We can definitely travel back! Von Kaiser delivers a pure blend of melodic summer retro vibes, along with the gritty immersion of a futuristic take into Miami’s cybernetic underworld.
Von Kaiser is back with “Ghosts of Miami” and it really does bring that Miami heat! For a group that has only been around since 2018, they have made a solid statement in the synthwave community for their modern production and moody sounds. The atmosphere in this project is a bit different from their last album “Landline” which takes their signature sounds into wide open spaces. “Ghosts of Miami” is a stylistic view of Florida’s retro metropolis that splits between the notion of nostalgia, and futuristic in it’s overall tone. A great soundtrack for those long coastal drives in the hot summer.
The first couple tracks of the album really sets the scene of pure nostalgia. Tracks like “Wavelengths” and “J O I” are long, groovy, and keep a solid tempo. While tracks like “Hypersleep” and “When We Were Young” are more dramatic in tone and lyrically complex that drives the album into a pseudo-story; a roller coaster ride if you will. The coaster has its ups and downs, and a few bumps but it’s enjoyable. There’s even a vaporwave/lofi track right in the middle for a good intermission called “A Q U A M A R I N E” and it’s very vibrant and bassy. Right after that, we take a quick trip into space with “Shadows On Mars” which sounds like a mix of a space launch that happens right int he middle of Ocean Drive; and it sounds amazing!
The album closes out with some more melodic tunes like “Sorry In Advance” and “Escape From LA” which really drives the album home. The closure track “Misery City Skyline” really sticks into over drive as you head out into the Miami sunset. Veterans in the synthwave community will heavily enjoy “Ghosts of Miami” for it’s variety in sounds. Definitely the kind of music you can relax too; whether you’re in middle of downtown Detroit, or cruising down Hollywood Boulevard in California or Florida for that matter. It’s a well produced album, and a lot of time has been put into these tracks and it shows. Highly recommend if you want some groovy summer tunes!
Synth Zone Score: 7/10
Buy the album here: https://vonkaiser.bandcamp.com/album/ghosts-of-miami