My Favourite 2023 Albums…So Far

Introduction

As we hit the halfway mark of 2023, I decided to round up all of the albums that have grabbed my attention and really tickled my ears thus far this year. All of the artists I’ve reviewed have produced superb music so far in 2023, but these are the albums that most stood out for me.

One of the things that has just blown me away this year has been the stratospheric height of the musical bar that has been set. The #synthfam is truly excelling at the top end of the genre! The vast majority of the albums I have reviewed are of uniformly high quality. My choices for this list have to do with the way the albums made me feel, rather than anything else. Synth music is continuing to grow in quality as time passes.

Each album on this list was chosen for the emotional or musical impact it made on me. The artists involved, both the originators and guest contributors, all created music that drew me in. Sometimes it was the way an album tugged at my heart and at others, it was the complexity and depth of the music that pulled me deeply into the listening experience. Either way, these albums represent music that was deeply engaging for me.

I also want to add that the #synthfam continues to be an enormous inspiration for me. I enjoy every minute of reviewing all of the tremendous music being brought into existence by your fertile imaginations and compositional, vocal and instrumental abilities. Thank you all for your hard work, passion and dedication to your craft. It is a privilege to share this community with all of you!

My Favourite Albums Thus Far

Jessy Mach - Night Shifter

I found Night Shifter to be a heady concoction of ‘80s-inflected synth energy, first-rate vocal performances and Jessy Mach’s pleasing guitar chops. There was a lively dynamism to the album that carried with it an emotional quality and intermingling synth sounds. It created an entertaining listening experience for me.

The fusion of retro nostalgia and modern, pin-sharp production on Night Shifter was another attractive quality in Jessy Mach’s music. His balance between high quality sound and classic synthesizers allowed the unique auditory qualities of those instruments to shine.

All of the guest performers on Night Shifter came in for praise from me. I found the excellent vocal work added more depth and emotive strength to the album as it unfolded. Each singer brought their own individual characters to bear which added to the engaging nature of the music.

I was also enamoured of the intensity and finger-bending agility of Jessy Mach’s guitar playing. The skillful use of his guitar abilities helped strengthen the overall listening pleasure in the music. I also enjoyed the way in which the guitar playing enriched the feelings pouring from the album.

Andrew LeSynt - The Lost City

The Lost City attracted me with the intertwining synth layering that painted intriguing soundscapes and immersed me within their sonic storytelling. The music has a living, breathing quality to it as it unfolds. I found myself wanting to listen to it again to extract more musical detail from each track.

I was fascinated by the way in which all of the sonic layers interacted with one another on The Lost City to create complex sonic worlds. I felt that all of the individual synth sounds worked well together to form a nuanced and varied whole. Into that mix, I also enjoyed the guitar sounds that Andrew LeSynt wove into the mix to add more ear-pleasing sound.

The Lost City’s allure for me was further increased by the elevated quality of Andrew LeSynt’s melodic writing. I enjoyed the way in which his melodies were able to capture powerful emotions and transfer them to my ears. Each of the melodies weaves together to create more feeling in the whole album as they mesh together.

The clear, clean quality of Andrew LeSynt’s production was another decisive factor in my listening pleasure. There’s a precision and detail to the sound that make each track stand out. I was drawn to the way in which the auditory quality allowed every element within the music to find clear expression.

Turbo Hamster - Obluda

I felt myself attracted to Obluda because of the complexity and darkness that it combined into one emotive, melodic whole with a lurking sense of threat hanging over each track. Turbo Hamster took me on a journey across shadowy terrain with melodic beauty and seething danger with this album.

One of the reasons why I was so drawn to Obluda is the balance and contrast between different sonic elements. The way in which lacerating synth moves below tenderly caressing notes and dominating bass provides support for propulsive drums creates an ear-pleasing electronic orchestra. The end result is engaging audio storytelling.

I also took pleasure in the complexity of the melodic writing on Obluda. Each melody travels through varying moods and emotions as it unfolds. I was enamoured of the way that Turbo Hamster’s melodies could move from tenuous delicacy to ominous danger within each track. I always enjoyed him taking me on a journey.

Musical imagery was a strong point for Turbo Hamster on this album. He carried me through tales of perilous darkness and melancholy. He transported me over black voids and jagged mountain ranges. I felt myself imbibing all of the different mental states through which the album traveled with ease.

Dudikoff - Bright Lights, Big City

Dynamic motion, retro ear candy and melodic pleasure came together to pull me into Bright Lights, Big City. I became addicted to the way in which drum and bass muscle mixed with layered, luxuriant synth sounds and the aforementioned melodic joy. I concluded that this was an entertaining slice of neon glow and energy.

I felt that the biggest attraction on Bright Lights, Big City was Dudikoff’s ability to write catchy, engaging melodies. I enjoyed the deep emotional connection that his melodies made with me, finding that they touched my heart and drew me into their beauty. I added that they had a great deal of repeat listening value for me.

Gigantic, full-fat drums and bass were another standout feature of Bright Lights, Big City for me. I took pleasure from their chest-pounding power, shaping effect and forceful motion that accelerated the music forward and gave it a potent punch. The percussive elements helped tie everything together well here.

