jacket. - Volume 2: Void

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

jacket.’s Vol. II: Void is staggeringly well-produced, intensely layered music featuring songs with engaging lyrics and ear-pleasing soundscapes. This album takes synthwave music and gives it nuance, depth and lusciously intertwining auditory expression. It also features a superb group of other artists who add even more strength to the music.

It’s hard to find enough superlatives for the high production quality of Vol. II: Void. The care and attention to detail that jacket. demonstrates in each facet of the music’s production is tremendous. There’s a level of clarity and sonic detail in his music that serves to enrich the emotional expression within each track.

All of the guest artists that jacket. has included on Vol. II: Void expand the scope of the album further still. Each of his chosen guests brings their own unique musical vision and talent to bear. They are all artists for whom I have great respect and their collaborations bring further depth to the music on the album.

Each song on Vol. II: Void captures human experience in its lyrics. The words are carefully chosen and woven together to create powerful feelings. I enjoy how I am drawn in by the lyrics and how those lyrics work with the music and singing to add more emotion. Each song weaves together into a compelling whole.

jacket.’s synth palette runs the gamut of tonal, textural and timbral elements of which synths are capable. Each of those ear-catching sounds combines in many layers to create music that can capture and convey light, darkness, pain and exultation in one harmonious and attractive whole.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Growing Up” starts as smooth, easily washing synth waves slip peacefully through wide open space. Metallic sounds tap and lush bass flows while wide-sounding, medium-low synth forms a drifting pattern.

Shimmering, high synth carries a beautiful melody full of wistful, dreamy emotion. Broadly shifting lower synth adds shape and flickering synth trickles through to add sparkling accents. Piano chords radiate gently enfolding sensations above the densely swirling background while airy panpipes float and fade.

Sharp-edged, pulsing bass contrasts with wide-sounding, luminous synth as “Void” commences. Retro drums throb while glistening synth carries a charming melody rich with aching emotion. GeoVoc’s breathy voice carries a hurting, yearning vocal melody.

ELYXIR’s strong, expressive vocals come in to double GeoVoc’s. while flaring synth dances. ELYXIR’s vocals move alone now, caressing and full of strong emotion as powerful drums and bass pulsate. Glittering arpeggios twirl as both singers mingle their emotionally affecting voices.

Thudding drums and bass are joined by a guitar that lightly slides, carrying a softly touching melody as the song’s low end adds propulsion. Tripping synth flits as the song ends on deep bass and twinkling notes.

This song’s first narrator is looking back on his past to relive previous actions as they are “breaking into the night” where open fields “still hold our past time.” Both narrators say that it’s like “a void you can’t return” and a shadow of an alternate world.

Our second storyteller speaks of having nothing left of which to be afraid “floating in our atmosphere.” She talks about how it doesn’t matter where we travel “along our diamond roads” we are always praying for the light.

“Broken Paradise” opens as colossal drums rush, effulgent synth leaps upward and guitar entangles in twanging notes. Syst3m Glitch’s vocals are characterful and full of deep feeling as a guitar skips through while a synth vibrates rapidly.

Syst3m Glitch’s voice soars out, carrying the uplifting chorus as the heavy drums pound and lambent background synth flickers. A piano carries a gentle, encouraging melodic line as the guitar twangs and spins out below Syst3m Glitch’s strong, emotionally engaging voice.

Impactful drums hit the song and the chorus jumps out, brimming over pleasingly with hope and positive emotion. The lead synth solo whirls and arcs as delicate piano notes ripple. Gigantic drums pulsate as sunny synth pours out light, piano trips through the song and silence falls.

Asking everything from the song’s subject is something about which our storyteller says he should’ve known better. He asks “what’s a broken heart to do?” while adding that the situation can’t last forever. He wonders if people are ever truly lost and if there’s “hope to pay the cost” and asks again what a broken heart is to do.

The narrator still believes that he and the other person can put the pieces back together and “find a way to something beautiful.” He says that they know they’re better off alone, but they’ve come so far that "what we've got is worth the fight.” He says that they need to “take it back tonight” and move forward from their current position “to a broken paradise.”

