L’Avenue - Riviera

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

L’Avenue’s Riviera is an incredibly evocative, immensely relaxing synth journey that exhales tropical breezes and generates rich auditory imagery. This is music on which one can be transported to deep azure water, clear blue skies and blindingly white sand. I find the music emotionally touching as it unfolds.

One of the strongest draws for me on Riviera is the atmosphere that L’Avenue manages to create. His synth palette glides, enfolds and gently touches the listener's ears. Sparkling light, smoothly washing waves and pastel clouds are all evoked through different timbres and tones. I find myself carried away into a deeply peaceful state by the album.

A combination of strong lyrics and superb vocal performances add to the songs on Riviera. The two sung tracks are given emotional expression by Eliza Devane and George Holliday’s vocal talents and L’Avenue shows himself to be a skilled songwriter in the imagery he conjures and in his fluent word choices. I hope he’ll write more songs with lyrics on future releases.

I can’t forget to mention the saxophone on the album. It lends a retro touch that also strengthens the moving emotional quality in the music. The reedy, impassioned tones generate feelings of an earnest, heartfelt nature and add to the calming effect of L’Avenue’s music. I’m pleased he added it to the mix.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Riviera” comes into being as deeply resonant, warm synths permeate the musical space with an ethereal flow as drums throb and bell-like synth delicately glides and a round-toned, smooth synth sings out a tender melody, full of soothing emotion over the guiding drums.

Background sounds exhale softly and string-like notes tangle through the track before the main melody floats in again, full to bursting with gentleness. I find the melody deeply affecting in its kind feeling as breathy vocal synths touch the track.

The music exudes incredibly calming sonic waves as repeating synths wash through. After a breezy sweep, sparkling arpeggios dance and a secondary melody moves in, carried on crystalline chimes. The track becomes more energetic, the bright chimes like sunlIght on tropical water before the music ends.

A jazz organ’s rich tones move over tapping, touching percussion and elevated synths lightly shift as “Warm Breeze” begins. Airy, pipe-like synth breathes through the music in a caressing melodic pattern as reverberating percussion trembles.

The drums smooth out as jazz organ chords fill the music with comforting sounds and chiming notes dance. Pipe-like synth slips easily through the music before a dreamy sax sings out a melancholy melody. I’m drawn to the sense of pleasantly aching nostalgia in the melody as it unfolds.

Medium-high synth bounces back and forth over shifting drums and deep, luscious synth vibrates over underlying bass currents. Jazz organ takes up the longing melody and the sax cries out again, full of expressive yearning. There’s a  return to the “A”  section’s settling vibes before sax calls out one final time and the music fades.

“Sun and the Moon” opens with steadily throbbing bass underpinning a wandering jazz organ-like synth as bass and drums guide the music. Eliza Devane’s vocals are emotive and breathy, exuding peace. The vocal melody beautifully combines gentleness and passionate need as bell-like notes add a brighter accent.

Now the sax comes in, full of deep feeling, complementing Eliza Devane’s voice. Her vocals are like a misty blue sky as she emotes with graceful ease. Gossamer and softly touching sounds fill the song as a steady drum and bass pulse adds form.

The vocal melody is meltingly tender before the tremulous sax flows in again. A distantly gliding background sound ripples through and the sax keeps delivering expression until the song ends on piano notes.

Our storyteller describes the emotional state the song’s subject creates in her as a wave crashing over her as the person seems to “permeate every pore, down to my core.” She describes their situation as a road opening in front of her as “the path ahead is all so clear, the goal moves near.” She describes the other person as a shining star for her.

In the chorus, the narrator talks about how they “run, hide, laugh, cry, touch the sky” as they “love and be loved between the sun and the moon.” She describes how they roll and flow while “our seeds they grow” because it is their time and their show.

Our storyteller describes how the other person is always there somewhere “like rolling hills out in front of me.” As the night comes and the narrator’s eyes “close out the blue” she still sees the other person. She goes on to say that like the distant sun “your warmth is near” and like the “pale moon’s insistence” the other person is always there. As the song ends, our narrator talks about the sun and the moon as they move from “July ’til June, midnight to noon (and) from late until soon.”

