Breathe Of My Leaves - The Radiant Believers

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impression

Breathe Of My Leaves’ The Radiant Believers is exultant, emotionally powerful and intensely layered music that is full of lyrical depth and vocal expression. Stephano Barberis composes beautiful melodies that he elucidates in intertwining synth sounds while Jordan Gant writes dense lyrics and sings them with intense feeling. The end result is a deeply engaging, sophisticated slice of synthpop.

At the heart of The Radiant Believers is Jordan Gant’s vocal performance. His voice is expressive, resonant and wide ranging as he takes hold of the lyrical and musical essence of the album and brings it to life. I enjoy the way he is able to pour himself into the vocals and reflect the emotion that flows from his lyrics.

Songwriting is a clear strength for Jordan Gant and it adds to the engaging nature of The Radiant Believers. His songs are full of deep imagery, beautiful emotion and contain thought provoking ideas that require the listener to pay attention and focus on what’s being conveyed. I am grabbed and held by the power of the words on the album.

The way in which Stephano Barberis writes music and takes advantage of synths and their capabilities is ear-pleasing and luscious. His compositional skills allow him to craft heart-piercing and emotive melodies. I am drawn to the movement between moods and sensations as the melodies unfold, carrying multiple states of feeling. The way in which he harmonizes adds more direct emotion to the overall sound.

On top of the melodic content, Stephano Barberis uses his synth palette to paint intensely interwoven sonic portraits. He explores the interactions between different tones, timbres and musical textures to create nuanced moments or instances of joyous expression. I enjoy the richness and beauty that he adds to the album with his compositions.

My Favourite Songs Analyzed

“Stay” opens as growling synth sweeps and interlocking voices form a richly resonant choir singing a tranquil melody. Hard-hitting synth cuts through and Jordan Gant’s expressive voice carries a sharp melody with a punching feeling as the chorus climbs with impassioned strength. A muscled, propulsive low end throb guides the track as a noble, rising melody flows out.

After a stuttering moment, the vocal melody caresses and pours darkness at the same time, while the song flows into a segment in which vocals mix into a glowing chorus.

Gleaming, enfolding synth sails out as Jordan Gant’s heartfelt, gruff voice soars out and the drums and bass drive on. Reverent voices mingle and the song ends on a fluting instrument.

Sometimes the beauty to which we are drawn has sharp edges. The storyteller describes the song’s subject as the beauty radiating from inside that is “a perfect circle, an opulent dream.” He speaks of scraping the surface for fragments of his heart that only leaves behind “a benevolent scream.”

Our narrator wants to get together with the song’s subject and no one else. He asks what they’ve got to lose. He will act as her “Magna Carta” and she as his “cryptic queen.” The desire for her is like a prophecy and a flawless piece of his heart, but he has to beg her to stay.

“Stick the knife in towards my lovable side” is what the storyteller asks her to do, in order to take as much as she needs. He has offered her whole galaxies “to claim the stars for days” but all of the paintings she creates blend into a dull grey mass.

As the song ends, he says “A prophesy, a perfect piece of my heart. Like a key you came in and opened my heart."

Vibrating, angular synth moves in a melodic line that flows with luminosity to start “You’re My Light.” Roundly rippling notes and an airy, digital-sounding synth flit through. Jordan Gant’s voice is powerfully expressive as it soars out above thumping kick drum and an entangling synth.

A windy flow sweeps through and surging synth fills with warmth as a kick drum guides it. The vocal melody has wonderful strength and ache in it as the chorus erupts above rapidly thudding drums and bass. Majestic chords rise and the emotional heart of Jordan Gant's vocals is revealed. Synth gruffly sings the active melody as a galaxy of spinning, open-voiced synth revolves.

The dance-floor filling beat pumps out as Jordan Gant’s voice arcs upward and the medium-high, glowing synth sings out with more encouragement. The vocal lines climb and dance, intertwining as the synth melody, carried on a glistening sound leaps with positive life as the low end drives onward.

Struggle and striving fill the words of this song. The storyteller points out the fact that everything except "pennies in a hat” is changing in the world. He wants to “answer nothing but the holy” as he feels exhausted and overwhelmed. It makes him wonder how anyone can feel as it goes on and on. He is trapped in “hopeless dreaming” that the song’s subject is the light that needs his light.

Our narrator feels that the world is too much as it spins. He is holding his heart to “see the sky for you and I” but if the distance between him and the song’s subject grows, he feels he’d die. He’s amazed the other person feels anything “when all the beasts inside your head they roar and scream for something” and perhaps all of their dreams fade too.

