Jetfire Prime - THEY

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Jetfire Prime’s THEY creates a highly eerie and darkly entertaining atmosphere as it unfolds. The way in which Jetfire Prime evokes all of those terrifying horror movies of the past is deliciously creepy. I enjoy the atmospheric sensations and well-thought-out melodies, along with the plethora of ear-pleasing synth sounds.

One of the main things that draws me into THEY is the moodiness and brooding shadow that Jetfire Prime creates on this album. His synth combinations and sound design paint images of creeping threats and stark terror. The way in which this music makes me look over my shoulder is something that I find deeply entertaining.

Another strong element of THEY is Jetfire Prime’s melodic writing on this album. He creates engaging melodies that elicit a strong emotional response and help to flesh out the storytelling aspect of the music. Jetfire Prime has managed to paint strong images through the melodic content he creates.

The synthesizer sounds that Jetfire Prime uses on THEY are inventive and carefully considered. The end result is music that captures the intense emotional ride of classic horror movies. All of the different tones, timbres, and textures mingle to deepen this album’s cinematic storytelling experience.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

"Prologue" comes to life as a strangely vibrating sound moves with horror-filled intensity, rising through the music with unsettling clicking sounds now moving in the distance. The track surges and trembles as intensely flaring synth floats out through the music with blinding effulgence.

The background has a mechanical roughness and darkness as the insectile ticking continues. The glimmering synth winds through the track with radiant intensity as the unsettling background continues to add a sense of worrying threat. I enjoy the atmosphere created to open the album.

Mournful, deep notes ring out along with discordant chimes and lush bass to commence “Main Title”. The bass begins to undulate as the aching synth cries out with melancholy emotion, and the chimes add crystalline, piercing light.

The drums form a steady pulse as climbing, brilliant synth carries a drifting melody with a tinge of fear. The bass is a rich underpinning as the pounding drums add motion. The flashing synth pattern winds upward with a sense of growing danger before the track comes to an end.

"Unloading Crates and Missing Out on Dates" starts off with echoing sounds that burst flatly and are joined by a dull kick drum thud and hissing sounds. A hang drum-like synth carries a rounded, reverberant pulse that descends through the music with mechanical sensations.

Medium-low, full-sounding synth carries a melody that gently unfolds. A more radiant synth flows with tranquil light above the crushing weight below it. There’s a wandering sensation permeating the melody as the absolutely massive low end throbs with raging energy.

A steadily repeating fluting sound ramps up the tension in the music as the hard edges below it push with threatening strength. I can feel creeping danger all around me. I am enamoured of the way in which Jetfire Prime creates these sensations. Again, the hang drum melody, cut by clean-edged synth, drifts with haunting energy before the track comes to an end on pounding drums.

Rapidly pulsating, scintillating synth grows in strength as bass descends underneath to begin "Watched, Followed, We’re Not Alone." Ominous notes flare into life with dramatic energy as trembling synth vibrates above the heavy bass flow. The refulgent notes entangle with blinding light as the echoing background synth fills the music with increasingly dangerous sensations.

Broadly gleaming lead synth carries a melody mingling terrified emotion with melancholy as the background noises echo. Dread and discomfort fills me as this track unfolds in a way I find darkly pleasing. Luminescent notes hover above the echoing background as the shadowy bass rises. The main melody reverberates as it fills the track with feverish light and pervasive worry.

Bright notes ring above the swirling blackness below, and I can imagine our main character realizing that their world has changed and threats lurk around every corner now. The lucent synth flares with haunted light as the continually arpeggiating background notes add to the sensation of being followed. The track ends with melancholy and pained nervousness.

"Summer Days and Teenage Dreams" opens with a smoothly flowing drum beat as the tenderly touching melody sings out with warm emotion. Tranquil, full-sounding notes glide in the distance as the drums and bass pulse to guide the shimmering synth. The melody is hopeful and bursting as sunlight, illuminating the song, and the entangling, crystalline notes add even more lustrousness.

