Synth Single Review: “Breathing Room” by Wellside & Afterift

by Karl Magi

Wellside & Afterift’s “Breathing Room” opens to broad vistas as it unfolds. The track begins as lacy sounds glitter in the distance and the music exhales peacefully. A melody slips past on butterfly wings as the pulsing underpinnings grow in strength.

After a speeding rush, the track spins into whirling motion before hollow drums rebound. A vibrating synth moves tentatively and delicately as the low end locks into a heartbeat. Sun-dappled notes tremble together, dynamic yet gentle, while pipe-like sounds breathe out and thick bass guides the music.

As jumping notes dance together, spectral sounds vibrate with misty lightness, creating an ear-pleasing contrast. Breezy textures generate expansive impressions, spreading through space with a fresh feeling. Beneath it all, an undeniable pulse shapes the levitating notes as they trail through with limpid ease, floating me along. Computerized, fluting tones drift with dense bass before silence falls.

Synth Single Review: “Sparks of Sunlight (The Blue Book Project Remix)” by The Blue Book Project & Alternate Identity

by Karl Magi

The Blue Book Project & Alternate Identity’s “Sparks of Sunlight (The Blue Book Project Remix)” balances defiance with resignation. The remix commences as galactic bass intermingles with diaphanous chimes, and a repeating melodic pattern establishes an emotional base. Alternate Identity’s honeyed voice carries a wistful melody above a massively towering rhythm. 

The vocal line is rich with need and feeling as the tremendous underpinnings drive on. The vocals tug at me with piercing loss. A brassy synth carries an uplifting melody that contrasts with Alternate Identity’s broken, yearning expression. Colossal percussion surges forward while Alternate Identity delivers emotion straight to the heart. Trumpeting notes luminesce in the distance before the song ends.

As the narrator wonders, “How many parts of us remain?” a faraway light turns to rain. He adds, “You used to stay, then disappeared and all the space between us grew unclear.” He searches the past for clues the song’s subject left behind, feeling as if the other person will “push me out of line.” The other person’s mind is on replay and “you fade through all the sparks of sunlight, you’re the sky I can’t define.”

Despite the song’s subject changing their shape, the narrator can still feel the other person’s soft breath. He continues, “I play the sounds that used to stop me fearing death,” but admits he can’t pretend it’s another time or remember when he used to feel all right. Still, somehow, he tries. Defiantly, he adds, “I won’t be hidden by the days we passed,” because he showed the other person the truth and they still walked quickly by.

The storyteller gave everything he had, but “still you chase what never could be true.” He “held it all, your voice, your coded signs,” and now feels like the one who’s been thrown “beyond the line.” The song’s subject’s mind has gone out of frame. He adds, “You control the pulse I used to ride on, you’re the sky I learned to fight.” He’ll just “pretend that love was never born of lies.”

“I play the chords that made you see into my eyes,” as the narrator tells the song’s subject they’ll make it back in time and remember what it used to feel like before “hatred stole that light.”

Synth Single Review: “Skyfall" by Novaclypse

by Karl Magi

Novaclypse’s “Skyfall" evokes the complexity of a futuristic city. The track begins as darkly throbbing bass joins cleanly pulsing drums, accompanied by whispering voices and unsettling sensations. Spectral notes drift with disconnected elegance, carrying a dramatic melody that hints at danger. 

A tonal gleam adds lustre before a spinning note pattern moves behind a rippling synth that cries out with mournful yearning. The main melody captures me with its haunting, contemplative emotion as bells ring. A warning voice speaks while a tonal choir vibrates with glassy sensations, blending light with emotional shadow. 

Steady underpinnings throb as jeweled notes flicker. A synth solo radiates ghostly gentleness, wandering with jazz-inflected cool and a saxophone-like quality as it soars. A robotic voice echoes again, the drums thunder, and the guitar rises with spectral intricacy, transmitting the atmosphere of a city full of neon light and ever-present darkness. The main melody levitates, thoughtful and faintly hurting, before the song closes.

Synth Single Review: “Different Times" by Nightflyer

by Karl Magi

Nightflyer’s “Different Times" is a tribute to better days. The track comes to life as a piano carries a melody that aches with delicacy and hushed warmth. In the distance, soothing sonic waves glide past while the calm percussion provides deep guidance. The piano trickles with fragile tracery as a round-sounding synth transmits a melody full of glorious uplift and nostalgic memory.

In the music, affection combines with loss to fill me with bittersweet emotion. Fluting notes slide past as the lead synth exudes luxurious illumination and a rapturous series of tones breathes with peace. I let go and simply float into the azure flow of the music, drifting along with utter serenity.

This is music which touches my soul. A full-sounding synth is joined by bells weaving beautifully textured patterns. The rhythm remains strong and steady while limpid tones move in richly intertwining whorls before silence falls.