Hedge Wizard is near famous for their 2014 debut More True Than Time Thought. In fact the title track from that album was the one song I used to give to people when they asked “What is Dungeon synth?” Hedge Wizard’s impact is sharply contrasted with their catalog which consists of that debut, a 2017 demo which pushed in a different direction, and now a proper follow-up in 2024. Stylistically, Neighborwoods follows its predecessor with hazy bedroom electronics which feel like soft carpet and closed windows. Where there was an expectation in 2017 to try new things, Neighborwoods feels nostalgic for a time that is ten years later. It is also a record which came out of nowhere. Between this and the appearance of the artist at the Northeast Dungeon Siege, we are witnessing the confluence of magic and time in a very short period.
Fiadh Productions is quickly becoming a name in both dungeon synth and greater black metal releases. Very quickly they are setting themselves up to be a marketplace and amplification for amazing projects. what do we have for our first one? Comfy Space Synth! Android’s Cottage is something that is immediate upon listening for any fan of Berlin School or Steve Roach inspired cosmicscapes. The near absurdity of the premise mixed with the craft and dedication which makes those concepts tangible is utterly delightful. Welcome Ohm is an unexpected present for people unaware they needed this sound. Long live space age comfy synth.
Dungeontroll is the work of Wyrm who is connected to many things. Aside from being the founder of Serpent’s Sword Records, Wyrm’s other projects includes Arthel, Erythrite Throne, Block Wizard, and of course Dungeontroll. Since 2019, Dungeontroll has made themselves distinct with deep lore album titles and fantasy art adorning dreamy album covers. A Gentle Whisper from the Evergarden is the newest EP which follows a February full length and continues the project with strong medieval ambient with a chilling atmosphere.
It has become wonderful comedy that when I see a release from Windkey Tapes I immediately check how long ago the post was made and if it is anything over 10 minutes, I know the tapes will be gone. I have written many things about Windkey Tapes. One of the things I enjoyed about this spontaneous label was the splits where other artists are brought in and for a fraction of a second something is released. For this release we hear new music from Keys To Oneiria as well as the extremely complimentary sounding Dream Chalice from the project Froth. While people might not be able to get the actual tapes, Windkey continue to great work by leaving the music up for Pay what You Want for people like me who read their social media way too late.
Tags: Synthwave, Dungeon Synth, Italo-Disco. thanks for coming to my talk of “things that make me smile.” But seriously, while the joy at songs like “Durch das Mittelreich” might be unique compared to the more classic sounds of the demo, Gilgareth possesses the ability to see conventions and genre boundaries and pass through them like ghosts. From dark dungeon ambient to hot dance floor melodies, Eine Reise beginnt passes through decades of time and with the craft of extraterrestrial beings.
Adam Matlock is in many projects and is known as many projects. In fact just looking over the list of related music I was made aware of many more. Mycologia is one of the more successful endeavors for Matlock bringing vintage nostalgia and marrying it with fungal nerdery. There is a sense of levity which runs through Assorted Mushrooms of New England vol. 2 ranging from hypnotically unorthodox to blissfully groovy. For a composer who has done many things without the awareness of most, it is wonderful to stumble onto something so entertaining and poignant.
Coniferous Myst is the embodiment of raw ambient. Promo ’24 comes with the description of “Recorded Live during a private home show to type I ferric tape. It has been compiled here as, “Promo ’24”. Any clipping or mastering issues are due to the low fidelity of the recordings. Recorded March ’24 live one track after the other with no post processing. Any mistakes & tempo changes are kept to retain authenticity of the performance.” This is dungeon synth without any processing which verges into the realm of field recordings. There is a medication here and its a reverence of near absence of fidelity. While this style is not for everyone there are many people who understand and adore this type of sound with me being one of them.
Arcane Sword「秘術の剣」was released in 2023 but is being brought to greater awareness by Neverwood Records. By perusing JPEG’s Bandcamp, one is greeted with a sense of sleepy nostalgia which feels like endless nights vibing to the title music of video games. There is a distinct aesthetic here which is Playstation 1 era video games and vaporwave which might be out of reach for people looking for medieval flair. JPEG’s care to atmosphere and ability to wrangle interest takes listeners into the menu screen of the worlds greatest video game.