My heart lifts with this music, giving me a break from the darkness of the other tracks. The main melody slides in again with gentleness and easy motion, slowly expressing the love and yearning in the track. The way in which the lead synth gleams only deepens the music’s emotional strength. Glistening arpeggios continue to ripple, and a shining synth line rises above the continually driving low end.

The delicate notes spin in counterpoint to the low end. Now the drums tick more slowly as a slightly shadowy but still soothing melody floats out as chimes sparkle. The bass undulates as the drums slowly pulsate while the high notes add radiance. Once again, the glistening lead synth carries the emotive melody above the low-end throb. The track is like a breath of fresh air after the darkness around it. It ends on lustrous arpeggios and the affectionate main melody.

Oscillating bass moves with uncomfortably drifting, intensely metallic synth to kick off "We Can Get Guns." The bass batters into the track with slow, terrifying strength as the burnished chimes give off nervous light.

Fearful bass surges as palpable worry and looming danger fill the music. I enjoy the clock-like ticking of the percussion while the raised synth cries out and the lower notes pulse into silence.

"Street Patrols" begins as a roundly polished synth gently caresses the music with a mixture of gentleness and increasing tension. The bass provides a steadily marching pulse that winds up feelings of worry and lurking threat in the distance.

Hollow percussion batters as the bass becomes a continually surging pulsation. The rising synth has an organ-like sound as it climbs upwards with ever increasing feelings of approaching doom. The track exudes vigilance in a way to which I’m drawn as the pounding low end continues to drive the track forward.

Scintillating synth pours out in the background as the organ-like notes rise. A feeling of seeking and continual, nearing danger fills the music as the brilliant notes continue to echo into open space before silence falls.

Voluminous, jagged bass pounds with ominous weight to start "Third Night, Final Fight." The bass gives off a demonic shadow as it slams into the music with fierce power.

Tremulous, elevated notes vibrate, and a brass-like synth carries notes that burst with horrific muscle as they move above the lugubrious but oppressive low end.

The trembling notes wind up nervousness and a sense of readiness for battle. This track's atmosphere draws me inward and engages me in the feeling of a crucial battle about to break out.

"Heroes But at a Cost" commences as lugubrious, melancholy synth drifts out in slowly unfurling lines, with deeper notes flowing with more painful emotion. Softly dancing arpeggios descend with tenderness, and the main melody sings on a sparkling synth with heartbreaking emotion.

The drifting background creates richness and texture as the glittering synth conveys pain and heartache. Continually flickering synth lines cascade with steadily shaping energy. A round-sounding, organ-like synth carries the hurting melody in a way that touches my heart.

Now the continually rippling background flows with steady luminosity, and the bass underpins everything. The melody glows again with fragile lightness, and the wandering synths float past in undulating motion before the song ends.

Gigantic bass throbs heavily as ethereally hovering synth rings out with delicate illumination to start "Hope Wins." The softly touching synth pulses in a melodic pattern that conveys resolution and positive energy as the bass pulses. A lambent synth pours out victorious emotion as the drums provide a strong heartbeat along with the hard-hitting bass.

The mood is one of triumph and forward progress as the drums and bass push forward. I am drawn to the resolute nature of the main melody, unfolding on the crystalline synth. The low end continues to press on with propulsive liveliness while the caressing but powerful melody calls out. There's a sense of a battle finished and won, despite a heavy price paid.

Conclusion

THEY Is a superb invocation of the classic thrills and synth soundtracks from 1980s horror movies. Jetfire Prime weaves together a tapestry of melody, atmosphere and expression to produce a fun soundtrack for a movie that never existed.

HeartBeatHero -Halloween 2024

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

HeartBeatHero’s Halloween 2024 is an entertainingly ghoulish and shadowy album that takes listeners on a highly enjoyable ride through synthscapes that seethe with darkness and erupt with macabre playfulness. I enjoy the way in which HeartBeatHero evokes classic '80s horror movie vibes and other equally dark and delicious sounds, along with the irrepressible energy exuded by the synth layers that wrap around my ears with atmospheric intensity.

