Synth EP Review: “Fire in the wake” by Jessy Mach
by Karl Magi
Jessy Mach’s “Fire in the wake” is a story of nobility, honour and sacrifice told through musical vignettes. Emotional and full of expressive guitar solos, the EP is a touching exploration of bravery and selfless dedication.
“Departure” glimmers with fragile light, worshipful and softly focused, punctuated by the sound of helicopter rotors chopping the air. Sacred tones float, overtones of sadness drift and the drums establish a rhythmic stride, firm and resolved, while Jesse Mach’s guitar catches on the wind and shines like distant sunlight. A melodic line unfurls, drawing me into contemplation as oceanic notes sweep and a swirling synth textures the music.
Guitar notes levitate distantly before the undulating motion below swirls like galaxies in the firmament, putting me in a meditative state. Golden light permeates the synth melody, serenity spreading like ripples on a calm pond. A reflection of potential loss moves through the song, the melody tragic and full of tranquility before silence falls.
Revolving notes plunge downward as “One by one” comes alive with scintillating tonal patterns before the rhythmic heartbeat accelerates, emphasizing dynamic life while chimes create fragility. Jesse Mach’s guitar trades off with a saxophone, both suffusing the emotional landscape with excitement and blurring speed. Tumbling in a headlong charge, the guitar sings while ever-increasing light grows on the horizon.
Celebratory zeal suffuses the melodic line as saxophone notes create sincere emotion before percussion fades and oceanic brightness swells. Impressions of freedom and soaring burst through me while the guitar and synth chords pour out thrilling radiance. Jesse Mach’s guitar solo explodes with exuberant vigor, sending the adrenaline pumping as the glistening tones around it flicker to a close.
“For Danny” exudes tragic softness through watercolour chords that paint hues of muted light as melancholy contemplation drifts. Jesse Mach’s guitar swells with a melody that is noble, tender, and broken as it carries the unfulfilled promise and sacrifice of the song’s character. With each note, I feel the depth of emotion contained in the song’s message, the guitarist seizing me with respectful sensations.
Like a fading memory, fragile synth brushes exude a sense of deep mournfulness while the saxophone rises to carry sensations of hope in the face of terrible loss. As the rhythm forms a steady flow, feelings of deep honour and a sense of duty move through the intertwining emotions before the track ends.
