Kiffie - Interplanetary Exodus

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Kiffie’s Interplanetary Exodus mingles his melancholy voice with affecting songwriting and a a wide open, layered auditory canvas. He creates music with power and emotional depth that has a desolate feeling along with moving tragedy permeating it. This album takes me on a journey through loss and pain tinged with hope.

Without the unique qualities of Kiffie’s voice, Interplanetary Exodus wouldn’t be the same album. He creates a deeply mournful, emotionally raw feeling with his vocals that cuts to the heart. His voice gives the lyrics he’s written added weight and emphasis as he combines emptiness and expression in his performance. Pulse Labs also contributes a touching vocal on her song “Better Than This.”

I find the lyrical content of Interplanetary Exodus to be compelling as well. Kiffie explores themes of loss, need, fear and pain in his songwriting in a way that draws me into all of those mental states. When he expresses more hopeful feelings, those feelings are heightened by the elegiac melancholy that fills the contrasting verses.

All of the sonic interactions on this album deepen the expression of the vocals and lyrics. The synth palette runs the gamut from bleak coldness to fragility interspersed with seething darkness and propulsive power. I enjoy the contrast between delicate piano parts and towering, jagged bass and active drums. The mingled sonic layers create a more engaging listening experience.

My Favourite Tracks Reviewed

“One Choice Left” begins as harsh, slashing synth growls into open space and a hi hat taps while thumping bass throbs. Kiffie’s chanting, plaintive voice echoes out as more hissing percussion comes in along with a high, distant sonic pulse. Darkly digital notes roam and now a cold minor key melody is carried by Kiffie’s echoing voice.

Gritty synth writhes and piano slowly spins out arpeggios. The vocals call out, full of well-expressed ache as the drums shape the music. Medium-low, sharp-edged synth descends in pained lines as piano arpeggios spin, full of tragedy as the chanting vocal goes on.

Delicate higher piano notes weave a pattern imbued with elegiac feeling. Kiffie’s voice is full of bleak emotion as clapping follows darkly descending, digital-sounding notes. Harsh synth slices and the track ends on hard-hitting, gruff synth pulses and weighty percussion.

Humanity has over consumed and damaged the planet beyond repair. The narrator points out that we are left with only one choice, a choice that we can see is true. We’ve filled our lives with “products that we were told we need to buy.” Even if we see the truth, we won’t apologize for the “damage that we create with wasteful lives.”

The storyteller points out that we have no way back so we need to escape and seek “new places that we can rehabitualise.” We have to start again and find new locations to try and colonize because “we have one choice left.”

Another “voice” comes into the song after the narrator asks who will stay behind. This second voice asks who we will leave behind. It takes a sinister turn as it tells us it isn’t our fault but a choice must be made and “you're not needed here.” This other voice makes it clear that the people needed most are “people who can afford to take the boat.”

Lonely, far away piano grows in strength, playing a melody both fragile and anguished to open "No Sacrifice.” Hard-edged, computerized synth shifts in a melodic pattern that feels as though it is adrift, Delicate, distant piano notes twinkle and gigantic, rough-edged bass descends as a distorted voice whispers in the background.

The bass is now joined by pounding drums and the empty vocals. Shadows rise and brighter synth drifts above Kiffie’s desolate voice. Glowing synth intertwines to create a beautiful contrast with the emptiness in the vocals as the drums form a guiding pulse. Sparkling notes shimmer as hollow drums push on. Huge synth looms above the pounding beat while wide, gleaming synth calls out.

The teller of this tale reminds his audience that "there is no sacrifice without a price.” He adds that no one told him that “you were already dead” and admits he didn’t realize it. He asks the other person not to “take my light.” He wants to be saved “from the spite” and continues “there’s no sacrifice.”

I left you there alone, I left you feeling numb, I know for me, I didn't really see. Don't take my light.

“Late To Leave” starts off as resonant kick drum and tapping snare drum are joined by wide-sounding, shimmering synth washing in arpeggiating notes. The arpeggios undulate as drums, bass and other percussion elements rush the track forward with urgency.

