by admin | May 2, 2026 | Monologue |
This March, I was back on The Old Wave/New Wave Show on phonic.fm. I had a brilliant time being their special guest the first time round, back in December 2024. You can still hear a recording of that here on the show’s Mixcloud. So I was glad of the chance to return to their studio in the basement of the Phoenix arts centre in Exeter, Devon. After energising with a lovely mocha from their café, I played and chatted about a few of my own tunes – including my recent release, Ruff Versions. I also played tracks from other artists I’ve enjoyed. These included 70s/80s favourites like Roxy Music, John Foxx and Sylvester, vaporwave from 猫 シ Corp and dancey new electro-pop from Haute and Freddy. As usual, host Vinnie recorded the show and put it on his Mixcloud for posterity. I was touched by all the positive comments from people who tuned in live, or listened on Mixcloud later on. You have to think quickly and be spontaneous when you’re on live radio without a script, but I found it really fun. I always like talking about the music I make and the bands I’m...
by admin | Apr 29, 2026 | Monologue |
A couple of new tracks are now available to download free of charge from my Bandcamp page. Ruff Versions by Marcel Wave I’ve always produced my own music but usually called on the services of a professional for the final mixing and mastering. I’m not in a position to do that at the moment, so I thought I’d try and get them sounding as good as I could by myself. At least then I could get the songs out there in some form for people to hear. I’ve tried to learn what I can about mixing and it’s been an interesting process. There are so many more learning resources available than there were when I started out. I found Jake Perrin’s books helpful a few years ago, and more recently, watching YouTube tutorials by creators like LNA and Da Fresh helped me a lot too. Dogs at Polling Stations is a darkly humorous synth-pop track that takes a wry look at our democratic process in the society of the spectacle. American Family Reunion is inspired by my love of vaporwave, Unsolved Mysteries and Sylvanian Families (with its delightful 80s theme tune).I must thank my good friend Matthew North for lending me the equipment to make these recordings. Much of my own gear is in storage at the moment, pending a house move which should happen next month. I appreciated the use of his mic and also a Zoom audio interface that once belonged to Roger O’Donnell from The Cure....
by admin | Dec 14, 2024 | Monologue |
I recently had the pleasure of being Vinnie Grist’s special guest on The Old Wave/New Wave Show. This fortnightly show airs on Phonic.fm, a radio station based in my hometown of Exeter (UK). Vinnie plays synth-pop, electronica, goth and other alternative music. I chatted about my musical inspirations and new music I’ve enjoyed, as well as playing a few of my own tracks. I had a great time! Vinnie uploaded a recording of the show to his Mixcloud afterwards. So you can have a listen to it there if you didn’t catch it on the...
by admin | Oct 8, 2022 | Monologue |
In July this year, I talked with Bertrand Lamargelle, a talented writer who has always been appreciative of both my current music and my previous project, A Terrible Splendour. We discussed my recent album, Discretion Guaranteed. The interview was conducted in French and appeared on the Culture 31 website here.As I am a French-to-English translator by profession, it only seemed right that I should provide a translation into English for any anglophone readers out there! So here it is. “Marcel Wave is the solo project of MM Lyle, an English artist who came to the fore as half of A Terrible Splendour, purveyors of the kind of ice-cold yet danceable synthwave that emerged and reached its zenith in the 1980s, with Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Orchestral Manœuvres in the Dark, Fad Gadget, Bronski Beat, Visage, Yazoo, Heaven 17, the Human League… The trend was the same in France with bands like Taxi Girl, Kas Product, Martin Dupont, Guerre Froide… A Terrible Splendour (Left: MM Lyle, Right: Martin Block. Photograph by Viola Cserkuti) ‘While A Terrible Splendour blended their synthetic pop with cabaret elements, Marcel Wave moved away from the strictly new wave/gothic style and towards a more melodic, dancefloor-oriented sound. Over the years however, Marcel Wave’s music has become more thoughtful, atmospheric and cinematographic, sometimes reminiscent of Tangerine Dream or Wendy Carlos. MM Lyle acknowledges this: “Perhaps it’s because I’m listening to more instrumental, ambient and vaporwave music these days, although I still love pop and new wave. I try to create exotic and varied soundscapes and ambiences.” “Down at the mall, rewind your mind / This could be...
by admin | May 29, 2022 | Monologue |
My new release is now available to download. A 7-track album ranging in style from synth-pop to ambient through dance. Inspired by life experiences and imaginary visions. Discretion Guaranteed by Marcel...
by admin | Dec 11, 2020 | Monologue |
As an extraordinary year enters its end phase, I hope this post finds you all well. I wish you better times ahead in 2021. My friend Nao Katafuchi, a pleasant Japanese synth artist, recently found himself in a spot of legal bother through no fault of his own. The issue involves a statue that briefly appeared in the background in one of his videos. So I have joined other electronic musicians to help him pay his legal fees by contributing to a digital fundraising compilation. Click the link to learn more about Nao’s case and buy Forbidden Figures: https://naosuper.bandcamp.com/album/forbidden-figures My track for the Forbidden Figures compilation My track DVD2VHS is not for sale anywhere else. It’s a playful, slightly sinister mid-tempo number with synth tuba. I took inspiration from sci-fi, 80s mall culture, and a discreet local business in Glasgow. I kept seeing a sign at the traffic lights near my local Asda in Govan. On a laminated, monochrome A4 sheet, “Dave” offered his services. He would transform your old VHS tapes into DVDs. But as society now looks back with fondness on all things retro and analogue, what if someone did it the other way round… And would it be quite safe? The compilation features many synth, coldwave and post-punk artists including Soft Riot, Madmoizel, No More (with a cover of Roxy Music’s Love is the Drug!), Martial Canterel and Legowelt. Please have a listen and treat yourself: it’s all killer, no...
