If the upcoming EP, Lost in Sound, by Greenpoint’s electro-pop duo Infernal Devices is any indication, late 80s/early 90s inspired synth-pop is alive and well on the streets of Brooklyn.
Mark Allen and Andy Miccolis met online after finding a shared love of electronic dance music. The duo began to write and produce music together, completing remixes for such notables as Pretty Good Dance Moves (featuring Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn & John), Flashmen, and Proper Villains.
Their upcoming Lost in Sound EP will drop on October first, and features four original tracks along with the Passion Pit remix of “Fast Enough”. The material is well-written, well-produced synth-pop with sonic ties back to such synth iconoclasts as Ministry (early material off of the 12″ singles EP, see “Everyday is Halloween”), Soft Cell, and Celebrate The Nun. While nodding to the past, however, Infernal Devices also have one foot in the present, and an eye toward the future, making well use of modern production technology to separate them, sonically, from their predecessors.
Upon listening, you’ll be greeted by multi-layered synthesizers rife with arpeggiations and filtering, lush syn-string pads, and wonderfully simplistic drum patterns which serve well in framing the breathy, moody vocal rather than overrunning it.
The beauty in this collection is in the delicate balance between the synth-pop production elements and the somewhat darker, more mysterious melody and vocal delivery.
This music is club-ready, and to that end Infernal Devices have seemingly put as much thought into their live show as their studio productions. Determined to bring their own brand of self-described “retro futurism” to the dance-floor, the duo aims to put on a spectacular live show which includes space-age lighting and stage props such as the “Phenomatron” which must be seen to be believed.
Speaking of which, you can catch them live this Saturday, September 11th at the Highline Ballroom in NYC. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 day of show. All ages are welcome. Doors at 6PM, Infernal Devices’ set scheduled for 8:30PM.
Infernal Devices – Fast Enough
Fast Enough (Proper Villains Future Footwork Remix)