RND87 - Now For The Sequel
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
RND87’s Now For the Sequel is a sonic journey unfolding a lush variety of synth sounds, all rolled into an album that paints vivid auditory imagery as it reveals itself. I enjoy the way each piece adds to the cinematic tale being told throughout the album, like a film’s plot unwinding through each shot.
Dense, rich, detailed sound is one of the pleasing characteristics of Now For The Sequel. RND87 skilfully combines synth sounds that range from gentle glow to gritty growl in layers that sometimes interlock and sometimes provide strong contrast. Each sound is clear and defined, but when they come together they produce ear-catching and enjoyable musical interactions.
Melody and auditory detail combine effectively on Now For The Sequel to limn vivid mental imagery. The melodies written by RND87 have a deeply emotive quality to them and skillfully evoke more than one feeling in me as they move through the music. When the melodic quality is combined with carefully considered synth choices, I find that a plethora of images are created in my imagination. It is most enjoyable to be taken on this kind of sonic adventure by an album.
I do appreciate the filmic quality of RN87’s work on this album. Sweeping strength, moments of tragedy and deep storytelling fills the music and lends it weight and scope. The album deepens the sense of involvement for the listener and I find that it draws me in more completely for that reason.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“Purple Sky” comes to life as unsettled, elevated sounds rise before piano chords add power and expanding energy. Chimes flicker in the distance, snare drum flares and steady bass oscillates as piano chords add strength and life to the music. There’s a touch of hopeful feeling that I enjoy in the piano part.
Rough-edged synth adds growling strength as it supports the majestic piano chords above shaping drums and bass. Glowing, calming synth prefaces a drift into a segment in which drums keep pulsing as a high sound echoes above active piano chords. Sparkling, full-sounding synth arpeggios shimmer with a cutting edge while massive bass rises.
High synths tremble and swelling piano chords add intense life. Arpeggios whirl with a slicing shine, while swirling synth wraps around them with gentle feeling. The track ends on sweeping sound and powerful piano chords.
Shining bells ring out as hard-edged bass and drums move in uneven pulses to start “Momentum.” Bright light and a tinge of hurt fill the bells as they call out. Twinkling, trickling synth creates guiding motion as round sounding chords move. Breathy, medium-high synth exhales a soothing melody.
Clearer, gleaming synth sings a melody that is pleasingly rich with calming, tender emotion. Nasal-sounding, full synth grows in drifting chords over the shaping drumbeat and strong bass urging the music on.
Fat, lush sounds sail through as medium-high, wide synth glides and the drums keep pulsing. Echoing, gleaming synth calls out with full light and drums pop along with airy synth. The dynamic melody bursts out above broadly shining notes that ripple and dance before the track ends.
“Penrose Hotel” opens as steadily throbbing, medium-high synth repeats above a softly touching drumbeat. Bass oscillates and softly flowing synths breathe out light notes over steadily moving drums and bass. Clean, glowing synth cuts as full, metallic synth carries a melodic pattern. I am drawn to the way in which the melody is progressive and tinged with needy yearning.
Quickly flickering, dense synth trickles over the pained melody as the drumbeat keeps shaping the track. Underneath it all, bass oscillates as descending, slicing synth contrasts with misty sound. Open-voiced synth sings a melody which hovers between forward motion and nostalgic yearning before the track ends on deep bass waves.
Gigantic, dense bass thunders below open-sounding snare drum as "Vintage Ways” begins. Full-sounding synth descends into a melody that combines motion with emotional ache. Piano-like notes glitter as round-sounding synths descend in a melancholy line.
Steady bass oscillation and a solid drumbeat keeps the music moving. I enjoy the balance between sharper sounds and the piano’s tragedy tinged melody. Thick, medium-low organ is punctuated by strong bass before fragile chimes shimmer. Falling synth chords add a pained feeling while piano melody is more delicate, but still active. Cutting synth flashes and the track ends with heavy bass.
“Little Star” commences as intensely bright, brassy synth flashes in and a kick drum pounds. A full drum kit adds more speed to the pulsating, rushing bass as resonant chimes carry a melodic pattern with a propulsive quality. Higher, shiny chimes sparkle in a secondary melodic line with even more life to it.
Tight, raised synth carries the encouraging main melody which effectively exudes positive emotion. Bouncing, metallic chimes add richness as the raised synth frolics happily. Now slightly trembling synth carries a nostalgic melodic line. The main melody returns to glow as the driving drum and bass pulse presses onward with verve. while The uplifting main melody fades into silence as the track ends.
Piano chords flare out expressing strength as cosmic sounds twinkle to start “In Her Eyes.” A rounded, medium high synth glows with rising light as airy sounds sweep past. As piano chords shine, lambent synth leaps with dynamic life and a bass oscillation propels the music.
I am drawn to this track’s constantly progressing energy as rapid-fire synth sparkles flicker and the wind flows. Gleaming synth cascades and weaves together in a spinning line, fading to the flaring piano chords and astral shimmer.
String-like synths dance together in a glimmering line while snare drum pulses and bass oscillates. Drums drop away, followed by the bass as dense, ethereal synths glide. Percussion returns along with bass as climbing piano chords jump in again. A breath of air touches the music, twinkling synth finally guiding it into silence.
"Still Waiting” begins as glittering, sharp-edged synth vibrates and flow between stereo channels in a circular sweep. Reverberant, full-sounding synth carries an expectant melody as slowly spinning arpeggios revolve and powerful bass rumbles and the drum pulse shapes the music.
A gentle melody, full of anticipation is beautifully carried on the lead synths deep tones. Now snare drums burst against the synth whorls that gruffly intertwine around them. Heavy bass throbs in undulating lines as a flat, hollow sounding synth creates a steady pulse.
The lead melody dances in, mingling a feeling of hope with melancholy while the snare drum’s prominent beat mixes with dense bass oscillation. As the track ends, arpeggios flash out on crystalline synths while the main melody touches the music, the drums drop out and silence falls.
Snare and kick drum create a propulsive beat as rapidly rushing synth slices to begin “End Titles.” Quickly tumbling, hypnotic synth flutters above massive, forceful bass and pumping drums. Steadily trembling, elevated synth forms another repetitive pulse.
Gigantic, sweeping sounds shifts and urgently flickering, medium-high synth twirls. Speed and clean sound define this track pleasingly as unrelenting bass oscillation and crisply cutting drums propel the music. Another massive, growling synth sweep supports string-like synth’s higher pulse while the hi hat ticks.
Constant motion drives this track, bright synth continually cascading as sharp-edged bass oscillation and unstoppable drums press on. Quick drum fills punctuate the music and bongos adds an ear grabbing element below tumbling higher synth.
The tumbling synth becomes an angular, repeating pulse as bass exudes colossal power. After another sweeping growl, the “A” section melody returns with bongos adding more texture and interest before the music fades.
Conclusion
RND87’s Now For The Sequel is a “head film” in the best possible way. Using his facility with music, the artist has woven together complex musical layers into a cohesive and ear-grabbing whole. The intense imagery that fills the album keeps me interested and coming back for more
