Ah, the nostalgia of analog! There’s something magical about listening to music on vinyl records that digital formats just can’t replicate. If you’re a fan of synthwave—and vinyl—you’re in for a treat! I’ve been curating an ever-expanding collection of synthwave records, and I’d love to share it with you. You can also find these tracks on my playlist called Beyond the Horizon, so you’re welcome to join me in this retro-futuristic auditory adventure.
But let me back up a bit. My fascination with records isn’t a newfound passion; it’s a lifelong love affair. There was a time when records, cassettes, and compact discs harmoniously graced the shelves of music stores. I grew up in that era, and believe me when I say, the struggle was real—whether to go for the vinyl or the cassette, especially when records were often cheaper. Sometimes, the album I coveted was available exclusively on vinyl, making the decision that much easier.
Then came the seismic shift in the music industry. Records were pronounced “dead,” eclipsed by the new kid on the block: the compact disc. It wasn’t long before cassettes met a similar fate. But as they say, what goes around comes around. To the joy of audiophiles and collectors like me, vinyl has been resurrected from its analog ashes, enjoying a revival that defies the digital age we live in.
As I revel in the rebirth of records and continue to expand my collection, there’s a part of me that can’t help but feel a tinge of regret. Oh, how I wish I had preserved the vinyls of my youth! Those records, now considered classics, would have been a treasured part of my current collection.
But enough about the past. Let’s talk about the present. Synthwave has a special place in my heart and my vinyl library. Its mix of modern electronic rhythms with ’80s nostalgia is the perfect genre for vinyl—an amalgamation of old and new, just like the record itself. But what adds an extra layer of excitement to collecting synthwave records is the artistry that goes into the physical product. These aren’t just your standard black vinyl discs.
Often, synthwave records come in vibrant colors that perfectly match the aesthetic of the genre. Think pulsating purples, outrageous oranges, and psychedelic pinks. Some even glow in the dark, providing a neon spectacle that evokes the retro-futuristic vibe of synthwave music. And let’s not forget the splatter and marbled tones that make each record a unique piece of art. When you put one of these dazzling records on your turntable, you’re not just listening to music; you’re participating in a full-blown sensory experience that captivates both your eyes and ears.
Although my collection spans various genres, I must say that my synthwave records, with their vivid visuals and immersive soundscapes, hold a unique allure.
Vinyl records have made a triumphant return, and I couldn’t be happier to resume my role as a collector. This journey through the grooves and nostalgia of synthwave vinyl is a voyage I’m thrilled to be on, and you’re invited to come along. So dust off your turntable, put on your headphones, and let’s get lost in the hypnotic beats of synthwave.
But my deep-rooted appreciation for records goes beyond just the auditory experience. Being able to hold a physical representation of the music intensifies my connection to it in a way that a digital file simply can’t. It’s not just about owning a disc encased in an artistic sleeve; it’s about holding a piece of art that’s also a tactile piece of history.
The kinetic aspect adds another layer of allure. There’s a near-meditative joy in placing the vinyl on the turntable, gently lowering the needle, and watching it spin as the music comes to life. This ritualistic engagement is something you can’t replicate by merely opening a digital music player and hitting ‘play.’ In a world increasingly dominated by the intangible, records offer something real, something you can touch and feel—a sensory-rich experience that turns listening to music into a holistic event.
Records, with their grooves, textures, and physicality, just seem so much more real than their digital counterparts. As we journey together through the world of synthwave and vinyl collecting, let’s take a moment to appreciate not just the music, but the incredibly enriching experience that comes with it.
