Elevate The Sky - Dreaming In Color

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Elevate The Sky’s Dreaming In Color is a luscious slice of retro-synth beauty spiked with his powerful vocals, beautiful melodies and a richly interwoven synth palette. When one adds Elevate The Sky’s emotive guitar performances, a host of skilled musical supporters and well-written lyrics the end result is galvanizing.

At the core of Dreaming In Color are Elevate The Sky’s vocal abilities. His voice can soar to incredible heights or take hold of my heartstrings and tug on them with aching emotion. There’s soul and strength in the performances as they take hold of the words Elevate The Sky has written and wring all the meaning out of them.

Melodic ear candy fills Dreaming In Color as each song reveals itself. The melodies have expression and depth in them, sometimes filling me with joy and at other times, touching me with their delicate melancholy. They all share clarity as they wind around my ears and draw me more fully into the music.

The way in which synth sounds, guitar and the other instruments combine on the album weaves a spell that creates sonic enchantment. There are a varied selection of ear-grabbing synth textures, tones and timbres on offer to paint intense imagery while Elevate The Sky’s guitar chops are electrifying. llia Skibinsky’s sax is incredibly seductive and Michael Oakley’s vocals on “We Are The Dreamers” are a treat, along with a #synthfam choir.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Radio (Hearts Beat In Stereo)” comes to life as the nostalgic sound of a scanning radio is joined by colossal bass and scintillating synth rippling in. Drums drive on with huge propulsion as glimmering notes dance. Elevate The Skys voice is wonderfully filled with melancholy and dreamy emotion as arpeggios shine expansively.

Passionate emotion pours from Elevate The Sky’s vocals as the low end shapes the track and cosmic notes flash out while medium-high arpeggios add a warm sheen. The vocal melody mingles dynamism and ache while massive retro drums throb and bass flows.

Caressing guitar entangles in a soothing and slightly pained melody while metallically ringing notes tumble through with a gruff edge. Elevate The Sky’s voice is full of power and feeling while radiant notes jump past before the song ends.

The power of memory can transport us all but we can also get lost in it. Our storyteller wants to rewind back to simpler days “through a window of hopeful eyes.” He listens to the radio as love letters are sent over the air and the frequencies take me to another place.”

On never-ending, lonely nights the narrator gave himself over to the radio. On “these rainy nights all alone” he gets lost in the radio’s world and keeps on dreaming as he gave “my heart to the radio.”

Now “faded scenery in the back of my mind” replays on a loop all night long for him. He’s been “lost in a daydream of make believe” and is now only a silhouette against the “light of you and me.”

A tentative light fills the background as distantly arpeggiating synth notes are joined by glimmering chimes to open “Dreaming In Color.” Arpeggios revolve in sweeping motion, joined by colossal drums and an airy female voice calling out wordlessly.

Elevate The Sky’s tender voice carries a wistful melody above the dense bass well as twirling arpeggios shift and glistening synth trembles. The drums have great presence as the arpeggios flow with expansive strength.

The vocal melody carries loss within it as Elevate The Sky capably captures the painful emotions in the words. Drums with muscled thunder echo while arpeggiating notes slowly spin. Now the guitar rings out in a wildly crying solo, wrenching in its emotional intensity before the song ends.

Dreams can be terrible, vivid and entangling in their impact. The narrator talks about the moon’s dark silhouette as he “fell asleep in an ocean of violent sharks.” He says that he fears seeing the truth as he is smothered under a “blanket of blue.”

Our storyteller speaks of fading away as a shade of grey while “I’m dreaming in color.” Time is trickling through an hourglass as the air begins to run out. It is a nightmare that won’t pass as he can “see the colors of a rainbow illuminate its glow.”

“Santa Monica” starts as tranquil panpipes echo out gently in rippling motion as rich luminosity pours from the backing synth. Creamy bass and giant drums add shape and propulsion as the track gets going. A sax cries out with ardent flair, radiating heartfelt joy above ethereal synth exhalations and the pulsating low end.

Warming chords glint in the background while bursting drums and throbbing bass add form. The sheer exuberance permeating the sax fills me with joy while the energizing low end pulls me onward. Luminous synth shines with sunny light and raised notes flit past in shining motion.

