INDIGO by Indigo
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Indigo’s INDIGO is a fusion of unique synth sounds with her distinctive vocals and expressive songwriting abilities.This is synthpop at an elevated level which explores complex emotions and contains a showcase for its principal creator’s talents. I am drawn to the directness of her lyrics and emotional depth in her voice.
Indigo’s voice is a major reason this album succeeds. Her voice has a timbre that balances a breathy quality with strength, There’s a tender and soothing quality that can spill into seduction with ease. The way in which she moves between these moods allows her to capture the mingled emotions within her lyrics and add colour to the vocal melodies.
Songwriting is an art and Indigo has honed her artistic skill to craft lyrics that are expressive without being overdone. Her talent lies in writing words that are direct and straightforward, but able to put clear images in a listener’s mind. I enjoy the vivid and emotional connection her songs make with me.
Finding a musical balance can be tough to do but I enjoy the way in which Indigo puts her vocals at the forefront as Steve Wilcoxson weaves a synth tapestry around them. Her choice of synths creates interesting mixtures of timbres, tones and moods as they roam from light to shadow, from spring breeze to a raging gale. She always allows her voice to shine but supports it well musically too.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“Ride” bursts with need, affection and melancholy. Lush, slightly broken lower synth is touched by glimmering chimes as the song opens. Low synth undulates and trembles before drums slowly guide the music along with a rich bass flow. Indigo’s vocals have a tender, enfolding quality and the vocal melody is gently affectionate.
A guitar adds depth as it pulses out medium-high notes as Indigo weaves a loving melody, full of caressing emotion. Slightly broken, vibrating synths ripple out and the chorus leaps, Indigo’s vocal is full of deep expression over bursting drums and pulsating bass pulsation. Flowing synths tumble together as oscillating bass adds more energy to the throbbing drums before the song ends.
Our narrator speaks of feeling lost again at night. She asks the song’s subject to “hold the wheel, hold me and drive.” She expresses a desire to “close the door on it all” and put it behind her.
Now the storyteller speaks of rolling the windows down and going for a ride. She says that they have “one more ride to be lost in the night.” She asks “Can you decide If we’re chasing the light until the sky divides…” and they can find a hiding place on that night.
Gliding, lightly pulsing synth is joined by gently shining notes shifting in tendrils as "A Setting Sun” begins. Gigantic drums burst and Indigo’s impassioned, pleasingly expressive voice carries a softly touching melody as digital sparkles tumble through the song. Pulsing bass shapes the music as shimmering, high synths flash out.
Indigo’s voice is enfolding and draws the listener in as towering retro drums throb. Slightly indistinct synth twines through the track to add increased tenderness. Diamond sparkles flicker out and big drums shape the music as twinkling notes interlink. The gentle vocal melody unfolds before Indigo’s voice is divided into many threads, weaving in and out before fading out flaring synths.
The storyteller talks about how the sunset “for us feels like a memory” as it flows over her slowly. As time comes and goes it “feels like a century” that has passed by rapidly. She is content to be with the object of her affection and it doesn’t “have to be forever.”
She asks the other person to “tell me now or it is never” Our narrator now says the sun has set like “an empty memory” soon left behind. She says that all of the time was “ours to love” while also being “a touch so temporary.” She concludes that “I’m right here if you want me.”
“Falling Apart” commences as brittle, string-like synth trembles in flashing notes supported by dense bass flowing below. Urgent, sharp-edged synth pulses and bass throbs. Indigo’s breathy, delicate voice carries a melody that is draws me in with its painful longing.
Angular drums and bass throb and strumming, string-like synth cascades though the track. Drums patter and rush as Indigo’s easily flowing voice carries a descending chorus above the flickering strings. Oscillating, undulating bass and steadily guiding drums press the song on.
Indigo’s vocals are strong but still vulnerable as quickly spinning, bright synth winds through the music. Propulsive drums and bass join dancing, string-like synth vibrations. Low end sounds drive on as Indigo’s voice slips through before the song ends.
The narrator says that she feels that “when the writing’s on the wall” she can hear the other person calling and then “you cut me down to fall.” She talks about how they are falling in and out of love as the other person is “calling me out” and taking her down and around.
