Dudikoff - Bright Lights, Big City

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Dudikoff’s Bright Lights, Big City is a dynamic, layered slice of retrowave pleasure. The album combines addictive melodies, powerful drums and bass and lusciously interwoven synth lines to create emotive and entertaining music that paints neon imagery across my brain.

Perhaps the most alluring aspect to Bright Lights, Big City is the melodic writing on the album. Dudikoff writes melodies that are clear, engaging and emotionally rich. There’s a sense of deep feeling that emanates from his melodies, grabbing hold of my heart and holding on as they unfold. I feel like I could listen to some of these melodies for hours on end.

I also appreciate the colossal power of the drums and bass on Bright Lights, Big City. They provide propulsion, energy and form to the other musical elements. They exert tremendous force on the album and help give it the punchy energy that drives it. I also enjoy the way they add to the expressive nature of the tracks.

There’s an engaging depth to the way in which synths and the other instruments interact on the album. Each sonic layer enfolds and moves with the others to weave a tapestry of lush auditory elements. As a result, Dudikoff paints imagery of rain-wet streets, glowing neon signs and powerfully affecting emotion with each layer he creates.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Neon Black” comes to life as darkly shadowed, sharply cutting bass is joined by gently drifting, chiming synth as a crushing kick drum throbs in with a steady motion and accelerates. Snarling guitar-like synth lacerates with razor-edged energy as hard, punching drums shape the music and bass growls far below.

Synth with a charming gossamer glow delicately floats and is accented by a fierce guitar cutting in. Synth curls around the guitar sound, carrying a mournful melodic pattern that glides above the guitar’s snarl.

Snare drum and kick drum slam on and a tripping synth shifts above the percussion. Huge drums press on as reverent, glistening synth clouds slip through the music and a shimmering synth spins. The track returns to angular, slashing guitar and powerful drums before closing out.

Rapidly rushing synth is joined by gigantic, muscled drums and smoothly flowing bass as “…And She Turned Around And Smiled At Me” starts. Fragile, elevated sounds slip past while hard-edged guitar pulses evenly.

The lead synth radiates effulgent rays, carrying an engaging melody brimming with affection and dreamy hope. Choppy synth scuds above strong drums and gritty guitar sounds. Speeding, intertwining notes glisten with warm light and a tambourine adds a different percussive quality. The guitar cries out with jagged edges below skipping synth.

Michael Skog plays a passionate, heart-touching guitar-like solo that soars with exalting energy above steadily shaping drums. Flaring synth sings again, imbuing the track with tenderness and encouragement while sharper guitar adds a hard edge. The song (and the dream it carries) ends as an alarm rings.

“The Streets Of Shinjuku” opens as towering bass surges, a rumbling engine idles and heavy kick drum throbs. Tires squeal and an engine-like howl emanates from an elevated synth as hi hat and snare drum play a scattershot burst and colossal bass undulates.

Jumping, string-like synth trembles in oscillating lines that create a vibrating, trembling sensation above flourishing drums. Distant, raised sounds skip through and sirens flurry as engines howl and drums explode. Dudikoff’s aggressive guitar synth sound reaches out and cuts through giant drums and thick bass with a triumphant motion.

The guitaresque lines create dynamism as an echoing voice floats and the tremulous synth line effectively ramps up the track’s energy. Muscled drums add shape to the music and bass walls rise up with tremendous strength. The track finishes on sirens and distant voices.

Vast bass throbs smoothly as a hollow sound climbs to a peak to open “The Last Day Of Summer.” After solidly hitting retro drums come in, glittering synth flickers with gentle light. A drum flourish leads into a medium-high, richly toned synth singing a wistfully aching melody before strands of glistening synth intertwine.

Full-sounding, enfolding synth carries a pleasing melody that dreams of hazy, languid days. Choral synth adds heartwarming emotion and sax carries a powerfully touching, expressive solo that sings of blue water and palm trees. Gritty guitar-like sounds add depth and weight below the main melody’s touching qualities as the hard-hitting drums shape the track before it gently fades out.

"High Score Hero” kicks off as coins go into an arcade game and caressing, soothing synth flows above a pulsing drumbeat and steady bass flow. The drums are massive as they guide the calming synth chords.

