Andrew LeSynt - The Lost City

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Andrew LeSynt’s The Lost City is a multi-layered, sonically immersive journey through fascinating soundscapes. Andrew LeSynt weaves the rich imagery that unfolds on the album through intertwining layers of synth, guitar and percussion. The end result is synth-based music that lives and breathes in my ears.

The Lost City’ is full of complex musical layers and intriguing auditory interactions. Each synth part fits in with the others to lend shading, highlights and tonal range to the overall composition. I enjoy how Andrew LeSynth crafts his music to generate strong mental images through sonic layering. This music strongly engages me and pulls me into its world.

I also enjoy the melodic content of The Lost City. Andrew LeSynt’s melodies are expressive and ear-catching as he unfurls them into the music. I enjoy the clarity of his melodic ideas and the way he captures strong emotions and transmits them through his compositions. Each melody deepens the overall expression of the album.

High production quality is another part of this album that I enjoy. The music shines with clarity and precision thanks to the high level of the production here. Each element is clean and sharp, allowing the richness of the tracks to find full expression.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Starfield” opens as a throbbing kick drum pulses below rapidly rippling, medium-low arpeggios while crystal chimes jump in. Rich-toned, medium-low synth chords add motion to the track. Andrew LeSynt’s guitar soars out, carrying an inspirational melody above the powerful drumbeat and thudding bass.

Dynamic synth effectively imbues the track with life as glistening light pours from the chimes. After a sudden drop to gritty depths, the guitar cries out in a flying melodic line, uplifting and hopeful.

Shining synth glides into a segment in which rustling sounds move through a misty background. A glittering synth takes up the heartening melody before drums thunder and bass propels the music. The track ends on deeply undulating arpeggios, windy sweep and chiming notes.

The sounds of a crowded room and mingled conversation are joined by massively throbbing drums and gruff bass to open “Where No One Knows Your Name.” Expansive chimes ring out to add a charmingly soothing glow as medium high, bright synth dances in leaping notes.

The guiding drum and bass pulse supports coruscating, raised synth carrying a melody full of joyful energy and boundless hope. Now heavy, sharp-edged bass adds a gritty sonic layer below medium-high, wide sounding synth flying in motivating notes. Sparkling chimes echo out into an easily gliding background that exhales peacefully.

After a drum flourish, the radiant lead synth carries a sunny, exuberant melody above gigantic bass and charging drums. The track ends on tenderly unfolding synth with light chimes touching the music.

“Metallic Butterfly” begins as crackling static shifts with shadowy synth as powerful drums and heavy bass create insistent motion. The undulating, dark notes support an elevated, effulgent synth that repeats a propulsive melodic pattern as snare drum and vast bass drives forward. There’s a muscled power in the track that pulls me into it.

After a drum fill, lustrous synth flows in a soothing, tumbling line above ticking drums. Wind sweeps as full-toned synth resonates in a moving line and delicate notes slip past. There’s another massive drum fill and gleaming synth repeats a rippling note pattern above climbing synth chords. The track ends on the low end’s tremendous power of the low end and static noise.

Vibrant bass oscillates as gleaming synth trembles above it to start “Nicole.” Wind sweeps before giant retro drums drive on. Very high, shining chimes flutter with delicate light above hard charging drums and bass. The main melody's uplifting energy is skilfully enhanced by the lead synth’s solar glow. Ther underlying drums and bass are accented by a tambourine.

There’s a drum fill and surging, medium-high synth trembles with the pounding drums and rapidly oscillating bass. Wind blows again and after a chugging slow down, the track leaps forward again. Chimes flicker through and the lead synth’s enfolding tone carries a hopeful, tender melody out over the throbbing low end. The tambourine adds a metallic ticking and chimes flit through the music to add more encouragement and glitter before silence falls.

“Escapology” opens as gruff, bouncing bass dances unevenly before forming an urgent, tumbling rhythmic pattern. Battering, heavy drums join a leaping synth pattern, full of drama and tension. Angular, medium-high synth falls down through the music as swelling synth chords add a gentler, smoother feeling.