A strongly pulsing drumbeat and undulating bell-like synth start off “Villa.” Bass washes in a wave as the drums create an even motion and a sax with an added nasal quality glides past. Reverberating notes shiver through the music as the bass and drums move the track forward.

Pipe-like synths form a briefly throbbing pattern and fade as the sax calls out in the distance and a xylophone creates a hypnotic pattern. Pronounced, lush bass throbs and descending notes flicker as breathy pipes exhale in a gentling pattern that I enjoy.

Elevated chimes sparkle in a continually shimmering motion as a drum and bass pulse guides the track. The music ends on slightly distorted sax and reverberating sound waves.

“Boulevard” commences as flowing, relaxing synth ripples out in pink pastel waves. Tapping, guiding drums are lightly touched by evenly pulsing bass and elevated, enfolding notes. A trembling, angular synth pattern adds a pleasing shadowy tinge.

Gossamer sounds also trace through the track. A breeze sweeps in along wth dynamically shifting vocal sounds as a slight hint of cloud touches the music. Voices echo out and far away, feather-light synth shivers and silence falls.

Full-sounding, bell-like jazz organ trails a laid back arpeggiation through “Pastel Skies” as it begins. The jazz organ creates a deeply settling soundscape through which bells ring out with intense tenderness. A brassy, mistily flowing synth light undulates as achingly delicate sounds glide.

The mingled emotions that this track creates are compelling for me. Tenuous notes flicker before the nasal, peaceful sax carries diaphanous melody into the comforting background.  as A steady synth undulates through the track and melts away in melancholy, dreamy notes before waves lull the track to an end.

A creamy, all-encompassing synth sound shifts below solidly throbbing drums to start “Driftin’.” George Holliday’s silky, feather-light vocals carry the hopeful lyrics. The main melody exudes encouragement and kindness. Bells and delicate strings flicker and shine, adding more brightness to the track. Sax descends in a rich line as George Holliday’s vocals trip through the music with complete relaxation.

I am enamoured of the heartfelt sax solo that radiates passionate energy, intricately wheeling through the music. Glittering chimes flit and clouds of warming sound combine.  The main sax line echoes out, earnest and emotive, as luscious sounds rise and a xylophone briefly adds another colour to the music. The song ends on George Holliday’s delicate voice.

A sense of freeing love fills the lyrics as the narrator talks about how he’s “driftin’, soarin’, flyin’ through the skies, never fallin’” and how everything is dreamy and floating as each day is “like a summer mornin’.” He talks about how light shines where there was only darkness because the other person has “lit an ocean of fire in this heart.”

As bells ring and the sun sets, our storyteller talks about how the stars rise and “pastel skies light up this town.” During the day there are “blue rolling seas, gold crashing waves” and a breeze like the other person’s lips touching his face. He describes summer’s warmth and balmy sunset air as he smells the other person’s “vanilla scent on every strand of golden hair.” The narrator describes “fairground lights, bonfire flames. Just how it should be.”

Our storyteller speaks of ascending because the other person gave him “wings when mine were dyin.” Now as the song ends he talks about how he feels he is “cruisin’, coastin’, chasin’ the wind.”

“Atlantic” commences as sparkling, ever so light notes spin and deep bass wells up. Sharp sounds flow as shimmering notes arpeggiate and bass rises and fills the sonic space. Broad-sounding, slightly sharp-edged chords move with an effective tinge of pained emotion.

Steady, gruff sounds mingle and an arpeggio keeps slowly turning while metallic chimes tremble together. Elevated, softly touching sounds move before wide-sounding, medium-low synth carries a settling melody with a hint of hurt. Bright chimes weave through the music and\sharp-edged sounds move together. Intense bass depth evokes open water and the track ends on chimes alone.

Conclusion

Riviera is an album that I find truly transporting. L’Avenue creates music that takes me away from the world’s darkness and sweeps me away from daily concerns. The evocative, emotive nature of his music helps me to let go and free myself for a little while and that’s a gift as far as I’m concerned.

