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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All The Pretty Flowers
Album - 10 Tracks - Released May 23, 2025

RecentMusic users are tracking 819 Cold Wave artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 6,939 releases .

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16Volt
ACTORS
AUS!Funkt
Alex June
André Obin
Armia
Astari Nite
Bella Lune
Black Mental
Blaine L. Reininger
Blanche Biau
Bukowicz
Camilla Sparksss
Corps Diplomatique
Crying Vessel
Curses
Das Beat
Das Kinn
Desinteresse
Dimitri Berzerk
Dina Summer
Dish-Is-Nein
Doust
Fragile Self
Gallows' Eve
Garden Krist
HOLOGRAMMA
Ioana Iorgu
Jeff in Leather
John 3:16
John Foxx
Jovens Ateus
KOMPROMAT
Kas Product
Kill Your Boyfriend
Korfian
Kurara
Kyla Vėjas!
Lagrima Negra
Linear Movement
Luciano Lamanna
Lust For Youth
MISFORTUNES
Maria Violenza
Marie Dior
Molchat Doma
Monochromatic Visions
Münchhausen
Neftali
Neon Space Men
Night Ritualz
Noromakina
Nothing But Silence
Orphia
Ortrotasce
OutControlJoys
Pain in the Yeahs
Parade Ground
Paris Alexander
Patrik Adolfsson
People Theatre
Plastique Noir
Please Tokyo Please This Is Tokyo
Pleasure Policy
Pr0 Social
Preoccupations
Propter Hoc
Rare DM
Retrograth
SIIE
Scarlet Leaves
Sevendials
Shadow Age
Solo Ansamblis
Soviet Soviet
Super Besse
THE NAMES
Tchiki Boum
Telefonema
The Discussion
The Lautreamonts
The Secret Shelson's Band
To My Lonely Sik Kid
Tony Bluebird
Twice Dark
U Just
Urban Space
Vive La Fête
Wonder Dark
corn wave
dorpsstraat 3
ee:man
grust200
scott crow
zimno
ÖSTKUSTEN
Артек Электроника
Атом-76
Биоконструктор
Сруб
Molchat Doma
Joy Division
Kino
Sisters of Mercy
Boy Harsher
Electroforez
She Past Away
Дурной Вкус
Solo Ansamblis
Motorama
Labyrinth Ear
Clan of Xymox
Bragolin
Traitrs
Front 242
Preoccupations
KOMPROMAT
Увула
Ploho
Fields Of The Nephilim
DAF
Soviet Soviet
Soft Kill
Lust For Youth
corn wave
Rosegarden Funeral Party
Curses
VVV [Trippin'you]
Selofan
Kirlian Camera
Ductape
ACTORS
Cabaret Nocturne
Vive La Fête
Choir Boy
Shortparis
Kælan Mikla
Leonora Post Punk
Night in Athens
De Ambassade
John Foxx
La Bande-Son Imaginaire
Jovens Ateus
Plastique Noir
Horror Vacui
Silent Runners
Siekiera
Ash Code
Стереополина
Fad Gadget
Paris Alexander
Armia
Diaframma
VoX LoW
BOAN
16Volt
The frozen Autumn
Whispering Sons
Lust Era
Dina Summer
Chris & Cosey
Love Is Colder Than Death
ADULT.
Cabaret Voltaire
EYE
Gina X Performance
Tears for the Dying
Dollkraut
Vacíos Cuerpos
The Essence
The Discussion
Eddie Dark
grust200
Ritual Howls
Kyla Vėjas!
Kalte Nacht
Camilla Sparksss
S Y Z Y G Y X
Jacno
Taxi Girl
Solid Space
Super Besse
Liaisons Dangereuses
Closterkeller
Das Beat
The Beauty of Gemina
Sturm Café
Hvmvn
Сруб
The Exploding Boy
The Neon Judgement
SYNDROME 81
Grave Pleasures
The Invincible Spirit
Red Zebra
Blanche Biau
MØAA
De Press
Décima Víctima
Chain Cult