If you’re interested in pursuing my entire collection, it’s available for viewing on Discogs. And yes, it features more than just synthwave records. From rock classics to modern-day hits, there’s something for every music lover.
| Artist | Title | Label | Catalog# | |
| 2DCAT | Fantastic Voyage | Not On Label (2DCAT Self-released) | CAT649835 | |
| A.L.I.S.O.N | Space Station | Eye Witness Records (2) | EWR004 | |
| Ace Buchannon | The Very Best Of | Record Club (4) | none | |
| ADMO | Admo | Eye Witness Records (2) | EWR007 | |
| ADMO | Zero Wave | Eye Witness Records (2) | EWR011 | |
| Arcade Summer | Arcade Summer | TimeSlave Recordings | TSR70 | |
| Betamaxx | Lost Formats | Lipstick Crush Records | LCR002 | |
| Betamaxx | Lost In A Dreamworld | Starfield Music | SM008 | |
| Betamaxx | Sarajevo | Perfect View Records | PVR001 | |
| bl00dwave | Distance | My Pet Flamingo | MPF084 | |
| Decisive Koala | Motion Mirage | Stratford Ct. | SCR089 | |
| Decisive Koala | Polarity | Stratford Ct. | SCR105 | |
| Desert Sand Feels Warm At Night &a= mp; IndyAdvant | アストラル | My Pet Flamingo | MPF077 | |
| Donny Benet | Mr Experience | Dot Dash, Remote Control | DASH064LPT | |
| Droid Bishop | Rebirth Of The Machine | Not On Label (Droid Bishop Self-released) | DROID-01 | |
| Eagle Eyed Tiger | Smile For The Camera | Stratford Ct. | SC069 | |
| ED-209 | Mercury | Stratford Ct. | SCR110 | |
| Euan Ellis | Infinity | Stratford Ct. | SCR104 | |
| Eyeliner | Buy Now | A Low Hum | HUM057 | |
| FM Attack | The Never Ending | Starfield Music | SM015 | |
| FM-84 | Atlas | Electronic Purification Records | WAVE 012 | |
| Futurecop! | The Movie | TimeSlave Recordings | TSR20 | |
| Garth Knight | Goliath | Electric Dream Records, Lunar Boogie | EDR053 | |
| GUNSHIP | Dark All Day | Horsie In The Hedge LLP | HITH008LPS | |
| GUNSHIP | Gunship | Horsie In The Hedge LLP | HITH003LPG | |
| Hello Meteor | An Unfamiliar Place | Eye Witness Records (2) | EWR022 | |
| Hello Meteor | The Coastal Obscure | Eye Witness Records (2) | EWR021 | |
| Hello Meteor | The Coastal Obscure | Eye Witness Records (2) | EWR021 | |
| Hotel Pools | Fall ’18 | Stratford Ct. | none | |
| Hotel Pools | Palmscapes | Stratford Ct. | SCR077 | |
| Kalax | III | Electronic Purification Records | WAVE 054 | |
| Kalax | Kalax | Not On Label (Kalax Self-released) | KAL002 | |
| Korizon | Data Fire | Stratford Ct., Puget Sound Collective | SCR117, PSC-026 | |
| L’Avenue | Club Tropez | Beyond Music (7) | BEYLP007 | |
| L’Avenue | Riviera | Beyond Music (7) | BEYLP006 | |
| L’Impératrice | Matahari | microqlima, microqlima | QLIMA011, QLIMA011LP | |
| LAU | Circumstance | Aztec Records (2) | AZT0200V-TY | |
| Lazerhawk | Dreamrider | Rosso Corsa Records, Electric Dream Records | EDR046 | |
| Lazerhawk | Redline | Electric Dream Records, Rosso Corsa Records | EDR044 | |
| Lazerhawk | Visitors | Electric Dream Records, Rosso Corsa Records | EDR051 | |
| Le Matos | Chronicles Of The Wasteland / Turbo Kid Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | Death Waltz Recording Company | DW045 | |
| Lost Years | Amplifier | Rosso Corsa Records, Electronic Purification Records | RC 005, WAVE 045 | |
| Lost Years | Black Waves | Electronic Purification Records, Rosso Corsa Records | WAVE 041, none | |
| Lost Years | Pressure | Electronic Purification Records | WAVE 023 | |
