Synth Single Review: “Losing Self-Control” by Minute Taker

by Karl Magi

Minute Taker’s “Losing Self-Control” is about holding on while letting go. The song commences with tenuous notes trailing into a softly hissing background, full of billowing sensations. Reverberating drums and heavy bass create a rich heartbeat, and Minute Taker’s silken voice mingles with string-like notes that vibrate in angular motion.

The vocal melody is tentative and aching as slicing notes ring out above muscled drums. As Minute Taker expresses the words, his breathily tender performance permeates me with compelling emotion. A steadily driving underlayer moves with darkly intertwining synth while a misty blue background descends.

The vocals move with reverent delicacy as they unfold. Minute Taker’s voice has a subtle gruffness that adds to the power of the music. A low, bell-like sound trembles and the hushed vocals sail past, while shadow-laden notes vibrate with metallic energy, contrasting with Minute Taker’s vulnerable performance. As massive bass rumbles, the song drifts to an end.

In life, people fall into line and don’t feel much of anything, “buried alive for fear of what you’ll become.” The narrator adds that it makes you want to die when “the highs turn to lows,” but you learn to survive “the devils that you’ve known by using self-control.”

“But I feel it now, I’m not afraid to go there tonight when we’re alone,” as our storyteller becomes aware that he is losing self-control. He can feel chaos overtaking his life as he finds himself alone with the song’s subject, once again losing control.

As the narrator falls out of line, he says, “tonight I’m a mess, out of my mind” and as he finds himself in the song subject’s bed, he’s “coming back to life.” He adds that all of the ups and downs are worth it with the other person and concludes, “I’m exposed, I’m losing self-control, all I know is I’m losing my grip.”