Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Chroma Noir – Black Rain (2026)

Finding the whirlpool of old-school synth-pop and electronica with elements of goth and post-punk, Chroma Noir craft songs of nostalgia and modern intensity. Hailing from Chile – Santiago, to be precise – the duo formed in late 2024, combining the skills of multi-instrumentalist Mario Castro and vocalist Mauricio Solari. Appearing as a relatively new project, having formed only two years ago, Chroma Noir is no Queen Bee in the hive of musicians; however, this little bee is no worker bee, but the sassy one buzzing the loudest while flapping its wings with flirtatious charm. Join us as we delve into their most recent release, ‘Black Rain’.

The sophomore single from Chroma Noir, ‘Black Rain’, follows the 2025 debut single, ‘Burned Into My Mind’. Recorded and produced by Nicolas Arce, ‘Black Rain’ retains the synth-driven sound of ‘Burned Into My Mind’, but the collaboration with MilenaSax adds a new dimension to this nostalgic breath of 80s synth-pop. One can clearly hear the influence of Depeche Mode in the track, establishing its melodic ambience with the cinematic flair of the iconic 80s band.

From the smooth, warm synths carrying you across a sonic river, to the pulsating drums slipping along the soundscape, and the Solari’s bold, confident, and somewhat authoritative boom, Chroma Noir presents a timeless sound that is ageless and within a particular era. Just as you find yourself wafting through the synth-driven tune sparkling with a kaleidoscopic, psychedelic fog, a tenor sax simultaneously slices and softly emerges in ‘Black Rain’. MilenaSax inserts a shimmer of blues and soul to the song with an elegant reminder of Spandau Ballet.

Melodically, Chroma Noir are serene, soothing and polished, but with a grittiness that exceeds the synth-pop nature. It is in its lyricism that ‘Black Rain’ becomes weightier and more profound. The band explain: “’Black Rain’ explores environmental collapse and cosmic consequence. Lines like, ‘The cosmos answers our reckless game/ The Earth pays in darkness, in black rain’ frame the song’s apocalyptic narrative, where humanity’s reach extends beyond sustainable limits.”


Find out more about Chroma Noir on their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.

Find out more about Milenasax on her Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator


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