A wave of retro nostalgia washes over the listener as the first beats ‘Interstellar’, the debut EP from Jerome Lacroix, aka LVX, come in. Out today on Last Rendez-Vous, this releases marks LVX’s entrance into the synthwave scene, but with the tight, refined production, and subversive, original style, ‘Interstellar’ feel more like the work of a retro staple.
Check out ‘Interstellar’ here.
Hailing from Paris, France, Jerome has been involved in music since his middle school days. From guitarist and bassist within the rock and metal scene for ten years, to his current project as LVX over the last two years, Jerome has proved he’s got what it takes to survive in the industry. Now focusing on his passion for 80’s electronic music and sci-fi, in the form of synthwave, LVX is drawing inspiration from films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey from Stanley Kubrik, and sci-fi authors such as Isaac Asimov, to take listeners back into the neon-drenched decade.
LVX quotes a large range of musical influences; as well as electronic pioneers Jean-Michel Jarre, Daft Punk, Justice and the Prodigy, LVX draws inspiration from the current synthwave and darkwave scenes, and listens to classical, indie-pop, metalcore, trip-hop, and French-house.
With ‘Interstellar’, this range of influences comes across in the huge variety of tones and styles that are incorporated over the EP’s six tracks.
Things kick off with ‘Earthlight’, a punchy synthwave track, bringing up memories of Daft Punk’s glory days, and with a ripping synth solo. ‘Jupiter and Beyond the Infinite’ takes a turn down the brooding road of darkwave, keeping the listener on tenterhooks, before ‘First Contact 89’ slows way down, with snappy trip-hop percussion and dreamy synth melodies to mellow the soul.
The release’s first single ‘The Naked Sun’ picks up the energy once again, with a catchy-as-hell hook, leading to ‘On the Run’, bringing in chiptune elements reminiscent of El Tigre, or Scattle, and careering ahead with its pulsing beat. The spirit of electro-pop lives on in the closing ‘Fear and Desire’, which plays like a synthwave bond theme, featuring some classic-sounding vocal work from artist CR81.
Composed with analog synthesizers typical from the 80’s such as Minimoog Model D, Roland JP8, Obreheim SEM, or Yamaha CS-80, ‘Interstellar’ was recorded and mixed by LVX at home in May 2017. The mastering was realized at Studio La Réserve in Paris and the artwork by the French illustrator Xavier Coste.
Out today, ‘Interstellar’ is available on all digital platforms (Spotify, iTunes, Google Play), and on Bandcamp for streaming, download and physical copies – cassette tapes with the new AUS label Midnight Pursuit.
With a six tracks EP with six different synthwave artists from USA, UK and France before the end of the year, LVX is not messing about.