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Album: Music for Dreams by Ghislain Caya

Nadine Elwan
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Album: Music for Dreams by Ghislain Caya

Dropped on the 10th of February, artist Ghislain Caya created a marvelously sonic album with a matching concept called ‘ Music for dreams’, a portal in which you keep falling into the many different states of dreaming. All the way from La Tuque, Canada, Caya puts his heart into this album, which is particularly influenced by artist Brian Eno, but with his own touch and techniques in such a way as to make the music original and reflective of his views. This album is the second for Caya, and he is a multi-instrumentalist who also works with analog and digital synthesizers. 

Music for dreams. The music feels like you are traveling in a world of strange and mystifying energies. It’s all about the feelings you get as you listen to this ambient masterpiece. It’s extremely slow, immersive, and ever-changing although the pieces seem to be interconnected because of their very minimal electronic soundscape. The music is textured in a very delicate way, almost like lace on soft skin. Although the sounds are not sharp-edged at all, there is an intensity that comes as the ambient sound rises and falls as the energy shifts. The album in the end is moving, but in a slow and steady direction like heartbeats. 

The overall sound of the music is relaxing and very meditative. There is a mixture of nature sounds and electronic, with a very ethereal vibe. You’ve got natural sounds like rain, thunder, and whistling. The music feels like it keeps creeping up on you. It feels like you’re going down a spiral in slow motion. The music definitely intensifies in many parts too. The musical arrangement is simple yet very powerful. There is a steady ambient sound that is airy and free. And you have trumpets or saxophones sound effects that really give the music a deep and profound sound. You have a subtle violin, and very small and minimal sounds that create a nice sonic pallet and addition to the ambient vibe. You will dream heavily with this album on!

 

Party Tricks (Moneõ Remix) by The Dead Blues Club X Moneõ

Nadine Elwan
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Party Tricks (Moneõ Remix) by The Dead Blues Club X Moneõ

Based in Kanazawa, Japan, artist The Dead Blues club released a very interactive combination of EDM and a rock soundscape that is alluring and rich in the sound and aesthetic musical arrangement. The song dropped on the 10th of February and is a collaboration with Moñeo, a polish musician who is best known for his work as a remixer for the Katana zero video game soundtrack. Both bringing their different musical backgrounds and combining rock with electronic elements, this song is a sonic masterpiece with a taste from every musical jar. 

Party tricks is a beautiful and daunting song with a smooth effect on the ears while still flaunting some serious distortion sounds and confusing vibes. It definitely has an undertone of darkness that is accompanied by the lyrics and music. The overall sound of the song is haunting yet harmonic and very rich. The soundscape is actually a slow psychedelic rock song with sound effects of the electric type. The rock resembles the style of the band Porcupine Tree, which is really cool. The musical arrangement is great with a lot of distorted 70s electric guitar sounds, intense drums, and the occasional cymbals that are very prominent. You’ve got the creepy sound effects and dramatic violin at the back. We think this song is great because of the electronic sense in it with its rock soundscape. We can’t wait for more collaborations from both artists again!

 



Tripgnosis by Silvermouse

Nadine Elwan
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Tripgnosis by Silvermouse

Silvermouse is a duo based in Aguada, Puerto Rico, and they are here to bless us with yet another amazing, trippy track called ‘ Tripgnosis’, that will suck you into a very immersive sonic experience. The duo has been in the works for 15 years, experimenting with music technologies that help in making music mind-altering, taking over consciousness, using a  blend of Mandolin and Eletronica. This track is part of their Psychoactive series made with the brainwave entertainment signals of Monroe sound science. 

The song takes you on a gradual trip into the void. It’s slow, and builds intensity with each second and with every introduction of new sound effects, leaving us with a beautiful and large palette of different sounds. The overall sound of the track is hypnotizing and magnetic, with a slow yet spicy effect on the mind and soul. The musical arrangement is rich, dynamic, and bears many transitions. You’ve got an electronic soundscape that has a harp, acoustic guitar strums, and a hardcore drum set. The track poses a fresh oriental vibe to it with some jungle percussion too. The sound is very psychedelic with the occasional shocking cymbal sound. This track is totally something you can listen to for focus or a chill setting.



Shadows Dancin by The Reveal

Moataz Gwaily
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Shadows Dancin by The Reveal

In pure Nashville fashion, The Reveal’s latest single is a proponent of new and fresh colors of Americana and Bluegrass that I don’t remember ever hearing in a similar fusion before.

A Nashville-based power trio, The Reveal’s brand of outlaw music mixes folk with blues and bluegrass, interspersed with rock musings, and out of all things, hip hop production colors, for a result that’s truly one of a kind in concept, and incredibly cool and memorable in practice. On Shadows Dancin, Josh, and Tristen Norfleet, with Brother Dusty, and Ian Fleming (no, not the James Bond one) come together to craft an outstanding banger. 

