Beckett - Soft City Glow
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Beckett’s Soft City Glow evokes images of living in a cool, cosmopolitan city and enjoying the ambience of city lights and jazzy sounds. Beckett combines jazz fusion with synthesizer sounds and Japanese city pop to draw images of a laid-back yet urbane lifestyle. The way in which he mixes soloistic jazz elements with an intriguing synthesizer palette and chilled-out vibes carries me on an auditory journey.
I've always enjoyed Japanese jazz fusion and city pop, so Soft City Glow is a treat for me. The jazz elements are well done and full of entertaining, catchy solos, while the relaxed feeling of city pop permeates the album, creating rich imagery of a bustling city cooling down at night. The music is an ideal accompaniment to the journey on which the album takes me.
Atmosphere is an integral part of Soft City Glow. Beckett combines all of his musical elements, especially his synthesizer palette, to paint pictures of high-end apartments where people live sophisticated lives as they sip cocktails and mingle with their cosmopolitan friends. I enjoy the retro cool within the music that allows me to indulge in fantasies of a lifestyle and a place that never really existed but feels nostalgic to me.
I also want to mention Luca Ricardo's guitar work on the album. He captures the sensibilities with which Beckett has infused the music, and his skillful soloing adds to the jazz part of the music. I enjoy the tones and feeling he gets out of his guitar as it unfolds on the tracks on which he is featured.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“City Skyline” comes to life as glistening chords played on a jazz organ add soft luminosity as a hi-hat ticks. A kick drum begins to rebound as the gleaming chords flare out. Bending synth carries a silky smooth melody above throbbing drums and flashing notes. The lead synth twists through the music with a laid-back melody, drawing images of city lights sparkling against the twilight.
Ringing synth accents add a bright glow while the drums trip along easily. I enjoy the mingled warmth and chilled-out vibe of the music here. A slap bass adds a touch of funk while the lead synth's melody sails along with elegance and style above the guiding drums and lush bass. The jazz organ’s round tones carry the slick melody that creates lush relaxation.
Now the drums tick as chimes flash out, the slap bass sits in the groove and the jazz organ dances. The funky bass is joined by the drum beat and an open-voiced synth dancing above the jazz organ as it drifts with peaceful, cool lightness, and silence falls on the ringing chimes.
Sparkling chimes leap in a pattern that invokes drama as bass rumbles underneath to open “The Dockyard.” Howling synth cries out as a metallic keyboard carries a descending line and the drums throb. I enjoy the way in which excitement and uplifting energy fill the gleaming synth, as Luca Ricardo’s guitar cuts through with wild strength, climbing in warm and victorious notes.
The drums and bass are clean and rebound with throbbing motion while the spinning chimes flit past. Now the guitar calls out with intricately interwoven energy, creating propulsion and joy while the funky bass moves below it. The chimes continue to add a sense of anticipation as the rounded notes flow past. The chimes tumble as the guitar also fades out.
“Star Pulse” commences as cymbals flourish and a snare drum pops in sharply. razor-edged synth moves in an active pulse, and clapping sounds burst. Breathily, synth carries an encouraging, gentle melody over the sharply driving low end. Panpipe notes sing out with airy lightness, and a keyboard with full tones carries a positively moving melody.
Playful panpipes flit through the music in easy exhalations, and the guitar carries a hopeful, uplifting melodic line as chimes glimmer with delicate light. The low end propels the track with exuberance as the panpipe dance continues. Luca Ricardo’s guitar has a free and freeing feeling as it carries the interwoven melody on a tide of energy.
The drums and bass throb on as the guitar unfolds in relaxed motion. I find the openness and easygoing nature of the guitar addictive in this track. The melody unfolds with intricacy and joyful life as the pan pipes add glittering accents. The keyboard moves smoothly in the background, and the track comes to an end with happiness and a laid-back feeling.
The slap bass and drum groove create an irresistible pulse to begin "Surappu Fanku." It swings along easily as the bass sits in the pocket and the synth matches it with a bouncing pattern, feeling warm. A flute-like synth dances in a dynamic, leaping pattern that bops along with a playful feeling.
Fluting notes are joined by piano and a medium-high, full-sounding synth that sings out a melody full of enjoyment and chilled-out emotion. The drums and bass are locked together in a funky pulse as the elevated synth swirls past with breathy energy. I enjoy the way in which the mingled piano and flute-like notes create a hopeful feeling in the track.
Slap bass entangles in a pattern that is undeniably cool, as the tripping, raised synth jumps through the track with twirling life. A twisting synth with a trumpeting quality snaps through the music with lively motion before the main melody flies past with positive feelings pouring out of it, and the track ends.
“First Light” kicks off as a rather energetic bassline bounces, with quickly flitting, sparkling notes supporting a flute-like synth melody that sings with comfortable sensations. The drums have a guiding pulse as the flute-like synth unfurls in a cool and relaxing line, and the sparkling notes flicker in the distance as the bass throbs.
The track accelerates with joyful, freewheeling life, and the drums and bass pulse rapidly as the chimes shimmer and flow past. The low end continues to rebound and drive the track forward as the flute-like notes glide past with breathy momentum, and the rapidly shining background notes add twinkling luminosity.
I enjoy the music’s sense of possibility. Bursting notes flash past with a bouncy sensation as the bass cascades. The drums flourish, and the flute floats out again with a feeling of uplifting liveliness, while the glittering notes in the distance add textural delicacy. Now, that breathy synth slides and quarrels in a melodic line full of laid-back emotion.
A groovy, bouncing beat and a voiceover talking about aerobics starts off “Personal Best”. The low end has propulsive, driving energy and climbing, glowing synth that supports the aerobic voiceover. The main melody, carried on a medium-high, sharp-edged synth, dances along with unrestrained happiness, as orchestra hits flash through.
The percussion is energetic and full of elastic life as the melody provides encouragement and positivity. Now, richly toned synth carries a smoothly flowing melody, brimming over with exuberance and vitality. Delicate notes are passionate in the background with light ease as the melody flows forth. I enjoy the pure fun that Beckett has with this track.
A trumpeting synth surges out, providing an energy boost. Now, a jazzy keyboard solo explodes with passionate, speeding motion and interwoven notes before the trumpeting, confidence-boosting melody carries the song to an end.
Conclusion
Soft City Glow is a musically rich, ambience-drenched experience that draws me into a magical urban world of sophisticates, dimly lit jazz clubs, and richly appointed apartments looking out over the glistening lights of a metropolis.
