Nightflyer - Imaginings

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Nightflyer’s Imaginings is a journey through pastel cloudscapes, serene sonic pools and summer breezes. Nightflyer weaves together a beautifully crafted embroidery of synth sounds, luscious harmonies and melodic elegance. This is music to transport yourself away from the jagged edges of the world and escape into a realm of peaceful mists and gleaming tides. I enjoy the way in which this antidote to a hard world sends waves of relaxation pouring through me.

Ambience plays a large role in my attraction to Imaginings. Nightflyer’s music radiates serenity, tenderness and utter calm as it surrounds me with lush auditory imagery. All of the sliding sounds, touching melodies and pacific moods combine to paint bright moonlight, summer sun and balmy air. As a result, I can slip into a world that erases all of the stress and tension placed upon us by the razor edges of the world.

Another reason for my enjoyment of Imaginings is the way in which Nightflyer deploys his synths. Each synth sound is chosen for a particular quality that combines with the others to create a textured, nuanced and deeply pleasing sonic tapestry. Nightflyer clearly spends a great deal of time thinking about how each varied synth sound interacts with the others to produce stunning imagery and intensely engaging emotional moments.

The harmonic beauty of Imaginings strongly attracts me. Nightflyer composes melodies full of deeply felt, gentle emotion. Each melody is expressive and memorable, well capturing the spirit of tranquility and caressing sensation that permeates the album. When combined with Nightflyer’s skillful use of synths, the melodies take on another level of sensation and ease.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Perpetual Motion” comes to life as birds sing and splashing notes float past with tentative delicacy. The trickling pattern grows more rapid as the sounds of nature fill the distance, becoming a rushing flow. Now they whip around in circles as the background floats with a breathy exhalation.

The quickly spinning arpeggios add shape as the drums throb with weighty guidance. Strings in the distance levitate as the twinkling notes fade and the drums and bass lock into a steady beat, while the strings intertwine with mellow comfort.

Now a synth which gleams and glides with smooth grace carries me away on a tide of contemplative repose. Round notes transmit the tenderly touching melody with caressing ease and the low end continues to add shape. A synth sparkles as the low end continues to pulsate. Once again, deep peace permeates the music before it comes to an end.

Static crackles as a lightly melancholy synth moves in the distance and the sound of the percussion is muffled to open “Star Corridor”. Now the dense bass throbs as a broadly glistening synth carries a melody full of cosmic harmony and thoughtful gentleness. Glowing notes plane out and take away my tension as they do so.

Resonant synths slice past as brighter notes with a trumpet-like quality slide and a harp-like synth twinkles with interlaced notes. The drumbeat locks in with the bass as the string-like synth has an ethereal quality that wraps around me. The drums and bass add density and richness while the lighter notes above shimmer and slip. The trembling synth and trumpeting notes intermingle and fade.

“Megasphere” starts as widely bubbling synth echoes into open space with a hazy glow. Crisp notes entangle as a breeze blows and soft static hisses. Bass swells up with richness as trembling, cutting sounds carry over it and delicate chimes descend. The drums and bass form a lush support, flowing out as breathy notes flit like butterflies on a summer breeze.

Thoughtful feelings permeate the music and allow for introspection while the low end creates shape. Flickering notes dance in gentle motion as the lead synth calls out with a wonderfully balmy sensation. Every element of the track combines to paint a pastel landscape in my mind as the rippling synth waves above the throbbing kick drum.

Gossamer arpeggios float with delicacy and wrap around that luscious bass while a bright synth chimes with softly touching light, feeling temperate and diaphanous. A bell-like sound spreads through the music as the broadly pulsing drumbeat pushes on. Waves wash and the ticking percussion pulses while fat sounds move through and silence falls.

Serene notes drift like gentle ocean waves as “Halcyon Theme” begins. Bass, like a flowing tide, moves beneath the fragile synth that calls out with irradiating light as the drums establish themselves. The higher notes breathe with azure luminosity above the steady rhythm. An intertwining, string-like synth now dances through the music with graceful motion as the massive low end pulses.

The drums and bass fade as a fluting synth with a haunting, ethereal quality bends and glides. A hollow-sounding synth joins bell-like notes that ring with richness as gigantic drums and heavy bass guide the flow. Shining notes yearn upward with luscious sound as the low end continues to pulsate. The sound of rushing waves surrounds the track as resonating bass rumbles and the higher notes ripple with aquatic ease. Sparkling tones flicker as the track draws to a close.

