Blazer

Released in 2008, Blazer is a foundational document in the 'Outrun' or Synthwave subgenre. Following the success of his debut Teddy Boy, Kavinsky (Vincent Belorgey) used this EP to further cement his persona: a zombie driver who crashed his car in 1986 and rose again to make electronic music. The track '1986' is the centerpiece of the release, showcasing the heavy side-chain compression and distorted synth leads that would become his signature. The EP was produced during a fertile period for the French electronic scene, bridging the gap between the 'French Touch' of the late 90s and the more aggressive, cinematic electro of the late 2000s. Critics and fans alike point to this release as a primary influence on the soundtrack for the film 'Drive', which would later propel Kavinsky to global stardom. It remains a cult favorite for its purity of vision and its role in defining a visual and sonic aesthetic that dominated internet subcultures for over a decade.