I was impressed by Dudikoff’s skillfully layered instrumental sounds on the album. He had the ability to wrap different layers of tone, timbre and sonic texture together in a deliciously pleasing way. The imagery of oily puddles on broken asphalt, flickering neon and city lights was strongly conveyed in his music.

jacket - Vol. II: Void

Combining stratospheric production quality, intricately interlocking synth sounds, well-written lyrics and talented musical guests is what got jacket’s Vol. II: Void onto this list of my favourite albums of 2023 so far. I was impressed by the tremendous soundscapes that were woven by jacket on this album.

I ran out of superlatives to praise Vol II: Void’s production quality. I found the detailed, nuanced and razor sharp sound that he created on the album only increased the strength of the other musical elements. The clarity of the music added depth to the emotional expression that jacket brought to the album.

The way in which the songwriting on Vol. II: Void was able to freeze moments of human experience was engaging for me. I enjoyed the way in which each vocalist featured on the album was able to interpret those lyrics in a way that complemented the overall mood of the album.

A synth palette that simply erupted with a plethora of different sonic elements was another reason that Vol. II: Void found a way onto this list. I found the way in which each carefully selected sound was woven into a luscious tapestry to be mesmerizing. The synth mix brought a great deal of depth to the album.

This album was also a tribute to the talent with which the #synthfam is blessed. I was happy to hear so many members of the community bringing their unique musical vision to the party. It made the end result truly memorable.

Hill Valley Hero - Arcades

For me, the way in which Hill Valley Hero’s Arcades caught me up in its expression of youthful energy, nostalgic yearning for past joy and lingering hope made one of my favourite albums thus far in 2023. I was pleased by his ability to take classic synthwave building blocks and use them to create expressive, emotional music with them. I was surprised by how much I was touched by this album.

The album brims with superb musical moments, but the most compelling aspect of Arcades for me is the way it tugged at my heart. I found that it evoked feelings of exuberant energy and pleasant memories along with a mournful ache for times past that can never return. Hill Valley Hero reached me at a deep level that kept me fully engaged with his music.

Emotional strength poured from the melodies that Hill Valley Hero wrote for the album. His melodic writing was a crucial part of the appeal of Arcades for me because it allowed him to drive home the feelings he created. I was drawn in by his knack of writing melodies that radiated mingled emotion as they evolved.

Rich, intensely layered soundscapes played a role in my attraction to this album. I took pleasure in the way that Hill Valley Hero wove together passionate sax, textural electric guitar and a wide range of synth sounds to produce expressive, affecting music. There was a feast of fascinating tones and timbres that all worked well together here.

Oceanside85 - Love Warrior

Oceanside85’s superb voice, the emotional weight of the song lyrics and the excellent line up of guest artists is what attracted me to Oceanside85’s Love Warrior in such a powerful manner. I also felt a strong pull from the way in which the music explores the complexities inherent in human relationships on the album.

Oceanside85’s potent vocal performance was an enormous drawing card for me on Love Warrior. Her voice is a finely tuned instrument that can snarl, soar and delicately caress as needed and she put it to full use on the album. I was also enamoured of the way in which she captured the passion, pain and need expressed within the lyrics in her voice.

I was also pleased by the way in which all of the guest producers on Love Warrior employed their considerable talents to create a rich, cohesive whole. Each producer managed to skillfully integrate their own unique sound into a smoothly flowing album. They showcased their talents while still working together to produce a seamless end result.

A more ephemeral, but still engaging aspect that drew me into the album was the depth of human feeling that filled it. Oceanside85 showed a vulnerability and openness in the way that she explored the emotional heart of the music on the album. I found it pulled me deeper into the listening experience.

DASHCAM - Sundown On Volcano Beach

Neon glow, heartbreaking melancholy and unctuous synth layering were the elements that combined to pique my interest in Sundown On Volcano Beach. I enjoyed the way he and his musical guests combined their talents to create an album full of affecting emotion and musical beauty. I found myself listening to the album over and again to enjoy the journey.

All of the mixed emotions that permeated Sundown On Volcano Beach were another reason the album made this list. DASHCAM and his musical collaborators have infused each song with yearning, passion and a dreamy nostalgia. I was attracted by the atmosphere of pastel imagery and soft focus feeling that arose as the album revealed itself to me one song at at time.

Those musical collaborators I mentioned are another reason why I so enjoyed Sundown On Volcano Beach. They combined their own fascinating and enjoyable sounds together in a way that heightened and deepened the overall feeling of the album. I enjoyed how they all put a fresh spin on the overall theme of the album while keeping a cohesive feeling intact.

I also took pleasure in the way DASHCAM brought together his well thought out synth palette with the emotional core of the album. He took the variety of tones, timbres and sonic colours available to him and masterfully mingled them to paint musical layers. As a whole, they drove home the atmosphere and expression that filled each song.

Cat Temper - Furio

The sheer depth and complexity of the synth tapestry on Furio is what gave the album such an intense appeal to me. His synth palette, the way in which he chose to deploy the sounds and his well-cxonsutrcted melodies all came together to pull me into the music. I enjoyed the chance to listen to the music several times and found new and interesting aspects to enjoy within it.

Another major factor that made Furio such an entertaining listening experience for me was the fluid movement of moods within Cat Temper’s melodies. There was a range of emotional expression within each melody that could be complementary or conflicting, but never failed to hold my interest. I was happy to have my mind so engaged by the listening experience.

