Fraver - Crystal Star

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Fraver’s Crystal Star is an intensely layered, thrilling intergalactic adventure painted in a rich synth palette. Cinematic imagery, melodic energy and atmosphere combine to weave an album that I find engaging and intensely entertaining as it unfolds.

Atmosphere, mood and imagery are strong points on Crystal Star. Fraver skillfully deploys wide-ranging synth sounds, textures and total colours to generate detailed mental imagery. There are moments of interstellar drifting, vertiginous scenes of space combat and majestic planetscapes that open up through Fraver’s use of his tools.

Fraver has chosen the right tools to create his sonic tapestry. The way in which he carefully combines the different sonic elements allows him to bring his compositions to life. Drama, tenderness and explosive energy radiate from each of his different synth choices and they all come together in a satisfying whole.

Crystal Star showcases Fraver’s knack for composing melodies that are engaging, memorable and full of depth. Each melody works well to convey the mood and feeling within the individual tracks, while together they help carry me on the journey set out at the beginning of the album.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Axiom” comes to life as softly touching notes glide out above a slowly cascading revolving background. Hollow, icily shimmering notes tap out into the music. Expansive, creaking synth reverberates in the background while the crystal notes flash out. A pleasing sense of mystery pervades this music.

Sunlit chimes trickle out while skittering, sweeping noises swirl in the background. Reverent notes rise with peaceful ease and float above the unsettled low end. Shadow fills the distantly floating background while caressing notes have a warmer glow as they float out and echo before the track fades into silence.

Powerfully pounding drums and belligerently surging bass form a gigantic pulsation to open “Stars Call Me.” A trumpeting synth rings out, carrying a soaring melody that paints imagery of a blurring flight through distant stars. Tranquil, tender notes add luminous lustre as they flicker high above.

The drums and bass charge forward as they propel the music with lacerating energy. Elevated notes with a twisting feeling call out above the cascading bass pulse. An unsettling feeling emanates from the high notes, effectively adding an element of uncertainty.

A bending, medium-high synth carries a haunting, ominous melody that wends its way through the track above smashing drum and bass energy. The low end fades out and a washing, interlocking series of synth sounds moves with a minor key twist.

Once again, bass thunders in a threatening pulsation. Glimmering high notes roam, filled with ghostly feelings. A digital-sounding, open-voiced synth drifts with a warning before the track drives to an end on the hugely shifting drums.

“Zero Gravity Level” begins as the towering bass undulates massively and drums establish a steady heartbeat. string-like notes intertwine as the raging low end lacerates the music and the drums pound. The strings have a minor key shadow in them as the percussion presses the music forward.

A sense of drama pervades along with warmer colours now touching the strings. The electric guitar snarls ferociously as the drums pound and flourish. Arpeggios tumble through with shivering luminosity and the dark bass surges. Tension fills the arpeggios and the growling guitar cuts in with threatening force.

The drums rush onwards to provide intense propulsion and explosive energy. Now seething guitar contributes a sawtoothed feeling as a smoother, more flowing synth swirls around. Taut arpeggios twirl and again guitar adds fury and roughness to the music before the sun track comes to an end.

Ethereal, ringing notes slip out and open space as hissing sounds float past to begin “Crystallization.” A kick drum is joined by a steadily throbbing snare drum as the colossal bass pulsates below. The drums and bass guide the ghostly, tender sounds that slide above.

There is pain emanating from the music as the low end shapes it. Muscled energy emanates from oscillating bass as higher notes entangle smoothly. A rounded synth carries a melody that hurts as breathy sounds exhale into the music and the drums and bass drop away.

Dangerous feelings move below while the rebounding drums pulsate in a steady motion. Now string-like sounds become a majestic, shadowed melody as the low end continues to press on. The string-like synth effectively creates drama and emotion before the song draws to a close on a subdivided beat.

“Starfield” begins as expanding and contracting bass wobbles through the music and snapping claps launch into a racing, harsh, and grinding guitar attack that rips through the track. Dramatically climbing, exultant synth cries out above the battering drums whose tidal force dominates the music.

Guitar rampages as it shatters the music while a raised synth melody fills the music with a victorious quality. Distorted synth twists through adding another degree of darkness. Creaking noise permeates the notes to add uncertainty and discomfort in the track.

The kick drum pulses as a horrifically twisted synth conjures up threat. Slashing, lacerating strength fills the guitar as it carries the song to an end below the orchestral synth as the drums smash hard into the music.

Broadly bending synth swells and twists with a dangerous feeling to commence “Avalanche Of Kicks.” Above it, glowing notes ring out and now ferocious, metallic guitar forms a grinding pulse along with grunting synth.

The main melody calls out on a triumphant synth with a cutting edge above the maelstrom raging below. A sense of battling adventure radiates pleasingly from the melody as the aggressive low end rushes on. The lead synth exudes rising power as it rings out above the forceful low end.

The guitar exudes pure hostility as croaking synth adds a pervasive threat. The beat launches again to shove the track forward while the guitar surges. The track ends with charging motion and the main melody’s intense sense of victory.

“Crystal Star” opens as reverent synth waves drift out as glassily glowing notes ring with melancholy yearning. Now sharp-edged bass undulates as trumpeting synth carries out the melody that speaks of adventures across vast distances and loss along the way.

There's churning strength in the gritty low end while the crystalline chimes flit. The melody has a touching ache within it that moves me, despite the feeling of exploration which fills it. Underneath the other musical elements, the bass forms a razor-sharp pulsation.

A snare drum and kick drum throb briefly for a moment along with peaceful synth before the growling low end pushes them onward again. Chiming notes glimmer delicately through the huge bass tide underneath. The track ends with the wandering melody imbued with a journeying quality and more painful emotion.

Swirling synth clouds float outwards with growing illumination to start “Precasius.” A launch countdown begins as trembling notes shift in the background. Massive, ragged bass snarls below punching drums to create motion. Scintillating, crystalline notes intertwine above the low end’s onslaught.

Rounded synth falls in uneven motion, adding a sense of unsettled energy. Underneath the other musical elements, the drums and bass create shredding motion. The bass fades as twinkling chimes add galactic illumination and sawtoothed bass tears into the music. The way in which delicate notes contrast with the storm below draws me into the track.

Now hollow sounding, rapidly tumbling notes slip out and the music is filled with clouds full of gentle light before huge bass rumbles again. Intensely slicing synth slashes in and rapid drums shape the music while distorted, uncomfortable synth unwinds. Sensations of struggle and darkness mix in the music as the track drives to an end.

“Distant Frequencies” begins as quickly rushing, jet-like sounds are joined by digital noises. Undulating bass and powerful drums create a steady pulse as meditative, medium-high synth drifts out in an uncertain melody. Sparkling chimes flit in the distance as the drums and bass throb.

Flashing, rising notes glimmer broadly as the low end creates propulsive motion. Bass moves flatly while worshipful notes intertwine above it with a soothing feeling. There is a haunting quality in the music, chimes shining in contrast to the crushing bass moving below.

Now the track launches into a rushing charge while gigantic, insistent synth leaps out. Majesty along with more uncomfortable feelings fill the lead melody while battering drums rush forward again. I enjoy the sense of travelling through vast reaches of space here. The track ends with a victorious quality.

Conclusion

Crystal Star takes me on a journey full of drama, intensity and exploration. I enjoy the way in which the compositions layer together fascinating sonic elements to paint imagery that carries me across the galaxy.