Pashang - Void

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Pashang’s Void captures all of the vast majesty of outer space through a richly interwoven synth tapestry. There are moments of great power, gentle delicacy and aching emotion that move through the wide-open canvas of the album. This is deep, enjoyable and expressive instrumental synth music that invites exploration.

Synthesizers have a massive scope to explore a plethora of sounds and auditory textures. Pashang digs deeply into that sonic variety on Void to create intense richness. The sounds range from colossal rumbling bass to starry synth sparkle, moving through textures that move from gruff snarling to delicate crystalline shimmer. Each different tone, timbre and colour adds more complexity to the final result.

Void is also defined by the atmosphere that permeates the album. In everything that Pashang does in the music, there’s a sense of massive open spaces and unfurling cosmic vistas that surrounds it. The way the bass fills the space and the layered synth sounds unfold conjures up sweeping sensations of interstellar exploration. I enjoy being transported on the journey through the music.

Another strong aspect of the album is Pashang’s melodic writing. He crafts melodies that are capable of expressing nuances and shadings of emotion that range from melancholy to triumph, sometimes in a single track. I am drawn to his skill at combining synths that reinforce the emotional tenor of his melodies and deepen the overall expression of the album.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Glimpse The Void” comes to life as extended sonic sweeps slide into an open space full of tiny sparkles into which bass flows and a single dark piano note repeats. Brightly trumpeting synth reaches out with glowing notes through the vastness, feeling victorious and tinged with melancholy.

The mixture of those two emotional states is appealing to me here. The drum heartbeat forms a powerful pulse below the triumphant, flaring synth as choral voices call out. Wide, strong drums create a shaping pulse along with oscillating bass waves. Drifting, shining synth is touched by whirling arpeggios as smoother, elevated sounds descend through them.  and the gigantic bass washes as we float into an empty void in which lost voices float along.

Hard-hitting, shadowed piano notes create a sense of foreboding as a twisting, medium-high synth is battered by huge drums. The background chorus moves above rich bass that rumbles below it. Brassy, nasal-sounding synth glides along with surging bass while sharp, glittering notes move in a gently shifting pattern. This track is full of galactic power and dark majesty.  Huge drums collide and bass growls, as rising synth calls out before the track towers to a conclusion and fades out.

Rounded, nasal-sounding synths ascend with growing energy to open “Approach The Void.” Huge, rebounding drums throb and quickly spinning arpeggios dance above the rumbling bass slipping underneath.

Battering drums and rapidly wheeling arpeggios effectively build motion as chimes flash through the track. Drums and bass fade into a gently floating openness and before the arpeggios ramp up and spin again. Gargantuan, rough-edged bass grows in intensity through the music.

Delicate, crystalline chimes carry a beautifully tender melody. The energy level erupts as colossal drums drive on and bass thunders. The chiming lead synth shimmers with feathery delicacy, in contrast to the heavy weight underneath it. The track ends on twirling arpeggios.

Distant, fragile synth notes with a metallic edge move into and through the open space to kick off “Traverse The Void.” A dense bass wall moves with a sweeping sonic arc as gleaming chimes flash with intense brightness. The chimes carry an airy melody as a massive drum and bass surge propels the music with conviction.

Broad-voiced chimes carry a mysterious, trembling melody that introduces a pleasingly tenuous emotional state in the music. Energizing triumph fills the lead synth melody, accented by clean, glittering synth flares. Cosmic drum power and bass waves move alone before the shining chimes carry the minor key melody, spilling over with a sense of dominance.

The wide-sounding chimes leap out in bursts through the open spaces around them and a steady bass flow adds continuing weight. Silence briefly falls before the chimes shimmer again, adding a mingled sense of optimism and something less sure. The heaving drums and bass press on, dynamic and full of life, before metallic notes ring out and the track ends.

“Heart of the Void” commences as dangerous, rough-edged sounds echo into open space along with massive, heavily pulsating bass that has a feeling of threatening intent. Slowly descending sounds are followed by trembling chimes that wander above gruff, jagged bass.

