Between neon light and nostalgia

Sometimes a song hits that one melancholic note that takes you out of the present moment and into a bygone era. ‘Time Machine’ by CØLDSTAR from Switzerland is just such a track – a synth pop tune that feels like a tribute to the golden age of the 80s while also transporting a deep sense of melancholy.
The first impression reminds me a lot of the electronic avant-garde band ‘Deine Lakaien’. Especially the vocals flirt with the way Alexander Veljanov puts emotion and depth into his voice. These parallels are unmistakable, but CØLDSTAR doesn’t just stick to a mere copy, but gives the sound its own signature. The melody is carried by a mid-tempo beat that doesn’t push, but gently pulls along – almost as if the track were a train slowly pulling away, rolling back to a different time.

The lyrics of ‘Time Machine’ reinforce this feeling: a protagonist who loses herself in the past, between neon lights, disco balls and the shadows of the city. The images the song creates are atmospherically dense – wafts of smoke, silhouettes in leather jackets and lace, old synthesiser beats in smoky clubs. The longing for a bygone magic is omnipresent. The line „She’s a retro queen, in a time machine, yearning for the magic, where the past has been“ perfectly sums up this bittersweet longing. For fans of melancholy synth pop with a nostalgic touch, it is an absolute must.