System Exclusive + Iele + Sarah Johns
System Exclusive
+ Lele
+ Sarah Johns Dance Party
Wednesday 20th September 2023
The New Adelphi Club
£7 Advance (on this page)
System Exclusive are Ari Blaisdell and Matt Jones – a Pasadena, California duo bearing an armful of mini synths and a pocketful of Tarantino-dusted riffs who make heart-throbbing, capital P pop punch with more than a hint of post-punk. Blaisdell’s vocals hearken back to open hearted 80’s hitmakers unafraid to quaver in the name of love, and they’re buoyed by Jones’ laser-gridded synth concoctions and heavy hand on the ones and twos. The self-titled debut via Castle Face Records has seen the band invited to perform in many new countries as well as lengthy tours across the USA, the road awaits…
System Exclusive will be embarking on an extensive 22-date UK tour throughout September 2023 including a performance at the prestigious End of the Road Festival.
“Ari’s irony-free delivery is an ideal fit again Jones’ drum machines and makes for a very vibey and cool record.” – New Noise Magazine
“Another scorcher out of the Castle Face stable […] arpeggiated pop that mixes a love for German Progressive pulses and ‘90s synth punk alike (think Le Tigre and shades of YYY’s). While there’s certainly a lean into the post-punk trickle down into the early aughts, the band clearly grabs on tighter to the the more propulsive end of the Teutonic ‘70s.” – Raven Sings the Blues
“A post-apocalyptic, post-punk electro bop […] Ari Blaisdell’s siren-like vocals lure the listener into the doomed dance that is Game of the Fool” – Analogue Trash
“A track full of throbbing and almost abusive goth synth-rock that keeps it coming in a bizarre cycle of hypnotic bliss.” – Glide
“Marries current garage rock with classic synthpop a la The Human League or Depeche Mode” – Brooklyn Vegan
“Suddenly, this unassuming glide has turned into a super-sonic flight. It sounds like a mix of My Baby’s voodoo psychedelia and Peter Bjorn and John’s ‘Young Folks,’ and it’s awesome.” – The Revue