The lead guitar howls into the void as a secondary surging, muscled guitar line looms behind it. Above the powerful guitars, gleaming synth cries out and drums softly tap. Roaming sounds unfold above overwhelming bass that slowly moves below them. Forlorn high synth adds a pained feeling before the guitar cries out over shattering drums as sparkling synth notes arpeggiate.

I am drawn to the haunting lead guitar as secondary, hard-edged guitar line snarls below and the drums strike with great weight. Arpeggios add more energetic motion while the lead guitar screams.  The rising darkness grows ever more threatening below tense, nervous high notes.

Aggressive, angular bass and hard hitting drums form an attacking, dynamic pulse to start “Flee The Void.” Brighter, higher synth carries a dramatic, shadowy melody out over the continually driving drums and sharp-edged bass.

An enigmatic voice drifts as quickly flickering notes climb higher and effectively ramp up the tension. Now the beat becomes an evenly slamming pulse as ferocious notes slash through the music, faster and faster. The track breaks into a throbbing charge as the mysterious melody rising before the track ends.

Conclusion

Void is a nuanced, intricate and expressive synth journey across a limitless cosmic canvas. This is synth music that has maturity, richness and emotional complexity woven through it and I am fascinated to hear what Pashang might do next.

Leifendeth - Cursed Frequency

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions
Leifendeth’s Cursed Frequency is a frightening auditory journey through demonic darkness, the swirling  shadows rising to engulf the listener as the album unleashes the music. Leifendeth’s synth palette creates unsettling sensations that combine with grumbling bass, ferocious drumbeats and disturbing vocal samples. The end result is an album that has me looking over my shoulder when the lights go out.

The evocation of a shadowed atmosphere shot through with pervasive fear is one of the reasons Cursed Frequency works as an album. Leifendeth’s synth selection is rife with howling, grunting, chittering sounds that generate tension, nervousness and outright terror as they combine. The serious bass weight contributes a sense of an expanding abyss and the battering drums add hellish aggression to the mix.

I also enjoy the way in which Cursed Frequency uses voiceovers and vocal samples to build up feelings of paranormal horror, a horror that lurks just out of sight until humans foolishly decide to dabble in it. Leifendeth has clearly thought about when and where to use this vocal element because it has a strong impact when he deploys it. I get a deliciously creepy thrill from hearing the words moving in the darkness.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Paranormal” starts off as a shadowy sonic wave is broken by a contorted vocal sample. Throbbing drums pound deeply and static sounds hiss while undulating twilight waves wash before the disturbing vocal sample grows silent.

Metallic clanking, dribbling sounds and a steady dark shiver open “Cursed Frequency.” A vocal sample breaks in, talking about haunting and giving power to evil phenomena. Wriggling sounds and haunted bass shift as a battering, charging beat forces the music forward. The writhing noises effectively add a feeling of creeping danger.

Minor key bass notes wander in a slowly developing line as throbbing drums pound on with relentless force. Lost noises float and metal clanks as a quickly rising, digital sound climbs up. The background tension ramps up, increasing the lurking threat implied in the music as drumbeat rushes on.

The vocal sample talks about the danger of being open to paranormal experiences as the rising, forceful beat throbs. Angular sounds cut over the flowing shadowy depths that guide the music back into quiet.

“Phantoms In Static (dead edit)” starts as wobbling sounds and continual static move behind a sample of a man talking about being contacted by the dead. A slightly limping, uneven beat and thundering drums drag the track along as sharp-edged bass pulses thread through the music. I am drawn to the urgent, portentous power that fills the track. Slipping, oozing sounds move and elevated, flickering notes shift in rebounding lines.

Medium-high, round synth cascades and expanding, dangerous sounds tremble through the music. Bell-like notes tumble down as the lopsided beat keeps on throbbing. Bending sounds squirm before a segment full of gently flowing synth waves moves in and the bell-like notes descend. The drumbeat pulses on and on, as descending minor key synths float into static silence.

Pulsing static forms a pattern that flows into the music along with a void-deep bass rumble as “Ghost 2” commences. Imminent, intense foreboding pours from the music, effectively creating an atmosphere of heavy dread. An angry, sibilant voice says “what are you doing, this is my house, leave me alone!” Washing sonic waves move as heavy bass and popping static backs the evil voice demanding the trespassers leave.