One of the elements I enjoy most on Halloween 2024 is the way that HeartBeatHero plays with the music. He doesn't take it too seriously in his approach, despite making seriously well-crafted music. I enjoy the playful horror movie atmosphere that is exuded from the tracks on the album. There's a sense that HeartBeatHero was having a really good time as he created this music, and as a result, I have a good time listening to it.

I also enjoy the way in which HeartBeatHero creates a distinct atmosphere of terror on Halloween 2024. The dark and twisted synth sounds imbue the music with feelings of evil lurking in the shadows and those jump scares that we all used to like in classic horror movies. All in all, I did enjoy the terrifying tale that unfolds in music as the album evolves. It's the kind of Halloween album I'd listen to all year round.

Despite the music’s playful nature on Halloween 2024, the way in which HeartBeatHero created it was skillful. His ability to choose the right synth sounds and textures, along with a sense of atmosphere and drama, allowed him to paint vivid and horror-filled imagery that splashed itself across all of the tracks. I like the way in which he explores horror tropes without becoming too clichéd.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

"Death Is Coming" starts as distant, string-like notes grow in intensity and resonate into open space. The sense of threat grows as they become more powerful, emphasizing approaching peril. The string-like notes begin to draw silent as bass snarls and roams before they swell again, becoming more piercing and violent.

The growls continue, and I can feel myself getting nervous. Now razor-sharp sounds undulate as the drifting, string-like sound again becomes insistent and vigorous. A trembling sound adds more ominous notes, and the strings trickle.

I enjoy the way in which this track creates tension and drama. The spinning strings rise into sharply glowing luminosity as they continue to float below and silence begins to fall. Once more, the string-like notes climb and glisten,full of panic, before the track ends.

Seething bass pulses angrily, accompanied by slicing sounds and mechanical noises "Creep Circuit" kicks off . The bass continues to fulminate and bubble, emanating an intense sense of threat as colossal drums batter with raging energy, and hollow panpipes call out. The low end is a gigantic, muscled creature that undulates and heaves with terrifying force.

A pipe organ descends in minor key notes that deepen the drama in a way that I enjoy. The drums cascade as reverberating sounds move out above the creaking shadows below. Now the surging low end smashes in again with brutal energy, and the hollow sounds rip through. The drums rebound, slamming again before the track comes to an end.

"Techno Terror" begins with shredding, lacerating synth growling angrily, and now drums batter with assaulting force as laser-like sounds cut through the music with flaring luminosity. The bass is angry, and the low end pounds rapidly forward, relentlessly driven as the whole track snarls. The drums and bass are unrelenting, punching into the track with gigantic weight. A quickly writhing sound rushes through the music, carrying horrifying warnings within.

The drums and bass form a rhythmic heartbeat as a hi-hat quickly ticks, contributing a metallic sense of speed to the music. The low end is full of menace and rage as massive, gleaming notes tower. I enjoy the full-on attack in this music as it unfolds. The dark storm of the melody cries out, adding a sense of jeopardy before the track ends.

A sound like icy wind blowing through empty vaults begins "Nightmares on Halloween". The sound changes in tone as it floats through the music, almost exhaling, before razor-sharp notes lacerate it with raging energy, and the drums explode into rapid forward motion. Bass walls snarl as the drums assault the track.

I enjoy the demonic power ripping forth from this track as it unfolds. The drums and bass are unrelenting, and now metallic notes rush through with aggressive energy as the deadly rhythm continues to throb. The drums launch again with rushing speed as the jagged synth edges tear into the music with destructive intent. Raw power fills the music as it explodes, and now an uneasily speeding, open-sounding synth descends.

A thousand sonic knife blades stab as the synth pulse continues to tremble with unrelenting motion, and the hollow wind blows past. The continual oscillation only adds to feelings of unstoppable, hidden horror as the graveyard wind blows. Now the slashing bass breaks apart, and the drums continue to slam hard before the track comes to an end.