Our storyteller realizes they’re falling apart and she feels it “wth a broken heart.” She knows that the other person tears her “up and down” as she follows them “around to the ground.” The storyteller feels like she’s standing tall, despite seeming like “I’m nothing at all.” She ends by saying that “ I won’t forget to call.”
Strong, positive piano chords swell beneath delicately glowing synth to kick off “Lost Nights.”
Drums throb heavily and Indigo emotes with tremulous feeling. Broadly gleaming synth notes fly out along with a rushing drumbeat and pulsing bass. The vocal melody beautifully combines hope, a yearning for better times and melancholy emotion.
Drums and bass charge on to imbue the music with life while the piano chords entangle and elevated notes glitter. Broadly brushing snare drum touches the track. Indigo’s caressing voice soars up in the settling, uplifting chorus as it shows a light glimmering against the darkness. Glimmering, crystalline synth notes twinkle as the sharp-edged bass fades out into shimmering notes.
Our storyteller says that she lost herself in the streets and finds in “the signs that lied” a path that “leads the way” in a shattered maze. Now she finds that “the light divides and then multiplies” and carries her like a wave. The narrator says that she saw herself “in a crowded line” adding that she’d hoped to find a place to stay as a “lost and lonely stray.”
Now the narrator says that “the sun fell down on a broken town” and carried her away. She goes on to talk about the other person holding her tightly “till we break in the morning light” because it is a shadowed night that they might find.
“Stay” begins as reverberating, richly flowing synth slowly floats out before drums throb hard and angular, medium-low synth flashes out. Indigo’s voice is mellow and deep with feeling carrying a melody that pleasingly mingles energy and yearning.
Flashing, sharp-edged synth leaps out as Indigo’s airy, expressive vocals carry above solid drums and undulating bass pulse. Now colossal drums burst as the medium-low synth wriggles out in thick lines and the vocal soar out into the chorus. The song charges on as low, full-sounding synth jumps out below Indigo’s voice before silence falls.
“All alone on a crimson highway” is where the narrator finds herself as she passes with “the sky beneath me now.” She speaks of falling away from the stars next to her and floating by herself “just be found.”
Our storyteller hopes that the other person might stay but watches as they drift away. She pleads “there’s no way that you can leave!” She’s with that person when she sleeps but I seems that “I’ll leave you in my dreams.”
Sailing, delicate synth slips out in lightly drifting waves as “Colder” opens. A guitar adds support to the sparkling, twirling synths and Indigo’s voice is enjoyably tender and warm. Electric guitar calls out in bright notes as the melody that expresses wistful caring.
Gleaming synth drifts out with light pouring from it. Quickly oscillating bass moves with strumming electric guitar to add more life. Indigo’s voice rises up in the chorus, echoing along with the glimmering high synths that add another glowing layer. Silence falls as the bass oscillation ripples and we fade on starry notes.
The storyteller points out that she’d sell her soul to hold the song’s subject “in a life that’s left unfolded” for a sound not spoken, in a world “that couldn’t own you.” She adds that “all these things” don’t make things last. They fade quickly as the room grows colder and “my head rests on your shoulder.” She recalls “the one thing I should have told her “but the doors were already closing.”
“Heat” comes to life as steadily pulsing notes add shape to the flickering synth that shines through. Crashing drums and a sweeping airy rush move along with a positive-sounding melodic pattern.
Guitar curls lush tendrils around Indigo’s gentle voice as it carries the dreaming melody. Indigo’s emotive vocals effectively capture the passion in the lyrics as the guitar carries a climbing melodic line. Sweeping wind passes and the drums shift, the bass throbs and Indigo’s voice flows before the track fades on twinkling light.
Our narrator talks about how, when everything the other person said “is lost among the waves,” she’s taking them for granted. She continues by saying that she understands things aren’t the same “when everything that’s there just falls away again.”
It makes her go further until she feels “you in my pain.” Now the storyteller asks the other person not to stop because everything she’s ever wanted was in “the heat of your touch.” She asks them not to stop their touch. She concludes “I fell for you before we even started.”
Conclusion
Indigo is a person who expresses herself deeply and effectively through the fusion of her emotive voice, well-crafted songs and interweaving synths that mingle to deep the emotions expressed within the vocals and lyrics.