“Dead Signal (post-mortem mix)” opens as dense, weighty synth adds horrifying power behind the skittering sounds rushing by. Minor key, bell-like notes ring out with a harsh brightness while the drums bounce and cascade, jagged sounds and flickering chimes moving as the heavy drums fall.

There’s a spectral wavering in the track as the bells ring with a brittle tension. Falling bass contributes more stress to the music, making me feel uneasy in a powerful way. A steadily flickering sound is cut by descending bells as a voice speaks of the responsibility to warn the world of an unknown threat as densely shifting sounds and static pulsation go on.

Indistinct mutterings and high pitched sounds drift into an open void as “Eternal” begins. Deep bass waves tremble below a droning synth as a poetic voiceover beautifully mingles shadow and tenderness in its words. A voice drags backwards though the music in an unsettling motion.

A tripping drumbeat shapes the music and hollow, high synths cry out. Disturbing voices wander and the drumbeat pulses before the music drifts into a floating, rumbling void where spectral sounds waver. Static distantly crackles as we fade out into silence and hissing air.

“Headfirst Into The Abyss” comes to life as sweeping synths exude a thick umbra while drums pulse in broken moments and metallic sounds clank. Elevated, ghostly synths trail through the track as a throbbing drumbeat and rapidly oscillating, rushing bass charge in. High sounds are skillfully used to create a horrifying atmosphere that is full of danger. Drums and bass drive the music onward in a headlong leap.

Chanting vocals move in, delivering a message about going “headfirst into the abyss, charging into a cosmic war.” All of the sounds grow muffled before roaring into full force again. Stuttering, raised synths shiver through the music as the huge drumbeat bursts and bass throbs. The track gains angry momentum as evolving, whirling higher synths accentuate the drumbeat. As the music ends, it closes on a distorted skitter.

Gigantic, pulsating drums and jagged synth edges lacerate “Rust and Fog (Sidekickwave mix)” as it starts off. Tightly wound, elevated synth wriggles and squirms above the heaving power below it. Metallic tapping and snarling, harsh sounds move around a demonic voice's whispering. Above it, the rough, flanging sounds twist and turn.

I am drawn to the way in which the demonic voice adds a fearful layer over the torn, shattered soundscape and heavy drums. Even heavier bass rumbles below and expanding, powerful sounds contort above the terrifying depths. A terror stricken female voice cries out and the evil creature seems to respond before the track ends.

“Dark Energy”  begins with squelching sounds and a vocal sample about opening up a doorway to a demonic world and not being ready to accept the consequences of that action. Twinkling bells add a delicately worried sound as a string section’s resonant drive contributes motion.

Creaking synths descend over the slowly tapping drumbeat and solid bass. I am enamoured of the way in which elevated, bright sounds are complemented by descending weight.  A howling wind adds to the sensation of impending doom before silence falls.

Truly colossal bass rattles and growls as a steady breathy sound rushes in to kick off “Broadcast X.” Harsh, buzzing static moves while crackling sounds scratch through. A distorted voice mumbles in a disembodied fashion before the drums form a steady brushing sound broken by massive thumps.

Underneath it all, the bass is a forceful weight as the massive drums pound with aggression now to move the track forward. I enjoy the terrific heft and surging power that permeates this track before it closes out.

Conclusion

Cursed Frequency is an exploration of the hidden forces of darkness that lurk just under the surface of the world and the awful things that happen when they’re unleashed. Leifendeth has woven a shattering, howling, static-filled soundscape that creates deliciously terrifying sensations as it unfolds through the album.

Severum - Monarch Arcade

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Severum’s Monarch Arcade is permeated by shadows and driven by surging power. It captures the feeling of an ominous, digital world that seethes and heaves with dark energy. Severum layers sounds to paint strong auditory imagery and explores broad ranges of timbres, tones and textures as the album unfolds. The end result lays out a strongly detailed synthscape through which the listener can roam.

