Synth Single Review: “Stratosphere” by Faulty Lights & Nightflyer

by Karl Magi

Faulty Lights & Nightflyer’s “Stratosphere” lifts like a breeze lofting clouds into a bluebird sky with echoing tones spreading outward in a floating motif as an evenly trickling synth pattern gives texture to the hovering sounds. Solidity comes from strong drums as the widely luminous tones evoke billowing cumulus clouds rising into the brightness around them.

A tremulous line rises with tentative tenderness as round-sounding, xylophone-like synth carries an evocative theme, painting pictures of free flight into an open horizon full of limitless possibility. Fluting tones and slowly shivering strings conjure up a kite coursing on the breeze, capturing peace and innocence in one beautiful motion.

I find myself carried along on the winds that blow through the piece, an arpeggio forming hypnotic relaxation as the main melody exhales, drawing me into a state of thoughtful drifting above the world, before the track ends.