“Euphoria” starts off as notes like soap bubbles float with iridescent lightness above a dense bass flow. An airy fragility permeates the elevated synth as solid drums and strong bass create a steady pulse. A breeze seems to sweep past as the rounded synth carries a melody full of freedom and easy relaxation.

Chiming notes shine with tenderness above the celebratory main melody, transporting me into a realm of unbounded joy. Misty notes unwind with a soft touch as the percussion drops away, drifting past with effortless simplicity. Raised notes trickle as a synth casts rainbow luminosity over the music.

The drums return as the melody radiates affection and joy, lifting away the weight of the world. The low end continues to guide as the elevated synth extends in beautifully swirling patterns, while filigreed notes intermingle above. Percussive guidance shapes the music as radiant chimes spill out worshipful light and the track comes to a gentle, glowing end.

Deep static is joined by a tremulous, distant synth that hovers with open airiness to commence “Cascade.” Strangely shivering noises move in the distance as Sleepless Nights’ guitar slides out with a smoothness that floats like polished glass above the heavily pulsating low end. Waves of reverberant synth wash out as the colossal low end moves and the guitar sails past with a meditative, laid-back feel.

Dreamy emotion fills me as aquatic notes bubble past and the low end continues to throb. Sleepless Nights’ guitar is a pacifying presence that guides me while watery sounds float and luscious synth spills out. The rich flow is joined by deeply rippling synth as the guitar moves through the music with untrammeled ease, so smooth and full of gentleness.

Synth roams with broadly twisting sounds as notes shimmer downward above the unstoppable low end. The tides wash again as the guitar calls out, imbuing the music with feelings of weightlessness and thoughtful consideration before the song ends.

“Clarity” opens as a rush of intertwining, hovering synth joins a steady drum heartbeat and swelling chords that exude warming light. A synth calls out in wandering motion, full of gentleness and hopeful luminosity, ringing out with encouragement above the steady low end. The distance is full of cloud and glitter while the shaping beat moves onward.

The lead synth melody has serenity while the crystalline notes above it flash. Wind sweeps as the deep chords and rich bass glide, while the brassy synth flows in elegant lines. The sunshine that permeates the music joins the steadily jumping drumbeat as the track lifts me up and blows me along on a breezy air current.

The trumpet-like synth calls out, pouring into the music with a feeling of celebration and relief. The way in which the clouds lift to reveal a blue sky compels me as the low end continues to throb. Reverent notes slide past as the track ends.

A hollow rushing sound and distant rumble begin “Pink and Silver Skies”. A reverence fills the space as wind blows smoothly and a vibrating synth trips by. The drums and bass form a smoothly guiding pulsation as a nasal-sounding synth carries a tension-reducing melody. Glistening pipes call out with blowing lightness, filling me with levity.

Delicate notes wander, far away, as the worshipful sound in the distance rises and spreads outward. Once again, the gently propulsive drums move along with chimes that radiate fragile luminosity. I find my mind rising to the clouds with a sensation of uplifting tenderness as the track drifts along.

A meditative sensation fills the music as the low end shapes the track and wind rushes over deeply reverberant notes before the glowing sounds in the distance fall silent.

“Technicolor” starts with a misty, washing synth that floats by before the drums and bass move in to add form. Open sounds flash by as digitally shimmering notes descend and the low end creates forward motion. The flickering chimes sing a melody full of soothing sensations as it glides above the throbbing drums and bass.

A medium-high, enfolding synth carries a melody that touches me with its affectionate embrace. Aquatic trickles slip past as the trembling notes flow broadly. Wind sweeps again and the drums guide as elevated notes exude scintillating light. The digital cascade descends again as the solid low end pulsates.

The wide-sounding, brassy synth carries feelings of complete tranquility as it drifts past and the luminescent chimes glitter. Underneath it all, the percussive heartbeat continues. Images of billowing waves fill my mind as the track moves on. The sound of crashing waves moves with broken drums as the track begins to slow and deepen. Crystalline notes flash and silence finally falls.

Conclusion

Imaginings is an album that represents auditory ecstasy for me. It’s a way to induce thoughtful meditation and provides soundscapes that smooth out rough edges and lift me above this darkening world into a realm of pastel clouds and sparkling stars.