Violet Mist - Prophecy 2096 (2021)

We've been eagerly awaiting more from Violet Mist since his debut, Glimmer, dropped last June, which Bandcamp's 'New and Notable' section described it as "synthwave with charmingly evocative results". The follow-up finds multi-talented producer, Joseph Kindred (aka Jozef K, Bluematter, Eternal Blood), exploring an increasingly rich sound palette - our protagonist perhaps moving with more confidence through neon-lit streets.

Lead single Lost in Neotokyo is an almost hopeful dance of vibrant synths and shifting percussion over distant choral swells. Meanwhile, tracks like Eternal Blood create darker atmospheres from washes of synths, pacing the album and providing contrast with the melodic flourishes and skittering percussion elsewhere. It feels like maybe there's a story being soundtracked here, but you'll need to venture with Joseph to Neotokyo to find out what's going on...