With a lengthy, low-burning intro, dominated by synthetic atmospheric elements, eerie and droning, topped by the fragile and soulful cautionary tales of bassist and vocalist Brother Dusty, pure, strung, outlaw bliss ensues. With mandolin riffs, one of the deepest and most gratifying sounding bass sounds in recent memory, a shuffle beat that delivers you right to the gallows, Shadows Dancin’s main musical body is one that’s truly terrific and unique, and the mandolin solo in the finale is a display of simple virtuosic taste. 

The Reveal’s latest single proudly maintains the Nashville legacy. Another extremely creative and unique collective of artists that produce apparent magic from centuries-old sounds, pushing them effortlessly into the future. At this point, I’m compelled to swear that it’s something in the Nashville air.

 

 

EP: Break The Matrix (Episode Three) by Moon and Aries

Moataz Gwaily
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EP: Break The Matrix (Episode Three) by Moon and Aries

After a wait of 3 months, Moon & Aries are back with the conclusion of their 3 EP journey, with the third episode of Break The Matrix, and while their sound is consistently tight, crisp, and sweet, the third episode manages to craft a sound that’s more mature and memorable, with richer compositions, and more layered and nuanced arrangements.

Familiar at this point is Moon and Aries’s lineup. Composed of German composer and producer Tom Aries, and Canadian singer/songwriter Jordana Moon, Moon and Aries is a collaboration of forces half the world apart. The third episode and the conclusion of their trilogy start with Illumination Society, which I will leave for the end. Never For Me is an uptempo fusion of Latin music with electronics, with its throbbing synth bass, and clean synth chord hits, interspersed with Latin percussion and syncopated claps. Never For Me is a dynamic composition always in motion, with little to no lines of distinction between verses and choruses, the song is one long, driving section, with just enough diversions to the composition to break the monotony, stopping just short of making the affair directionless with too many diversions. The vocals across the EP are rich and delightfully layered with lush harmonies and Jordana Moon’s unforgettable wide vibrato. Her voice and lyrics are compelling and dramatic. From Another Dimension is the closer. A dark, dance banger, with tight and punchy techno beats, a composition laced with melancholy, and a vocal delivery full of character, that goes spoken word for whole lines, and resorts to vocalized melodies on many occasions, for one of the most enjoyable and driving Moon and Aries songs in the entire trilogy. And talking about superlatives, let’s discuss Illumination Society, their crowning jewel, and one of the most hypnotizing and neat songs in my whole recent memory. With an uncommon progression that taps into the magical world of the Mixolydian b6 scale that lends the song a mystique that’s unmistakable and exotic, balanced with a pedal note sub-bass of syncopated stabs, the result is a delicately balanced offering that sounds fresh and unfamiliar, while being infinitely inviting and approachable. It’s a perfectly calculated song that’s at once simple and intricate, and it is a song I thoroughly enjoyed.

The 3rd episode of Break The Matrix might be my personal favorite among the 3. It is punchy, with crisp and succulent production, vibrant moods, and a colorful aesthetic that matches its beautiful artwork. Moon and Aries are a match made in heaven, and with the conclusion of their 6-month trip, I am left desperately hungry for more.  



Through It All by Ilan Bell

Moataz Gwaily
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1
Through It All by Ilan Bell

Ilan Bell’s many accomplishments tastefully obscure the man himself, and as far as I can tell, Ilan Bell is perfectly content staying just to the side of the limelight, reinvigorating local music scenes, and championing arts and artists, without making much of a fuss. He might have one of the most compelling resumes I have ever looked upon, and his music is drop-dead gorgeous, which always helps.

Ilan Bell is a New York-based musician and producer, but where his star shines the brightest might be his social skills. A social innovator, Ilan Bell recently helped oversee, along with the famous Danny Ross, a successful songwriting camp that happened to be the biggest in New York City history, yielding more than 150 songs, and featuring in Billboard magazine. His latest single, a stunning ballad, is Through It All, a piano-based song in support of his upcoming debut album. A collaboration with yet another superstar producer, Through It All features Paul Falcone (Beyonce, Tom Odell), and it is sublime. 

Through It All is simple and slow, a true ballad, with outstandingly clean and inviting soundscapes, with crisp drums, soaring, airy pads, Ilan’s warm and embracing grand piano, and his own warm and embracing voice. Ilan’s vocals are soothing and gentle, and his rhythm and delivery are simple enough to be approachable, yet they are dense and musically intricate, and perfectly arranged to the composition, making the sound wholly organic and free-flowing, and the sweet, mature lyrics are the crowning jewels.

Ilan Bell’s latest single made me positively impatient for his upcoming album. He is a mature and capable songwriter and singer, his musical choices are delicate and fitting, and his sound is wholesome and clean, “Through It All” is a gorgeous song.

 



Halo by StarAV

Moataz Gwaily
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0
Halo by StarAV

StarAV’s Halo is a super offering of ambient and dream pop, made as a collaboration of 3 budding artists.

