FiXT Music [Release date 25.05.23]
Presenting ‘New to GRTR!’ each week for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio I have become aware of the increasing number of bands combining electronica and rock. I have to say the FiXT label has much to answer for (in a good way).
Fury Weekend is essentially Belarus-based Ars Nikonov and on this album he’s combined forces with a number of different artists working in the synthwave/alt-rock/electronica genre. It all hangs together well.
If you like retro eighties sounds with the synth all powerful, great rhythms, and the occasional rock guitar, this is for you. And before you hesitate, it’s actually very soulful and instantly likeable.
The opener ‘Delirious’, a former station power play, hooks you right in and could have been a Johnny Hates Jazz outtake. It features label mates The Anix.
Hot on its heels is ‘Dangerous’ featuring PRIZM and a female vocal, very synth-wavey and very cool.
Next up ‘Soul Survivor’ (with synth-pop legend Ollie Wride) is funky with Prince-like undertones but a really good chorus too.
At times the album evokes some sub-Terminator soundtrack fused with Enigma (remember them?) And there may be read across because Enigma’s Michael Cretu produced the German artist Sandra who is represented here with ‘Maria Magdalena’. This time it’s interpreted by King Protea, with a synth-pop female vocal. It has a rather appealing vibe.
There’s an indie vibe on ‘Sad Boy’ (featuring Nouveau Arcade) that brings to mind a lighter Depeche Mode whilst ‘Dancing Tonight’ (featuring Maxthor) reminds of Go West and that great vocalist Peter Cox. ‘Velvet Rain’ is another powerful track, this time with the metal band Ravdina.
A couple of instrumentals are worthy too which gives Nikonov free rein, ‘Lady Cocktail’ and closer ‘Into The Utopia’ likely to appeal to fans of cult band The Midnight.
Mostly the album transcends the usual clichés that sometimes affect synth-pop music and synthwave in general. This can be your new guilty pleasure. The summer never sounded so good. *****
Review by David Randall
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