Intensively layered synth sounds that formed intricate synthscapes were a hallmark of Furio. I found the way in which Cat Temper blended raging, caressing, threatening and soothing sounds quite captivating. He created a complete package that told tales in tones and musical colours that wove imagery all around me.

I was also drawn to the low end elements of this album because of their sheer variety of percussion sounds and the enormity and weigh of the bass. When these different elements combined, the end result were intoxicating beats that shaped and directed the music as it unfolded.

The Pyramid - Behind The Lights

Behind The Lights made its way onto this list because of the absolutely inspiring nature of the melodies that The Pyramid wrote for it. In concert with the artist’s ability to paint detailed sonic imagery and his well-chosen synth sounds, this album made a deep impression on me as it unfolded. I was touched and moved as I listened.

Melodic beauty suffuses Behind The Lights from beginning to end. I was bowled over by the uplifting, inspiring and heartwarming melodies that filled the tracks. There was a sweeping sense of joy in some of them and tender melancholy in others, but all were infused with a nostalgic feeling that leaves a pleasant ache behind it. I was never less than filled with uplifting emotion, leavened by a gentle yearning.

Each track on Behind The Lights drew potent images in my mind’s eye. The Pyramid’s effective use of engaging melodies, ear-pleasing harmony and a richly detailed synth palette resulted in music that carried me across landscapes mingling emotion, sensation and musical pleasure. I felt myself visualizing a plethora of different images as each segment of the tracks revealed themselves to me. The images are another crucial element that led me to add the album to this list.

The way in which The Pyramid integrated his synth palette on the album was another reason for my listening pleasure. He had a way of combining the varied sounds to create detailed, emotive music, using the evocative tonal and timbral qualities of different synths. As the album unfolded, I was pulled further into its world.

Toxxic Project - The Secrets of Planet Helios

The way in which The Secrets of Planet Helios lifted me up and transported me to the spectral beauty of a remote world was a primary motivator for including the album on this list. Toxxic Project was able to fill my mind with intense sonic imagery, painted with richly interlocking synth sounds. I also felt attracted to the music by the fine guest artists who were featured on the album.

I am a sucker for musical storytelling and The Secrets of Planet Helios does a bang-up job in that department. Layers of lush synths intermingled to create clear images in my mind’s eye. The way in which tonal, timbral and textural elements were combined carried me above sweeping, majestic landscapes and over an eldritch planet’s landscape.

Melodies are often what makes music pleasing to me and Toxxic Project wrote some superb ones for the album. They had a touching emotional core within them that served The Secrets of Planet Helios well. Not only did the album take me on an image-rich journey but it also took me on an emotional one through the complex melodic shifts expressed in each melody.

All of the album’s musical guests brought their talents to the overall sound to lend depth and breadth. Each guest contributed to increasing the auditory impact of the music on this album. I also had to mention Sinuhe Navarrete’s mixing and mastering because it, too, added more strength to the overall sound.

Bunny X - Love Minus 80

An intricately interlaced synth journey unfolded as I listened to Love Minus 80 as Bunny X explored their love of science fiction through their music. I was pulled into the auditory world that they created by the emotive vocal performances, finely crafted songs and guest artists who deepened the music. I felt the music take me over and carry me away across the stars.

Hugely talented guest artists were another reason for my appreciation of Love Minus 80. Each guest performer brought an individual style and talent to bear on the album. They helped add to the emotional impact of the music without breaking the flow. Their own talents helped augment the high level performances of Bunny X themselves.

Elevated production values made Love Minus 80 an ear-pleasing listening experience for me. Bunny X along with their co-producer Gosteffects created a crystal clear sound that still managed to capture all the retrosynth vibes that poured from the album. I was also happy with the way in which the synth palette’s intricate and detailed nature shone through in the production quality of the music.

The sci-fi inspired nature of the album gave it more depth and meaning in my view. I enjoyed the way in which Bunny X used the tales as creative catalysts for writing fresh and interesting music on the album. The songs captured the essence of the original stories while adding a new dimension to them.

Coastal - Heartbeats

Moving, emotional depth was the reason why I felt so pulled in by Heartbeats as the album revealed itself to me. Melodic expression, gorgeous synth tones and Aaron Hetherington’s heightened vocal talents came together with the finely honed songwriting to pierce my heat with emotion, I found this album difficult to put down as a listener.

Melodies that wove golden sonic threads into a complex fabric of mingled emotion were another reason for my attraction to Heartbeats. Aaron Hetherington and Jonathan Fletcher brought their talents together to create heartfelt, eloquent music and lyrics on the album. They managed to capture human feeling within a musical prism and reflect it back to the listener.

I also found the embarrassment of sonic riches provided by the album’s synth palette to be compelling. So many different synth sounds were skillfully woven together to created nuanced and heart-touching music. I was also drawn to the reedy sax warmth and dynamic electric guitar that were used on the album.

OCCAMS LASER – The Grid Collection

Review by Mike Templar

British dark synth and synthwave producer Tom Stuart, also known as Occams Laser, has a remarkable collection of work to his name, with a career that stretches back to 2014. Occams Laser's sound is a mix of retro synthesizers and 80s horror soundtracks, with the added influence of cyberpunk and modern electronic music.

I'd like to introduce you to his outstanding body of work, which I call The Grid Collection consisting of three albums that follow a thoughtful musical storyline influenced by the 1982 TRON movie.