After a drum fill, broadly shining synth with a rough edge sings a wonderfully elegiac melody as guitar adds weight and a sharper edge. The bursting drumbeat shapes the track while tranquil synth chords drift. A floating synth carries a yearning melody while open, hollow percussion taps in.

The guitar-like sound powers below with muscled chords above gigantic drums that push on, Fragile backing chords add a calming feeling as the guitar rises now a solo brimming with hopeful life. as the full, rounded synth chords glide and the drums keep shaping the music before sliding off into silence as the song ends.

A muscled fist of bass rumbles below ethereal sounds that drift above it to start “Hostile Supercomputer.” Sharply cutting synth trembles and an intimidating kick drum drives on while open air rushes around distantly wandering synth as heavy bass pulsates.

Full-sounding, medium-high synth chords add warmth as lacerating notes slice ferociously while glowing chimes flow with fragile light. Far below, drums and bass hammer onward and shifting synth chords shimmer. Hollow synth pops, adding increased tension and nervousness below glimmering chimes and above the battering low end tide.

The track slips into a segment in which rich synth chords swell and delicately touching chimes flicker while a continual percussive flow drives on. Cosmically drifting synth creates an interesting contrast with the worried, hollow synth that hammers in beneath it. The track ends as light-filled arpeggios twirl above relentless low end motion.

“Graduation Day” commences as flaring synth creates a melodic pattern that exudes encouragement. Softly gleaming lead synth sings a tender melody, beautifully pouring out soothing emotion as choral synth adds an airy sensation.

Steady notes flicker out and a slowly throbbing drumbeat shapes the music. Sharp synth regularly calls out and string-like synth carries a melody fit to burst with heartwarming emotion. There’s youthful hope and dreams bound up in the calming melody as the drums and bass guide it.

Sax floats out, full of affection and caring, calling out with passionate life as giant drums throb. The sax has a reedy lushness in contrast to the glittering string-like synth that falls softly through the track. The main melody slips in again, rising with sunny light above rebounding drums. String-like synth flits in trembling lines and the sax takes the track to an end.

Propulsive drums rush as dense bass pumps and nasal, resonant synth sings a tender, tranquil melody to kick off “Just Like Heaven.” Smoothly unfolding, effulgent lead synth keeps singing a charming, touching melody above rushing drums.

Metallic, string-like synth takes up the melody and adds more flickering glow. Chimes dance with uplifting energy, full of hope and wistful joy as the underpinning motion keeps pushing on. There’s happiness and celebration in the melody, but it is leavened by more aching, nostalgic emotion while the percussion and bass take the music to a conclusion.

Conclusion

Bright Lights, Big City transports me on a journey across a vast metropolis, engaging me in a mixture of nostalgia, wonder and images of the different experiences that can be had. There’s a sense of youthful wonder that fills the music on this album as it unfolds.

Toxxic Project - The Secrets of Planet Helios

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Toxxic Project’s The Secrets of Planet Helios carries me across the haunted beauty of a distant planet, painting powerful imagery through intensely entangling soundscapes and engaging melodies. Toxxic Project has brought in musical guests who each contribute their talents to deepening and enriching his music. This is an album for listening to while one’s mind floats out over a strange and eerily enchanting world.

Auditory storytelling is an important aspect of The Secrets of Planet Helios’ success with me. All of the ear-grabbing layering of many well-considered synth sounds results in strong, clear images moving in my mind’s eye. All of the textures, tones and timbres weave images of fantastical landscapes unfolding as I move through them. Vast plains, craggy mountains and timeless cities all pass by in my imagination as the album plays on.

The Secrets of Planet Helios is also a superb showcase for Toxxic Project’s melodic writing. I enjoy the expressive and emotive nature of the melodies he composes. They have the ability to draw me in with their clarity and strength, filling me with deep feelings as they unfurl through the music. There’s something affecting in them that keeps my heart engaged in the album.

All of the musical collaborators on the album also bring their skills and abilities to bear on the music in a way that makes it richer and more pleasing. Whether they are co-producers like Aeronexus and Dug Masters or remixers like Max Project, Fraver, UFO 1982, Timedriver or The Morales, they each contribute to deepening and increasing the auditory impact of the music on this album. I also must mention Sinuhe Navarrete’s mixing and mastering on the album.