The ominous quality that Monarch Arcade exudes is one of the album's strong points. Severum creates a tense atmosphere full of massive weight and growing shadows. Each track has a sensation of danger woven by massive bass, heavy-duty drums and synths that generate sensations of shadow and gruff power. The overall synthscape is one that feels threatening and perilous in a way that I enjoy.

There’s also a sense of tremendous power and motion that seizes Monarch Arcade. Trumpeting synths, majestic melodies and arpeggios that whirl with cosmic power all combine to propel the music with speed and force. When the battering drums and active bass lines are added to the mix, the end result charges onward and drives forward with terrifying energy. It’s a feeling I find pleasing as it permeates the album.

Intensely intertwined, richly textured synths all come together to create unique soundscapes on the album. There’s a broad variation in terms of synth tones that range from clarion light to urgent shadow while textures run the gamut from ethereal smoothness to guttural gruffness and the timbres can vary intensely to produce different sonic imagery. The total package is one that keeps my ears engaged and excited for what will happen next.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Polybius” starts as gruff, ultra-low sound growls in and begins to rise, rise and rise again until it becomes a screaming, gritty slash. The throbbing drumbeat’s weight moves under an angular, oscillating, twisting melody with a jagged edge. The melody wriggles over the relentless drums and propulsive bass in a dynamic, sharp-edged line.

Digital sounds capture the arcade game atmosphere as they tremble and shift with urgent darkness. Hard-edged, rough bass shifts and a steady ticking sound contributes more energy to the track. A warmer arpeggiating pattern dances through the music in oscillating, rising ripples before and the drums slow to half time under the twisting, sharp synth angles.

A sweeping wind moves through as the rapidly trembling synth is joined by speeding drums and blocks of active synth chords. The beat has strong forward motion as the arpeggios whirl. A half time drumbeat throbs in again while the angular lead synth moves. The track ends on bright flowing synths fading into silence.

Rapidly striking snare drum and gruff, oscillating bass notes drive forward in a propulsive rush to kick off "Monarch Arcade”. After a quick drum fill, minor key chords with round tones float in quick succession as wind sweeps and the unrelenting drums keep charging. Chords swirl and rise, adding shadowy energy as bass oscillates while the drums strike.

Broad, gritty synth notes move in an angular pattern along with the charging beat as a voice counts down. A madly tapping hi-hat is joined by flashing, dangerous synth chords that tumble through the music as the drums keep adding speed and motion.

The synth chords have an organ-like quality, lending a pleasingly portentous quality as the tempo speeds along. Hollow drums burst and break as quick, subdued arpeggios spin. Silence falls after the unaccompanied synth chords shift.

Glowing, shimmering synth chords move over actively throbbing bass and a kick drum heartbeat to start “Night Time Bike Fly II.” Elevated, shining arpeggios undulate above the hollow percussion and deep bass. Now gleaming, raised synths call out in an enjoyable melody that’s full of dreaming energy and bright life over steadily pulsating drums.

The main melody has a wandering quality that moves into drum pulse, bass throb and glistening chords. Arpeggios roam in waves as a uniform background glow keeps fills the track with light and the drums and bass guide the music. After a drum fill, the leaping main melody roams with a sense of optimism and dynamic strength.

Kick drum thuds and bass shifts while repeating arpeggios imbue the music with textural motion. The hi-hat taps away, creating an even stronger pulse below the circular motion. The track ends on active synth chords and the drumbeat’s steady time-keeping that eventually fades to drifting chords.

“Eternal: Time Travel II’ begins as ethereal, starry chords flow out into space in a cosmic line, echoing and distorting slightly. Bass undulation and smoothly pulsating drums guide the track before synths flash out in climbing, coruscating notes. Drums and bass add forward motion and solid weight to effectively anchor the lighter notes. Drums and bass drop out as fragile sonic tendrils flicker.

As the drums return, a very high, taut synth cries out in a dynamic line that is doubled by trumpeting synths. Elevated arpeggios dance rapidly, adding a sense of acceleration before the track returns to delicate synth notes drifting into space.  I am drawn in by the balance and contrast in this track.

