Tommy 86 is back and ready to lay down a new release for fans with upcoming album Change of Scenery. It’s been 3 long years of wait for fans of this synthwave titan who remains very popular within the genre to this day. We take a look at what Change of Scenery has to offer.

Imminent Launch kicks off the album with a simple chiptune riff and kicks straight into bass. Voyages Immobiles is a decent chilled out track with a catchy bass riff and nice use of synth pads. New Horizons adds more life to the album and provides a sufficient amount of groove. Beyond Borders supplies the feel good vibes the album is carrying so far and gives unexpected boosts of even more life when the music kicks up. Escapes gives SEGA Mega Drive vibes and sounds it belongs on a 2D action platformer.

Road Trip is a lively fast paced track with plenty going on and keeping the constant groove Change of Scenery upholds. Stopover feels like a slight nod to workout videos from the 80s and does a good job with that theme intended or not. The title track has this 90s house vibe with the heavy drum beat and strong yet smooth basslines. Distant Memories does differ from the rest of the album and is perhaps my favourite track as it’s the most progressive instrumentally. Final Destination makes a great use of filtered sounds and becomes lively in the middle of the track.

Change of Scenery is a great effort from Tommy 86 with some highlights on the album like Distant Memories being a tremendously stand out track. It all has a great theme where it’s more than just the sounds and the smooth, chilled vibes that the album radiates. It does a good job to keep this groove going with some 80s sound effects but a 90s dance feel to it. Most of the tracks aren’t the most progressive, but Change of Scenery does a fantastic job delivering on something that is more than just a generic synthwave record. Change of Scenery will be an absolutely blast among fans of synthwave and is more than deserving of a full length listen.

– Matthew Clewley
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