Heavily surging bass rumbles, and rounded lines create a hissing percussion sound as “Cyber Ghoul” begins. The bass grows in potency as the sound of a door opening enters the track, and now the drums push the music forward while the bass snarls in the distance. The bass has a shredding weight as elevated synth echoes out in a long pulse, and whispering sounds float in the background.

The low end is intimidating, with a flat drum moving alongside more reverberant sounds, while tightly wound notes climb higher and higher. Now, the drums and bass are split by a flanging pulsation that whirls through the music with raging energy as the track charges on. Digitally glimmering synth expands with hovering energy above the crushing low-end weight. I enjoy the dramatic power that ripples through the music as the raised sounds cry out in twisting motion.

A sharp-edged pulse slices through again as computerized sounds levitate above the truly gigantic low end. The drums drive forward once more as the furious bass hits the track with great strength. The low end continues to press forward while high sounds scream out with anxious feelings. Massive propulsion builds to a high-strung synth wind-up as the digital-sounding notes resound, and the low end batters until it all comes to an end.

“The Shadow Clone” opens with creeping sounds accompanied by luscious bass. Metallic sounds are sliced by a deeply creaking bass note, like dungeon doors opening. Stabs of hard-edged, glimmering synth tear in before the music begins to surge with terrible power. Now, the drums punch into the track with grinding energy, pushing the music forward.

Bursting noises cut in again, and the drums smack into the music before lacerating sounds re-emerge. The ferocious low end is contrasted with trumpeting notes that create aching emotion. I enjoy the intensity of the contrast here. The bass and drums shatter the track as they pour out unhallowed darkness.

The track has a relentlessly driven feeling as it slams forward. The irresistible weight of the bass and its tearing fangs are punctuated by glowing noises that tremble. Now, into the open spaces around it, hollow sounds exhale, and the track rumbles like thunder. Lacerating sounds pulse again and again as the track jumps to heavy life, with the bass and drums striking before silence falls.

Conclusion

Halloween 2024 is simply a fun listening experience. I enjoy how the album is steeped in darkness but maintains a level of over-the-top entertainment that keeps me coming back for more.

HALLOWED HEARTS - Masquerade

Review by Chris Magdalenski

I’m ushered into a grand anteroom. Walls of sonic construction shaped from a boundless shimmering reverb coalesce around me as the first notes, an ethereal dirge arpeggiated, draw me deeper inside. As if I need further invitation, a lone guitar calls out across the soul-strewn soundscape. I follow its epic cries across the threshold….  

This is The Entrance, the concise opener to New York-based darkwave duo Hallowed Hearts' second full-length release, Masquerade. At one minute and twenty-four seconds, it’s safe to say that I am optimistic about experiencing the rest of the album.

Track two, the first full-length of the album, is titled Open Your Eyes, and it does not disappoint. Buzzsaw guitars wrapped in spectral ambiance and buoyed by a swift lock-step beat are paired with a pulsing synth. The music is pure goth darkness—razor sharp and imbued with an urgency that makes me want to drape myself in black and head out to the club.

Alex Virlios’ vocals draw parallels to Depeche Mode, his stygian delivery expanding luxuriously inside the mix with the help of just the right amount of reverb and echo. He’s joined by Andrew Sega’s guitar and synth lines, which offer metal-fueled hooks adorned with a gothic grandiosity that is meted out at just the right times.

It’s these hooks the band excels at. There’s an undeniable catchiness to most of the tracks on the album, with songs such as Crash and Burn, Masquerade and Last Chancebeing the standouts to my ears. Upon every listen I found myself vibing along with the music, easily picturing it playing well to packed clubs and beyond. Having listened to it from beginning to end a few times, I don’t feel there is a weak offering on the ten-track album. 

Musically the pair are no doubt comfortable in the goth/postpunk genes. Their first album, 2020’s Into the Fire skillfully utilizes the same darkwave elements to great effect, though Masquerade feels slightly more polished. Everything on their latest feels lusher and more expansive, while still holding on to the raw dark energy they brought to the scene with their first offering.