Now sharper synth spins downward, tracing spirals above the massive bass as the main melody roams out. I enjoy the glistening synth melody's melancholy above endlessly pulsating drums and bass. There’s a feeling of yearning as the textural synth spirals unwind and the battering drums and solid bass keep pressing on.

Oscillating, ominous bass throbs rapidly as Kiffie’s lonely, aching voice calls out to commence “Take Off.” The vocals effectively create a feeling cool isolation as a faraway, elevated synth calls out a haunted melody.

Distant-sounding synth entwines as martial snare drums echo into open space above the unrelenting bass pulse. Rounded, high synth drifts in a vulnerable melody as K’s voice chants out. Very far away synth trails off and then grows in prominence to glow as the snare drum drives the music into quiet.

We will find a way, We will try to heal, We will have to stay, If we only try to feel. Don't fly away, Don't leave this place, Don't fly away, You need this place. We can overcome, All our problems. And we can make it right, No is not the time to take flight. Don't board the ship, I'm begging you don't start the engine. Don't take off, It's not too late.

“Enough” kicks off as smooth, easily swirling synth drifts in deep lines and piano notes flash out. A ticking, metallic sound moves in the background. The piano notes create a superb tension in their brightness as massive bass growls along with hugely thudding drums.

Ethereal, flowing synth carries an enfolding melody full of yearning tenderness as full-sounding arpeggios move. Bass gruffly rumbles as organ-like notes ring out to add drama as the drums shape the music.

Hollow, pipe-like synth climbs in a gentle line while the organ has a majestic strength. The piano melody weaves a soothing filigree as open-voiced synth calls out above the steadily moving drumbeat and we fade on organ and the string-like arpeggios.

Stuttering, booming drums echo into open space as gleaming, broad synth carries a melodic pattern full of warning to start “Beyond the Blue.” Sharp bass slices through and Kiffie’s bereft voice echoes out as digital notes flash. Underneath it all, the beat jumps and stutters.

The vocal melody roams and hurts as rounded digital notes descend and hard-edged bass growls. There’s a affecting sense of emptiness in Kiffie’s voice as the drumbeat keeps guiding the music. Undulating bass wavers and descends as drums keep pacing the music. Kiffie’s reverberant, disembodied vocal moves above gigantic bass power.

High, digital-sounding notes sweep and big drums move out into the openness surrounding them. The drums and bass lacerate, battering ferociously into the music with a jagged power that drives the song to an end.

“Beyond the blue we can find other things to do” is how our narrator begins. He talks about how we can find better things to do than killing, hating and starving one another. He mentions finding alternatives to owning more than we need or living “our lives covered in greed.” Ultimately he points out that the space “beyond the blue” is big enough.

“Forever Together” starts off as piano arpeggios spin, tinged by something melancholy. Bass ripples outwards and drums softly touch the song. Sadness fills the arpeggios as the drums add more shape to the music and the gritty bass flows.

Worshipful, sparkling synth distantly carries a melodic line that contains hurting feeling. Kiffie’s plaintive voice carries the melancholy feeling that is pleasingly taken up by the piano and string section. Reverent female voices cry out into open air and Kiffie’s voice trembles with aching emotion.

Bass oscillates along with organ notes that add to the heartfelt expression in the lyrics. Tremulous strings glow above the bassline while the drums add form. Piano notes float out as the vocals express the emotion with the lyrics. Choral voices add extra gentleness before a dark bass wall rattles through along with elevated, lost sound fading away to quiet.

The storyteller talks about laying forever if they could remain together. He says that they wouldn’t need to hurry, care or worry because “love is in there” if they “say forever (and) pray together.”

Our narrator admits that he isn’t sure why or how they were connected but “it feels real” and he’s terrified as he wonders “Can we say forever? Can we stay together?”

Blunt drums thud and light pours from tender synth below K’s heartfelt, broken voice to open “No More.” Weighty drums rebound as warmer synth climbs and descends over grunting bass. The vocals cry out with intense emotion, in a way that engages me.

