Australian Synthwave: Delos (Beau McKee) Reveals Debut EP

FFO: Tycho, Com Truise, Timecop1983, synthwave in general. 

Many will know Melbourne-based producer/engineer Beau McKee from his drumming with Australian progressive rock oddballs Closure In Moscow on their solid first outing, 'The Penance and the Patience' EP (2008), as well as their fantastic debut LP, the modern-day classic, 'First Temple' (2009). Others will know the man's work from his name appearing in the credits and liner notes for his in-studio and behind-the-boards work for releases from Earth Caller, Christopher Dicker (ex-House Vs. Hurricane), In Deception, Steadfast, and many more. And even a few may know him still from teaching at Melbourne's own prestigious audio-school, Abbey Road Institute.

Now, however, McKee is stepping out into a new domain: synthwave.

Under the Delos moniker, the Aussie producer succeeds in creating sprawling and sparkling synthwave sounds over a wonderful four-track EP. While McKee was building up his new studio up in the hills outside of Melbourne like the nature-lover he is, the fresh-air environment around him, plus with the sheer nostalgic of synthwave music becoming popular again, all helped spawn song ideas for what would become this new EP.

Written, produced and engineered by himself, McKee dives into massive washes of retro sounds, layers of atmospherics, pulsating synth stabs, and pounding drum machine hits that, along with the sharp programmed bass lines, anchor down a reverberant and gorgeous sound. The release's opening piece, 'The Brood', captures all of this superbly well; a microcosm of what awaits you inside.

Overall, the four tracks of this self-titled EP carry all the hallmarks of the modern synthwave resurgence, but does away with the filler; cutting the shit and giving you crisp-sounding but tonally moody electronic bangers for your late night drives.

Go indulge your inner angsty anti-hero below: