Synth Single Review: “And Which Way Is Up” by Color Theory

by Karl Magi

Color Theory’s “And Which Way Is Up” is an exploration of remembrance and hope. The song opens with metallic tones trembling through a calming melody as a panpipe-like synth exhales. Color Theory’s breath-warmed voice carries the quivering melody with feathery lightness. The background swirls with intense colour while his performance holds a nostalgic ache, rippling tones intertwining around it.

The lead synth is burnished, carrying a sailing melody as chimes flash and the vocals drift softly with a trace of melancholy. Hope continues to bloom in his voice as the chorus expands, joined by a full-bodied synth flitting in interwoven lines.

Rhythmic percussion guides the music forward while the lead synth ascends in a powerfully emotive arc, glowing with sunset oranges and reds before the vocals move with the undulating notes. Piano shimmers and the resonant background ripples gently before silence falls.

As the storyteller lifts the receiver and calls the service line, “a prerecorded voice reads out the time,” as he says he lost the song’s subject in 1989. “You never showed, my Walkman batteries died, our mixtape slowed and warped my sense of pride.” He was convinced the other person had been stood up by their ride as the doorway remained empty.

“I’m suspending my disbelief ’cause something’s come over me,” although he doesn’t know what it is. He goes on to say, “I’m rewinding the tape again, can’t tell you what year I’m in and which way is up.” His memories are like static snow on a screen as the picture blurs, the tape distorts the scene and the song’s subject remains trapped inside a machine.

In conclusion, the storyteller says, “The line is dead, the years have left their mark, but steady hands can guide me through the dark and save me from this narrative arc,” as the doorway finally opens.

Synth Single Review: “No Signal” by Late Night Hour

by Karl Magi

Late Night Hour’s “No Signal” drifts slowly into space as it unfolds. The track begins with distant static crackling into emptiness. A steadily expanding computerized tone shifts before limpid sonic pools spread outward with tremulous energy and gathering speed. The accelerating underlayer is joined by whirling notes that rocket forward before the rhythm detonates.

Computerized tones entangle in an 8-bit eruption of dynamic velocity, spinning through the music like electronic signals. Radiant notes surge with charging strength, flashing like electricity racing down wires. The foundation rushes onward as trembling tones vibrate in steady pulse and undulating bass rumbles richly beneath. I enjoy the constant forward flow as the piece develops.

Raised notes tumble with urgency, filling the soundscape with refulgence while the bass adds weighty density. Once more, the low end accelerates with exhilarating liveliness as a fragmented synth spins in broken patterns. All the sonic elements combine to generate tension and speed before the track closes.

Synth EP Review: “West of the heat” by Jessy Mach

by Karl Magi

Jessy Mach’s “West of the Heat” creates a cinematic journey down the open road, telling the story of two people running from their past and seeking a new future. It speaks of dreams of fresh opportunities and new beginnings, woven from guitar, synth, and voice.

“6AM Dallas” starts off as a vibrant wash, dawning like a desert morning. Widely vibrating notes are joined by peaceful panpipes that waft past before a heavily pulsating rhythm drives forward. Notes swirl as a gleaming synth carries a melody reflecting hopeful desire, while the underpinnings throb heavily.

The main melody unfolds with glittering splendour, expressing the feeling of an adventure beginning. Exuberant arpeggios spin out while bouncing drums are joined by Jessy Mach’s guitar, filling the music with gentle contemplation balanced by serene panpipes. The guitar twangs before crying with unrestrained fervor, imbuing the music with life beneath Jessy Mach’s skilled fingers.

A steadily pulsing underlayer supports the guitar as it leaps with a feeling of journeying down the open road. Below, dense drums push forward while intertwining synth mingles with the guitar as it climbs upward before subsiding into quiet.

A trance-inducing synth flow skips with circular motion as Jessy Mach’s guitar lacerates the music with accelerative power to open “Hammer down.” The jagged guitar cries out with a motivational melody, painting images of an endless line of black asphalt stretching toward a golden horizon.

Visions of a powerful car eating up the miles while the driver leans back in the seat fill the guitar line as an ethereal synth hovers overhead. The way Jessy Mach sonically illustrates his music is deeply enjoyable. The guitar melody is adventurous and powerful, capturing a sense of open roads and possibility.

Radiant synth shimmer glints like sunlight on the polished paintwork of a sports car before Jessy Mach plays a guitar solo that howls and erupts with speeding strength. It then unwinds with intricacy and all the intensity of a V8 engine belting down the road, before the triumphant main melody charges forward once more and the track flies to its end.

“We’re on the run” begins with prismatic notes cut by piercing light while smoothly slipping underpinnings are joined by Jessica Ess’s impassioned performance, gutsy and full of feeling. The rhythm surges with thunderous force as the vocals ache with need. I am galvanized by the intensely impactful vocal delivery, as Jessica Ess seizes emotion and releases it in waves.

Manu Carré’s saxophone leaps into the music with heartfelt spirit, joined by Jessica Ess’s gripping vocals, propelling the song forward. String-like notes glisten while heavy underpinnings press ahead and the vocals move with conviction, delivering an emotional knockout. Drums hammer as Manu Carré’s saxophone howls with unrestrained, uplifting dynamism before sailing into a solo full of mingled excitement and affection. I enjoy the way the saxophone deepens the song’s feeling.

Jessy Mach’s guitar rips into the music with dramatic complexity, conjuring images of a midnight run and an unstoppable love. The intricacy of his performance is undeniable as he shreds with intensity and heart. Once again, the saxophone melody leaps in with deep desire and Jessica Ess’ voice rises, full of yearning and escape. As the song comes to an end, the saxophone and vocals intertwine.

“You give me lovin’ in the early hours of the morning,” and our storyteller and the song’s subject leave the motel without warning. Now they are “cruising through the streets of fire.” In the twilight, “when the heat of the chase has me feeling like the rules we break never had meaning,” she is reminded of their youth.

“Thought I was born to be a hero, I was born in the sun,” but once the narrator experienced danger in the other person’s shadow, “I knew I was done.” Now they find themselves on the run. “On the boardwalk, in a new disguise,” everything feels magical and she can see it in the song subject’s eyes. She adds, “When you hold me, I forget about the things we left.”

Our storyteller says, “Keep me dancing so I can’t let go when I’m feeling like we lost control.” She adds that “this bad behavior gives me the rush I need to survive.” She exhorts the song’s subject to “ignore the sirens in the rearview, they don’t know it’s us.”

They arrive at their ultimate destination in the sun’s heat. “We are on the run, leave it all behind,” as they experience freedom in their struggle. To conclude, she says, “We’re on the run, tear it all apart, lightning in the dark. We were never yours, we belong to the night.” 

Reverberant, sharp notes trickle to commence “Ghosting the law.” The tones tremble into space as a police radio crackles and the rebounding rhythm pushes forward. Flaring accents leap behind the swirling lead synth, adding light while the underpinnings thunder. A broken female voice echoes with eerie tranquility as a radiant melody bursts forth, shining like the early morning sun clearing fog.

Surging bass and thumping drums add propulsion before intensely angular tones resound. The bass begins to undulate, creating anticipation within me. A darker hue fills the music as the hard-edged bass snarls, then a lucid synth spills out clear brightness while the echoing female vocals tremble. Beneath it all, the surging underlayer presses onward as elevated notes exude dawn-like shine and a clean-edged synth revolves. The threatening low end seethes, and the track exhales with its main melody glowing in iridescence.

“Santa Cruz, early morning” begins as the piano drifts with serene grace before the drums land with supportive weight. Dazzling notes pour from the lead synth, evoking fulfillment and elation as the rhythm shapes the music. Synth tones shine with aspirational effulgence above steady underpinnings while twanging guitar adds a subtle funk-inflected edge. 

Manu Carré’s saxophone calls out with trembling passion, filling the track with warmth and reflection. His tone is luscious and full, the instrument’s reedy voice crying with unrestrained feeling and capturing me completely.

Jessy Mach’s guitar enters, lofting with freedom and release, dancing beneath his skillful touch. Underneath it all, a solid drum heartbeat throbs steadily as saxophone and guitar weave together in evocative emotion. The track swells to a crescendo as the instruments duet, imbuing the music with a sense of escape before silence falls.

Positronic - Interstellar

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Positronic’s “Interstellar” travels across the universe on a journey of profound love and celestial feeling. The artist imbues the music with unforgettable vocal performances, full of evocative gentleness and undoubted care. He captures compelling emotion within his lyrical writing, conveying it to the listener with sincerity and earnestness. The musical background creates a tapestry that supports the other sonic elements with golden threads. The end result is an album that carries the listener on a quest across star fields and past unknown planets, seeking the kind of affection one can only find once in the galaxy.

Without a doubt, Positronic’s voice is the centerpiece of “Interstellar”. It can soar through the skies with hope and tremble with unrestrained yearning. It is full of deep expression as it moves through the music. The way one can feel Positronic’s earnest commitment to what he is saying deepens the impact of each song. He seizes the music’s spirit and delivers it with sincere feeling. At the end of the day, this is the factor that sets the album apart for me.

As a complement to his vocal performance, Positronic has crafted words that resonate with intense expression and peace. I feel myself carried away by his lyrics, moving through the impassioned and caring sensations each song creates. On days when things can feel dark, his songs are a beacon shining through the murk. He reaches out to touch the listener’s heart with songs of undying commitment, driving away the shadows.

All of the synth choices on Interstellar set off the melodic beauty of each song. Positronic’s balance of tones and sonic textures allows him to weave auditory threads into an intricate cloth. Once the beautiful melodic writing and luscious harmonies come into play, the music becomes a scintillating journey across outer space. I find myself drawn ever deeper into the voyage on which the album takes me.

My Favourite Songs Analyzed

“Cosmic Dreams” comes into being with vast bass rumbling in huge pulses while airy notes flicker. A rough-edged, quickly interlocking synth blasts out with broad sonic pulsations while diaphanous arpeggios spin in galactic motion. Quivering notes wash through the music before the melody lifts with hope and delight, while Positronic’s uplifting vocals carry a melody that speaks of a journey across the universe.

Thrilling encouragement fills the vocals, grasping me with dreaming positivity. Now the main melody sings, radiant with ethereal pleasure and soaring dynamism, before Positronic expresses himself in a flowing style. Moonlit notes spin while the vocals climb to the stars, punctuated by a melody that erupts with unbridled happiness and a sense of breaking chains.

Positronic’s voice then becomes gentle, matching the melodic beauty that pours from a prismatic synth. Throbbing drums drop away as the immense bass is punctuated by sparkling synth, like a blanket of stars across the night sky, before the song comes to an end with Positronic’s strong voice full of celebration.

Waking up in an unknown world, our storyteller notices that “silver skies and lights have grown.” As the starship’s propulsion system hums a lullaby, it races through a “velvet sky.” Our narrator says that his heart and the song’s subject’s are “aligned beyond control, orbiting like cosmic souls,” each heartbeat flashing like light launched into the night. They glide “through the endless stars so bright, traveling through the cosmic light,” dancing in a galactic flow as they live out their futuristic dreams.

The sky becomes a rhythm as the narrator and the song’s subject soar “in our starlit ties, lost in time, never apart” on an adventure through the galaxy. While they are “fading into velvet skies,” they continue to shine together. Guided by neon pulses “through constellations night and day,” their hearts synchronize orbiting a bold love. “Heaven bends where they ignite, starlit souls in endless flight, experiencing no gravity, only togetherness” as they drift through eternity.

Thundering bass and drums lock into a solid groove to commence “Gravity.” A frolicking synth gleams as it carries a melody that reflects energetic progress. As Positronic’s touching voice flies out with deep caring, it lifts me with unbounded affection.

The chorus cascades with unquenchable passion while the melody radiates warmth and the arpeggios spin with Empyreal luminescence. The thundering drum and bass rhythm drives forward as the rushing chorus trips through the music with a light touch.

Tangling arpeggios reverberate before a breathy lead synth carries the melody, reaching for the heavens with reverence as the vocals echo with unmitigated fervency. As the song ends, luminance spills out while the vocals wrap around me and carry the music to a close.

“I’ve searched the stars above, but none shine quite like you,” as moments like supernovae erupt with truth for the narrator. “Through black holes and the silence, your voice still finds a way.” As light bends across distance, the song’s subject guides him through the day.

Our storyteller calls to the song’s subject, “Come here and feel me, baby,” asking the other person to draw closer and watch him fall. He pleads, “Don’t fade or leave me, it’s your name I’m always calling.” Even light-years cannot alter their signal as it flows freely and he is “caught in your gravity, your love keeps me falling.”

“We burn like solar fire, no shadows in our flame,” and the narrator notes that despite the universe’s endless expansion, they remain the same. He concludes that “time’s a fading echo, compared to what we’ve made: we’re stitched into the cosmos like stars that never fade.”

“Rise” starts off with haunting minor-key notes carrying a melody full of pain. Intensity winds out from the high notes as a backing melody twists with spectral light and the drum beat adds guidance. Bass mixes with the rhythmic pulse as Positronic’s stentorian voice encapsulates loss and regret. He cries out with vulnerability, supported by the heaving rhythm, while a medium-high synth sobs with emotion.

Surging bass is cut by diamond notes while the melancholy vocals touch my heart. More upbeat energy now fills the vocals as the underpinnings pulse. Triumph spills through the music as the minor-key melody cries out with a contrasting tinge of heartbreak. String-like notes spin as Positronic gives free flow to the bittersweet vocals, still reaching for something better.

A full-sounding synth drifts with disconnected softness while the vocals capture mixed emotions. Starry chimes flicker and the chorus arcs upward with determination as the underlayer adds weight. Positronic’s gripping voice climbs to the heights while the drum beat hits hard. In the distance, the lead synth sparks with a sense of victory in the face of challenges. Resonating tones move through the song, creating depth as the vocals soar before the music stops.

“We spoke with thunder, our hearts misled,” as the storyteller points out that the truth was twisted by what they said. As the song’s subject turned away, the storyteller stood by himself with his “pride, a fortress, made of stone.” Now both of them are waiting for the dawn to come again.

“We live through the heartache, we bend but we don’t break,” as our narrator adds that their bonds grow stronger each day and their love finds a way. “We’ve stumbled through the fire, held on through desire,” so there is no surprise that love is rising and they are waiting, anticipating the dawn again.

“You’ve learned the silence that I once knew,” and the storyteller has learned to see the other person’s truth. “We trace the cracks, then start again, two hands rebuild what had been.” In conclusion, he says they can see the fire, not just the flames and “we know the cost, but love remains.”

Deeply rippling, hypnotic notes flow in a smooth line to open “Inception.” Tiny motes of distant light sparkle like faraway planets in the night’s velvet depth as computerized, reverberant tones flow below. Fragile notes limn the music with fleeting gentleness, moving together in a nebula of tentative light.

Drifting sounds float as intermingling notes cry out alongside a worshipful choir, full of gentleness. The beat erupts while deeply shivering notes hover like distant star structures and elevated tones flash like light traveling across the universe before the track breathes into silence.

“Strangelove” begins with a determined drum-and-bass pulse pressing forward dramatically. As the bass rumbles, shimmering notes cascade downward like falling stars, filling the music with glinting luminosity. Positronic’s gentle voice carries a melody full of caring, while the underlayer continues to add form.

Positronic’s wistful performance touches me with its sincerity and earnest fondness as the bottom end moves forward. The vocals are whisper-soft and exude wonder at the beauty of the universe. The way Positronic captures emotional depth within the words adds to the expressive power of the melody. Distant notes revolve as the chorus unfolds with charmed emotion.

The throbbing beat moves alongside undulating notes that exhale a sense of universal feeling, while twinkling tones descend like tiny meteors falling to earth. A silky-voiced synth carries the hushed melody as Positronic guides the song to its end with a warm, lingering feeling.

“Under cosmic nights we wander through the songs of distant thunder,” while each moment pulls him closer to the song’s subject and “in this rhythm, love is clear.” Whispers reverberate in the darkness, melodies drift through light and their hearts come together under the moonlight, floating through infinite space.

As a “strange love” enfolds the storyteller, it keeps him guessing nonstop. He adds that “in this game of hearts we play, strange love never fades away.” As they chase luminosity through the shadows, there are silent echoes in the night and each touch is a cosmic spark guiding them past the darkness.

To end the song, the narrator says, “Softly calling through the stars, we hear whispers, near and far. Lost within this endless flight, bound by love that feels so right.”

A surging rhythmic pulse is joined by snapping drums to commence “Through the Stars.” Bass surges like gravity waves as thunderous percussion moves with a tumbling synth, descending like a comet through the atmosphere. Positronic’s lyrical performance captures all the excitement of an intergalactic journey within the words. The underpinnings create a sense of speeding motion while the vocals float with resonant strength.

A sweeping sound drops through the music as Positronic’s rapturous performance fills me with optimistic energy. A wordless chorus moves with a tremulous synth that cascades with effulgence before Positronic’s unique voice encapsulates the adventure described by the song. The beat is a force to be reckoned with as the vocals flicker with illuminating expression.

Positronic’s mystical voice floats while the punching underlayer drives forward and a synth flares like a fiery meteor. The melody is enigmatic and noble as glimmering tones fall through the music and the song ends.

“Through the cosmic waves we glide, in this ship, we feel alive,” as planets pass the storyteller and his companion by, filling them with wonder and pure delight. “Feel the rhythm, coursing fast, in our hearts this journey is cast,” and gravity can’t hold them down as they remain unbound in their voyage.

“Flying through the stars tonight, journey on this endless flight,” they see scintillating galaxies as they undertake their quest into light. “Comets blaze and whispers call, through the void, we’ve touched it all,” and each star has a story to tell in this boundless, stellar spell.