I am definitely looking forward to hearing more from Hallowed Hearts in the days to come.

For more Hallowed Hearts, visit https://hallowedhearts.bandcamp.com

SIXMIXSIX - Videodrome

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Sixmixsix’s Videodrome is a charmingly nostalgic musical journey through some of the 1980s' most iconic movies. The mixture of first-rate vocal performances by Fludid, the powerful melodic content, and Fabs (Sixmixsix}) guitar skills paint cinematic, exciting pictures while exploring many of the most beloved, engaging films made in the 1980s. This is music by which to reminisce as one enjoys the sounds flowing out from one’s headphones or speakers.

One of the most enchanting aspects of Videodrome is the way in which Fludid’s emotionally engaging, flexible vocals combine with Fabs’ songwriting. The end result is a wonderful interpretation of lyrics that carry the story of each film while adding emotional depth through the way in which Sixmixsix views each movie. I am fully drawn into the narrative as both contributors work their magic.

Another enjoyable aspect of Videodrome is the combination between the musical choices made by Fabs and the melodies he writes. His synthesizer choices effectively evoke different moods and states of mind; he deploys the guitar for maximum emotional effect, and his melodies are memorable and intensely affecting to me. I find it hard to stop listening to the album once I start.

I also have to emphasize how much I enjoy Fabs’ guitar performances on Videodrome. He has a great deal of skill and a good sense for emotional expression. Fabs’ mingles varied guitar tones to evoke different sensations and combines this with finger-bending chops in order to weave a tale and keep me listening.

Fabs’ obvious love and appreciation for the movies of the 1980s shines through in this album. I appreciate the way in which he expresses his love for these classics through music. I am utterly charmed by this album.

My Favourite Songs Analyzed

“Beyond the Veil” comes to life as slowly echoing, enigmatic synth trembles nervously. A steady background light glints softly as haunting chimes float through the track. The tremulous sounds are broken by gigantic, ragged edges and rebounding, rounded notes. Fabs’ electric guitar cuts in with hard edges, and chimes sparkle. The music continues to undulate, and now the kick drum pounds as Fludid's deeply expressive vocals carry the emotive lyrics.

The melody has a tender quality and Fabs’ guitar cries out with howling intricacy, leaping with skillful energy. The drums flow smoothly, and the guitar twists and bends through the music with complex sounds. Fludid’s voice calls out with hope and confidence, despite the darkness faced by the song's protagonist. The drums and bass smoothly guide the music forward as the chorus rises.

The guitar rumbles as tightly wound, glistening synth drifts, and Fludid expresses the feelings that are exuded by the music. His resonant, full voice is deeply pleasing to me as it conveys the emotion in the music. The ghostly chimes ring out as the aching vocals flow with a mournful melody. The guitar growls again as the chorus climbs and the drums pulse above the massive bass.

The vocal performance has a touching directness and conveys all of the different sensations powerfully. The guitar has dark power as the intertwining strings levitate, and the vocal performance drives home the spectral feeling of the track. The song ends on shimmery chimes and deep guitar notes.

The narrator tells a story of Joey, a child who is able to make contact with the spirit world in search of his father. He talks about how one can hear a child's voice in a world of whispers. He adds that "Joey finds a way; it's his only choice." The narrator talks about how his love for his father will never fail or fade as he can "reach beyond the veil."

Our storyteller talks about the young boy's telekinetic abilities as the shadows begin to rise, and "mysteries unfold before Joey's eyes." He battles the forces of darkness with a courageous heart. His bond with his father is "unbroken and never torn apart."

Through gusty wind and trees that whisper, the narrator says that "Joey's spirit roams, carried by the breeze." The boy manages to find strength in his love for his father through "the echoes of the past and the dreams of tomorrow," caught between jubilance and sadness.

Quickly drifting, softly burnished notes trip over each other to open “Escape”. Colossal rumbles and shifts as vibrating notes shiver. The music rebounds in an uneven pulse as the wandering high notes float. Now the kick drum pounds as Fludid’s powerful voice carries the ominous melody, and the flaring notes slide past. The chorus rips out with raw strength as Fludid’s rich vocals capture the sense of danger and threat. I enjoy the way in which he expresses the lyrics.