The Grid (2016) - 17 Tracks

The Grid. A place where data and information is represented as a simulated reality. Each user has their own program and due to the users creating these programs they regard their users with deific status.

Under the influence of a new power-hungry artificial intelligence, the programs are being coerced into losing faith in the users. It would take a new type of program to alter this balance of power and re-take the grid for the good of the programs and their users. With the aid of a mysterious entity claiming to be a user who has been put into the system, perhaps there is hope.

All will be settled on….The Grid.

Return to the Grid (2020) - 24 Tracks

In 1989 the creator of The Grid disappears. Haunted by this mystery we are drawn to a familiar place, The Arcade. Soon we are pulled into a digital world, one which has become more advanced than we could have ever imagined. This cyber frontier is filled with unknown dangers that must be fought to survive. With corrupted creations and unique beings born inside this digital world; it is hard to decipher friend from foe.  It seems we will need every scrap of help to traverse this cyber universe, find the creator of The Grid and escape alive.

“This album acts as a direct continuation to my album The Grid from 2016, however it also acts as a spiritual replacement soundtrack to TRON Legacy. In my head this is what I would have done with the soundtrack to the second film in the Tron series. Taking inspiration from elements and instruments used in the original TRON (1982) score but with a few modern techniques, styles, effects and my own spin on implementation,” Tom shares.

The Grid Lives (2023) - 19 Tracks

ENCOM has recovered data from what remains of Kevin Flynn’s reformatted data disc.

Using an older backup of the ENCOM mainframe computer system a new amalgamation has been formed. This creation is under the supervision of Edward Dillinger Jr.

However; buried deep in the backup code is something long forgotten. A program that left unchecked could repeat the mistakes of the past. Pursuit of the perfect system has always been a curse. It is not always certain what we remove from the equation to achieve such perfection. One thing is for certain…

The Grid Lives!

When you listen to The Grid Collection, you quickly realize that these soundtracks are not simply some sort of copies of the existing TRON soundtracks, but these sounds have a character all their own, just like the self-designed short stories to the albums as well.

Occams Laser created his own vision of an alternative TRON soundtrack, telling different parallel stories. His cinematic synthscape soundtracks shine with ingenuity and create a mood as if you were directly participating in the action of the stories. I really like the fact that he maintains a retro style with the analog synthsizer sounds that are more reminiscent of John Carpenter and the Blade Runner soundtrack than, for example, the modernized cyberpunk style of Daft Punk. Listening to these albums becomes a real pleasure.

The span of all tracks range from spherical-etheric songs to danceable cyberpunk tracks. With all 3 albums you get more than enough for the little money that is offered to you for 60 tracks! All albums come with attractive album artwork and additional material; The Grid Lives includes an alternate TRON short story.

I asked Tom what his motivation was to write his own mini-screenplay for the third part of his trilogy: “I love both current TRON films, and to me I just wanted to create my own 3rd part of that world before the possibility of it being ruined with TRON: Ares which is due to come out possibly next year!“

Check out Tom's outstanding artwork!

For more Occams Laser, visit occamslaser.bandcamp.com/music.

Coastal - Heartbeats

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Coastal’s Heartbeats has a tremendously deep emotional core that permeates every aspect of the music. The mixture of expressive melodies, beautiful synth layers, Aaron Hetherington’s superb vocal abilities and the impactful songwriting create an album that drives an arrow into my heart. This album keeps drawing me back to it again and again.

All of the melodic content on Heartbeats skilfully weaves together complicated emotions into affecting tapestries. Aaron Hetherington and Jonathan Fletcher work together to write music that has expression at its core and the melodies all dive deep to stimulate the humanity at the centre of the album. I also enjoy the way in which those melodies support the songwriting here.

I am engaged by the way in which Heartbeats explores the sonic palette used within the music. There’s such an auditory feast happening that my ears have an embarrassment of sonic riches to explore. The way synths are used to provide texture and tonal colour complements the lyrical and vocal beauty of the album. When one includes the electric guitar and heartbreakingly emotive sax, the end result is both touching and deeply attractive.

The fusion of first-rate songwriting from Coastal with Aaron Hetherington’s wide ranging, flexible and eloquent voice creates songs that mesmerize and touch the soul. Once again, the coruscating emotional centre of the album comes to the fore, tugging me into the world it creates and holding me in it with ease.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Slow Breeze” starts with a pleasing impression of yearning emotion in the opening synth chords that drift out in broad motion. Crystal chimes trickle through over luxuriant chords as a tangling, nasal-sounding synth shifts. Aaron Hetherington’s robotized voice adds a digitized quality above big, bursting drums and upwelling bass.

The vocals' digital quality creates contrast with the heartbroken lyrics while diamond-lit chimes sparkle and lush synth chords fill the background. Guitar cries out with hurting, twirling notes fading out into quiet.

The narrator speaks of a slow breeze blowing. He’s unable to breathe as the song’s subject’s eyes take him. He asks the other person to, “tell me what you’re thinking, tell me if you’re leaving.”

Our storyteller says the other person’s hands are “steady…ready” and his heart is racing and aching. He goes on to repeat the phrases only adding that his heart is breaking now.

Sharp-edged luminosity pours from twirling arpeggios while unctuous, gruff-edged synth billows to open “Heartbeats.” Punching drums and rumbling bass move below hollow, sparkling synth.

Aaron Hetherington’s voice carries the hopeful melody eloquently through the song supported by the lighter voice below it. Chimes add gossamer shine as the hard-driving drumbeat shapes the song. Aaron Hetherington’s voice leaps upward, exuding moving emotion, while a metallic gleam softly fills twirling synth.

Bass curls around the driving drums before an electric guitar trembles filling me with longing through the uplifting solo. Flaring synth leaps in broken motion above the drums and bass while the vocals arc outward. The song ends on nasal-sounding synth fading away.

This song’s storyteller speaks of falling “in deep with a runaway” as the emotion smashed in with tidal force. He says that they were “lost hearts with a dream and the stars.” He goes on to say that they were only kids and thought that the world was all theirs.

Our narrator asks if the other person will find him and repair him, hoping that she’ll “come and find me and leave this place forever.” He delivers the image of them floating forever on “summer’s fading heartbeat.”

“Like a blinding night in the dead of night” is how the storyteller describes the song’s subject. He says she’s like a “watchtower long from shore” in his mind. He adds that he would “spare time” just to allow her to guide him homeward. The song ends as he speaks of “searching…floating endlessly” for a fading heartbeat.

“Streetlights” starts as radiant synth washes out in clear waves as gargantuan retro drums pound. Sax now comes in, reedy voice evoking an intense need that I find affecting. Aaron Hetherington’s voice touches me with its profound feeling, carrying a melody creating more heartache and need as arpeggios flicker.

The sax’s sound suffuses each musical pore with a chest-clenching pang as the vocals carry the melancholy melody. Medium-high, glistening synth slips past before the sax glides out with its warm voice above the towering drums and gigantic bass.

Xylophone-like notes eddy as wistful piano chords support them. Aaron Hetherington’s full voice rises and a sax solo makes a mournful impact before the song ends on echoing snare drum.

Telling this tale, our narrator wonders if he is “the stone that sank down to the ocean floor?” and if the song’s subject was the tide pulling him toward the shore. He says that “the moments lie’ and the hand for which he reaches was never his to take.

Now the storyteller paints an image of rain pouring down as he stands under the streetlights. It’s after midnight and he sees the other person’s face “in everything they promised I would find.” He asks if the other person will return to find him “one last time.”

He states that the song’s subject was “the cord I followed led back to the wall” that he discovered was never plugged in. He repeats that the moments like and he questions “why the spark we had was never live.”

Subtly swelling bass is touched by distant, digital sounds like a childhood memory of an arcade to begin “Arcades.” The volume grows as all the sounds meld along with sparkling synth stars as unctuous bass waves roll.

Airy space surrounds the music as diffused sax cries out with heart aching emotion. Glittering synth creates a gorgeous feeling, like dust motes in a shaft of sunlight. Aaron Hetherington’s intoxicating voice carries a dreamy, aspiring melody above giant drums and a bass oscillation.

Delicacy characterizes the chiming synth notes as Aaron Hetherington’s touching voice echoes out. The sax floats as broadly glowing synth notes fade into the arcade sounds again.

The teller of this tale begins by saying “I’ve been waiting around my whole damn life” not being able to see and hoping “to find that shred of light.” He says that the song’s subject brought him that light. He adds that he is “enamoured” of what the other person does, even if they make him insane. He points out that he’s “in all the way when I’m with you.”

Our narrator states that he couldn’t forget and wouldn’t ever regret from the first time they met “making eyes in the arcade down on 4th Street that weekend.” He says that the song’s subject told him they loved living in the city but now “something’s changed and it’s time that we get away."

“Forever”commences as far off drums with a widely scattered sound move in along with pastel synth swirls and glittering chimes. Warmly radiant synth carries an uplifting melody before Aaron Hetherington’s clear, emotive voice leaps out carrying an equally positive melody.

Far below, giant drums and dense bass press on with propulsive motion. Aaron Hetherington’s voice is full of deep feeling as the shimmering lead synth spins out the encouraging melody while colossal drums and bass surge forward. Aaron Hetherington’s expressive voice carries the soaring chorus through the music.

The song drifts into a segment in which fragile synth twinkles and heartfelt vocals resonate. Tiny synth sparks float past and heaving drums and bass lend weight to the song. The chorus arcs up again and a guitar flies in, spinning out aching notes. Glistening chimes flicker and fade into silence before the song ends.

Reminiscing, our narrator remembers “drinks in the daytime soaking in summer heat” and spending twilight talking as he and the song’s subject lay on the beach. He felt that the moment might last forever. Now he finds himself wondering how everything got so bad and how his bed “eels so damn cold without you.”

As the sunset and “neon drenched the streets” our storyteller and the other person realized that “a moment’s all we really need.” They felt as if they could go anywhere and after sunset “you will never be alone.”

Now the narrator says that he’ll always wait “under starlight” and through long nights and “even longer years.” He points out that the pain can remain hidden in the shadows through which they once wandered. He wonders if they had been pretending that things felt right or if it was just the summer nights.

Gently radiant synth floats out in easily moving waves that become a steady flow to open “Constellations.” Bass slips up from below medium-high, soft-edged synth as Aaron Hetherington’s voice reaches out. Twinkling synth is driven by an explosion of the drumbeat.

The vocal melody is caressing and enfolding, carried on Aaron Hetherington’s unique, emotive voice. Drums and bass press on with deep muscle as the lambent synth erupts with sunlight. The sax leaps now, effectively capturing every nuance of feeling and need within the song, reedy voice dense with warmth. The echoing vocals fade along with glimmering synth.

