RND87 - Waiting For You
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
RND87’s Waiting For You is powerfully percussive synthwave that unfolds luxuriantly interleaved synths and emotive melodic moments over top of that rhythmic low end to paint vivid sonic images. The album carries the listener on a journey through ear-grabbing synthscapes.
The drum and bass rhythms that run through Waiting For You are the living heartbeat of the album. They create a sense of intense propulsion and surging energy that permeates the music, imbuing it with a dynamic quality. I enjoy how the strength and continuity of the beats and bass underpin each musical element and keep everything flowing in a pulsing tide.
RND87’s skill at melodic writing is also apparent on Waiting For You. He crafts melodies that have purity and intention in them. They are able to convey an emotional punch and weave strong imagery out of their notes. There’s deep feelings embedded in the melodic moments of the album, feelings that fill me up and carry me away.
The way in which synths are combined on this album results in a rich, nuanced and layered soundscape. All of the varied synths are interwoven to form a tapestry with variegated sonic colours that all interact in unique ways. There’s a plethora of textural, tonal and timbral variations that run through the music and give it contrast, depth and a luscious feeling as the album reveals itself.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“Neon Moon” comes to life as cosmically swirling synth sweeps along above unctuous bass that slowly moves below active synth chords. Solid, massive retro drums form a throbbing pulse as gruff synth swirls. Shining, medium high synth repeats a hypnotic note pattern, creating a metallic pulse that exudes a slightly worried energy.
Sweeping, glowing synth intertwines over the spirited drum and bass pulse. Now wide, slowly unfurling arpeggios weave through the music and a sharp-edged, medium high synth tumbles in. Elevated, shimmering synth carries a melody that has a tragically gentle feeling that I find touching.
The track returns to a repeating, steady synth pattern with its own melancholy feeling as hollow arpeggios wind through the track. The lead synth melody sparkles and hurts before the music ends on a metallic pulse, dense bass and sweeping synths.
“Dressing Up” opens as high, sunlit synth spills out and a broken bass pulse moves over a steady kick drum. Misty, lambent synth chords roam smoothly behind the other musical elements. Trickling, flickering lead synth carries a warming, uplifting main melody.
Open-voiced, medium high synths carry a secondary feather-light melodic pattern as sparkling, rippling notes dance. Medium-high, enfolding synth pulsates in gliding lines before the drums shape the music. Gleaming synths intertwine in an encouraging and hopeful melodic pattern. There’s a breathy, soothing feeling in this track that I enjoy as sharper edged synth flows in a luscious pattern before silence falls.
Powerfully throbbing bass slowly oscillates over a steady kick drum and rough-edged, ethereal synth chords slip through to begin “Waiting For You.” Synth chords rise and fall as a medium-high, round-sounding synth carries slowly descending patterns.
Elevated, effulgent synth repeats a melodic pattern that bursts with glowing light over the steady drum and bass heartbeat. Airy synth breezes sail in over gently descending synths with a slightly melancholy feeling to them. I am drawn to that hint of sadness within the descending notes.
Raised synth trembles and yearns high above, feeling expectant as the percussive pulse keeps the music progressing. Oscillating synths come in with a dynamic energy all of their own. Medium-high synth whirls out in steadily unfolding lines before a rich synth tone with a nasal quality carries a pattern that fades into silence.
“Sunset Rider” commences as a solitary kick drum is joined by undulating bass while a far-off, ghostly synth slide along. Medium-low, tender synth carries a shimmering melody over the oscillating bass and tapping drums. Digital-sounding, glittering synth shivers in waves through the track.
Medium-low, caressing notes flutter through as chiming, jangling synth weaves together an addictive pattern. The way in which the lead synth pattern speaks of journeys into the growing twilight is compelling for me. Rippling, descending notes slip out in repeating patterns as high synth glows and chimes with metallic ease into quiet.
Reverent, vocal synth carries a fragile line out over a deep well of bass to start “School’s Out.” The bass forms a propulsive, angular pattern as smooth, resonant synth carries a hopeful note pattern. Elevated, string-like synth sings the main melody out over the continuous drum and bass motion. I am charmed by the way in which the main melody brims with summery emotion and a youthful sense of wonder.
Now metallic synth echoes out in tremulous lines over the leaping drums and throbbing bass as gossamer threads of sound float past. Wandering, reverberant synth repeats in a flitting pattern and the lead synth melody sings again, calling to mind sunlight filtering through green leaves. Sparkling synths shine and the dreamy main melody fills the track with all the emotions of an escape to carefree days.
“Driving Home” starts out as bright, slightly gritty synth chords burst and fade into open space with a piano like element. A pulsing bassline and a shaping drumbeat move the music on as a creaky, angular synth pattern moves in rapid waves. Flaring synth leaps out and the solidly propulsive drums and bass keep pushing onwards.
Delicate light pours from a background synth as the shifting chord pattern moves beneath the creaking synths. I am enamoured of the strength of this track’s low end and its dynamism. Luminous synth trembles high above and medium-low, sharp-edged synth keeps cutting into the music. Chords flower outward and the percussion drops off before all of the musical layers mesh again and throb out as if they’ll never end.
Conclusion
Waiting For You is synth-based music that has a layered power to it along with moments of gentleness and a sense of exploration. I enjoy the journey on which it takes me when I listen and I hope to hear more from RND87 in the future. For more information on RND87, visit him here.