My Favourite Tracks Anaylzed

“Formalhaut” begins as darkly swelling bass is cut by widely gleaming arpeggios that ripple with tension as they grow in power. Flaring synth drifts threateningly as tautly glowing synth is touched by airy exhalations. A kick drum thuds as giant bass oscillates to effectively create powerful low end motion.

Drums and bass pound as brassy, medium-high synth sings a rising melody with a touch of uncertainty, along with its triumphant qualities. Heaving drums drive on as delicate sounds sail above them and the bass also slams hard. The trumpeting lead synth melody is tragedy tinged and tentative. Throbbing drums guide the track and the hi hat also bursts while a hollow, airy sound glides.

A shadowy, open-voiced arpeggio twirls as the unstoppable low end pulses and the drums press on still. Gossamer synth drifts through carrying a fragile, spaced out melody while slicing synth shifts. Air flows as huge bass growls to an end.

Pulsating, medium-high synth with a reverberating quality is joined by thudding kick drum and twisting, sparkling sounds to start “Crystal Sands” Regal synth chords add a wonderful glimmer and the kick drum drives on. Glistening, elevated synth carries a dynamic pulse above steadily oscillating bass.

Warming chords rise and the snare drum propels the track. Lightly touching, flickering synth chords add energy as oscillating bass rushes onward. Shining, trembling synth sails out smoothly before another glistening synth flickers with washing light.

The drums press on above rushing bass and the glassy lead synth sings out full chords that tremble through the music. Energy fills the music, flashing with clear light while soft-edged chords slowly move and bass swirls far below. The drums continue to move forward and silence falls.

“Dark Connection” commences as laughter rings out along with a thudding kick drum and softly hissing sounds. Steadily undulating synth tumbles and a driving bass pulse is joined by reverent sound sailing above it.

Bass rapidly oscillates, a snare drum bursts and slow, shining synth waves lap pleasingly. The kick drum thumps and snare drum leaps out as medium-high, gently glittering synth carries a plaintive melody.

There’s hurt in the main melody as the solidly throbbing bass and snare drum keep shaping the music. A hazy glow permeates the lead synth as it flows and the energetic low end of the track keeps driving onward. The wistful melodic pattern moves with the lightly touching notes and ends.

Ominous bass towers as gritty sounds swirl and powerful drums pound to open “Battle For Helios.” Huge, majestic chords swell and medium-high, radiant lead synth carries triumphant notes. Glimmering synth carries a drifting, reaching melody that pours out light as angular bass oscillates dynamically. Noble, glowing synth chords climb and flaring lead synth rises up in ear-pleasing sunlit bursts.

Drums pound on along with tremendously powerful bass that breaks into vibrating lines. Strings unfurl and the drums batter on as muscled synth chords rise. Sparkling notes slip through the music as flashing synth leaps and arpeggiates. The drums slow to half time with a cymbal clashing and the victorious chords crying out as bass oscillates. The track throbs into quiet with a deep growl.

“Tears Of Algol” starts as looming bass pulses with a dread feeling as angular, sweeping synth flashes out. Pounding, weighty drums form a steady beat as gleaming light flows from delicate, caressing synth.

I enjoy the contrast of intimidating power and galactic light n this track Shaping drums pound with dense reverberations as angular sounds sweep and gigantic bass oscillates. Glassy synth doubles the bass and silence falls.

Massive drums heave and sharp synth slices above hard-hitting bass to start “Secrets Of The Planet Helios.” The bass ramps up as whirling, raised synth and wobbling sounds flit through. A fluting sound twirls and colossal drums smoothly guide the music as a tambourine adds a metallic rattle.

Radiant synth echoes with a feather light sensation, trembling as vibrating, sounds expand. Gigantic drums push on as delicate synth echoes out, ethereally wandering, creating a sonic sensation that I enjoy. Rushing, sparkling synth moves underneath softly sailing synth with a fragile feeling.

Descending, drifting high synth tumbles and drums burst weightily as they propel the music onward with insistent energy and the distant sounds cascade and shiver like windblown sand. The track ends on the throbbing drumbeat and cosmic synth cascading.

