Cold Wave

Cold wave is a musical genre emerging from the late 1970s and early 1980s, characterized by its use of analog synthesizers and a minimalist, yet atmospheric approach to sound. It often combines the stark, detached aesthetics of post-punk with the synthesized textures of early electronic music, resulting in a sound that is both haunting and melodic. The genre's themes tend to explore emotive landscapes, often focusing on isolation, technology, and introspection, creating a somewhat dystopian ambiance. Artists like John Foxx and Blaine L. Reininger have paved the way with their innovative use of synths and ethereal vocals, influencing a new wave of artists who continue to evolve the genre while retaining its emotive core.

Latest Cold Wave Release
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Swap Tide
Album - 10 Tracks - Released March 7, 2025

RecentMusic users are tracking 399 Cold Wave artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 3,607 releases .

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(((S)))
ACTORS
AUS!Funkt
Adoration Destroyed
Biały Falochron
Black Mental
Blaine L. Reininger
Blanche Biau
Boxes of blow
Boy Harsher
Bukowicz
Canaan
Chain Cult
Clan of Xymox
Convex Model
Corps Diplomatique
Current One
Cut City
Das Beat
Das Ding
Das Kinn
Dawn Haze
Der Klinke
Diavol Strain
Dimitri Berzerk
Dina Summer
Eddie Dark
Ego Eris
Eirene
Escape With Romeo
Escarlatina Obsessiva
Front 242
Hangwire
Hexagrams
Hvmvn
I Can Fly
Incirrina
Ioana Iorgu
Jeff in Leather
KOMPROMAT
Kas Product
Kælan Mikla
La Bande-Son Imaginaire
Labyrinth Ear
Lagrima Negra
Leonora Post Punk
Linear Movement
Lust Era
METAL DISCO
MISFORTUNES
Marie Dior
Moev
MØAA
Neon Electronics
Neon Space Men
Night Ritualz
Night in Athens
OutControlJoys
Parade Ground
Paris Alexander
Patrik Adolfsson
Plastique Noir
Pleasure Policy
Ploho
Prismatic Shapes
Propter Hoc
Rare DM
Retrograth
SIIE
Scarlet Leaves
Schonwald
Shadow Age
Signo 13
Small Depo
Somos la Herencia
Soviet Soviet
Super Besse
THE NAMES
Tears for the Dying
The Beauty of Gemina
The Cuts
The Downward Path
The Lautreamonts
The Pleasure Majenta
The Secret Shelson's Band
Tony Bluebird
True Body
Tølva
U Just
VVV [Trippin'you]
Vacíos Cuerpos
Vive La Fête
Wczasy
Wonder Dark
ee:man
tristixia
zimno
ÖSTKUSTEN
Петров и Октябрь
Сова
Joy Division
Kino
Sisters of Mercy
Boy Harsher
Motorama
Labyrinth Ear
Traitrs
Сова
Clan of Xymox
Front 242
KOMPROMAT
Ploho
Soviet Soviet
VVV [Trippin'you]
Selofan
ACTORS
Shortparis
Vive La Fête
Choir Boy
Preoccupations
Kirlian Camera
Night in Athens
Leonora Post Punk
Kælan Mikla
Plastique Noir
La Bande-Son Imaginaire
Horror Vacui
John Foxx
Ash Code
Paris Alexander
Fad Gadget
Eddie Dark
The frozen Autumn
Dina Summer
Lust Era
Chris & Cosey
Cabaret Voltaire
Whispering Sons
Tears for the Dying
Vacíos Cuerpos
Ritual Howls
S Y Z Y G Y X
Kalte Nacht
Super Besse
The Essence
Solid Space
The Exploding Boy
Hvmvn
Das Beat
The Beauty of Gemina
Sturm Café
Closterkeller
SYNDROME 81
The Neon Judgement
The Invincible Spirit
MØAA
Red Zebra
Blanche Biau
LEATHERS
Escape With Romeo
Liaisons Dangereuses
Chain Cult
Décima Víctima
De Press
Parade Ground
Somos la Herencia
Anum Preto
Belgrado
HOFFEN
Small Depo
Ruth
Winter Severity Index
Сруб
Píldora Letal
Kas Product
Hapax
Clown
Prismatic Shapes
Sally Dige
Tragic Black
Luz Futuro
I Can Fly
Night Ritualz
Super Girl & Romantic Boys
Wczasy
Hangwire
Linear Movement
THE NAMES
Tropic of Cancer
Girls Names
Minimal Compact
Principe Valiente
FEWS
Crash Course In Science
Klincz
Eirene
Elisa Waut
Mementut
SKEMER
Martin Hall