F U T U R E P O P
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I'm not sure how to describe it well, let's just say that it's what happens when synthpop goes further into electronic music, with some influence from ebm, trance, etc, though it never loses it's "pop" side of things either. A solid genre, very easy to get into and very addicting too. Many of the bands were inspired by the likes of Depeche Mode. Unfortunately, most futurepop bands have a tendency to start off harsh but energetic, but then finish their careers with very sterile, mellowed out sound.
Best Albums
Absurd Minds
Deception (2000)
Despite being inspired by Project Pitchfork, they only have similarities in lyrics, the sound is completely unique. This album is an introduction to a great band and a great genre. The song "Deception" is insane.
Cesium_137
Proof Of Life (2007)
Very trance-like, especially because of it's spacey themes, but also very calm.
Cryo
Hidden Agression (2010)
This one is more on the EBM side of things. "Weitergehen" is such a killer song that I made a whole wallpaper inspired by it.
Covenant
Covenant (2002)
This is the band that introduced me to the genre, or more precisely, their song "Bullet". Their earlier albums are harsher ebm stuff, but starting from the preceding one they mellowed out and went for pop. A good place to start too, though their later releases are pretty bland.
Informätik
Nymphomatik (2002)
This one starts off super mega STRONG. "Hopeless" then takes it even higher, pumping you up, only for the next couple of songs to throw you off. The middle section is weaker compared to the start and end, but it's one of the sickest futurepop releases regardless.
Assemblage 23
Defiance (2002)
Another 2002 release, Defiance is the first solid Assemblage release, and IMO the best one overall, as all the other ones have a weak song or two atleast. Tom Shear is brilliant though and the whole discography is worth a good hard listen.
Icon Of Coil
Serenity Is The Devil (2002)
Another example of a trancey album. "Regret" is the best song here.
Apoptygma Berzerk
Welcome To Earth (2000)
Another album that kicks off with a powerful song and then sort of calms down along the way. Apop has a lot of bangers elsewhere too, Non-Stop Violence, Love Never Dies (both parts) and so forth.
Code 64
Departure (2002)
Hell yeah. "Leaving Earth" is sick. Somewhat similar to Apop, but with a more crunchy computery sound, like Covenant on "Europa".
Ashbury Heights
Three Cheers For The Newlydeads (2007)
What tha hell is this cover? Well somehow all the shittiness got concentrated on the cover, leaving the actual songs in pristine condition. It's a more melodic, less depressing version of Nymphomatik to me. Definitely listen to "Bare Your Teeth", "Waste Of Love", "Christ", etc, and "Derrick Is A Strange Machine" because how can you pass by a song with such an odd name?
Artists & Bands
Absurd Minds - I could clog the best albums section with everything they made from 2000 up to 2006. The Brainwash EP, Come Alive EP, the aforementioned Deception, Damn The Lie, The Focus, Noumenon, The Cycle EP, hell even Serve Or Suffer has some bangers. Do note that if you want only the creme de la creme, you don't have to go past The Focus. Do listen to ALL the singles (sans Herzlos) because it's one of the rare instances when the remixes are cool and refreshing.
And One - never managed to get into these guys, though their mix of Timekiller is perfect. Also check out Military Fashion Show, So Kling Liebe and, perhaps, Sometimes. A Depeche Mode inspired band.
Assemblage 23 - same as Absurd Minds... honestly with this one you just need to listen to everything. Second to Defiance, IMO, is Bruise. I also like Meta and some of Storm. The only albums I don't like are the first two. Failure is indeed a failure.
Cesium_137 - If you liked Proof Of Life, listen to Identity, then maybe to Intelligent Design. Outside of these, there's only a handful of good songs.
Colony 5 - "Knives (Club Remix)", "Colony 5 (DJ Ram Cosmonaut Mix).
Covenant - You should try everything, but honestly they're pretty weak. United States Of Mind and Modern Ruin are very good albums however.
Cryo - Everything!!! At least, follow up with Retropia, and check out the Valium single. They've never made a bad album.
Culture Kultür - "Fading Away", "The Analyst". These two sound very much like the Apop songs from the album above...
Echo Image - "Standing Alone".
Eisfabrik - "Walking Towards The Sun".
Evil's Toy - This band changed their sound 3 times. "XTC Implant", "Home" are type 1; "A Girl Called Bitch" is type 2 (amazing title), then "Caution Anti Matter", "Vanished Soul", "Virtual State" and "Wired - Connected" are obviously 3. A hidden gem.
Icon Of Coil - This was a side project of the Combichrist guy so there's only 3 albums and a single. Listen to everything, good stuff.
Imperative Reaction - "Something I Left Behind".
In Strict Confidence - very gothic, though I haven't listened enough to recommend anything yet...
Informätik - I might be biased with his genre, but unfortunately "try everything" is all I've got. Early albums were more on the techno side of things ("Entropy (Syntax Mix)", "Watching You Watching Me", "Silicon"), Beyond was, uh, I dunno, emo? But I liked it. Try "Louder Than Words" and "My True Love".
Lights Of Euphoria - A baffling band that snatched a brilliant name then released a heap of mediocrity. Who are these guys? Anyways, they sort of made up for it by making "Aggression Pact", "Consequence (Face Yourself)", "Nothing At All"(!!!), "True Life", "Shadows Merging", and "Water Of Hades". There's a few other decent tracks too. Very trancey!
Mind.In.A.Box - Concept albums about a dystopian future. Not for me but "Light And Dark" is very enjoyable.
NamNamBulu - nothing special, but someone has to put the pop in futurepop so why not. "Now Or Never (Distant Remix)", "Answers", "Pause", "Surviving (Distant Remix)".
Negative Format - The first album is pretty atmospheric ("Base Rate Area") but for futurepoopers the last 3 are preferable, mainly Cipher Method.. "Static", "Transfer".
Neuroticfish - "Waving Hands" is all you need really, sick tune, but I personally also frequent "Mechanic Of The Sequence", "Silence", "Skin", "You're The Fool".
Rotersand - their first, strangely compressed-sounding album has their coolest tracks to date. "Truth Is Fanatic", "Almost Violent", "Content Killer". Outside of these, I find it hard to like them.
Seabound - No Sleep Demon has a great opener, really makes you want to sing along, and a few decent tracks. Beyond The Flatline is.. ooh yeah yeah yeah, here we go, time to elevate your consciousness, just listen to "Transformer", "Icarus" and "Go International". The other albums also have cool songs.
Solar Fake - I liked Frontiers. "Under The Skies", "Why Did I Raise The Fire", "More Than This".
Solitary Experiments - "Overkill", "Self-Deception", "Watching Over You" (both the album and live versions, you'll find the other one on one of the earlier albums I believe).
VNV Nation - "Gratitude", "Nova", "Resolution", "When Is The Future?".
Welle:Erdball - A strange german band. Nothing like the other ones here on this list. "Alle Helden Sterben Früh", "Ich Träum Von Dir", "Radio".