As the song ends, the storyteller says, “Golden rings and midnight suns mark the trails our ship still runs.” As time vanishes into cosmic streams, it gives life to their incredible dreams.

“Andromeda” starts with gigantic, sharp bass that reverberates with tremendous force, complemented by scintillating notes that leap above it. The rhythm is propulsive while ringing, percussive notes vibrate with all of the light of a galaxy cluster.

I am compelled by the planetary mass of the low end and the explosive drums which join gliding tones that wander like clouds of cosmic dust. As the melody emerges, it carries with it serenity and utter relaxation, sailing out on notes which gleam with placid elegance before the music breathes to an end.

Widely tripping arpeggios spread outward with a powerful feeling to kick off “The Light.” As they twirl, they give off a sense of thoughtful, easy motion while the drums begin to pulsate. Positronic’s honey-sweet vocals carry the melody, capturing fierce love. Twirling notes move as the vocals touch my ears with silvered longing.

Sparkling tones swirl together while heartfelt care is evoked, punctuated by ringing notes that fill the music with a rich shine. As the song unfolds, a declaration of undying connection fills the air, joined by a fluting synth that adds breathy light. As the bells glitter, the song comes to an end.

“The light is coming through again, it shines across the sea,” and though the song’s subject has wandered through the silence, they remain with our narrator “beyond the shifting skyline, beneath the silver moon.” As darkness becomes daylight, he stays close: “I’ll hold you when you fear, I’ll chase away each tear.”

“I dreamed about your face again, you drift into my mind,” and the storyteller adds that the song’s subject arrives when things grow silent, “like stars that realign.” He concludes that “your soul’s a moving canvas from violet into gold.”

“The Neverending Story” proceeds as spinning arpeggios dance in free-flowing joy. Gemstone lights seem to spill from them as wind sweeps through and the classic lyrics flow from Positronic’s aspirational voice, reaching for the sky. The cover bursts with youthful enthusiasm and positivity, dancing above flickering tones.

I feel my heart sparkle with nostalgic remembrance. As laser-like sounds flash, Positronic lets loose with an exultant, caressing performance. The underlayer guides while crystalline tones flicker with happiness and shimmering notes illuminate the music.

Rhythmic foundations move with a resonant synth that carries the unforgettable melody, blending adventure with childlike freedom. Ringing notes ripple with brightness as rainbow-like tones glint and the vocalist gently takes hold before the music closes.

The lyrics describe a journey of imagination, where looking into another’s face reveals the reflection of one’s own dreams and inner world. Through fantasy, courage and belief, the dreamer can reach for the stars and trust that their dreams can be realized. Hidden truths unfold beyond the clouds, capturing wonder and possibility, while the “never ending story” represents the limitless power of imagination.

“Echoes Through Time” opens as unsettling, ghostly sounds float into vast space. Static vibrates across impossible distances as a reverent tone begins to move with trembling, gossamer luminosity. Bells ring with meditative clarity while a swelling underlayer rises contemplatively. Metallic sounds quiver as bending tones shift and rough-edged bass vibrates beneath distant radiance.

The rhythm carries a steadying influence as a brilliant tonal pattern repeats with trance-inducing motion. I find myself lulled into serenity as the low end continually moves before Positronic’s voice slips in with hushed peacefulness. Trembling drums balance with the vocalist’s unmistakable sound, capturing such fondness that I cannot help but smile.

A steady pulsation supports endlessly shimmering tones while circling notes create tranquil patterns. As the vocalist reaches outward, touching emotion spills through the music and romantic intensity flows. The bass echoes with gentle guidance as vocals wrap around me and ethereal notes vibrate with the music of the spheres. Positronic encapsulates a devotion as vast as the Milky Way before the song comes to an end.

Our storyteller and the song’s subject were “stardust in the making, drifting when the light was breaking.” They moved in undefined orbits until their hearts collided. They “found love on the edge of the sky” and blazed with such brilliance that they ignited time. He adds, “Through starfields and gravity streams, you were always on to me.”

“We were drifting through the great unknown, two souls searching and yet alone” and the narrator saw the stars align in the song subject’s eyes as “time stood still when your heart met mine.” They found love amongst the stars as they “crossed the void and healed old scars.” The narrator concludes that “ it doesn't matter where or when we'll be, you're still the universe to me.”

Conclusion

“Interstellar” is an expression of warmth, aspiration and affecting emotion. Positronic has a heartfelt joy that is infectious as the songs come together and the album unfolds with serenity and positivity.