Mission 87 - The Deal III

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Mission 87’s The Deal III is a cinematic exploration of 1980s Miami, full of beauty and danger. The album unfolds in a series of vignettes painted by synth tones, skillful guitar playing and melodies that capture mood and atmosphere. A sense of drama and danger is leavened by tranquility and imagery full of swaying palm trees and tropical water. The balance of different elements makes for an enjoyable and immersive listening experience.

My first observation about The Deal III is that Mission 87 is adept at creating atmosphere and imagery. I've always been a fan of 1980s cop movies and this album transports me into that genre. Moments of deep tension are balanced by scenes of cruising down neon streets or sitting on the beach as breakers roll in. Each track reminds me of a different shot from a film, capturing everything from lurking fear to affectionate passion as the story unfolds.

I'm also attracted by the way Mission 87 brings together his synth palette with his electric guitar. The synth choices are aurally intriguing and help establish the mood of each track. Their tones, timbres and textures paint vivid pictures that support the superb guitar performances. Mission 87 has the guitar chops to deliver solos that drive home the emotional arc of each song, enhancing the cinematic quality of The Deal III.

The melodic nature of The Deal III is irresistible to me. Mission 87 has composed melodies that are punchy and clean, conveying different aspects of story throughout the album. The tracks all have melodies that are unique, engaging and emotionally impactful, deepening the album as each melody unfolds.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Welcome to Miami” commences with computerized notes entangling with a heavily throbbing bass that has a rough-edged quality. A guitar slowly drifts with laid-back calm as the active drums burst along with sparkling synth that flips through the music rapidly. Resonating synth and a xylophone dance in a jazz-inspired pattern, full of dynamism and cool vibes.

The sax leaps into the music, adding depth and richness, while the low end continues to throb powerfully. The guitar calls out with a blues-inflected melody, a little dirty and dark, despite the smooth way in which it unfolds. Panpipes add an airy quality and a feeling of progress to the music. The brightly leaping synth cascades and the xylophone moves with it. The way in which this music unfolds is undeniably chilled out and image-rich, creating scenes of Miami at night.

An extended drumbeat pushes forward as silky notes levitate in the distance to start “Smuggler’s Alley.” The drums and bass propel the music as the swirling notes are broken by tapping percussion. Now a metallic synth carries a melody full of relaxing sensations, skipping through the music with a flowing grace.

Metallic notes illuminate the round-sounding synth that skips in a hypnotic pattern above the driving drums. Brassy synth flashes with a gruff sound above the low end as the jazz organ rings out. The dynamic bassline joins the drums as a cool melody full of motion and energy moves through the music. Now the chiming notes flicker while a vocal sound exhales.

As the track evolves, it creates images of neon-lit streets and white suits with pastel shirts. The drumbeat continues to pulsate and again the melody wriggles with dancing feelings on an angular synth. The low end continues to move forward as the drums flourish and the flaring, echoing synth is joined by a slicing note pattern that leaps through the music.

The synth solo is full of intricate sounds and undeniable jazz vibes, while the low end continues to pulsate. The drums flourish as the solo spins out and bursts before the track ends.

“Havana Rain” opens with massive bass pulses and panpipe synth trickling in easy-going motion. The intimidating bass contrasts with the delicate synth that undulates above it as sharply snapping percussion moves in. The drums echo with openness as shimmering pipes add rainy delicacy before the main melody emerges on a warmly illuminating synth. The melody is melancholy and gently touching, contrasting with the sharper edges below.

The interplay between the trickling panpipes and the encouraging melody charms me. The drums and bass remain unrelenting as the lead synth radiates soft light, while the rainy synth sparkles in the distance. Shiny notes now carry the main melody, calling out with dreaming gentleness and wistful memory as the solid drums and bass lend guiding motion. The main melody glimmers on a shining synth, drifting past with feelings of loss and affection as razor-edged sounds and big drums intertwine.

A sense of uplift touches the aching melody. As the drums and bass fade, chiming notes ring with the feeling of sunlight breaking through clouds—full of ethereal delicacy and caressing emotion. The drum adds an accent while, in the distance, an arpeggiating synth shines and a guitar calls out with the main melody before silence falls.

A repeating bright pulse sets a tone of tension to begin “Business Is Business”. Breezy sounds sweep through as lush bass entwines with a drifting, digital-sounding synth that carries a slightly enigmatic and mysterious melody above reverberating bass and ticking drums. The computerized, satiny synth slides while ringing, guitar-like notes add texture and the kick drum pulses.