High synth with a sharp gleam sings out a melody full of a sense of speed, given power by the brassy synth line that doubles it. Wide arpeggios swirl again as raised notes soar higher in the background to add intensity while the percussion pulsates. We fall silent on high notes.

Powerful drums throb in along with a rapidly arpeggiating harpsichord synth to open “Haunted Nights.” The harpsichord sound wildly leaps and cascades over a gruff throb of synth and pounding drums. I enjoy the way in which this track is full of palpable terror and rising tension

A repeating line of dense, medium-low synth begins to wander darkly while distorted, whispering voices moves with the rapid bass oscillation. Wide, rough synths move in an undulating line while the drums hit me deep in the chest. Angular, slicing arpeggios spin while a quick drum fill throbs in.

There’s a return to the threatening, breaking pattern of roving synth. Lines of densely intertwined sound are joined by twisting, nervous synth above them.The beat keeps pulsing, guiding the music as the shadowy synth pattern of shifts, subdivides and moves. The harpsichord arpeggiation goes onward until everything abruptly ends.

“Colours” kicks off as digital-sounding, open-voiced synth and solidly pounding drums join dense, oscillating bass. The drums create a steady throb as digital-sounding synth carries a lost and drifting melody that is taken up by a more muscled, broad-sounding synth.

Active bass shifts rapidly and the drums add even more speed to the proceedings as the angular bass writhes. After a sweeping sound comes in, the medium-low, thick synth pattern drives in with surging power.

I am compelled by the sense of darkness looming from the slightly hissing synths. The drums keep up their heartbeat and bass waves shift quickly. Once again, open-voiced synth roams through the music in slow moving lines as the drum and bass throb continues far below.

Incredibly low bass throbs massively as elevated, writhing sounds shiver and hard-hitting drums pound to open “東京 2683.” High above, full synths distantly slide and wide-band, slowly twirling arpeggios add more strength over the gigantic drum and bass weight. The lead synth melody breaks the arpeggios into majestic melodic moments as the drums and bass take on a tripping, dragging motion.

Shining, medium-low synth carries out in a floating, trumpeting pattern and wind sweeps through the music. The speeding drums and bass charge again as the dense, rough-edged arpeggios spin.The main melody has an almost classical influence to it as the arpeggios whirl along to shape the track.

Underneath it all, the track’s low end drives forward with accelerative speed. The entire piece of music exudes palpable motion and effectively conveyed energy as it unfolds. The music ends on quickly volleying, high synth sounds and the thunderous power of drums and bass.

“Under Our Stars (Never Lost” comes to life as resonant, deep synth chords burst out amongst the lost, floating sounds of space.  A wide-sounding, majestic synth carries a melody that exudes positive energy and a reassuring sense of optimism over steadily pulsing snare and kick drum. Bell-like chords dance out beneath the main melody as it dynamically evolves. I am enamoured of the way in which the main melody is hopeful and full of encouragement.

Drums burst into a solidly guiding beat as cosmic sounds float and medium-low, dense synth lines climb upwards, further emphasizing the music's uplifting qualities. Now drums stutter as the energetic, open-sounding synth carries a shifting melodic pattern, as rumbling bass and darker chords add more shadow. After a brief drum fill, the main melody rises again with its majestic emotional tenor as the massive drums throb onwards and bells distantly chime.

There’s a growing motion in the music as the space sounds delicately drift and rising synth lines create yearning emotion. Choral voices add to the power and nobility of the music and the drums provide a steady heartbeat. Slightly rough-edged synths climb and fade into drifting openness as planetary sounds move through the music.

Fragile, tenuous synths roam into slowly expanding, twisting sounds that permeate the music with serenity and ease. Profound calm radiates through the music as distant, strange sounds chirr and move past. The music has become cooling and smooth, trembling sounds wandering into open space as elevated sparkles flash. The entire track breathes with a peaceful light that I deeply enjoy.

Conclusion

Monarch Arcade is an album that succeeds in creating unique, engaging audio imagery.  The music takes listeners on a journey through shadow and surging power, across vast soundscapes and into different emotional and psychological states as it unfolds.