eLxAr - Beyond The Emotions

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

eLxAr’s Beyond The Emotions explores all of the depths and complexities of human affection and love. The album does so through strong melodies, intricately interwoven synth sounds and talented guest performances. It is full of tenderness and caring along with more melancholy and challenging emotions.

eLaXr show off their melodic abilities to great effect on Beyond The Emotions. They craft beautiful, engaging tunes that capture all of the various emotional states that unfold within the music. I enjoy the flowing and touching nature of the melodic writing that unfurls across all of the album’s tracks.

The synth work on Beyond The Emotions is full of layers and interesting sonic interactions. The synths all come together in a harmonious whole, but still stand up individually in terms of tone, timbre and overall feeling expressed. When they weave together, the end result is lush and intricately interlocking.

All of the guest artists on the album add to the overall quality that permeates each piece. Their performances give more emotional punch to the music and each of them contributes a unique touch to the tracks. Their contributions play a large part in how well I feel the album turned out and make it an excellent listen.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Watching Her From Afar” comes into being as rapidly oscillating bass and light, tentative chimes flicker out in a gentle pattern. The bass is huge and tremulous as Kosmic Kiss’ emotionally rich vocals carry a melody intensely full of aching emotion and affection. A gigantic bass oscillation keeps washing underneath the music to give it form. Wind sweeps, a massive retro drum fill hits and Kosmic Kiss’s deeply expressive voice lifts in a soaring melody.

Hard-hitting drums pulse and the bass growls in vibrating waves. The vocal melody is enfolding and touching while the powerful bass surges and sparkling chimes dance in the distance. The chorus leaps out with a sense of need, tinged with the pain of unrequited love. The bell-like synth is tremulous and fragile as smooth strings interwine around the jumping drums and bass.  Chimes flicker and Kosmic Kiss’s tender vocals soar out over the throbbing pulse below them and end on quickly flitting synth.

The narrator talks about being in busy halls on Sunday afternoon. He talks about how “life wants to attune” for lonely people. He is looking at the object of his affection “smiling at the world” and bringing light to his “longing nights.” He goes on to say that she’s like a dream for him.

Our storyteller says that he watches her from a distance every day but realizes that “we never stare into each other’s eyes. He talks about getting lonely and weak as he finds himself unable to speak and so he’s “fading like a distant star” and continuing to watch from far away.

It would be a dream for the narrator to spend a lifetime with her but her "soul has never reached out to me.” He says that his feelings “chain me down hard to the ground” and adds that when he reaches out his “hand just touches air.” So every day he finds himself “watching her from afar.”

Massive synth throbs and robotic voice moves in as a relaxing, full sounding arpeggio spins slowly to start “Would You Go Out With Me.” The drums steadily reverberate along with a diffuse snare sound. Distant, elevated synth shimmers with soft light and the robotic voice repeats.

An arpeggio keeps circling as caressing medium-high synth carries a hoping, hurting melody that evolves to become more positive in a way that I enjoy. Underneath the drums continue to pulse smoothly and the bass throbs with weight as the arpeggio keeps revolving gently.

Distant synths glide with emotion as the drums and bass shape the music. The uplifting melody sings out expectant, nervous emotion and the robotic voice flows onwards with ease before gliding away on the fading arpeggio.

“Mirror Talk” opens as colossal, bouncing bass is joined by a throbbing kick drum as airy sounds flow. Bright, sharp edged synth sings an encouraging melody as the narrator gives himself a pep talk in the mirror, trying to make sure he doesn’t screw up the date he’s about to go on. Delicate chimes flicker and the huge drums and bass throb.

Now a medium-high, glittering and round-toned synth sings a melody full of dreaming feeling and anticipation while the unstoppable low end pulse continues. The track flows into a segment in which the melody swirls mistily and the narrator talks himself into confidence, trying to ensure that his meeting with this dream girl works out. I get a real kick out of the wry humour of the narration in this track.

The melody dances out again, so warm and full of a sense of possibility as it climbs and sails along, carried on the full synth that has a sunlit glow permeating it. A ride cymbal is added for more metallic sound and far off, xylophone like notes echo out as the enormous bass throbs and fades.