The string-like synth transmits a melody that blends chill with a hint of melancholy. Then, an electric guitar cuts in with a richly bending sound, carrying dramatic emotional weight. A continually circling synth in the background adds to the growing nervousness. A xylophone flares with sunlit brightness as smoothly flowing sounds fill the distance.

The guitar cries out again, unfolding in a bluesy line that intensifies the track’s grit. The intricate solo floats and flies, cutting above the hard-punching low end. It’s compelling and expressive before refulgent bells flash once more and the drums rebound while otherworldly sounds swirl in the distance. The guitar howls with pure emotion above the bass before silence falls.

“Line of Fire” begins with a dominant kick drum and a guitar that bends with haunting portent as the background drifts with misty tranquility. The drums rebound and the guitar calls out with gentleness tinged with worry as bright, chiming notes glitter. A tiny synth light glows, creating more tension as the electric bass entangles and the guitar howls with ghostly sensations. The track paints a picture of expectant danger in the night that draws me in.

The intricate guitar cries out with spectral energy as twinkling notes dance above the interlocking bass and drum beat. Elevated notes fill the music with piercing illumination while the low end adds drive. The entangling guitar is chilled out, but beneath it lies a waiting threat. A twanging guitar adds a spy-flick element as the pounding kick drum moves.

Brightly glimmering notes exude starlight and the supporting drums and bass propel the music. Drama fills the guitar as it leaps out again, curling through the music with a flowing sensation of lurking shadow. The guitar performance is moody and complements the sensations within the song. Brilliant notes glide above the unstoppable low end as the guitar carries the track to its end.

Razor-edged synth growls beneath dreamily drifting notes with nervous tension to commence “The Final Deal.” Popping notes drift back and forth as hard-edged sounds cut through while mysterious gliding tones wander past. The drums add a steady, slow pulse while the background radiates caressing light. The synth’s metallic echo rings out above the interlocking drums and bass as slap bass notes move.

The guitar swirls into action now, creating a sense of exploding events as the xylophone’s chips of brightness trickle rapidly. The guitar is intensely energetic and fills me with a sense of unexpected reactions as the low end rebounds. Elevated, flickering chimes glitter and reverberate above the heavy underpinnings, adding a touch of lightning to the track’s dark weight. The guitar rockets through the music with intricacy and speed, contributing to the feeling of action.

The slicing, gleaming synth drifts in slowly with mournful motion as the electric bass and hard-hitting drums drive onward. A haunting synth cries out while bright xylophone spins and the heavy low end continues to pulsate. The drums pound harder as the radiant synth twirls and spectral notes levitate. Tightly wound tones add worry as the resonating synth dances above and the pounding percussion presses on. The guitar launches into life again, crying out with blues-inflected emotion while the low end surges. The wandering melodic line wriggles past with a hollow tapping as the track ends.

“Fatal Justice” begins with looming bass as a panpipe calls out a ghostly melody and resonant synth circles. The panpipe is haunting and gentle, floating above the roundly trembling synth. The drums throb as metallically glimmering notes ring out with pained emotion—melancholy and lost. The rounded notes drift on as the drums throb and the track glides forward. The ringing synth creates drama while gentle notes above roam with silken elegance.

Flaring chords climb and a bell-like synth carries a thoughtful, hurting melody that the guitar soon picks up. The guitar cries out with deep feeling, conveying progress tinged with mournful sensation as the drums rebound. I enjoy the emotional power and imagery within the music, as the melody is full of unbounded feeling. The synth radiates luminosity, the drums continue to punch and the ringing notes pierce with metallic sound as the track fades.

Jazz organ rings with bright energy as the quickly pulsing bass kicks off “Last Victory”. The organ chords shimmer with luminosity as they rise and the drums punch in. The melody is full of hope and uplift, singing out final triumph as it bursts with sunlight. I feel oppression lift as the melody pours out joyful relaxation. Freedom radiates from the metallic notes as the track pulses onward. Sweeping sounds wander past while the kick drum thumps and the bass undulates.

Effulgent notes carry feelings of release and calm before the guitar soars. My heart rises with the climbing tones that unfold from Mission 87’s fingers, liberating me from the cares of the day. The chords add scintillating light as the drums pound below. The entire track is filled with happiness and tranquility as the guitar flies along before the track ends.

Conclusion

The Deal III is an auditory journey through the 1980s in Miami. The heady mixture of danger, crime and desire weaves through each track as Mission 87 draws me into his musical web and keeps me deeply engaged with his creation.