Our storyteller points that he should have known better than to keep everything from the other person. He says “the jealousy’s fading” and asks the other person to take their time and think through things because “I'll be right here waiting.” He adds that simply because the other person’s “sunlight shines (it) doesn’t hide the silver lining” so they need to once again “take the time and think it through.”

Subtly rumbling bass forms a flowing support for brassy synth carrying a tremulous melodic line to begin “Just Like Me.” Bass oscillates and glittering synth tentatively brushes my ears as chimes flare and dense bass adds weight.

The background energy level rises as a kick drum pounds and panpipe synth shivers airily. Heavy bass undulates and the whole drum kit leaps in while chimes sparkle and synth moves in soft waves. Bright, sharp-edged lead synth carries a melody that effectively contrasts pain and tenderness above driving drums and bass.

The track drifts into a section in which radiant synth flickers and ticking drums come in. After chimes cascade into the music, drums push on again as guitar scuds through the track in skipping notes. High chimes burst with shiny life and towering drums collide before silence falls on the trembling guitar.

"Care Too Much” commences as radiant synth calls out along with smooth bass moving in huge walls. Arpeggios flicker as an impassioned sax cries out, carrying a melody full of deep affection and need.

Graystars’ intense, passionate voice carries the tenderly yearning vocal melody with pleasing expression. After massive drums flourish, bass oscillates rapidly as rounded, flashing synth dances around Graystars’ airy voice. Huge drums throb and the chorus soars up, doubled by reedy, full-toned sax.

Dense bass pulsates while starry synth shines. Graystars’ voice captures the love within the lyrics and angular synth mingles with twinkling xylophone while the shaping drumbeat keeps throbbing. The song ends with sax and vocals intertwining as angular bass and rippling xylophone fade into silence.

The teller of this tale encourages the song’s subject to release their fear because the time has come for “you and I to find our way out of here.” He adds “if you dare, try to let go of tonight.” He asks the other person not to leave him out as he follows them into the night.

Our narrator strongly declares that he won’t “go down without a fight” because he cares deeply for the other person and can’t quit on them. He wonders why it is hard for the song’s subject to keep him in their heart.

There’s an exhortation to “let down your hair” for the other person as our storyteller asks, “Don't you like it better when we give 'em something to talk about?” He tells the other person not to be afraid and to hold him tight because he’ll show them “how we've got nothing left to dance around.”

Broad-sounding, medium high synth with a gruff edge carries a rapidly shifting, minor key melodic pattern to start “Regalith.” Gargantuan bass throbs along with a heavy kick drum and CZARINA’s original-sounding, interesting voice carries an ethereal melody with profound emotive power.

Strong drums throb as rapidly, tightly swirling arpeggios are touched by echoing guitar and flitting chimes. CZARINA demonstrates her impressive vocal range as minor key synth arpeggiates and drums pound heavily. A piano shines out with fragile light as the guitar twangs and CZARINA’s voice captures the song's emotional content.

Muscled drums and bass shift as shimmering light drifts distantly, CZARINA’s dramatic voice rings out and floats above lightly touching piano notes before the heavy drums punch onward. The song ends on strong vocals, continually rippling arpeggios and the guiding drumbeat.

Our narrator is waiting with “pulsating breath” as they had ample time to arrive and come to a realization. As lights fade, she is “paralyzed with dread” and fighting with each breath as she looks ahead. When she casts her mind back, she feels “alive with memories come and gone” and when she “takes hold of time” she also feels alive.

“Memories cold and warm” enfold the storyteller in time and there’s “a cold stir in the air” as icicles form with each inhalation. The lights dim and she doesn’t want to waste her time. Now she waits for time “staring down the road.”

Her next backwards glance has her feeling “your face, closing in on mine.” Now “as the lights go down” she’s grappling with time and with each breath, she feels “alive with memories come and gone.”

“Visions” opens as intensely full bass moves below deeply flowing synth clouds. Dimi Kaye’s guitar carries slowly drifting chords while tense synth entangles. The lead guitar melody is trembling and emotive as bass undulates.