Choral voices ring out as gleaming, medium-high synth moves in blocks and the piano melody is full of delicacy. Choral sounds move gracefully while massive bass and throbbing drums shape the music. Kiffie’s voice captures all the sadness in the lyrics as silence falls.

The question that opens the song is if the other person really wants to know “how far we've come and how far left to go?” or what they’ve lost versus the love that was there. The narrator says that there is no more time, life or fights left for them to fight. He adds that there is no more rain, sun or “time to stop it coming undone.” He wonders if the other person cares if what they had is "forever doomed to be a distant thought?"

The storyteller asks the song’s subject if they’ll “open up and take a look” at the beauty which is now history to stop the tragedy. He says that the colours faded long and “this world now is like a dark shadow.” He wonders if the other person will “take a breath and listen up” to open their mind to possibilities.

“Better Than This” comes to life as soft shaker sounds brush and the piano adds a moving bassline. Soothing, woodwind-like synth carries a wistful melody as Pulse Lab’s deeply felt, touching vocal echoes into space. Thumping drums and active left hand piano shape the music. Soft-edged synth undulates smoothly below Pulse Lab’s touching, pain-filled voice and the drums drop out.

Woodwind synth cries out as the hurting vocals move. Kiffie sings along with Pulse Lab while smoothly dancing synth arpeggiates. A high synth sings out a melody that speaks of loss while drums press on along with active bass. A tragic, beautiful quality fills the synth melody as the song ends.

The narrator says that she’s not afraid of the future any more and her present is “wrapped in sorrow and regret.” The past lashes out at her too and she can’t ignore “the pain that does a perfect pirouette.”

Our storyteller says that the other person would “toss away” the darkness that lurks in her mind and she’d see better with “the joys of life still there to find.” She adds that those joys “barely matter” if they aren’t shared.

Now ‘adjusted smiles” let her get by with no questions asked acting as “pseudotherapy.” She doesn’t want to know what, how, who or why because it “wouldn’t do much justice to the memory.”

They have been “torn apart” and are now back together. There’s nothing better than their love and “Better than this life I’m plowing through, will be the life to taste with you."

Forceful bass buffets into the track, oscillating with great strength to open “Crossing the Void.” Kick drum throbs and Kiffie’s distant voice calls out as a pipe organ unfolds a powerful melody above surging bass. A snare drum establishes a guiding pulse as Kiffie’s voice expresses dedication.

The piano melody weaves a fine filigree and now the pipe organ’s gargantuan voice effectively fills the musical space. Dense bass oscillates, touched by tenuous piano. Choral sounds rise to support chanting vocals as the drums and bass drive on. Kiffie’s voice echoes out in the distance to end the song along with the pipe organ’s bright notes.

“I think it's time I stopped pretending” is how the narrator opens the song. He says that if he could see the other person, he’d tell them that “my love for you is never ending.” He says he’d travel vast distances and “light the stars, fall in black holes for you.”

Now the storyteller feels the time has come to tell the truth that he can’t “go on this journey without you.” He points out that if the other person could hear him, he’d tell them that he’d “risk the asteroids for you” and crash on a far off planet with them. He adds, “I would cross that frozen void for you.”

He thinks it is time for the other person to admit that they also feel the same. He concludes that he’d “cross the void and risk it all with you.”

“Accept This Love” starts with umbral bass supporting Kiffie’s emotive vocals, A slightly shadowed melody is carried by the vocals as ominous bass rumbles. Shining pipe organ notes wind in a minor key melody mingling with threatening bass. The vocals carry contrasting lyrics as seething bass moves below.

The organ melody has an underlying danger and the bass looms. As always, Kiffie imbues his voice with a vulnerable quality that I enjoy. The slow vocal melody unfolds with subtle menace. It is an interesting contrast with the lyrics as the organ rumbles with portentous power and the drums shape the music.

Our storyteller promises that if the other person accepts his love, he will heal their pain, be there for them and there for good. He adds “you can take me at my word” that he will take the blame. He will promise to “protect you from the storm.”

Conclusion

Interplanetary Exodus is an album that combines intensely human emotions with powerful vocals, thoughtful lyrics and synth layers that unfold to weave a tapestry both touching and heartfelt.