Synthwave Sunday: September 87, Act I

James Ballard (aka September 87) caught wind of what we’re doing here with Synthwave Sunday and shot us an email with the following qualification: “I was brought up on metal and I reckon some of that vibe has rubbed off on my music now.”

As if we needed to be told. “Ride All Night,” the opening track from September 87’s debut EP Act I — the first of three such acts that will make up an “80’s scifi, action-adventure, romantic blockbuster” — starts off like so much great synthwave tracks do; a pounding beat, buzzsaw bass, searing synths and an insanely memorable hook. But once the distorted lead guitars kick in there’ll be no doubt left in your mind that Mr. Ballard grew up listening to the same Van Halen, Ozzy, GNR and Metallica records we all did! The guitars — played here by Droid Bishop — aren’t as forward in the mix or central to the songs as they are in the music of, say, Myrone, but they’re the most metallic-sounding leads I’ve heard in a synthwave track since (although if any of you have some guitar-centric synthwave suggestions… please send ’em my way! vince[at]metalsucks[dot]net). As metalheads well know, though, technical prowess doesn’t mean shit if you don’t have the songs to back it up, and thankfully September 87 gets it; Act I has hooks for days (and doesn’t rely much on guitar anyway).

September 87 also has the whole backstory thing on lockdown, painting a vivid picture of a Blade Runner-esque dystopian future with a song-by-song narrative. Here’s the series intro and descriptions of the first three tracks from Bandcamp:

The year is 2087. A lot has changed in the preceding hundred years (except the music apparently). Corruption is rife, prisons are crowded, overpopulation has forced humans to scour space for precious resources.

RIDE ALL NIGHT

Curfew has fallen on the megacity of San Kanen. A lone rider cuts a mean figure through the black night: our hero, Roy.

SURVEILLANCE #1

Roy sits with his pal Dom looking out over the city and waxes existential.

MEET ME AT THE DANCE

Roy sneaks into the mansion gardens of the most powerful and corrupt politician in San Kanen. He is looking for someone. Specifically, a daughter of said politician. More specifically, the one named Stella.

Hooked yet? It only gets weirder and more enthralling from there. Listen below to Act I, which came out in July of this year, and wait with bated for Acts II and III to drop some time soon.

Check out September 87 on Bandcamp, Facebook and Soundcloud.