Synth Single Review: “Home Movies” by Fonz Tramontano & Calida J

by Karl Magi

Fonz Tramontano & Calida J’s “Home Movies” spreads outward in a celestial canopy before layers of underpinning sound create slowly moving bass tides as the drum beat thumps in. Calida J’s voice breaks ever so slightly with nostalgic reminiscence as richness swells out around the heavy underlayer and driving drums.

String-like sounds curl with golden tones to convey the feelings within the lyrics. The drums become softer as the vocals seize many fond memories, conveying them directly into my heart with conviction. Effervescent notes glimmer on the horizon of the music while the rhythm pounds and Calida J transports me with earnest feeling.

Fonz Tramontano creates a sonic support that is as layered and as emotive as the vocal performance, intensifying the sensations as glassy notes exude dreaming, coruscating sound before the song ends.

"When the light starts fading, when the darkness brings its solitude," our narrator says the story fades out as the chapter closes too quickly. She adds, "they tell us working hard’s the only way" but points out that we aren't around to live forever. She continues, "you only regret the chances that you don't take, so we're right here in the thick of it."

Adding that "we've come so far and yet we're still so far away," the storyteller says that even if it feels like it's taking too long "we'll chase another day, we'll never quit." They've made half the distance but still have half the distance to go. A moment will come where it's over and "you go and play those home movies just to hear how you sound."

As our narrator says, "there's only photos now you're not around, memories are fading" she still recalls the song subject’s smile making her life feel worth living. To conclude, she says, "as the end is nearing, how we love this life with gratitude" and takes a last breath as "the night receives this tune."