He concludes by saying he wanted nothing before but “things have changed. I've got a hundred million reasons why I’d die from the pain but you don’t.”

“Godzilla” opens with crushing bass and dark, dominating brass that is joined by digital sounds before the deep bass pulse is cut by brassy notes leaping in. Jordan Gant carries intense emotion in his voice as he sings the uplifting vocal melody as the gruff-edged, radiant synth fills the background.

The chorus is chanted as exultant piano rises and the sharp-edged lead synth carries a warming and hopeful melody. Now twanging strings entangle with Jordan Gant’s rich and resonant voice while a brilliant synth carries a slightly dreamy melody. The lead synth has vibrant density to it as the chanted chorus erupts into dynamic motion while the low end presses on.

Humanity seems to have a unique gift for destruction and its manifestation. Our narrator talks about how dead dreams poison the skies and “everything is tied together, don’t know why.” He looks on with horror at what we’ve done to the world. As he waits, barefoot on a beach, he is “looking out to nature like a one night stand” before the earth begins to shake.

In the chorus, Godzilla is seen as a “radiant believer” who broke through radioactive fallout and saw the truth of it in an infamous incident involving a Japanese fishing boat whose crew was irradiated.

Our storyteller talks of “bombs bursting in the image of man” while the force that is embodied in Godzilla waits and plans underwater. He asks what the wise one will do “to replace” as it breathes “life across this sacred ground.” It is a force to maintain balance as the world is broken down. He concludes, “I feel the rumble, it's time we meet face to face.”

8-bit notes wander before a medium-low, glistening synth trembles delicately as it becomes a softly touching melodic line to commence “All The Memories Made.” Tapping percussion comes in before Jordan Gant’s lightly gliding voice carries a melody mingling wistfulness with ease.

Drums and bass create a pulsating flow as the vocals gain some strength while the synth lights sparkle. Vibrant synth dances with a soothing feeling as the low end adds form. Jordan Gant’s voice aches with emotion as full-sounding synth trickles tenderly as drums and bass propel the music.

I enjoy the vocal layering that adds a choir-like feeling as Jordan Gant captures lyrical emotion with intense power. Ethereal synth hovers while the vocals flow expressively. Rapidly oscillating synth shivers below a rich chorus of mingled voices. Digitally sparkling synth dances along to the throbbing beat with wandering energy. Jordan Gant belts out the chorus with adamant passion while the drums and bass drive on.

If one holds on to nothing but material things and rejects love and affection, life is empty. The storyteller talks about "a man who held all of his treasures, staring at an empty sea" without any friends or any pleasure. The only thing that he had was "a tightened grip.” Our storyteller goes on to say that he hopes it isn't him or that it won’t be what he becomes.

“Now and again you’ll see defeat in me” is what the narrator says but adds that without the song’s subject he’d be nothing. He says that the only way his heart will break is “by taking all the memories made.” He asks the other person to wake him up because “I need the love.”

The storyteller points out that without a plan, you can’t hold on to anything. You end up “living with a broken heart, no end, no one to call your lover.” He adds that kind words always have worth and his own words are “writings on the wall, for everyone to see.”

“Avalon” opens as sawtoothed bass cuts in and luminously flashing synth is joined by a gliding drumbeat. Jordan Gant’s impassioned voice soars out, carrying a melody bursting with hopeful life as the gigantic low end throbs.

Jordan Gant whispers the chorus as a noble, brilliantly flaring synth sings an uplifting melody that brims over with majesty while the low end drives on. I am touched by the way in which this song mingles joy bounded by ache. Jordan Gant’s expressive vocals sail out in the melody that soothes and soars while the drums and bass throb.

Now choral voices rise with reverence while the low end pulsates. The song is full of aspiration and yearning as a medium-high, sharp-edged lead synth carries the melody with positive life and the song ends on a choir.

Avalon is the mythical isle on which King Arthur rested after being grievously wounded, representing a place of healing in this song. Our tale’s teller speaks of fighting “the Pericles fight” to strive for an ideal.

He asks for Avalon to carry him through, adding that he’s not alone and “done with the hopeless nights.” He wants this island of healing to take his life, putting the onus on it as it will “take my soul, take me home.”

Now the narrator speaks of “streams of waves” in an ocean that is craving “the love that I am fighting for.” He wishes to be struck down “beyond the clouds” as his mind will continue to be “forevermore.”

Massively rushing bass joins Jordan Gant’s emotionally grabbing voice that carries the pained melody to start “Sweet Music Man.” Rough-edged synth sways in easy motion before the explosive beat drives on. Gritty synth rings out as the slamming low end presses on.