The Melbourne-based StarAV has been making music for 3 years, gaining traction in the SoundCloud community as a creator of ambient and alternative pop. This is where he made the acquaintance of Raymond Yan, the first collaborator on Halo, along with Peter Woolsey. StarAV’s words and voice lead the way, talking about the loss of innocence and the accompanying grief. A song that’s unquestionably lyrically mature. The instrumental is handled by Raymond Yan, who does a fantastic job. The music is dominated by airy synths, populating the soundscape and filling the gaps, the clean, sparkling guitar, playing the chords in an arpeggiated way sounds shimmery and spacey, adding depth to the sound, and the cherry on top is the commanding bass line and the shuffling groove that drives the song perpetually forward. Peter Woolsey joins in the later half of the song with vocals set against a sad piano part. His voice sounds vulnerable and compelling.

Halo is a delightful dream-pop song with pristine soundscapes and a lush arrangement. The production is top-notch, and the lyrics are deep and impactful. StarAV’s latest single is thought-provoking and sensual.



Are We Okay? by Julian Petrin

Muhammad Al-Wasat
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Are We Okay? by Julian Petrin

“Are We Okay?” by Julian Petrin begs the question, doesn’t it?

Julian Petrin will release an epic, melancholic & nostalgic chillwave instrumental “Are We Okay?” on the 17th of February from Hamburg, Germany.

“Are We Okay?” comes from Julian Petrin’s planned upcoming album “Hello Infinity” inspired by the synth-pop genres of the early 80s and 90s.

Julian Petrin is an artist and urbanist whose strong influences include jazz and classical impressionists, such as Debussy. If you dig deep into his music, you can hear those influences vividly, from the complex harmonies and climactic, string concerto-like ending of “Are We Okay?”

“Are We Okay?” felt like it engulfed my listening ears with all its layers, from the deep driving force of the bass to the immediate snap of the sharp snare and glistening ornamentation of the arpeggiating bright synths. 

The track reminds me of the soundtracks in several of the indie games I played and adored throughout the years. The music has a strong 16-bit chiptune flavour that I really like, and Julian Petrin uses the quality of this texture to convey strong and beautiful emotions with layering and harmonization techniques.

As for the production of “Are We Okay?”, this may be the best, clearest, and strongest mix  I’ve heard in this genre. Elements weave together to create an epic sense of space with the creative use of reverb. It sounds satisfying.

With this single from his upcoming album “Hello Infinity” Julian Petrin asks “Are We Okay?” , but from the sound of this music, I’d say no… We’re much better than okay!

For Polina: Till Tears Run Dry by Dave Mohan

Nadine Elwan
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For Polina: Till Tears Run Dry by Dave Mohan

Artist Dave Mohan based in London, UK, created a beautiful classical masterpiece that will be released on the 17th of February called ‘For Pollina: Till the tears run dry’.  This track will completely suck you into a sensitive world where there are only open hearts. Dave is a songwriter and composer who has had a conservatoire music education and always strives to not be confined in the small space of a certain genre such as the classical and has a way of love with musical collaborations such as this one. 

This song is practically an ethereal and magical road to a mournful yet soft-spoken and heartfelt place. It is a reflection of sadness to the Ukrainians in the disruption of the war. It’s a tribute to the lost young souls gone too soon. You can really feel through the collaboration of the classical music with the soprano vocals, a much-heightened sense of everything emotionally and spiritually. The overall sound of the song is tears of sadness embellished with a fickle smile on the face. The melody and musical arrangement is light yet very intense. It has you all up in your feelings with no explanation whatsoever of what your state of mind is going through. The soundscape is an airy, slow classical mixed with some really intense violin, piano, and harp. There is an orchestra feeling in the music with this combination. Of Course, the amazing vocals of Juliet Lyons set a dramatic and touching tone to the track.

What Can I Say by The Official 4PM

Moataz Gwaily
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0
What Can I Say by The Official 4PM

The second single of the anticipated return album of The Official 4PM shows exactly how this outfit managed to reach their state as hardened veterans of Maryland R&B by being a tight, groovy R&B number with a healthy dose of Reggae and Calypso to elevate it further above the pack.

The Official 4PM has roots that go back to the early 90s when Ray Peña and co. started an Acapella group that soon found its way to the 8th spot on Billboard’s Hot 100, among many other successes that made this group one of immense experience and proficiency in what they do. Their plan for a 2020 return album was compromised by the pandemic, and now, nearly 3 years later, the group has their album ready and is dropping singles. The second single from “A Song For Everyone” is “What Can I Say”, a sensual bit about infidelity and its subsequent regret, with sizzling reggae beats and colorful handpans that go nicely along the characterful verses from the group members, along with a deep and present sub-bass that anchors the volatile and spaced out reggae beats. 

With crisp and tight production, a rhythm section that stands out and color, and rich verses and pristine vocal deliveries, What Can I Say sounds like a precursor to a solid return from the Baltimore giants, further stoking the anticipation, and building the hype.

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