Urgency fills the music as the bursting drums and steadily delivering synth vibrate. Fludid carries the threat-filled melody, with siren screams and quickly washing notes flashing past. Fabs’ guitar cries out with massive power and dramatic energy as the song unfolds. There's unbridled wildness in the guitar performance as the drums erupt again and the guitar shreds with inimitable style. The percussion slams hard as the guitar solo whips through the music, intricately interwoven.

The low end is fierce as the music surges and growls. Tiny motes of light leap through the music as the bass pulsates and the drums smack. Fludid's voice leaps out again with an impassioned feeling as the trickling notes run past. The kick drum throbs hard again, and the twinkling notes rush before the chorus jumps in once more, charging the track to an end.

Our storyteller opens the tale of Snake, who has to venture into a dystopian New York City, which is being held prisoner by wild gangs. In the midst of the chaos, our hero is "called with a mission so dire, to save the president from the city's fire." It's an escape from New York as they "run through the night and struggle for their lives in the dim city light."

The narrator says that the clock's ticking down and the stakes are high "in a world gone mad beneath a blood red sky." In order for Snake to rescue the president, he has to "battle with warlords in the urban decay," which makes every step forward a fight as the night begins to grow into daylight. The line between friend and foe is blurry in this situation.

Our storyteller wonders if Snake will be able to last through this fight as he stands strong and faces the battle "with courage and grit." He slices his way through the darkness as he shelters the president from harm.

"Hellraiser" starts as dark chords rise and a hang drum-like synth spins out in a hypnotic pattern, echoing through the music. Rounded chords rise in the distance as the bass flows out. The drums erupt into a powerfully accelerative beat as the ringing, metallic synth spins out, and Fludid’s expressive vocals carry the shadowed lyrics.

The low end punches out as the vocals leap and fly. A continually whirling hang drum-like synth adds more dynamic motion. I enjoy the contrasting gentleness of the vocal melody and the ominous lyrics as they unfold. The growling synth adds support as the trance-inducing lead synth twirls and Fludid lets his strong voice loose on the lyrics.

Now the ringing synth continues to add energy as the lead singer emotes. Fabs’ guitar carries a melody combining yearning and softness as hollow percussion ticks. The hang drum continues to spin out as the guitar climbs with lambency, and the softly tremulous vocals call out again.

The narrator talks about "dark dreams" that intertwine in "the shadows of desire." He says that a "puzzle box of torment" will open the unbelievable to you. He adds that "chains and whispers call from beyond the mortal veil," and one steps into a maze full of screams and whispers. He goes on to say that "pain is pleasure…for ever and ever."

Our storyteller speaks of allowing the forbidden in "with a touch so light" as the borders between darkness and light are close to one another. He talks about being "lured by the promise of desires attained," but points out that once the damned have a hold of you, you'll never be the same again.

The storyteller says that inside "a house of secrets with a blood-stained floor," there's a soul trapped within the walls that craves "more and more." He concludes by saying, "Angels to some, demons to the rest; in the heart of agony, everything is confessed."

Sharp-edged, flaring synth moves with quickly tumbling bass to kick off "Light It Up." Fabs’ guitar leaps out with dynamic strength, exploding above the rapidly rushing drums and thick bass. Fludid’s strong vocal performance captures the excitement and drama of the lyrics.

The drums and bass throb heavily as radiance pours from a full-sounding synth. Delicate chimes flicker in the distance as the wordless vocals drift. Fludid uses his flexible, strong voice to drive home the lyrics’ message.

The twinkling notes spin out, and the guitar erupts again, uncoiling in freewheeling motion, expressing the excitement and danger within the song. The low end continues to drive forward as the guitar jumps forth. Fludid’s vocals are cinematic in scope in a way that engages me.

