01 – Stellar Surveyor 0:00
02 – SideWinder 5:16
03 – Descent 9:00
04 – Reverse Universe 13:55
05 – Volta 18:57
06 – Omega Centauri 22:35
07 – Vanishing Point 27:15
08 – Sentinel 30:17
09 – Cosmic Mavericks 34:11
2/25/2017 – Slickster Magazine – Is this your first full-length album?
Alan Salomo – In fact is the third full-length album. We’ve got “Eon Drive” and “Defender” before this one. It took one and half year to make all of it.
I understand that this is a joint project with your brother. How did he create the art for the album? What characteristics make this decidedly eighties looking print?
Well, in early 2015 were started developing a videogame for android inpired on the 80’s called “Eon Drive”. We though that would be “cool” to have a soundtrack with electronic drums and low-fi synths. That evolved and became Advection Stride. Regarding the art; in the first place, we took the 80’s standard triangle/neon look to make the cover. (We found the Synthwave scene when it was almost done, and though, why not make it a full-lenght album?)
We have no skills on hand drawing or painting. We must use all the 3D/2D digitals tools that we can to make the covers. I don’t know if they have an 80’s look, but we try hard to make them the highest quality possible.
Tell us about the electronic music scene in Spain.
I’m not aware of the electronic music here in Spain. I have never found any other synthwave band from Spain and all of our friends have never heard anything about it. So, I think Spain is not in a good position within the scene.
Do you have any live music performances coming up to promote the new album? Did you begin as a DJ, or more of a programmer?
We have no performances coming up anytime soon. We are a super tiny band in the overall music scene; Few people listen to us, so we can’t afford to rent a place for this.
There is some tremendous guitar playing on this record. Who was the guitarist?
I was, but the only real guitar was played in our first album. All of the “Sentinel” guitars are digital. I took a lot a hours to make it sound something near to an actual guitar. Recently, we added to our studio a powerful 80’s style Marshall guitar amplificator, so maybe we will be able to do some more live guitars in the future.
Spain is well known for their history a fantastic guitar music. How do you think guitar Master Andres Segovia would respond to your record?
I think he would be horrified! In Spain the music is very similar year after year. There are a few styles than cannot be changed, and if you try to make something different you will fail. You must follow the “standard” styles to succeed. There are great music bands (mostly heavy metal, progressive metal) that are terrific, but they won’t succeed here, that’s for sure, no matter how hard they try.
Does synthwave have a more male or female following?
If I have to answer using only my experience about it (stats, chats, followers, etc..), it’s followed mostly by male. But I don’t know for sure.
Is there anything you would like to promote to your fans? Any shout-outs you would like to give?
I just want to thank them their passion. Some people really want you to succed and will help you in all the ways they can. Apart from that, tell them that next album will be something a little bit heavier and overdriven… very powerful! Once it’s finished, we will go back to the usual Advection Stride style.
Thank you for taking the time to speak with Slickster Magazine. We have really enjoyed listening to your album and wish you the best for all your future music endeavors. Last question, what are your favorite 80s movies?
Our favorite movies are the well known; Blade Runner, Alien + Aliens, The Goonies and The Thing. (just to say a few) No major surprises here.
Thank you for your interest and support on us, we will try to keep the 80’s spirit while we can!
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