Fashion Invasion - TV World (Rerun)

Fashion Invasion

TV World (Rerun)
self-released; 2023

​By ​Dino DiMuro
​

Fashion Invasion is an electronic pop band that was formed in 2008 by Bryan Galvez in Placentia, California, to combat what Galvez saw as a sameness and lack of substance within popular music. He picked the name Fashion Invasion to “invade the music scene with my love of the fashions and music of the 1980’s.” His newest single is called “TV World (Rerun)” and is available on most streaming services.

​Galvez describes Fashion Invasion as “an electronic pop band that fuses the songwriting craftsmanship of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s with modern production ethics, sprinkled with ’80s nostalgia.” His primary influences are Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, The Human League, Pet Shop Boys and New Order, along with older bands like The Beatles, Def Leppard and Van Halen. His newest track combines “’80s nostalgia with modern futurism, with anthemic melodies and a dreamy atmosphere featuring chill beats and ethereal soundscapes.” Recording and mastering took place at the Fashion Invasion home studio in Los Angeles.

I first played this track before reading any of the biographical info, and it took me back to the ’80s in a split second. Human League came to mind immediately, though it also sounds like any number of those classic electronic dance beat bands. The song is rooted in a fairly simple techno-bass riff but the harmonizing synths that follow are quite beautiful in that chilly digital way. 

At any moment I expect to hear the line “Don’t you want me Baby?” But instead the vocals kick in filtered through a classic Vocoder effect. Artists as diverse as Laurie Anderson and Neil Young have explored this tool, and it does have a cool and unique sound, but honestly you always need a lyric sheet in its presence (thankfully you can find that on the Bandcamp page). As can be expected from the title, Galvez is singing about “The TV World” which is made up of “Antenna, VHF, UHF, vacuum tube…” Clearly it’s not just Fashion Invasion’s music that’s retro, as I doubt many young people would know what those terms even mean! But it’s an engaging musical journey with fun melodies. I especially like when the beats go double time around the two-minute mark.

As far as adding modern elements to ’80s synth pop, I don’t really see how that’s in play here. But as an admittedly nostalgic look back at a unique and lost era, Fashion Invasion has hit the nail squarely on top. Grab your eye shadow and check it out!

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