Shadowed lead synth effectively creates a sense of danger. The track slides into a segment in which floating synth glides with broad-sounding delicacy. Heaving drums and solid bass move the track while warmer synth chords brim with emotion. The track returns to the leaping, sharp-edged synth and fades out.

Hollow, creaking synth vibrates out into space and gargantuan drums pound to kick off “Binary Machine.” Computerized arpeggios tremble and rough-edged synth gallops along with the drums. Electric guitar skirls in a smoothly unfurling line as elevated synth flashes past.

The retro drums burst below a dynamically glistening synth singing an uplifting melody. The medium-low, gruff synth undulates again and the drums and bass create a propulsive motion beneath the arcing electric guitar and synth flickering with a lambent life as the drumbeat bursts below. The electric guitar has a voice brimming over with positive energy and the track ends on digital-sounding synth pulses as drums fade.

“Lap Of Honor” begins with a cymbal roll and warmly glistening synth descending in tender motion. Thundering drums and rumbling bass create a powerful pulse while flaring synth accents the music. The guitar spins out an umbral line above the muscled low end of the track.

Jangling, string-like synth dances in an intertwining pattern that exudes brightness in a way I find engaging. Medium-high, sparkling synth carries a melody rich with rising joy as dense bass and guiding drums shape the music.

There’s a flurry of tom hits and the bass and drums ripple together while brassy synth flows. String-like, entangling synth tumbles through the music. A rising rush of sound launches the guitar and synth melody that both rise with a hopeful glow, creating a sense of victory. After another series of tom hits, the track ends on twirling electric guitar and a rough -edged sound.

Darkly trembling, ominous synth groans along with soft sounds to start “Parade Of Heroes.” Rapidly vibrating, sharp-edged bass moves below smoothly guiding drums. A flashing, gleaming synth carries a quickly cascading note pattern into the music. The guitar spins out, full of rising strength that fills me with energy.

Hard, heavy drums and bass support trumpeting notes. The dynamic guitar calls out as a flanging synth floats. Now the track drifts into an easily sliding segment in which synths intertwine and caress. Jazzy, raised synth adds a funky feeling as colliding drums and towering bass move on. Elevated, string-like synth trickles in quick lines and silence falls.

“Tubbs Theme” opens as slicing sound rises to a sharp peak and razor-edged synth rapidly rushes below as drums burst. Hollow, vast drums break into a throbbing beat as cutting bass keeps rushing.

Sparkling synth carries a wonderfully invigorating melody over charging bass while lambent chimes flash. Electric guitar comes in, carrying a shaded melody and battering drums charge. The inspiring main melody glows on diamantine synth above the steady drumbeat and ethereal chiming notes flutter.

After a drum fill, the main melody dances on sunlit synth as deep bass pulsates and laser sounds zap. Now the guitar carries distant, shadowed notes before glistening synth soars out and and heavy bass tumbles. Drums also fall through the music and the track fades on crystal chimes and delicate float.

Fluttering, creaking sound flurries as swelling, enfolding synth chords rise reverently to begin “Depeche Node 7.” Massive, undulating bass and hard-hitting drums form a deep underpinning that charges forward as dangerous-sounding guitar cuts through.

Bright, metallic synth pops in an actively moving line as undulating bass and muscled drums propel the music. Dark, threatening sounds and a portentous vocal synth move as tumbling, bright notes arpeggiate. I enjoy the impression of danger that this track exudes.

After a drum fill, flat metallic notes rise and fall as  heavy bass and thudding drums push on. Rippling, medium-high synth arpeggios spin above the heaving weight below them. The track ends on jumping, metallic synth and distorted sonic pulses.

“The Second End” starts as a clock ticks and wide, richly shining chimes ring out with fragile warmth.  Gruff notes tremble through the music and dark bass sweeps before steady drums add sharpness to the breathy, tranquil chimes as they float past. The drums keep throbbing out into space. This track ends the album with pleasing calm and ease.

Conclusion

The Lost City is one of those albums that takes me on a journey through my imagination guided by Andrew LeSynt’s intricately layered music. I enjoy the way in which he paints vivid mental images through sound, allowing it to flow out and wind through my mind and travel to new places.