Synth Single Review: “Midnight Exodus” by KMX VII

by Karl Magi

KMX VII’s “Midnight Exodus” sweeps to life with dominating power, churning with barely contained force and seething darkness, capturing an environment full of urgent and growing danger as undulating foundational pulses surge. Above it all, tiny notes tremble with threatened delicacy, doubled with a choir-like synth before the rhythm accelerates with unstoppable strength. 

Bells ring ominously before a blinding synth flares to raise the level of drama, painting a cinematic scene full of action and fear. Images of desperate escape and the constant, lurking danger behind it mingle with the musical elements that layer one over the other, creating lush depth. 

A melodic pattern rises with majesty and growing confidence, filling me with a feeling of ever-increasing defiance. Melodically graceful, the choral sounds rise, evoking ancient tales of adventure and battle, while the charging underpinnings move like an unrelenting force before silence falls.

Synth Single Review: “Dystopian Future” by Montse Torres

by Karl Magi

Montse Torres' “Dystopian Future” sweeps into existence on broad tones that echo with radiance as they move out into openness before clear percussion joins slowly undulating, foundational bass and bright notes that linger with a sapphire luminosity, adding an iridescent sheen. A melody mixing meditation and melancholy balances with softer, more soothing tones that glide with misty grace. 

Underneath, the beat is even while elevated synth creates a delicate phosphorescence, like a street light falling across a room. Melodically speaking, images of a city glistening in neon brightness fill me, drawn out by the mixture of considered synth sounds and strong melodic writing. 

I feel as if I’m looking out over a vast future metropolis, as an evocation of towering buildings and shadowed streets fills the expansive notes that dance together. As the strings come in, orchestral richness adds a quality of cinematic storytelling before the track closes.

Synth Single Review: “The Havens” by Shadow Recall

by Karl Magi

Shadow Recall’s “The Havens” floats into life with waves softly washing on a shore, evoking the beauty of a summer place, slowly guided into life by a steady percussive heartbeat and a synth that expands with gentle lambency. Bursting with propulsive energy, rhythmic motion supports a melodic pattern that shines like all of the joyful serenity of a beach paradise. 

As the melody wraps around me, Shadow Recall creates a sense of comfort and relaxation that reminds me of a familiar place where childhood was spent in playful days on the beach. Drifting patterns intermingle as radiance spills from brassy tones that create uplift and paint pictures of tranquility and profound ease. 

A well thought out balance of different synth tones and textures helps elucidate the imagery created in this piece. Dynamism defines the underlayers as cascading synth brilliance, like a glowing sky, is touched by the ocean and full of idyllic qualities and a sense of homecoming.

Synth Single Review: “It's No Good (Depeche Mode cover)” by Fonz Tramontano & Calida J

by Karl Magi

Fonz Tramontano & Calida J's “It's No Good (Depeche Mode cover)” begins with more gossamer lightness than the original and replicates its ominous undertones with dense percussion and melancholy evoked with a bending end note. Calida J imbues the lyrics with distinct yearning, as deep and compelling as a storm brewing, while Fonz Tramontano creates a softer darkness than the original.

A less beak feeling permeates Calida J's performance, adding paradoxical tenderness. The melodic pattern defines the song with mingled emotional pain and expectation of eventual fulfillment. As the chorus moves, shadows drift with tones that gleam like diamonds in a velvet surround before the melody touches with tentatively trembling fingers. All of the emotion within Calida J’s vocals transfers to me with immediacy and passion before glittering bells add a tinge of hope to the hurt before the song ends on dark undulations.

Vowing that she'll take all the time she has, which is all the time in the world, the narrator says that it's written the stars and in a divine decree that the other person will be by her side. They can try to run but can't hide from her and she reminds them not to say that they need her, want her or love her because that's understood.

Our storyteller pleads with the other person not to say they're happy without her because she knows it can't be true as it’s no good. She reassures them that she'll be alright and will wait patiently until the other person sees the signs and runs into her open arms. She wonders when the other person will realize the attraction.

As the song concludes, the narrator asks if they’ll have to wait until their worlds collide until the other person opens their eyes and understands that they can't turn back the tide.