There’s genuine emotional uplift in the sax as it leaps and scintillating, metallic chimes move in hypnotic arpeggios. The sax takes the song out freely flying, reedy tones as the bass and drums push on along with glittering synth that adds to the track’s solar illumination.

Widely dancing, shiny synth intertwines as Elevate The Sky’s warmly nostalgic and tender vocals glide to commence “Laguna Beach.” The drums and bass accelerate and there’s lustre in the lead synth as it dances.

The vocal melody fills me with a hopeful ache as it unfolds. The lead synth washes out with uplifting energy while the low end shapes the song. Elevate The Sky’s vocals are full of feeling as brilliant synth flits in active lines while truly colossal bass growls.

A metallic synth adds more brightness as the guitar arcs upward, reaching for the sky in free-wheeling joy. Trumpeting synth accents Elevate The Sky’s passionate vocals that call out above the energetic motion below to close the song.

Sometimes nostalgia can be easy to lose oneself within. The storyteller paints a Laguna Beach idyll of white sand, blue skies and palm trees. He says that he and the song’s subject were holding one another so tightly, to the point that “we could’ve missed the spark.” The spark was the sun illuminating their eyes and pulling them from darkness.

Our narrator talks of the two of them holding a “California dream” in their hands. He wants them not to worry about the future but to find romance today. In the hopes that a moment’s intense feeling would last, he says that “we got lost in the scattered lights” and almost forgot to live their lives.

“Little Tokyo” begins as a koto echoes out with its unique string sound tangling along with traditional Japanese percussion before an exciting drum and bass pulse launches forward. The koto carries an uplifting melody that does an excellent job of injecting propulsive energy before a radiant synth twirls out an encouraging melodic pattern.

Bass oscillates as drums throb and the koto carries a melody tinged with wistful emotion yet full of lively strength. Soaring, gleaming synth wheels above the other sonic elements and the low end pushes on. Drums thunder as the koto entangles and panpipes breathe out behind it as lustrous arpeggios twirl.

The track slips into windy flow as sparkling notes trip past and arpeggios spin out. Rounded synth sails past and the punchy drums and bass add shape before the track comes to an end while a gong sounds.

Waves wash and brassy synth leaps out with luminous life as throbbing bass and huge retro drums propel “Malibu.” Elevate The Sky’s powerful voice bursts with expression as twinkling synth shimmers and the drums and bass keep pulsating. The vocal melody is full of need and hope to which I am drawn.

Glimmering synth flashes and trumpeting notes flare while chimes ring out. Elevate The Sky’s emotional performance reaches out to the listener’s heart as sunlight pours from the shining synth. The low end keeps on moving forward while the vocals brim over with touching affection.

The broadly illuminating lead synth sings a positive melody as guitar unfurls in a flying solo that explodes, twists and intricately weaves out above the drums and bass. Elevate The Sky captures the feeling in the words, deeply engaging with them as the low end charges onward and elevated synth pours out lambent glow before silence falls.

The chance to rekindle an old flame burns brightly sometimes. Our narrator creates the image of a setting sun as he and the song’s subject drive down a winding road. They are on their way to start the new life they’ve been waiting for as they “fly, gas pedal to the floor.”

The storyteller points out that even if the night fades away, he’ll find the song’s subject. He goes on to say that “even if the world ends tonight” he’ll find the other person and go on to meet them in Malibu.

Now years have gone by but he still thinks of the other person. Winter sets in but the memory of “that summer” continues. The reminiscence of fireworks bursting and “the taste of romance” goes on as the narrator recalls “late movie nights, falling in love, taking a chance.”

“Moving In The Shadows” begins in a multicoloured sonic wash while string-like synth adds a shimmering, soothing melody. Insistent drums pulsate in a guiding beat as a forward moving, bright synth pattern scuds as chiming notes sail out and now massive bass throbs and shiny arpeggios twirl.

Guitar surges in with a growling note pattern before smooth synth notes unfurl with hopeful light and the drums drive onward. The arpeggiating, full sounding background synth undulates while the guitar sings out and the lightly touching synth melody dances.

