Synth Single Review: “Believe In Me” by Nightflyer

by Karl Magi

Nightflyer's “Believe In Me” slowly trembles with a repeating, xylophone-like throbbing that grows in intensity as the billowing background rises in soft cumulus waves while a brushing sound forms the intensifying rhythm.

Solid, broad-spectrum drums keep up their even heartbeat while twinkling tones are joined by a sweeping synth transmitting a melody brimming over with hope, reaching out with a comforting touch. Percussion rebounds while panpipes conjure up a weightless feeling, as though one was drifting on air currents that lofted one high above the ordinary world.

The percussion drops out as sailing notes exhale and flow over me with uplifting openness, the main theme is as light and velvety smooth as a morning cloud. my heart opens to new perspectives and wide-open vistas as the concerns plaguing me fall away.. The impression of flight is palpable and full of release as the panpipes paint iridescence across the music and the track ends.

Synth Single Review: “Accelerate” by Mayah Camara & Sebastian Gampl

by Karl Magi

Mayah Camara & Sebastian Gampl's “Accelerate” spangles like the reflection of chrome on pavement as the background chords create heat and Ultraboss’ electric guitar blazes, crying with ardent need as the percussion erupts. As the accelerative rhythm evokes a car eating up the pavement, Mayah Camara's voice is like melted caramel infused by an almost overwhelming attraction and Sebastian Gampl's synth emanates noonday luminosity.

Ultraboss’ guitar slices like an engine note howling into wide open spaces while Mayah Camara captures unmitigated desire with her sweet, affecting vocals. Synth brightness skips as the growling guitar summons speed and thrilling passion as chimes flicker like noon day sun. The entire track pauses before erupting into blurring velocity again and the vocals fill me with fervent need, summoning ferocious craving.

The guitar surges with untamed strength as Mayah Camara uses every bit of her forceful voice to propel the song with pleasure seeking power. Twinkling notes glint along with the chanted words, building up tension that’s released in a flood as Ultraboss’ guitar solo cascades with flaming desire before coming to an end.

Although the main character knows that the song's subject wants to "get loose the way we do on the highway" and that he always chooses what they'll do, this time she wants it her way because "I haven't seen ya, baby I missed ya." It's been a long time since they've seen each other and "I'm feeling really weak with you standing real close it's hard to resist ya."

One touch from the song's subject and the protagonist can barely speak as she asks him, "shall we take to the floor and play a little Twister?" He makes her feel so hot that she thinks she's running a fever. The excitement is brimming over because everybody is out and they can "go crazy like we're hitting the town” while she makes it feel like a playground. She goes on to say, "stand up to attention for a shakedown!”

The storyteller points out that, "you know the way that we get down, gonna have you spinning around." She continues, "it's like burning leather, like when the tyres hit the ground" because when they get together there's no telling how they'll get down. She says, “in the night when the sparks fly, when things activate, we accelerate." She wants to stay at home, all alone with him and do what they desire without interruption.

Telling the songs subject to that, "in the pleasure dome, I’m gonna to make your body sing." She goes on to say that there'll be nothing but ecstasy when they get together and the flame is "so high like a match on gasoline.” It feels so good that he raises her blood pressure and it's "like a shot of dopamine." She concludes, "I'll be the student, you'll be the professor, only room for two, just you and me."

Synth Single Review: “NASDAQ” by The Last Concorde

by Karl Magi

The Last Concorde's “NASDAQ” comes in on funky tones accompanied by aquamarine water washing against white sand before a rapidly tumbling synth adds shape and reverberant notes refract Florida light. The main theme is transported on a prismatic synth, steeped in beachside relaxation before the punchy rhythm gives it a boost of energy.

A mid-80s Miami mood suffuses me with chilled-out feelings as the main melody dances like sparkling water rushing past the hull of a yacht, piloted by a man in a pastel suit with perfectly coiffed hair blowing in the breeze. The dominant motif has a breathy grace to it as it unfolds in a silky line and a sax contributes spirited vibrancy while the underlying pulse trickles and the drums press on.

Notes splash like droplets of ocean water spraying over a yacht's hull. Sweeping sounds slip and the cruising drum beat propels the track. Funky guitar notes entangle before the music slips to a close with an easy-going impression.

Synth Single Review: “Lucky” by PRIZM

by Karl Magi

PRIZM's “Lucky” slides with a sinuous synth trickling in a pattern of soothing emotion that touches with a wistful expression as an electric guitar tinges the music with softness. The lead singer's vibrant vocals arc upward along with an coruscating sax above the punching rhythm. Both singers mingle their honeyed voices with the sax as it bursts with melodic exuberance and the chorus erupts.

The lead singer has a distinctively heartfelt sound while the saxophone sobs earnestly as the huge drums thunder. A sax solo tears out with jazzy precision and positive emotion, capturing me with its sense of release. Both singers harmonize with warm strength. Every part of the music radiates dynamism as the blazing saxophone takes the music to an end.

Each smile felt like a lie to the main character and every apology simply bought her more time. She says that "holding back became a lifeline" and she couldn't stand up for herself, so "I needed someone to call home." Now, fighting is the last thing she wants to do, but she says defiantly, "How can you talk to me like that and call yourself a man?" as the song’s subject behaves like a coward. She simply feels lucky to have escaped when she did.

She and her new partner are older now and have "been through some shit," and they had a few kids but never quit. The narrator adds that the song's subject said she’d break but she, “broke the mold, built a life for myself out of letting you go." She doesn't miss the nights when they fought or the person she was at that point. She adds, "I could have, should have been a better friend," resolving that she won't let anything come between her and her new partner again.

Despite the song's subject saying that she'd fade away, she says, "I'm burning gold, found my strength, all on my own." Our storyteller points out that he just said goodbye, but she sliced the rope. She concludes by saying that the song's subject is alone while she and her new partner are still together.