The 2017 album 'Retrowave Is Dead' saw Dreamweaver leaning into darker, more aggressive tones, eschewing the nostalgic elements of earlier work. This collection pushes the boundaries of the genre it purportedly criticizes.
- The album was released on February 2, 2017, by the label Synthetics Records. It was met with mixed reviews, with some critics praising its experimental nature and others finding it a departure from the artist's established sound. The title track, 'Retrowave Is Dead,' is an 11-minute epic that serves as a centerpiece for the album's thematic exploration.
- The recording sessions for "Retrowave Is Dead" took place in a small home studio in Berlin, Germany. Synthetics Records, the label behind the release, is a boutique label known for its focus on underground electronic music. Despite the album's title, retrowave and synthwave continued to gain popularity in the years following its release.
- Dreamweaver, the artist behind the project, stated in a 2017 interview that the album's title was intended as a provocative statement rather than a literal declaration. The album features a guest appearance by the industrial musician [REDACTED], who contributes vocals to the track 'System Shock.' "Retrowave Is Dead" charted at number 42 on the UK Dance Albums Chart in the week of its release.
Dreamweaver is an electronic music project known for its synth-pop and retrowave output. "Retrowave Is Dead" arrived as the artist's fourth album, following a period of increased visibility in the retro-inspired electronic music scene.
Tracklist