The chorus soars in Jordan Gant’s heartfelt voice as the gigantic percussion thunders. The drums and bass add more acceleration while the trumpeting lead synth leaps out in arcing flight. The energy is higher and the synths slice but Kenny Rogers’ spirit is fully intact, the words punching emotionally in Jordan Gant’s inspiring voice.

“Supernova Heart” commences as slowly shining synth glistens before becoming a wavy flow that slips into a delicate melody. The melody softly floats out into pillowy space as swelling bass rises and a lightly touching drumbeat guides the track.

Tareya’s smoky, expressive voice carries a hopeful and soothing melody out into the music as it sails past. Tareya’s voice brims over with intense emotion while Jordan Gant’s voice adds support. Towering bass erupts while broadly sliding synth moves with strength. Jordan Gant’s caressing voice flies out as the two singers voices intertwine while sharp-edged, triumphant synth dances along.

The sheer emotive exuberance in the singing draws me into it with alacrity. Wavering, enfolding synth carries an affectionate melody while the bass and fragile synth motes drift. Jordan Gant and Tareya’s mixed vocals leap out with touching feeling pouring from them as the low end throbs on.

Sometimes love is a cosmic force in our lives. The narrator talks about falling into a landslide of “conversations with mankind.” She asks what we’ve got to prove and asks “if our bones are made out of stardust” which brings our consciousness to life, what have we got to lose?

The storyteller says that she’ll love like no one else and “turn light into colour” just as the other person in the song asked her to do. Her heart is going supernova and she has “never felt so much colour.” She speaks of an eternal love that surpasses light speed and inverts spacetime.

Now she sends whispers out into the ether “just like a dreamer” as she asks what she’s got to lose. She concludes by saying that it is all due to the song’s subject that this is happening.

Trumpeting synth rings out with nobility and a shadowy tinge to start “Perfect Defeat.” Rushing, gargantuan bass comes in along with a throbbing drumbeat as Jordan Gant’s vocals carry the mingled emotions in the lyrics.

Choral vocals weave together as they move along with with the slamming low end. Jordan Gant’s voice has a mysterious quality as elevated synth glides diaphanously as the drums and bass bring propulsion. Brassy synth joins the soaring chorus as the choral voices unwind with rising energy.

I enjoy the way in which Jordan Gant connects with the lyrics to give them full meaning. The song ends as strings cry out with resonant warmth to contrast with the brassy, slicing synth as the low end hammers towards an ending.

Love and destruction are sometimes inextricably linked. Our storyteller talks about “my harmony, my deepest friend” whom he wishes well, but says that all his harmony has been is an easy escape in a challenging time.

He points out that “time is right for your devour.” He wants to be a fantasy for his darkest melody and asks for his “auburn queen” to pray for him. She is his perfect defeat and all that he desires.

The narrator goes on to say that he wishes he had a plan for her, “a fortress high above the land” in which to keep her. She manages to complement his melodies and “sabotage my fantasies.” He asks his “scale of queens” to stay with him as she is a third of him.

He asks her “don’t you have a song to sing until you ruin it?” And he asks her to find other plans. Our narrator concludes, “it always seems to me that you’re getting in the way but without you I’m a single man.”

“Across The Rainbow Bridge” commences as gently slipping synth and gritty bass form a soothing flow that slips into space. Jordan Gant’s lush voice is joined by strings that add more warmth as glimmering chimes sing a tender melody above the colossal bass.

Jordan Gant captures the aching gentleness in the lyrics with his strong voice. An ancient-sounding and peaceful melody slides through the music above the trembling low end. I am drawn to the choral vocal effect that adds a worshipful quality while luscious bass shifts.

Jordan Gant’s vocals are moving as they unfold and digital-sounding synth carries an affecting melodic line through the music. There’s depth and an enfolding feeling within the song that reaches out to touch the listener.

When we lose a loved one, there is an ache to connect with them again in a deep way. The narrator speaks of a place “across the rainbow bridge” where we can come together and find a breathing space. It is also the place where the narrator can love the song’s subject forever.

Our storyteller asks the song’s subject to keep their eyes open as he says that he won’t forget their embrace. He ends the song by talking about the day “you wore a halo, the day you became my angel” and how much he misses his lost loved one.

Conclusion

The Radiant Believers is a beautifully crafted synthpop record that delves deeply into what it is to live as a human being in this broken, beautiful world. I am engaged by the mixture of powerful vocals, intricately layered music and thought-provoking lyrics that fill the album.