Cold wave (music)

Cold wave is a music genre that emerged in Europe the late 1970s, characterized by its detached lyrical tone, use of early electronic music instruments and a minimalist approach and style. It emerged from punk rock bands who, influenced by early electronic groups such as Kraftwerk, made use of affordable portable synthesizers such as the Korg MS-20. The term is an early synonym for what would later be termed "dark wave", "goth", and "deathrock". In later years, "cold wave" has become subsumed under the retrospective labels "minimal wave" or "minimal synth".