“Crystal Sands (Max Project Remix)” opens as monumental drums burst with energy and crystalline arpeggios arc rapidly, driven by a powerful drumbeat. Max Project’s remix imbues the track with a more propulsive and energetic feeling that I find pleasing.

Winds sweep, chimes glitter and sharp synth vibrates with slicing strength as tapping percussion moves. Drums with planetary weight and throbbing bass drive below whirling arpeggios.

The main melody sweeps through, majestic above the grandeur of the drums, as wind flows past. The remix has the effect of increasing the music’s dense power and enhancing its leaping, uplifting sensations.

Mad laughter bubbles on, increasing the threat level as ominous bass flows and kick drum thuds to kick off Fraver’s remix of “Dark Connection.” I enjoy the way in which this remix creates a heavier, more dangerous feeling as it thunders and crashes. Oscillating bass imbues the remix with great power as it glides into a worshipfully flowing segment.

Rapidly shivering synth is now touched by an orchestral string-like synth melody, full of beauty and pained emotion above insistent bass and guiding drums. Nobility and elegance fill the string-like synth melody as it unfolds. A distant voice echoes above slowly pulsing drums. A heaving bass oscillation cuts through the string section as it fades in and out before silence falls along with soft synth.

“Sentinels (Timedriver remix) begins with richly rippling synth, a steady kick drum and flickering arpeggios, feeling gentler and more subdued in the remix. Arpeggios create sparkling texture as low, round sounds slip through the music. Mammoth drums throb with greater weight and twisting lead synth carries a melody skilfully evoking ancient mystery and cosmic magic above lush bass.

There’s an open air feeling as the big drums throb in slower motion and descending synth sounds fall through the music. Gargantuan bass glides and drums keep shaping the music. There’s an ethereal glide in this remix as it evokes feelings of enigmatic structures in a vast landscape as the muscled bass and drums fall silent.

Conclusion

The Secrets of Planet Helios carries me out over the surface of an exotic, enigmatic planet on a sonic journey. I feel transported from the mundane world to a place far across vast gulfs of space by the music that Toxxic Project and his guests create on the album. This is music that fills me with a sense of exploration and a feeling of adventure.

Six Leaves Left - The Longest Journey

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Six Leaves Left’s The Longest Journey is full of gentle emotion and lusciously interwoven musical landscapes as it does indeed carry the listener away on a sonic journey. There are also captivating melodies and intriguing auditory contrasts on this album.

The tranquil, tender emotional states that fill The Longest Journey are deeply touching for me. There’s something peaceful and soothing in the music that draws me in and leaves me feeling recharged and relaxed. I also enjoy the way that Six Leaves Left punctuates the softness with darker, sharper moments for contrast.

Melody permeates The Longest Journey and each of the melodies is engaging and ear-pleasing. Six Leaves Left weaves a spell of warmth and enfolding emotion in his melodic writing that fills the heart wth affectionate, perhaps slightly melancholy feelings. I enjoy the depth of each of them.

A luscious synth palette contributes to the atmospheric nature of this album. A whole range of slipping, gliding synth sounds mingles with glowing and caressing textures as punchy drums and dense bass shape the music. Taken as a whole, the result is blissful listening.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Sailing Away” comes into being as gentle sound swells to a glistening flow. Silky, washing synth sings a wonderfully delicate, touching melody as the slipping drumbeat guides the music.

Medium-high, flaring synth carries an upbeat, encouraging melodic pattern into sonorous synth drifting through the track. Undulating bass slides and lustrous chimes flicker before the wide-sounding, bright synth carries a positive melody.

Massive bass oscillates and wind sweeps as trembling synth caresses my ears. Fragile chimes glimmer as a glockenspiel’s sharper shine cuts in. The drums now break into an uneven beat while sunny synth glows and the track drifts into silence with a mellow sigh.

Effulgent, feather-light synth brushes into the music in a slowly undulating pattern to open “The Longest Journey.” Resonant chimes carry a charming, wistful melody out over huge bass as slowly revolving arpeggios shine.

Bass swirls in towering but tender whorls as lost voices echo and tranquil choral sounds move in. Raised notes sparkle with clear light to accent the track. Medium-high, trumpeting synth carries a victorious melody tinged by aching emotion.