Gossamer synth clouds glide around evenly throbbing bass pulses and steady, shimmering notes to commence “When Two Souls Connect.” Gently twirling, distant synth grows in strength to flit and sparkle over the undulating bass. Chiming, bright synth twinkles out in clean lines as the bass throbs continuously. There’s a solid drum fill and a driving, trance beat pulses in to energize the track as it wanders.

Gleaming synth carries a melody full to the brim with joy and fulfilment which draws me in. Drums flourish once again and the throbbing beat pushes the music forward as quick, shining arpeggios twirl. Slightly distorted, medium-high synth carries the main melody as it radiates contentment and aspiration for a positive future.

The drum and bass pulse shapes the track while the lead synth shimmers. An ethereally flowing, peaceful segment unfolds as synths drift in a feather-light pattern over the bass oscillation. Piano-like synth carries the tender melody as brushing drums guide the music on and the bass line adds form. The track ends on the melody as it dreams and reaches for the stars over the low end’s guidance.

“My Weakness” kicks off as actively moving bass forms a textured, dynamic heartbeat as medium-high synths echo out in quick bursts and shaker percussion adds a brushing feeling. Justin Dye’s voice is thick with emotion as it carries a mysterious melody over the endlessly shifting bass line.

Shadowy synth and growling bass are cut by sharp sounds that float through. The drums have a loose-limbed feeling as the vocals carry out over the bass void as a tambourine adds a metallic tapping as solid kick drum pulsates. Justin Dye effectively fills his voice with desolation and that feeling is mirrored by the low bass rumble and extended sonic sweep. Slowly shifting drums add an ominous undertone before the song ends on drifting sounds and a steady, raised note pulse.

Our storyteller begins as he talks about taking the song’s subject home for the first time and pointing out the fact that “if looks could kill, you’d be my end.” However he adds that he’s still “dying to make you mine” in spite of that fact.

The narrator goes on to say that the other person is “pulling at my weakness and tearing at my heart” but he still begs that person to stop him from falling apart. He goes on to say that they are “in too deep” and have no more secrets to hold on to because “it’s cold beneath these sheets.”

When the other person isn’t around, the storyteller says that he grabs his keys and drives because “I've never felt more alive.” He points out that they continue to drive down the same road because there’s no other place to go. He tells the song's subject “just hold my hand we'll be ok” but adds he’s never been as scared. His fear doesn’t stop him from say he won’t ever let go.

Our narrator talks about how the other person is “tearing up my feelings” and watching them go up in flames. He asks if the other person feels the same and repeats “I’m never gonna let you go, just keep me from falling apart."

A smoothly twisting arpeggio moves through the track along with a matching bass undulation to start “Two Lonely Years.” Kaarin Zoe Lee’s spoken word part is clear and full of feeling as elevated, wide synth with a rich glow delicately carries warming notes that accent the resonant narration. Kaarin Zoe Lee dives into the sentiments expressed in the monologue, her voice capturing emotion.

Relentless bass oscillates and a high synth part shines with fluttering energy. The bass increases in power and now drums add substance and form. Chiming synth sings out a melody that exudes affection, caring and a sense of peace.The drums and oscillating bass add enough forward motion as the main melody emotes.

Kaarin Zoe Lee has a way of embodying the emotion in the words and clearly speaking them to deliver the song’s message. The shimmering synths lift the melody up above the bass waves as it expresses all of the love pouring from the narration.

The narrator talks about seeing off someone for whom they care deeply at the airport after a week spent together. She reminisces about their time together and talks about a “spark” that had started then fuelled by the other person’s “kindness, compassion, generosity.”

Our narrator points out that at the moment, she’s comfortable calling her feeling for the other person “gratitude” even though she knows the truth is something different. She has said goodbye so it’s too late to confess the truth, but she adds “with you, goodbye will always mean next time.” When they meet again, she’ll tell the other person she’s falling for them.

