The Perfect Treat for the Season

Sometimes an album just hits at the right time. Like a Brand New record in mid-October or a Bon Iver record in time for September rains. Some artists just know their season. In the case of SURVIVE (stylized S U R V I V E), that season is right in time for Halloween. The electronic group gained major notoriety last year after developing and producing the incredible soundtrack to the hit series Stranger Things. On the back of this success, they have been at the forefront of an ’80s dark synth revival that doesn’t seem to show any sign of slowing. On their latest EP RR7387, they build out their songs to previously untouched lengths with the help of some stellar remixes, allowing them to find an even darker place in their music.

The EP begins with a remix of “Cutthroat” by Lena Willikens. The song is initially more sparse than a number of SURVIVE’s previous works and contains more exploratory sounds as well. The song contains the same cutting synth that they have become known for, but it also plays with unique noises by incorporating a percussive hit that sounds as though it were a wrench hitting a pipe in an empty warehouse. The song itself still feels as though it is part of a soundtrack, and would fit well within a chase scene. Its pace towards the middle and end is frantic, its analog synth sounds reaching frenzied pace and adding layer upon layer to build a sense of confusion and panic.

The second track “High Rise,” a remix by Not Waving, is much more ambient towards the front, beginning with a drone that loops into a modular synth line. The synth in this song is grittier and noisier than the piercing lasers on the first track. As such, the track is much more spaced out, calling to mind a ship drifting through the dark sky spotted sparsely with stars. “High Rise” continues to be more ambient throughout, the synth bringing back memories of early electronic albums, showing a slightly more avant-garde side to SURVIVE rather than their typical play to nostalgia. “High Rise,” while not their typical sound, may be the standout track on the EP if only because it showcases an ability to work in multiple sounds, something that listeners have had yet to see from SURVIVE.

The third track “Wardenclyffe” (remixed by Sam Haar) is by far the clubbiest of the four songs. The beat is deep and propulsive, relying on a repetitive kick drum and bright castanet rather than their standard dark synth. It also contains background noises that sound like bagpipes or screaming guitars, calling to mind the later works of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, which is rather unexpected for a synth album.

“Other,” a remix by Justin K Broader and JK Flesh, closes out the album with what is by far the dirtiest synth on the album. The front end rattles, forcing the headphones of the listener to crumple inward toward the static laden track. There is a standard drum beat that serves only to keep the track somewhat on the rail, but the track itself is fairly far removed from the standard serving of SURVIVE. If there were one artist that “Other” could be said to resemble it would actually be Clark. Many portions of the song incorporate choral arrangements and crumbling synth lines that would have been at home on Clark or Death Peak far more than they would be on any other SURVIVE record, again showing a strong sense of adaptability in their songwriting.

RR7387 may not be what anyone was expecting, though most would agree that it was just in time. While Halloween memories fall into the past and the days grow ever shorter and more menacing, listeners can rest easy knowing that when the final episode of Stranger Things ends, SURVIVE will be right around the corner. Eager to keep listeners on their toes with a retooled sound that will be sure to surprise, terrify, and delight anyone with a hint of love for ’80s synth, or electronic in all its myriad forms.