Elevated, gleaming notes add a fragile and tender quality as rounded arpeggios spin. A twangy guitar carries a pained, yearning melody while rain falls softly and a steady drone fades into silence.

“Lost Frequencies” starts as gigantic bass and throbbing drums form a driving heartbeat. Distantly glittering sounds flow and brassy, muted synth carries an encouraging melody. Synth chords add shadings of more uncertain emotion in a way which I find pleasing.

Radiant synth carries a dynamic melody with a hint of troubled emotion in it as colossal drums and bass press on. The drums add punchy weight as lambent synth echoes out. Sharp-edged, wide-sounding synth climbs while dark notes with a hint of threat touch the music.

Flaring synth adds more warmth and uplift before the energetic, but slightly melancholy lead synth floats out. There’s a sense of forward motion as heaving drums and pulsing bass are tinged with sparkling chimes. The track ends on crushing bass weight.

Clear, glassy chimes slide out into open space, carrying slowly undulating arpeggios to commence “Summer’s End.” Creamy synth enfolds my ears and elevated chimes glimmer, carrying a tentatively touching, calming melody that I find deeply pleasing.

Nasal-sounding, full synth takes up the nostalgically yearning melody. Flickering chimes carry their own fragile melody as soft-edged, lush synth sings with dreaming light. Strong drums and dense bass rebound below the elevated sounds.

Nasally-drifting, tranquil synth carries the lead melody while guitar cries out with intensely passionate feeling. Powerfully throbbing drums and strong bass are touched by a broadly whirling arpeggio. An angelic synth chorus floats out above huge drums and fades away.

“A Dog’s Dream” begins as a steady, pulsating synth is cut by a bending synth that doubles it. Wind sweeps past before frolicking, gleaming synth carries an uplifting, irrepressible melody above steadily oscillating bass and insistent drums.

I enjoy the charming quality of the main melody as it skips along with easy going joy. Trumpeting synth takes up the exuberant melody before guitar sounds arc up and hollow, bouncing notes flit.

There’s a hopeful eagerness pouring from the main melody and sunnily glittering synth sings an even more upbeat melodic part. Gigantic bass is cut by a warming, twirling synth that fades out. The track ends on large, lambent synth blocks and underpinning bass.

Broadly glowing synth carries a melody rich with positive emotion to kick off “This Is The Place.” A pulsating, propulsive drum and bass flow moves below slightly twisting, shimmering synth.

The track breaks into an angular, hard-hitting drum and bass pulse that slices through. Effulgent lead synth suffuses the main melody as it reaches for the sky. Wide-sounding, gleaming synth effectively contrasts with digitally flaring notes.

A disembodied voice over floats as a soaring, aspiring melody climbs over driving drums and bass. Airy voices float in a chorus above the heaving weight below them. Flowering synth blossoms before the track ends on sharp sounds.

Conclusion

The Longest Journey drenches me with calm, encouraging emotion while filling my ears with richly layered sonic tapestries. Six Leaves Left has made music that touches me and relaxes me while keeping my mind engaged.

Living Pictures - Crossing The Bridge

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Living Pictures’ Crossing The Bridge weaves an entrancing sonic tapestry as it unfolds. The music is full of intricate detail, intriguing musical interactions and permeated by complex emotional layers. Living Pictures explores wide ranging soundscapes with a fascinating palette of synthesized sounds across the album.

Each time I listen to Crossing The Bridge I hear some new facet I hadn’t noticed. There’s a great deal of attention to detail in the album that I enjoy. Living Pictures fills each track with richly interwoven sounds, full of texture and tonal colour. There are microtonal interactions and accenting notes that touch the music to lend depth and interest in each track.

The way in which different auditory elements are mingled, contrasted and separated on Crossing The Bridge provides for intriguing listening. Thunderous bass can coexist with delicate sparkling notes, propulsive drums play off with swirling softness and shadows rise from angular harshness to be enfolded by a burst of rushing air. All of these interactions take hold of my ears and hold them.

Another aspect of the album that draws me in is the mixture of emotional states that fills the music. I feel joy, pain, worry, fear and tension unfurling within me as each track flows on. There are so many different states of mind within the music, pulling me in and allowing me to experience them through sound.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Persistent Dreams” opens as distant, fluting notes float insubstantially as a full-sounding instrument trembles and grunting bass pulses. Rattling, clanking noises shift as airy fluting is joined by a looming background rumble.

