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Think of synthwave less as a music genre and more as a time machine with a killer sound system. You’ve just been transported to a 1980s that never quite existed, but feels totally awesome and vaguely familiar. It’s the epic soundtrack to a forgotten action movie, full of high-speed chases, neon-drenched cityscapes, and at least one training montage. This is the audio equivalent of putting on a pair of Oakley Blades and jacking into the grid. We’re here to load up your cyber-deck with the essential programs you need to get started.
The synthwave rabbit hole goes deep, branching out from its mid-2000s origins into everything from aggressive darksynth to dreamy, chilled-out vibes. Making sense of it all can feel like you’ve been dropped into a new level without the tutorial. That’s where this list comes in. Consider it your official starter pack for the retro-future. These albums are the foundational code, the essential cheat sheets that will get you cruising down the digital highway in no time.
If you’ve ever dreamt of cruising down a neon-soaked highway at midnight, these albums are your holy texts. Kavinsky’s album, literally titled Outrun, is basically the genre’s founding document, a concept album about a dude who dies in a car crash and comes back as a ghost who drives a Ferrari. Yes, really, that’s the plot. His track “Nightcall” famously blew up thanks to the movie Drive, becoming the unofficial anthem for staring moodily out of a car window. This album single-handedly defined the high-energy, cinematic sound that makes you feel like the main character in an 80s action flick.
You can’t talk about the foundational outrun sound without giving a massive shout-out to Lazerhawk’s Redline. This album feels like it was ripped straight from a forgotten Sega Genesis cartridge, full of pulsing basslines and soaring synth leads that practically demand you find the nearest arcade. It’s pure, unfiltered energy that makes you want to race a spaceship through an asteroid field or punch a robot in its metallic face. Artists like Mitch Murder also perfected the sound with albums that felt like the background music to the coolest video game you never got to play, establishing the core DNA for countless artists to follow.
If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a trench-coated detective hunting replicants in a downpour, Perturbator’s The Uncanny Valley is your holy grail. This album practically defines the modern darksynth sound, dropping you into a world of gritty megacities and malfunctioning cybernetics. Every track feels like a different scene, from a high-speed chase through neon-lit tunnels to a showdown with a rogue AI. It’s less about chill vibes and more about that feeling you get when the final boss has a second health bar.
For a soundtrack that cranks the aggression up to eleven, you have to grab Carpenter Brut’s Trilogy. This collection is the sonic equivalent of a leather-clad cyborg kicking down a door with a shotgun. It blends horror movie synths with an almost heavy metal energy, creating a high-octane experience that never lets up. You can basically hear the explosions and cheesy one-liners just by listening, making it the perfect album for when you need to fight your way out of a futuristic super-prison.
Stepping into a slightly different corner of the cyberpunk city, Mega Drive’s 198XAD offers a more atmospheric and menacing vibe. Instead of non-stop action, this album is the sound of sneaking through corrupted data streams and uncovering corporate conspiracies. The beats are heavy and industrial, creating a sense of dread and technological decay that feels straight out of a classic sci-fi film. Think of it as the soundtrack for the stealth level of your favorite retro game, perfect for late-night coding or just brooding.
You can’t talk about sunset vibes without bowing down to the master, Timecop1983, and his album Journeys. This record is the audio equivalent of finding a faded Polaroid from a perfect beach day in the pocket of your old jean jacket. You’ll find lush, atmospheric synths that feel like a warm hug from a forgotten childhood memory. There are no high-speed chases here; this is the soundtrack for the end credits rolling as the hero drives off into the horizon. It’s pure, distilled nostalgia that makes you miss a decade you might not have even lived in.
For something with a bit more vocal power, you absolutely have to crank up The Midnight’s Endless Summer. This album is legendary for a reason, packing in anthemic tracks and that glorious, wailing saxophone you crave. Seriously, the sax on tracks like “Vampires” has main character energy and could probably defeat a whole gang of 80s movie bullies by itself. It’s the ultimate feel-good record, perfect for when you want to feel like the star of your own teen romance flick. You’ll be singing along by the second chorus, guaranteed.
Another essential entry in your dreamwave collection is FM-84’s masterpiece, Atlas. This album feels like discovering the perfect mixtape for a late-night drive along the coast. Featuring collaborations with artists like Ollie Wride, the tracks have an epic, cinematic quality that just hits different. Put on “Running in the Night” and you’ll immediately feel the urge to wear a leather jacket and stare wistfully at neon signs. It’s the peak of feel-good, atmospheric synthwave that perfectly captures that hopeful, sun-faded feeling.
You’ve now officially completed your synthwave starter pack and are ready to cruise off into the digital sunset. Think of these albums as your first car in a cosmic arcade racer. They’re reliable, iconic, and will absolutely get you where you need to go. This playlist is your key to the Grid, but the journey has only just begun. Consider this your tutorial level, because a whole universe of neon-drenched sound awaits you.
Your next quest is to jump into the rabbit hole of synthwave’s many subgenres, which is where the real fun begins. Are you feeling like a brooding anti-hero in a dystopian city? Darksynth is your soundtrack. Maybe you’re more into a chill, nostalgic vibe perfect for staring out a rain-streaked window? Dreamwave has you covered. From the high-octane chases of outrun to the cosmic voyages of scifiwave, there’s a flavor for every mood.
Don’t be afraid to get lost in the algorithm or follow a random recommendation down a strange, synthesized path. That’s how you’ll find the hidden gems and the artists who will define your personal synthwave experience. So crank up the volume, grab your sunglasses (even if it’s nighttime), and keep exploring. The future is retro, and it sounds absolutely amazing.
Think of it as the epic soundtrack to a blockbuster 80s movie that was never actually made. It’s the audio equivalent of putting on a pair of Oakley Blades and cruising through a neon-drenched city at midnight. It’s pure, nostalgic, retro-futuristic awesomeness.
That’s a direct nod to Kavinsky’s foundational album of the same name, which itself is a tribute to the classic 80s arcade racing game. The ‘Outrun’ style is the high-octane, cinematic sound that makes you feel like you’re in a car chase. It’s the perfect place to start your synthwave journey.
Absolutely not! The music is your time machine, and it does all the work for you. It’s designed to create the awesome feeling of a forgotten 80s action flick, no film history degree required.
Not even close! While ‘Outrun’ is the high-octane starting point, the synthwave rabbit hole branches out into everything. You can find aggressive darksynth for your final boss battles or dreamy, chilled-out vibes for watching the digital sunset.
‘Nightcall’ is the moody, atmospheric opening scene, but the rest of the album hits the gas hard. The album tells the story of a ghost who drives a Ferrari, so expect more high-energy, cinematic tracks. It’s a full-blown action movie for your ears.
You’ve downloaded the right file: it’s a totally retro-future sound! The genre was born in the mid-2000s from artists who were inspired by 80s movie scores, video games, and pop music. They used modern production to create the soundtrack for a cooler, more neon version of the 80s.