The guitar calls out in a melody mingling ear-pleasingly joyful energy with bluesy influences as rapidly sparkling synth trickles through. After a launching sound and flourishing drums, the guitar carries the melody that soars up with buoyant life and the track ends on flaring chords and delicate chimes gliding into silence.

Gigantic bass wells up as bright piano notes flicker and huge retro drums join in as the bass oscillates to open “We Are The Dreamers.” Michael Oakley’s deeply expressive voice carries the uplifting, aching vocal melody above smooth drums and undulating bass.

Glimmering chimes add shine to the song. Michael Oakley’s voice surges with passion and strength above the driving low end as light flashes out. Positivity, hope and energy leap out from the mingled choral voices as the melody explodes with joyful life. Elevate The Sky’s guitar charges with yearning energy as starry synths glitter. The vocals are full of feeling, powerful and compelling.

The chorus flies in again, blowing away the darkness of a mundane life. Chimes twinkle as the dynamic drumbeat and pulsing bass push the track on. llia Skibinsky’s sax solo is jazzy, full of reedy warmth and impassioned emotion that mingles with the chorus of joyful voices. Chimes shine with crystalline illumination as drums and bass propel the music. The chorus lifts in exultant emotion as the song pulses on to a conclusion and the sax cries out once more.

In “arcade nights” escape was reality for the narrator and his companion. In “summer dreamin’ at the mall” they found their destinies. In the midst of it all, they “loved…hurt and…fought to be heard.” Our storyteller talks about their dreams being broken "with your heart on the floor.” Their escape was to go "far away from the world” just getting lost in your car. There were also endless days and nights “reaching for the stars.”

As the chorus rings out, the narrator talks about how one night “could change forever” as they drive far away from the world. He calls for both of them not to let their chance go because “we are the dreamers.” He adds that the night could last forever and let one “escape from all your fears."

Nostalgia unfolds as everything is “etched in memory” as if it was just yesterday. Our storyteller talks about the way in which life continues “but time stands still when you’re with me.” Despite the heartaches, he talks about escaping and getting “lost in a song” during endless days and nights “searching to belong.”

As the song finishes, the narrator talks about how the night will change forever as they “reach up to the sky” and he urges himself and the other person not to let this chance go.

“New Horizon” comes to life as tremendous strength fills the bass that rises into the music with gruff edges as digital sounding arpeggios ripple in a rushing motion. Elevate The Sky’s vocal performance is aching and deep, carrying a melody that mingles hope and a hint of melancholy while arpeggios twinkle and the drums and bass press on.

The vocals tremble with intense emotion as the chiming notes exude warmth and positive emotion while the thunderous drums and solid bass. Elevate The Sky’s voice dominates the song as he ably captures the lyrics and their full meaning.

Lambent chimes coruscate above giant bass before the guitar cries out with touching feeling and climbs skyward and bass growls. The chorus flies above the forward charging low end while the drums and bass shape the music before the song ends.

Sometimes in life a chance to start anew must be seized when it appears. The teller of this tale speaks of seeing “the sun burst into a million flames” as he hears a heartbeat calling his name. There’s a powerful sense of escape coming over him as an unexplainable energy moves him. He realizes that “the wind will try to change my direction” and dreams seem distant but he can still feel a strong connection.

Our narrator talks about taking his heart to “new horizons” adding that it isn’t very far to the other person’s heart. He urges the second person in the song to “come undone and let go with me.” He goes on to say that their connection is all they have and all they need to discover that new horizon.

The storyteller talks about a truth that speaks loudly "like a familiar song.” He likens it to an encouraging voice echoing out strongly as his eyes are “intrinsically bound to a new rising sun.” Life awaits him, a transformation. The wind isn’t carrying him away now so he reaches out to the open sky to go on “a journey to a new path across the great divide.

Conclusion

Dreaming In Color fills me with a sweeping emotional rush as it unfolds in my ears. The way in which all of the different sonic elements combine is strongly pleasing and keeps me engaged as I listen. This is music that I can hear over and over again and continue to enjoy .