labXIV

Los Angeles Synthpop Project


labXIV “deftly tread the line between the sterility and of mid-eighties EBM and post-industrial and the melody and warmth of classic electropop” (IDie:YouDie). The new record was produced as a collaboration with Philpp Münch (Synapscape, Rorschach Garden) and is now available as a digital EP — to be followed by a full vinyl release.

AUDIO



From the latest record, The Betrayal EP:

The following are studio album tracks from the first labXIV vinyl and digital release:

At the Das Bunker 21st Anniversary festival in Los Angeles, labXIV introduced an alternate version of Supergods (which went something like this) ...

The roots of the labXIV project lie in experimental electronic music; a bit of this can be heard, here:

IMAGES



Europe 2012

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LA DB21 2017

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VIDEO



DISCOGRAPHY



Betrayal EP
(digital EP 2020)
labXIV
(12" vinyl 2012)
European Tour
2012 Comp (CD)

PRESS



LABXIV & SYNAPSCAPE

Observer | Jul 10, 2020

Way back in 2014 Los Angeles’ LabXIV released a really pleasant 12″ of lush but minimal and understated electronics. The strength of the material was in the melancholy melodies and the way each song made the most of the small handful of synth and drum parts, splitting the difference deftly between synthpop, minimal and some post-industrial sounds. New EP The Betrayal continues from that template, although some of the sparseness of LabXIV’s previous material has been replaced by a more full-bodied set of synths and drum sounds. Created in collaboration with Philipp Münch of cult synth act The Rorschach Garden and Synapscape, the four songs have a pleasing smoothness in execution; “Afraid (Why Are You)” easily transitions from the discordant synths of it’s introduction into liquid pads and bright piano that offset the synth whooshes that fly through the mix. “Betrayal (A Rorschach Garden Love Affair)” weds an updown disco rhythm to twinkly synths, and are topped with a quirky vocal performance that has some classic Fad Gadget in it. Closer “Function and Fetish” has the release’s best chorus, an easy going and memorable tune that has a suprisingly complex web of vocal takes and synth lives woven together, catchy and memorable. It’s solidly executed stuff that doesn’t undersell itself or go too big, finding a nice sweet spot to occupy musically.

ID:UD’S DOZEN: ACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

I Die You Die | Aug 16, 2012

LabXIV’s first single “Without a Friend” appealed to our predilection for forward thinking takes on classic synth tropes. Named for a 14 day studio session that birthed the same number of songs, the mysterious project ... deftly tread[s] the line between the sterility and of mid-eighties EBM and post-industrial and the melody and warmth of classic electropop. With the imminent release of their debut 12” record on Coredark records and a run as support act on TPM’s upcoming European tour, the project is set to join their fellow artists in the burgeoning Los Angeles synth scene in the international spotlight.

TRACKS: JUNE 16TH, 2014

I Die You Die | Jun 16, 2014

Splicing Moev and super-early Ministry, there’s plenty to love in these strictly regimented yet suave chill synthpop tunes ...