaiser.bandcamp.com/album/ghosts-of-miami

Rocking Roxi Is Back!: Electric Heart - Roxi Drive

Rocking Roxi is back, and her production has never been greater! Bringing you the grooves of traditional synthwave, and keeping the rebel vibes alive!

Pop goddess Roxi Drive delivers again with her latest album “Electric Heart” and it will absolutely win your heart over! Going back into the traditional synthwave formula of pop/dance tunes that keeps you moving in your legwarmers. Imitating similar sounds of early 80’s pop queens like Madonna, Pat Benatar, Laura Branigan, just to name a few. Roxi Drive’s signature sound is highly distinguished for capturing the image of a valley girl living that Rockstar lifestyle. Lyrically driven and motiving in her tone, simply beautiful and compelling. Roxi once again gives those deep ‘living in the moment’ vibes in this latest project. These are definitely tunes designed with an audience in mind, because you can envision crowds rocking out to these songs.

The album starts off with a few heavy pop tunes like “Electricity” and “All My Dreams” which are great beach time summer songs. Then Roxi comes in with “Breakdown” and “Breathe You” that can be define as modern synth head-bopping tunes. As you start feeling the momentum of this album, we dive right into Rockstar Roxi with “Lost in the Game,” “Hot Night,” and “Running Away” just great rebellion tracks with heavy guitar riffs! Concluding the album with some nostalgic driving hits like “Night Waves” and of course “Automatic” for those late-night drivers out there. Roxi Drive isn’t shy about remixes or reworks by her synthwave colleagues, so we are treated with a rework of “Electricity” by Diamond Field at the very end.

Overall, another solid performance by Roxi Drive with some the best production yet! Roxi has also expressed some difficulties upon releasing the album on her social media pages, but it didn’t’ seem to be to much of a delay. She’s one of the most influential female synthwave artist today and delivers great pop/rock anthems that reflect the 80’s very well. “Electric Heart” is worth a listen and a great album to add to your vinyl or cassette collection whenever they become available. She’s soulfully beautiful inside and out, keeping the reflection of her neon dystopia well lit.

Synth Zone Score: 8/10

Buy The Album Here: https://roxidrive.bandcamp.com/album/electric-heart