Two years have passed since they last  met in person because of the COVID pandemic but the storyteller is going to meet the other person at the airport. During that time, she admitted how she really felt “even if it was from behind a screen” although the other person had admitted the same feelings and wanted to see her “right away.”

The pandemic meant that even though they had it arranged, they had to wait “but the distance didn’t weaken us” but might have strengthened their connection. Now our narrator says that she sees the other person’s eyes like “jewels in the sky” and can’t wait for their gazes to meet. She concludes,” I can’t wait another moment after these two long years for our first kiss.”

“With You” opens with shivering, flickering synth sound, a rapidly pulsing bass oscillation and falling rain. Rich, deep guitar moves in as Neaon’s vocals breathily express lyrical emotion and the bass throbs steadily onward.

The vocal melody is filmy and fragile, but yearns for better things to come as the drums and bass create a steady pulse. Trembling, medium-high synth adds greater emotional depth to the song as arpeggiating synth ripples circle around it. Neaon’s voice is full of emotive gentleness that effectively deepens the feeling in the words.

Even synth pulses, mirrored by the bass help shape the music while rain falls and the subtly soothing vocal melody moves again. A segment with flowing synths comes in and adds a laid-back, gliding feeling in the music. Synth ripples slip out over the soft rain and the swirling musical background into quiet.

The storyteller says that she and the song’s subject are “like one” as they move alongside each other. She says that they “make a heaven” and that in their hearts they “move like water” as they dance together forever.

The narrator says that she didn’t realize that things could be “so right” when they’re together. She points out that it’s like “magic raining down.” Our narrator adds that “no matter what” the world might do “when the rain falls down” she still wants to be with the song's subject.

Our storyteller admits that she didn’t believe that she'd find another person. She says that she “closed her heart and took shelter.” However with the song’s subject she concludes that “I see tomorrow and in our hearts we don't have to hide.”

Pulsing synth and sparkling, fragile chimes begin “Above.” Wind sweeps through before Kojette’s voice gently comes in with its uniquely engaging sound. The vocal melody soars skyward before the chorus dances in over massive drums and shiny chimes. Kojette’s voice soars upwards, full of hopeful, positive emotion.

The skipping ease of the vocal melody and the vocals themselves express a sense of looking forward. Huge, retro drums propel the music and cut glass chimes gleam. Nasal, round-sounding synth calls out in a heartwarming solo, expressing the feeling that everything will be alright.

The narrator talks about how every day she gets closer to the song’s subject and “a little bit further from me.” She says that because they’re “uncommon” in what they do, it makes her the one for the song’s subject. Our narrator admits that it’s hard to be apart from the other person because “all I fear is a broken heart.” She points out that “when I’m back in your soul again” she needs to know that the other person doesn’t have to pretend.

In the chorus, our storyteller says that they are above “all the lies that we create… all the mistakes that we make.” She goes on to say that they can reach their goal on their own because “just you and me we believe” that they are “above in our love.”

The narrator points out that they are “the realest two” since they “grow together me and you.” She says that no matter what happens, they’ll get through it because “every day we wake up is new.” Our narrator says that even when they struggle through life, their hearts are “always intertwined.” She concludes by saying, “So let us travel through eternity until we find our own unity.”

“Endless Emotions” opens as trembling motes of synth with tentatively brush through the track over a steady shine that emanates below and after wind flows, Dimi Kaye’s guitar is full of intense emotions of gentleness and blossoming hope as the bass guides the music. A quickly flickering synth pattern accents the music as Dimi Kaye pours his soul into the melody, capturing the album’s themes of love, need and hope.

His guitar whirls and dances in his hands as he skilfully draws out the melody. Intricate patterns are woven as gigantic percussion batters below. Orchestral strings add more depth as the passion and need are palpable in the guitar’s notes as the strings interlock and reverent, feathery sound flickers again as misty synths soothe and the track grows quiet.

Conclusion

Beyond The Emotions is an auditory journey through the joys, pains and challenges of loving another person. eLxAr and their guests have put together an enjoyably rich, emotive and deep album that I thoroughly enjoyed exploring.