Synth Single Review: “The Car Ride Home” by The Highway Club

by Karl Magi

The Highway Club’s “The Car Ride Home” is animated by a theme that flies outward with galvanizing motion as the drums come in with vibrant energy and Ben Wilson’s voice generates pure feeling, transmitting the melody’s aching passion. As the strong underpinnings create flow, the vocals embody desire and deep love while a synth emits the glow of headlights on an open road. John Bell’s production brings home the emotional core of the music, full of richness.

All of the earnest, honest depth to Ben Wilson’s voice grabs me while the melody calls to mind adventure, the open road and an intense connection between two people. Echoing with fierce affection, the chorus trembles and the drums cascade with irrepressible liveliness. Ben Wilson’s guitar solo pierces with intricacy, capturing all of the song’s fervent feelings within, as the beat rebounds. All of the unalloyed emotion exploding from Ben Wilson permeates the music and carries the song to an end

"We were never meant to cross that line, different worlds and different lives” but, for the narrator, something about how the song’s subject said his name "made all the rules just fade away." He feels like he's falling as he never has before and "now there's no holding back, every little doubt is out of view" as it's just him and the other person now. He points out that they "don't need forever if we've got tonight like this."

If he's dreaming, our storyteller never wants to wake up. He adds "I never want this car ride home to end, just us and this open road” and he doesn't want to have to fall in love again. As they find themselves "driving through the dark with open eyes, chasing all the lights," each mile adds "distance to our past."

In conclusion, the narrator says "maybe we can leave the world outside behind, we can lose all sense of time, maybe we can make this moment never end."

Synth Single Review: “Damn” by Josh Dally

by Karl Magi

Josh Dally’s “Damn” breathes into being with a quietly vibrating sound before rich bass layers are joined by a guiding beat and a guitar floating with muffled affection and barely hidden desire. Every ounce of attraction and need is captured by Josh Dally’s warming voice, transporting a melody blazing with passion.

Piano chords add a deeper sensation while strings intermingle with Josh Dally’s slightly gruff, fiercely ardent performance which enchants me. Along with the soaring vocals in the foreground, each background element radiates irresistible need as the rhythm interlocks with the guitar.

The chorus erupts with dynamic piano and the strings circling and exhaling with sunset fire. Another guitar solo leaps forth, Josh Dally’s voice rising to match the ferocious yearning encapsulated in the strings. As the vocals move, caressing tones slide past and elevated strings sob with sensation before silence falls.

As our storyteller says, "you are deeper, so baby keep your hand on mine" he asks the other person to slow down so they can take their time. He says, "I let you win, you let me in, I show you where I've been and where I want to go" because he knows that "it feels so good with you and I know you feel it too." The experience sends shivers down his spine because "it's you who gets me every time."

The narrator points out that "it's just like everything that you do, damn I'm falling for you " and adds that he needs the song's subject when she gives him a certain look. "I'm a believer and I believe that we can last" so it doesn't matter whether they take it slow or fast. He goes on to say "show me yours and I'll show you mine” and despite struggles he thinks that maybe they can make it.

As the song concludes, our storyteller talks about, “my lips running down your neck, I think we both know what's next.”

Synth Single Review: “Riviera” by GammaFlow & Sandor Gavin

by Karl Magi

GammaFlow & Sandor Gavin’s “Riviera” creates a dazzling atmosphere, full of coruscating sounds which spill like opalescent silk from a synth ringing with chiming softness before the solid rhythm pulses like a heartbeat. Misty tones move behind the clean, metallic synth carrying a melody which conjures an image of gliding over clear water in Mediterranean warmth.

Each auditory element deepens the luxurious feeling which permeates this track. Tones like gentle breezes eddy around an effulgent note pattern that breathes with serenity and a feeling of release from stress, lifting me far above ordinary considerations.

Like a wash of effervescent champagne, sparkling sounds mix with the guitar as it drifts in a polished line, full of summer relaxation and the rhythm adds form. Piano-like notes with additional flickering brightness are curled around a synthesizer that moves with levitating lightness to transport the balmy melody before the track exhales to a close.

Synthpop Single Review: “Given You” by Liz Van Gretsch

by Karl Magi

Liz Van Gretsch’s “Given You” flows directly into life with her ardent vocals carrying a melody bursting with yearning and complex confusion as the thudding underpinnings shape the music’s motion. 

Tripping synth flickers with a crystalline sheen while the steady foundation throbs and Liz Van Gretsch pours out her soul, capturing the mixed hurt and passion in her lyrics. The underlayer moves with the undulating tones while the vocals climb with unbroken, blazing desire leavened by the reality of the situation. 

The guitar flashes and Peredur ap Gwynedd wraps the vocal performance in layers of power and glowing light as the pounding bass and sharp drums drive. Floating notes move with the gleaming guitar as the song moves to an end.

In spite of being everything she needs, the song’s subject is walking away and our storyteller pleads, "come here, don't be stupid and foolish, we are too in love for you to go." She's been listening to everything the other person has said and noticing their every touch.

Knowing that "I've given you all," the narrator adds that sometimes the song’s subject sees her staring back at them. She says, "you make it hard for me to breathe and I guess you feel it too." Throughout their relationship, she says that "I've tried my best to make sense of all this mess" and concludes, "I'm yours forever, never, never hide. "