Synth Single Review: “Sparks of Sunlight (The Blue Book Project Remix)” by The Blue Book Project & Alternate Identity

by Karl Magi

The Blue Book Project & Alternate Identity’s “Sparks of Sunlight (The Blue Book Project Remix)” balances defiance with resignation. The remix commences as galactic bass intermingles with diaphanous chimes, and a repeating melodic pattern establishes an emotional base. Alternate Identity’s honeyed voice carries a wistful melody above a massively towering rhythm. 

The vocal line is rich with need and feeling as the tremendous underpinnings drive on. The vocals tug at me with piercing loss. A brassy synth carries an uplifting melody that contrasts with Alternate Identity’s broken, yearning expression. Colossal percussion surges forward while Alternate Identity delivers emotion straight to the heart. Trumpeting notes luminesce in the distance before the song ends.

As the narrator wonders, “How many parts of us remain?” a faraway light turns to rain. He adds, “You used to stay, then disappeared and all the space between us grew unclear.” He searches the past for clues the song’s subject left behind, feeling as if the other person will “push me out of line.” The other person’s mind is on replay and “you fade through all the sparks of sunlight, you’re the sky I can’t define.”

Despite the song’s subject changing their shape, the narrator can still feel the other person’s soft breath. He continues, “I play the sounds that used to stop me fearing death,” but admits he can’t pretend it’s another time or remember when he used to feel all right. Still, somehow, he tries. Defiantly, he adds, “I won’t be hidden by the days we passed,” because he showed the other person the truth and they still walked quickly by.

The storyteller gave everything he had, but “still you chase what never could be true.” He “held it all, your voice, your coded signs,” and now feels like the one who’s been thrown “beyond the line.” The song’s subject’s mind has gone out of frame. He adds, “You control the pulse I used to ride on, you’re the sky I learned to fight.” He’ll just “pretend that love was never born of lies.”

“I play the chords that made you see into my eyes,” as the narrator tells the song’s subject they’ll make it back in time and remember what it used to feel like before “hatred stole that light.”