Our storyteller talks about how the song's main character becomes trapped inside "a world of circuits, glowing lines." In this digital world, "a realm of programs rules the night" as the song’s main character fights for his life.

The narrator speaks of lighting everything up, lighting the dark, and "in this grid ignite the spark." He speaks of "racing through the neon maze" and "fighting battles in cyberblaze." In the end, with true friends and fading enemies, our main character seeks to "find his rightful place."

“Phone Home” commences with ethereally sparkling synths, while a gently familiar melody throbs underneath. The propulsive pulse grows stronger as the dreamy melodic line slips past, and now the entangling guitar sings out a heartwarming melody as the synth mingles with it to add luscious fullness. There’s a wistful quality in the melody that adds emotional depth, as Fludid’s heartfelt vocal performance captures the wonderment of the tale.

Fabs’ guitar flashes out again with encouraging light as the lead singer touches me with his tenderness. The twinkling lights sparkle like distant stars as the chorus flies with uplifting energy. Brilliantly glimmering synths echo out as the vocals fill the song with childlike hope, and the drums and bass shape the music. I enjoy how Fludid’s vocals double the female vocals behind them.

The guitar cries out again with a melody that is affectionate and full of friendly sensations. Broadly sailing synths dance in the background as the guitar unfolds in a tightly intertwined and skillfully played solo, then descends. The hauntingly drifting opening melody shifts past as twisting sounds move and sharp-edged synth cuts in.

Drums drive forward again as a saxophone adds a touching, jazz-inflected melody while the low end continues to shape the music. The sax jumps with impassioned energy before the song ends on glittering chimes and Fludid’s engaging vocals.

The narrator talks about the young protagonist, Elliot, who finds a strange new friend with "gentle, glowing eyes" after a light falls from the sky. Their friendship grows stronger, "a secret they must keep." The promise to keep that secret runs deep because of Elliot's new friend’s alien nature. In the chorus, the narrator says that E.T. wants to phone home and "never feel alone."

Our storyteller talks about how they fly on bicycles, "riding through the stars" as they chase their magical dreams while the world passes by. They have "heartbeats in sync" and a pure, honest friendship. The storyteller concludes by saying that "a glowing heart will guide them through."

Roughly trembling synth echoes into space as “The Time Machine” starts. Slightly melancholy synth chords plane out along with a guitar that coruscates into the music with intense light and a happy feeling. Smooth chords sweep past as the guitar floats out into the openness around it. Fludid’s voice soulfully conveys the song's message as the lucent synth is joined by softly echoing guitar notes.

The song accelerates into an easily loping drum and bass pulse as trickling xylophone dances through the music. A medium-high, effulgent synth sings the yearning and gentle melody. A chiming synth echoes with a light touch as the xylophone continues to twirl past. A steady background glow illuminates the music as it quickly throbs along with the tumbling xylophone. Sixmixsix’s guitar slips tentatively through the music as Fludid's emotive vocals drift out.

A synth slowly shifts in pastel clouds as the guitar intertwines with it, contributing more luminosity. Unevenly throbbing drums and bass shape the music as the xylophone cascades. The chiming notes glide past as the guitar exudes twilit illumination. Fludid’s vocals move again with a message of nostalgia and maintaining our sense of wonder.

The background flickers with tender luminosity, and again the main melody moves in on a slightly sharp-edged synth. Hollow sounds shift, and the drums tick as the chimes glitter and a saxophone cries out with deep feeling. Sixmixsix’s guitar flits through the music with smooth expression before the track ends.

Our narrator talks about neon trails that weave through space as a “synthwave pulse ignites the night.” As they move with echoes in graceful motion, they find their light “in time’s flux.”

The storyteller speaks of “electric dreams like falling stars” as past and future come together in a radiant light. He says that “holograms of things once ours guide us through the maze we dream.” In our musical time machine, “yesterday and future blend” while “eternal wonder has no end.”

Conclusion

Videodrome is an earnest, genuine musical tribute to 1980s movies. not only does it work on an emotional level, but the way in which all of the different musical elements combine creates an emotional and enjoyable listening experience.