The grounding bass slowly flows as wind rushes and drums echo out into space. A warm-sounding synth instrument softly glides, curling around and enfolding me as it draws me into it. Lush piano calls out in lightly touching notes and chiming sounds twinkle.

Drums guide the music in reverberating motion as piano chords add form while they create a vibrating rhythm. Elevated, flute-like sounds drift in tenderly touching motion above dense bass flow. The drums drop away as bending sounds fade along with the flute instrument.

Thunderously booming bass is touched by nervously twitching notes as “Disbelief” begins. Pipe organ-like synth drifts in haunted waves before resolving into an entrancing melody, distant and fragile, touched on the edges by hissing static.

Ghostly sound undulates steadily before being broken by a cymbal. Organ-like synth wanders in a spectral fog while scattered snare drum and pulsing kick drum propel the music.

Medium-high wobbling synth drifts in uneasy patterns as a metallic, oddly vocal sounding synth shivers above thumping drums. Low synth descends as a twisting sonic cacophony writhes through. Harsh, uneven sound trembles while wind rushes and metallic chimes tinkle before silence falls.

“The Sleepwalker’ starts as bending, deep synth carries a lugubrious melodic pattern below shifting, slowly slipping sounds. A woodwind-like synth’s woodsy voice carries a melodic pattern and strings add radiant resonance as elevated chimes trickle.

Woodwind synth carries a melancholy, trembling note pattern while the cello-like strings have a wonderfully heart-tugging ache. The cello-like notes accent the emotive woodwinds and chimes distantly sparkle. Shivering strings add depth and the woodwind gently calls out, dreamy and surrounded by tactile strings as the track ends.

Resonant chimes fill the track with ringing notes that flow over a strongly throbbing drumbeat to open “Crystal Palace.” Gritty bass intertwines in gnarled lines as chiming notes smoothly cascade.

Vibrating notes pulse in descending lines while raised synth shimmers. Dense, slowly shifting chimes add a muffled glow, effectively contrasting with single notes that call out with clarion voices.

The bass steps down below a trembling synth line as soft-edged, glistening notes float. Massive bass adds strength as drums shape the music and lambent flashes illuminate the high end while a string-like sound ends the track with a windy rush.

“The Hunter” begins as extremely low bass moves in slow pulses. Medium-high synth with a nasal sound is joined by open-sounding, breathy notes. Round-sounding synth drifts along while the bass becomes a heartbeat punctuated by flat snare drum.

Low, melancholy synth creates an undulation as xylophone notes rattle and punchy snare drum guide them. I enjoy the layered, interlocking nature of this track. Towering bass waves slip below in vast motion as snare drums rattle and skip. As the bass drops out, bright notes ring and the surging bass rises again along with metallic notes clamouring in a rush before silence falls.

Hissing, steady dripping creates a moist sound to open “Biodome.” Creatures skitter and chirp off in the distance. Low droning synth flows as rich natural sounds flit and float. Watery noises and high, strange chitinous sounds rustle and hollow drums reverberate.

Now the drums burst and drive while xylophone-like synth carries a skipping, fluttering melodic pattern. Reverent choral sounds drift below the tinkling xylophone as lush, low synth moves underneath wandering higher sounds with a lost feeling. Trembling noise vibrates and xylophone flits through in intertwining notes.

Rich choral sounds grow and the track fades on muffled drums and thick hissing sound along with a crunching scrape. This is music that is heavy with atmosphere and sensation, weaving a sonic tapestry that immerses the listener. It evokes the song’s title and leaves me feeling like I’d explored its environment.

“Convergence’ starts as galactic chimes flicker above a wandering, twisting background full of gentleness. Threatening bass adds ear pleasing contrast and majestic pipe organ thunders with triumph into open space. This track is full of great strength and ominous power. Bass flows and tiny synth sparks flutter while lost notes swirl and fade.

Conclusion

Crossing The Bridge takes me on an auditory journey, both broad and deep, full of sunlit corners and deep shadows. I enjoy the way in which the music enfolds me and carries me along, borne on the sonic tides that wash through it.