The narrator speaks of draining the “river that divides” as he describes himself and the song’s subject as a “burnt out flame that scorched the floor beneath our feet.” He wonders if there’s a path that they hadn’t seen previously from which “we can stay up watching constellations form.” He adds that “these nights” aren’t going to wait.

Our storyteller talks about “a static in my brain” that causes a distortion once more. He points out that the pain he’s experiencing can only be dulled by the other person. He talks about them packing up and leaving the city “to wash out the rain.” He reminds us that at times “things start and lead to nothing.” He concludes, “it’s alright just let this go.”

“Gravity” begins as a vocal sample of an astronaut describing a view of the Earth from space opens the song out above a softly brushing synth wash. Truly colossal bass rumbles below Aaron Hetherington’s touching voice as synth sparks float past. Distant, taut synth creates a smoothly shivering pattern as big drums hit hard and the bass slips past.

Aaron Hetherington’s vocals capture the undisguised yearning in the lyrics as broadly splashing drums shape the music. In the distance, enfolding synth waves wash and the chorus rises with wonderfully heartfelt emotion. Rounded synth notes slide flicker around Aaron Hetherington’s aching voice as it yearns, carrying mingled emotions anticipation and pain.

Lush synth chords fill each musical element with supporting feeling. Guitar flies now, touching me deeply with the power of its expression. A soaring guitar solo leaps free and the vocals rise with affecting feeling. Bells ring and digital-sounding notes echo as the ticking drums fade to silence.

Our storyteller says that he’s struggling to sleep as “shadows loom like a stranger in the dark.” Those shadows have haunted eyes because “they’ve seen who we really are.” He has dreams of seeing the place where “the sun meets the sea” and the song’s subject dreams about "the days where the hours pass like centuries.” There’s a camera flash and the storyteller asks if the other person still loves him.

Now the narrator feels her tugging him toward the light with “a supernova aflame in your eyes” as something tells him to go. While they are being weighed down by gravity, they ‘transcend off the ground.” He wonders what the song’s subject is thinking. He adds that “they say nothing changes, same old place is home” and that the other person is never alone.

Our storyteller speaks of “a flash in the dark fading in the clear sky” and of a feeling lost as years passed and “a lifetime gone.” He asks if the other person still need him. He says that she’s pushing him into the night with “stars burning up in your eyes.” One part of him tells him no and the other urges him to go. Now gravity tugs him down while the song's subject lifts him up. He asks her, “won’t you tell me what you’re thinking?”

A soft golden synth glow is broken by quick pattering sounds as an elevated, diffused arpeggio twirls to kick off “Sleepwalking.” Piano chords give the music an enjoyably warming strength.

Aaron Hetherington’s voice is tender and fragile, emotion filling it as the delicately mournful melody unfolds and solid drums and dense bass shape the music. Percussion wraps around Aaron Hetherington’s hurt and lost voice before guitar flows out in a twangy motion. Circling arpeggios spin as the kick drum thumps like a heartbeat.

Raised, lightly flickering synth slides through in a melody that catches me in the heart-twisting feeling. The chorus calls out with deep power as the hard-hitting drums rebound and Aaron Hetherington’s vocals touch tentatively. The song ends on chords mixing enfolding feeling and majesty as bass growls into quiet.

The teller of this tale talks about his nights spent sleepwalking as “years pass but time locks in.” He says that as he fell away, he thought he was finished. He says that he had “spoken uninformed” and was made a slave to the fading sound.

Our narrator knows that the other person is somewhere there “in focus in the light.” He is resigned to the walls inside him closing to a place “where the shadows trap me in.” He asks the song’s subject to set him free that night. He explains that, “If sleep is a medicine then love is a drug that gives you hope.”

“Red Skies” comes to life as smoothly vibrating synth glides out in shivering waves. Metallic, string-like synth entangles in a dreaming melody. Aaron Hetherington’s vocals reach out with above quickly trembling synth as luscious bass fills the low end.

Smoothly dancing arpeggios flow in a tidal motion and Aaron Hetherington’s vocals hit me in the gut with their raw expression as huge bass with a rough edge growls. Raised

synth suffuses the song with sunlight as the vocals capture need and tenderness,

Entangling synth tumbles and bright notes radiate over the weight growing underneath. Now sax cries out with nostalgic passion. The drumbeat explodes and Aaron Hetherington pours his heart out as arpeggios twirl through and effulgent notes fall silent.

“The road is clear tonight, let’s take a drive” is how the narrator begins as he describes looking back in the rearview mirror to a “still frame up” of what they’d left behind. He says that headlights approach to “bring a glimmer below bright red skies.” There is an image of the tide battering into the shore to “sweep away these wanting eyes.” He wonders if this is what they wanted.

Our storyteller says that the two of them were “strangers searching in the mist” for the feelings they had as children. He adds that they were “drifters trailing in the dark” as everything slowly disintegrated. They came to know that “nothing lasts forever.” He realizes he’s quite unprepared as “life goes strong and things move on.”

Conclusion

Heartbeats is amongst my favourite albums of the year thus far. It has a deeply pleasing mix of emotional intensity, lyrical songwriting and musical beauty as it unfolds. Coastal’s first album made a strong impact on me and it seems that this second album is even more touching for me.

