By Keith Walsh
What better vehicle to address social issues than synthpop? The most technical musical genre is ideal for more than songs about falling in and out of love.
The new single by Richard Evans finds the Manchester-based musical and visual artist commenting on atomic tragedies of the 20th century, proving the point. The hypnotic “Black Rain” starts off with a vocoded repetition of “hibakusha,” the Japanese word for “radiation affected person….In a way, we’re all radiation affected persons now,” says Evans.
The tune, powerful precisely because of its lovely understated approach, is propelled by a beat reminiscent of Kraftwerk, programmed and played on a Roland System 8 and a Korg Wavestate. The sound of the System 8 is one of synthetic, percolating rhythms with an analog flavor, while the Wavestate presents a slick wavetable string sound. Along with synth drums, Evan’s baritone is the only other element on this compelling minimalistic track.
Earth On The Edge
The artist’s concern for the fragile state of life on Earth is evident in his work. He states: “The song reflects on the era of Cold War atmospheric testing that exploded over 600 nuclear weapons, as well as the accidents at Chernobyl and Fukushima, all releasing long-lasting isotopes into the environment”
Evans’ upcoming album Sentinel will feature 8 tunes addressing topics ranging from totalitarianism to the climate crisis, technology and the fate of humanity. Recorded during the COVID crisis and commissioned by Manchester Council, Sentinel is accompanied by ongoing multimedia performances at festivals around England. The single and album were mixed by Hervé Girardin.
I’ve heard the album, and it’s every bit as lovely and understated as “Black Rain.” It’s a worthy successor to earlier electronic pop with dystopian themes. Find out more below.
Do you like your synthpop fun and bubbly, or are politically-charged tunes more to your liking? Comment Below!
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