The 86 Olympics returns with a special two-album release this week. The double album will be released online Friday, and the pair will be performing tracks from both releases at a special in-store event at 3 p.m. Saturday, September 21, at TBONES in Hattiesburg.
The synth-pop duo has always been its own highly specialized group. From behind their banks of ancient analog synthesizers, Andrew James Glose and Jaime Jimenez have routinely worked hardest on composition and accuracy of sound.
"Girls" is their realization of pop writing. Like M83 with guitar, songs are bathed in warm Prophet, Korg and Moog sounds. "Talk" emulates both classic Human League and the newer revisionist EDM/pop of today. The title cut combines the high harmonies and sonorous lows of Glose's voice to achieve a halfway point between Depeche Mode and The Weeknd.
"Soundtrack To Nothing II" is an entirely different beast. "Soundtrack" veers between quiet, evocative instrumentals that range from Eno-esque atmospheres before shifting to reverb-drenched guitar/synth fantasies that could easily be used in the next season of "Stranger Things."
Since 2013, The 86 Olympics have graced us with all manner of synth/pop whirlwind greatness vaulting from kitschy pop to deeply evocative songs. "Girls" and "Soundtrack to Nothing II" mark a leap forward toward sculpting their own sounds and developing ideas that stand out from the rest of the synth-pop galaxy.
This Saturday is a rare opportunity to hear these artists outside of their laboratory, giving you the spectrum of music inspired by the synthesizer.