Bunny X - Love Minus 80

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Bunny X’s Love Minus 80 takes listeners on a lushly interwoven synth journey through a sci-fi inspired series of tales in song form. It combines their emotive vocals and well written songs with guest performances from Don Delpiero, Thought Beings and Sellorekt/LA Dreams to create expressive, engaging music that draws me in and hits me with intense feeling and auditory joy.

All of the guest artists on Love Minus 80 bring their unique talents to bear in the album. Each of them helps add to the depth of feeling and expression in the music. There’s a level of aural beauty radiating from each of the songs on which they perform that adds to the already high level at which Bunny X operate already.

I also want to shout out the high production values on Love Minus 80. Gosteffects an Abigail Gordon have created music that fairly oozes ‘80s vibes while remaining pin sharp and crystal clear. The production quality allows the synth tapestry a chance to shine and the vocals to make their full impact as the album unfolds. The synth palette on this album is detailed and lushly textured. In combination with strong bass and drums, the end result is layered and engaging.

Taking inspiration from science fiction adds a layer of depth and interest to the songwriting on the album. I enjoy the way in which Bunny X shows respect for the original stories’ creators while remaining fresh and original in their writing. They pay homage to the source material without leaning too heavily on it. The end result is songs that capture something essential from their sources of inspiration, adding to their depth.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Love Is An Empire” comes into being as sharp-edged synth flashes through oscillating bass carry a melody with a longing edge to its glow. Abigail Gordon’s voice exudes trembling gentleness, expressing aching affection as retro drums provide giant-sized support.

Cloudy, diffused light shines through the vocals, wonderfully full of tender caring. Widely gleaming synth intertwines in a melody that feels like soft morning mist as the low end presses on. Abigail Gordon’s vocals are lightly touching and emotive and a light touch as radiant synth shines.

Cascading synth echoes out, carrying the enfolding melody like calming hands on skin. Burnished synth sparkles while the vocals is heartfelt and settling while hard-hitting drums and solid bass add form. Luminosity irradiates every musical element as the song ends.

“I sense you calling out softly, out there in the darkness” is how our narrator opens this song as she adds that she knows the other person is running back to her. She says “it’s all coming down again” in reference to the familiar feeling one gets as if a long lost friend is returning home once more.

Now the teller of the tale asks the song’s subject to “take the Milky Way down, long past these broken sidewalks.” She says they should run into the night, adding that she’s got no desire to go back. The storyteller points out that once she’s found the other person “we’ll build an empire” and make it work together. She states that “love is an empire.”

For a while, everything was unclear to her “like a forgotten dream.” Now she can see the other person returning to her vision. She speaks of “racing onto the interstate” as they pursue the feeling they seek to see where it all ends up.

Abruptly flitting, rough-edged synth vibrates above dense bass to open “The Forever War.” Abigail Gordon’s warm voice echoes out, carrying a melody mingling dynamism and affection while the bursting snare drum and thudding kick drum push on. Bass provides lush support while clear synth flashes out in choppy lines, containing strength and nobility.

Abigail Gordon speaks now, delivering a message of support and protection, as the rising tide synth tide suffuses the song with sunlight. Chiming notes flicker while a rounded, broadly echoing synth carries a wistful, peaceful melody. The expressive vocals effectively capture the meaning in the lyrics. Punchy drums support the intense lead synth as it powerfully glimmers and bass wells up far underneath it. The song ends on a tumbling synth pulse and strong drums.

The storyteller reassures the song subject by saying that “you can let them come to me, I’ll control your fear.” She says that when the war approaches, the other person can count on her this time. She adds that she’ll protect the other person “through the centuries” as she swore to do. Now our storyteller asks the song’s subject to “hold me in your memories” and says they’ll keep them good.

Our narrator points out that they’ve travelled “so many lifetimes” that the idea of home is meaningless. However “our sun hasn’t set yet - it’s not too late” so she asks the other person to meet her “at the 5th planet out from Mizar.” She goes on to say that it doesn’t matter how long it takes. Now she says that in the other person’s eyes “I’m forever frozen in the past” but if they use “time dilation” there is a chance of finding a way to make it all last.

“Daydreaming” starts as muffled, twisting synths wells in strength as colossal drums form a surging pulse alongside huge bass. Abigail Gordon’s voice is pleasingly rich with feeling as it carries a melody that makes me feel settled and laidback. Bass and drums with intense weight propel the song in broad walls.

Nasal-sounding, bending sound spins in knotted motion as the unrelenting drums and bass drive Abigail Gordon’s voice possesses resonant depth, the melody carrying both pain and dreamy hope while thunderous bass throbs and chiming notes glow.

The vocals tremble with need and affection to contrast with the immense muscled strength below them. Medium-high, mistily gliding synth calls out with mournful light as the ethereal vocals drift and the song fades quietly away.

Our narrator knows that the other person’s “mind is swimming” and they are pensive because “you’re so tired of the way things seem to go.” She says that she’s got something to say and she hopes the other person will listen. She wants them to know that “your love is like a dream.” She adds, “when I think of you and me It’s like I’m daydreaming.”

The storyteller says that she can see the other person “running all night into the morning” feeling that they can only get through everything alone. She says that she as been calling out to the other person “wishing you would let me in.” There is a “hole in y heart” when they leave again. She concludes “When we’re all alone, I can’t hide this feeling.”

