The rise of retrosynth (or as some call it “futuresynth”) has been rather amazing. It’s a celebration of the aesthetics and the glory of the 80’s, all while utilizing modern advancements in technology and instrumentation to create something fresh and exciting.
A big name in the genre is, of course, Gunship, who are releasing their self-titled album on picture disc vinyl that we’re presenting. And to celebrate this upcoming release (pre-order your copy here), I’ve gathered six amazing music videos from retrosynth artists that will surely convince you to love this genre and their video as much as I do!
If you want to dig deeper into the rabbit hole that is retro/futuresynth, I really suggest heading on over to r/futuresynth and checking out everything they post. Some damn fine stuff over there!
Gunship – “Tech Noir”
I’m going to post this one right away in honor of the picture disc AND because it’s one helluva video! Directed by Lee Hardcastle, who directed the “T is for Toilet” segment in The ABC’s of Death, the video shows a claymation character who can use VHS tapes to morph into various iconic movie personas, such as Robocop, Rocky, and a Care Bear (trust me, it makes sense). Using that as it’s foundation, it becomes a chase for the character to save his love.
If you want ridiculous over-the-top gore and catchy music, this video has all that and more. Plus, the opening narration is John Carpenter. That alone should be enough to draw some interest!
Carpenter Brut – “Turbo Killer”
Holy fuck. This may be my favorite video of 2016 and we’ve still got over half the year to go!
The storyline here, if I’m correct, is that an alien spaceship comes to Earth to rescue one of the own kind, who is being held by some rather nefarious looking men (who also happen to be driving some kickass luxury vehicles). In order to save their friend, one of the aliens has to take control of another alien, who essentially is a car inCARnate! HA! …I’ll see myself out.
ANYWAYS! What ensues is a badass car chase that sees everyone driving on the side of the spaceship!
Expertly directed and crafted, this video has been making waves since its release and for very good reason! Just watch it and you’ll see why.
David Hasselhoff – “True Survivor”
This song may have been a marketing ploy for the parody/satire short film Kung Fury but it took on its own life and has since gained nearly 23 MILLION views! Yes, it’s essentially a ton of clips from the film but it’s also got David Hasselhoff just being a goddamn badass. Plus, it’s one of the most ridiculous videos you’ll ever see and it warrants a place on this list just for that.
Perturbator – “She is Young, She is Beautiful, She is Next”
Here we see a retrosynth video embracing not only the musical styles of the 80’s but also paying homage to the look of old-school video games.
The only way I can think to describe this video is by saying that it’s a journey from a safe place to the final boss battle of some cyberpunk-inspired sci-fi/fantasy RPG. With countless little nods to sci-fi, horror, and fantasy films and games, this video is right up the alley for anyone who wants to play, “Can you spot them all?”
Kavinsky – “Protovision”
A car chase through the streets, alleys, and bridges of Los Angeles, this video exudes a seedy quality and has a twist ending that hearkens back to The Terminator. There’s not much else to say but it’s worth checking out!
John Carpenter – “Night”
When the master himself releases a video, you put it on the list. There’s simply no way you can’t. Plus, it’s the kind of story that sits perfectly in the Carpenter cinematic universe.
The video shows John Carpenter using VR technology to “take over” a faceless, futuristic driver who makes his way through the night streets of Los Angeles. The video ends with Carpenter’s driver entering a parking garage and standing in front of another futuristic persona. Both draw weapons and…
What I love about this video is that it takes that gritty yet subdued air of the song and doesn’t go overboard with the visuals. Everything fits together wonderfully.