Open-voiced, ghostly synth drifts with a lonely, desolate feeling as ringing metallic sounds echo. Delicate synth trickles through the track while the intensity below it grows. Threatening bass pulsates and cutting synth snarls while drums pound.

Hammering sounds are lacerated by Dimi Kaye’s ferocious guitar while scudding synth trips above crushing percussion. I am electrified by the guitar solo that pours energy from each soaring, intricate note. Tumbling, dark notes move below a gentler, haunted synth that fades into silence with a razor-edged sound.

Reverberating bass flows beneath medium-high, rapidly trembling synth to begin “Cape Fear.” String-like notes add more resonance and punchy, giant drums pulsate. Raised, metallic synth sings a well-crafted melody full of pain, tinged by hopeful emotion while Seersha’s engaging voice echoes out.

Rounded, open-voiced synth trickles in an easily slipping melody as quickly twirling, full arpeggios spin. Seersha’s vocal soars out, as she says that “My old soul will never let me go. Now I know, I'll never be alone.”

Hollow, gentle synth tangles as massive drums throb and Seersha’s voice glides ethereally. Bass trembles and sharp-edged synth shakes as xylophone-like synth flits above rapidly moving arpeggios and bursting drums before fading out.

“WYWH” starts as bright notes flare to life while rapidly spinning, powerful arpeggios cry out on broad-sounding synth. Elevated, shining synth twinkles while ELYXIR’s heartfelt vocals carry a melody that pours out need and loss in a way that draws me in.

Gleaming, elevated synth glints and huge drums push forward while glowing synth trips above illuminated clouds and dominating drums. The drums burst with weight as ELYXIR’s voice radiates need as raised, tapping synth accents it.

Propulsive low end keeps pulsating and now the rushing arpeggios intertwine with the yearning vocal melody and the smashing drums hit hard as the bass slides below and silence falls.

Our narrator speaks of how she’s “taunted by the pain” as the other person’s “endless shapes” roam through her head. She is searching “a crystal sky” and the memories inside while laying lonely in her bed.

Now the storyteller has lost her nights “to pure delights” but they are incapable of comparing to the song’s subject. They become an “endless lie that falls into another lie in another life.”

“I know I let you down” is what the narrator admits. She adds that she’s also let down the world the other person had shown her. She says that she caved into her fear but as she turns around “all my corners are folding and I wish you were here.”

As the storyteller wishes for the other person’s presence, she falls into her fear. She feels that if she could find a way to make things right, she might be able to “pull myself together, not lose my nights to pure delights” because they cannot compare to the other person.

Wafting synth glides in glassy lines to bring “Goodbye Twilight” into life. High, flashing synth sings an elegant melody while warming synth flows and wind sweeps. Quickly tripping high notes slip by and chiming, soft-edged synth carries a tender melody.

I enjoy the contrast that towering drums provide as they touch the song. Graystars' voice is enfolding and replete with pained emotion as solid drums ripple through. The vocal melody creates aching fragility as the drums propel the song. The drums now slow to a rebounding beat as deep bass moves.

String-like synth carries tenuous notes as bass oscillates. Sunny notes pierce Graystars’ misty, passionate voice as drums fade and feather-light synth traces through the music. Drums and bass surge again while guitar-like synth shimmers with soft light before fading.

The storyteller is haunted by hearing the other person’s footsteps in the hallway in a “house so quiet you can hear your years fall.” He speaks of the thousand ghosts that will call out as a “monument of trying to have it all.”

Our narrator says that he is “speaking it to life” and now days have passed and it won’t be long. He asks the other person to tell him their lies as “days have gone by inside this song.”

He says goodbye to twilight and to “wasted nights I've always tried to pull through” on the way to make it back to the other person. The storyteller asks that person to remember back to better days as he says that “ I always knew our love would be hard to describe.”

As the song ends, he finishes by saying “Goodbye tonight - tell me your lies. Days have gone by inside this song.”

Conclusion

Volume II: Void takes the synthwave genre as a basis for its sound but branches out with tremendous production values, superb musical guests and a moving, expressive synth palette that deepens its emotional appeal.