Bluff, blunt bass punches in as a nervous sonic rush flits past and giant drums burst to begin “The Darkest Place.” Mary Hanley’s voice has a lost quality, full of seeking as the vocal melody skilfully mingles ache and anticipation. Glittering, elevated synth flashes with radiance above underlying power.

Shiny synth permeates the song in wide band brightness as Mary Hanley’s voice exudes heart-touching emotion. Fragile chimes drift in a lonely line as ringing, string-like notes swim out in a diffused line above the massive drumbeat and pulsing bass.

The vocals rise out encapsulating aspiration and protective love. The song flows into a segment in which airy, metallic notes shimmer delicately above gruff synth in contrast to the peaceful vocals. Flaring synth notes leap out above low end strength pushing onward from below as the chorus carries protection within it.

This story’s teller speaks of struggling to keep the other person close “but looks like we failed.” She creates a desolate image of “floating blind in the darkness and just falling without end.” She points out that it’s been ten years since the song’s subject has been home or seen a friend but she won’t give up.

Our narrator says that when she gets the other person back she’s not going to let their opponents take that person away again. She adds, “You’ll always run free my friend!” Now the narrator tells the other person to shut their eyes, count down and they’ll see her face. She realizes they have been waiting for her in darkness but “I swear I won’t let them take you away again.”

She acknowledges that the song’s subject fought hard so she needs to bring them home. They’ve been “lost in a world, a galaxy that’s still unknown.” She says she will pay any price. She promises “I won’t let you go, won’t fall for the lie.” Finally she swears that “this time we’re getting close.”

“Love Minus 80” commences as hollow synth shivers in descending lines that echo out into open space as gruff bass and widely throbbing drums add motion. Mary Hanley’s voice exudes power carrying a darkly shaded melody wonderfully tinged with passion.

Rising synth flows out in a sweeping, luminescent tide as angular, fierce bass cuts in as piercing fire flashes from a raised synth. Orion’s deep voice carries melancholy within it as slamming drums drive on and lacerating synth pushes past.

The music glides into a smoother segment before the vocalists combine their voices above jagged sound below them. Intensely flickering synth leaps out in brief motion and silence falls.

“You said we’d be fine and I believed you” is how the narrator opens this song. She asks the other person to make up his mind and help her to get through. She adds that she never thought it would be easy and points out that they can’t forget that “it’s a timeless experiment, never-ending romance.”

Our storyteller says that every time the two of them are apart “seconds go on for days.” She asks him to give her one final chance and she promises to bring him back. She goes on to say that she’d “bend time just to have you near, here in my arms.” The storyteller promises to free him even if it takes 100 years to see him again.

The second narrator says that is has been so long since he’s seen the song’s other character. He says that when she was “laying there in the ice” she was so confused. He speaks of “living life deep in shadow” as he tries to pay off his debt because “it’s a timeless experiment, never-ending romance."

Starry synth ripples out above slightly gritty lower notes with a reverent feeling as massively powerful drums slowly throb to start “Good Love, Gone Bad.” Abigail Gordon’s voice is fragile as it carries a mournful melody above the widely sweeping bass and drums with cosmic power.

Refulgent synth cuts in while the drums and bass thunder below and Abigail Gordon's vocals touchingly exude loss and reminiscence of better times. Sharply shining synth leaps in lacerating lines above the drums’ deep strength. The vocals touch softly above smoothly encircling synth and muffled drums as a steady brushing pulse flows.

Coruscating synth extends in broadly towering notes while drums and bass surge on. Abigail Gordon’s pained, delicate vocals glide above vibrating synth and a kick drum heartbeat throbs continually. Drums collide and the song ends on gigantic synth flashing above the bass throb and below drifting vocals that slip into quiet.

Our narrator says that early on “when my heart was on fire, it was a sweet escape.” As time passed, the other person grew cold and now she “can’t hang on much longer.” She adds that it is “good love, gone bad.”

The teller of this tale says that she still thinks of the other person “on warm nights like this” because they were such good friends. However the song’s subject “turned the sky so black” without more than a word. Now she can’t go on any further but she “spent all night dreaming of you.”

She points out that she thought she knew the other person and concludes “but after I’ve won this war, I’ll still be your fool.”

“Chiba City Blues” begins as bass like a pillowy cloud supports glistening, string-like synth carrying a tranquil melody. Arpeggios spin through as smooth drums and bass add shape. Gleaming synth echoes out below Abigail Gordon’s calming vocals sliding through, carrying a melody that puts me at ease above scudding bass and tapping drums.

String-like synth adds glimmering illumination above the easily moving drumbeat over bass oscillation. Abigail Gordon’s voice is caressing as effulgent synth radiates and the bass quickly oscillates. Now the guitar twists out in a twirling dance, reaching high with aspiration as the bending notes fade out into silence.

The storyteller says that she knows the other person will come around “when the hustle’s got you down.” This situation is the Chiba City blues. She points out that the other person has “learned so well from your mistakes.” Now Night City is calling them and they’ll “get jacked into the ice.” Our narrator concludes by saying “let’s see If you’ve got what it takes.”

Conclusion

Love Minus 80 is a joyful journey for me. It combines the wonderfully layered synth sounds with excellent vocal performances, grabbing songwriting and guest artists who lend extra depth and breadth to the music. The homage it makes to all of the talented sci-fi creators is an added bonus on an already first-rate album.