| Lucy In Disguise | Endless Echoes | TimeSlave Recordings | TSR92 | |
| LukHash | We Are Stardust | NewRetroWave | NRWR102 | |
| Luxe & Leisure | Resort | Mirrorgate Media | MGLL001V | |
| Macintosh Plus | Floral Shoppe | Olde English Spelling Bee, PrismCorp, Beer On The Rug | OESB-92 | |
| Michael Oakley | California (Deluxe) | NewRetroWave | NRWR116 | |
| Michael Oakley | Odyssey | NewRetroWave | NRWR094 | |
| Midnight Danger | Chapter 2 (Endless Nightmare) | NewRetroWave | NRWR074 | |
| Mitch Murder | Interceptor | Mad Decent | MAD-216 | |
| Mitch Murder | The Real Deal | DX Seven | DX7001 | |
| Mitch Murder | Then Again | Mad Decent | MAD515V | |
| Morgan Willis | Dreamer | Outland Recordings | ORM003 | |
| Morgan Willis | Miami Calling | TimeSlave Recordings | TSR129 | |
| Morgan Willis | Sophie Teenage Dream (Collectors Edition) | NewRetroWave | NRWR 115 | |
| Morgan Willis | Supernova | TimeSlave Recordings | TSR34 | |
| Morgan Willis | The Jenkins House | TimeSlave Recordings | TSR59 | |
| Morphoice | Vinyl City | Aztec Records (2) | AZT0140V-PS | |
| NØVMBR | TeleVisions | Puget Sound Collective, Stratford Ct. | PSC003, SCR107 | |
| NØVMBR | TeleVisions | Puget Sound Collective, Stratford Ct. | PSC003, SCR107 | |
| Nina Boldt | Synthian | Aztec Records (2) | AZT0063V-CM | |
| Nitewind | Nite Tapes Deluxe | Stratford Ct. | SC066 | |
| Ollie Wride | Once In A Lifetime (Live From Lafayette) | Nucleus Music (2), NRW Records (2) | none, NRWR112 | |
| Rosentwig | Rosentwig | Eye Witness Records (2) | EWR010 | |
| Saint Pepsi | Winner’s Circle | My Pet Flamingo | MPF089 | |
| Sellorekt/LA Dreams | Cherry Vice | Neon Retro Records | NEONRR064 | |
| Sellorekt/LA Dreams | Maxiom | Neon Retro Records | NEONRR077 | |
| Sellorekt/LA Dreams | Static Shock | Lipstick Crush Records | LCR003 | |
| Shadowrunner | The Stranger | Red Manor Records | SR002RMRVS | |
| STRNGR & Destryur | Night At The Grindhouse: Pt. II | NewRetroWave | NRWR113 | |
| Sunglasses Kid | Graduation | Aztec Records (2) | AZT0030V | |
| The Midnight | Heroes | Counter Records, Counter Records | COUNT234X, COUNT234XG | |
| The Midnight | Kids | Not On Label (The Midnight (2) Self-released) | MDNT004 | |
| The Midnight | Monsters | Counter Records | COUNT198PC | |
| The Midnight | Nocturnal | Not On Label (The Midnight (2) Self-released) | MDNT003 | |
| The Midnight | Red, White and Bruised: The Midnight Live | Counter Records | COUNT253 | |
| The Midnight With Magik*Magik Orch= estra | The Rearview Mirror | Not On Label (The Midnight (2) Self-released) | none | |
| Thought Beings | Neon Beach | Aztec Records (2) | AZT0098V | |
| Tomoya Ohtani | Sonic Frontiers – The Music Of Starfall Islands | Data Discs | DATA-F | |
| Turbo Knight, Edictum | Athena | Not on Label (Edictum Self-Released) | AV 23 – 748 | |
| Tycho | Epoch | Ghostly International | GI-279 LP | |
| Vincenzo Salvia | Auto Radio | Lipstick Crush Records | LCR001 | |
| Volt Age | Volt Age | Record Club (4) | RC006 | |
| Voyage | Second Light | Stratford Ct. | SCR118 | |
| Waveshaper | Artifact | Electronic Purification Records | WAVE 053 | |
| Waveshaper | Velocity | Electronic Purification Records | Wave 011 | |
| Windows彡96 | Magic Peaks | 100% Electronica | 139P | |
| Zenith Volt | Timekeeper | Aztec Records (2) | AZT0115V-TR | |
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