Jessy Mach - Night Shifter
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Jessy Mach’s Night Shifter is an intoxicating brew of retro synth energy, strong vocal performances and skilful guitar work. The whole album thrums with life and unfolds in an exuberant flash of emotion and layered synth sounds. It’s an entertaining and engaging listening experience.
There’s an ear-pleasing retro feeling that suffuses Night Shifter. Jessy Mach draws together ‘80s synth sounds to produce music that captures nostalgia and clear passion for that era. I enjoy the way that the modern production quality allows the synth sounds to shine through with real dynamism.
Jessy Mach’s superb guitar performances are another reason for my enjoyment of Night Shifter. He has nimble fingers and a good ear for weaving solos that are expressive and intricate. The power and life within the guitar help to elevate the music to a higher plane of pleasing listening.
Along with Jessy Mach’s own vocal performances, his guest singers each bring their own sensibility to the music. The high quality of the vocals helps to lift the song’s lyrics and adds more depth to the overall auditory quality of the album. I enjoy the level of engagement the guest singers create.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
"Fluo Tail Lights” starts off as hard-edged, rapidly tumbling bass whirls in a fierce cascade. Low synth crunches into the music as massive drums pulse. Smooth, flowing synth gently descends as a high, sweeping sound calls out. Rapidly ripping sounds fly though the track above battering drums and urgent bass.
A gently flowing, enfolding segment unfolds in ear-pleasing contrast as warm synths climb like thermals. Quickly whirling, shadowy synth growls and drums keep thundering. Undulating synth slices and dark bass snarls far below as the drumbeat throbs. The track ends on caressing, flashing synth notes.
Medium-low, broadly flowing synth drifts in a gentle pattern above guiding drums and oscillating bass to open “Night Shifter.” The wide-sounding synth creates a calming pattern before Jessy Mach's distorted, but expressive vocals drift in a mellow melody.
A trembling synth pattern twirls quickly while brighter synth glistens in a trumpeting line. Jessy Mach trades off with female vocals before the solid bass oscillation moves into drifting notes that glide out into open space. Jessy Mach's guitar cries out with enjoyable, passionate intensity over the steady drum and bass heartbeat.
The vocals slip through and elevated, taut synth cries out. The guitar is unleashed in a solo that vibrates with emotional power. Gritty synth flies out above the wheeling guitar in its own howling solo before the song ends on Jessy Mach's voice.
The narrator speaks about how he’s so lost without the other person that it can “make me do anything.” He says that he doesn’t want know, implying that he wants to avoid hearing about the other person because “it’s just too much.”
“This Way” begins as lively, shiny synth leaps out in an energizing melody as hard-hitting drums drive and shimmering chimes dance. The lead synth has a rounded, brassy quality as it sings with dynamism and life. Jessy Mach's vocals are pleasingly warm-hearted and full of hope and need.
Rippling, string-like synth flickers in arpeggios as the guitar cuts in with more upbeat energy. An encouraging melody is carried on a soft-edged, medium-high synth. Jessy Mach's unique voice has an emotive quality to it as it moves.
A soaring guitar solo whirls out above rebounding drums and bass, in a coruscating cascade. Chimes flit and full-voiced synth dances to carry the main melody. Warming vocals slip along and the guitar intertwines with bursts of synth, lifting the song’s energy further.
The people who are “big faces around” tell the song’s subject what the narrator found. He says that he’s confused but hopes that it’s true that “I finally found you.”
He wonders what friend the other person used. Our storyteller says that he’s “scared to stand out” and he wants to run away. He concludes that “I really want to shout, I won't leave this way.”
Colossal drums pound in along with dense bass as “Find Love” commences. LAU’s soulful, expressive voice carries a melody that overflows with inspiration. LAU’s vocals are intensely elevating as Jessy Mach's guitar cuts in. The pounding drums drive on and brassy, glittering synth sings out a melody that explodes with joy.
I am drawn in by the sheer happiness in the chorus as it glows sunnily. The vocal melody grows tender as it flows and again the deeply-felt lyrics are carried by LAU’s retro-tastic voice. Drums and bass keep the energy levels high while Jessy Mach's exuberant guitar intricately flies through the song.
The storyteller addresses another character and talks about how they are trying to find the love of their life but “on that road you did suffer.” She says that person is clinging onto hope and “if you don’t know, it won’t hurt.” She adds that the song’s subject is getting tired of searching but “you can make it happen.”
In the chorus the narrator is encouraging, telling the other person that they can be “the lover you want if you can take it.” She adds that the song’s subject doesn’t recognize themselves but “you can’t help it.” She points out that the other person can’t give up until they find love.
Our storyteller goes on to say that even when the days are long and “you’re feeling low” the other person has to get up. She says that it’s getting harder for the song’s subject to hide their emotions. Now the song’s subject is holding onto hope because “you know you really want her.”
As the song concludes, the narrator asks, “Should you be searching for her? Would you know when you find her?”
Slightly gritty, sombre notes echo in a slow arpeggio that grows in energy to kick off “Lifeline.” The synth divides and tumbles as Rebecca Davies’ highly emotive voice calls out with warmth. Her voice pours effectively pours out expression as deep bass throbs.
The vocal melody is full of pain, a needy ache within it as the slow arpeggios turn. Rebecca Davies’ voice trembles and hurts as a shimmering arpeggio spins faster and drums guide the music. The vocal melody is full of melancholy as the drumbeat presses on and surging, vibrating synth notes move.
The way in which this song showcases Rebecca Davies’ performance is deeply pleasing for me.The surrounding musical elements add even more feeling to the vocal performance and melody. We end on broadly echoing notes.
Our storyteller muses that a time may come, “maybe when I’m over the fall” and ready to run again that the other person will “find yourself in the path of another.” She adds that each time she makes a mistake “every little bit of me aches, every little piece of my heart breaks.”
She addresses the other person, saying that when they find themselves in a lover’s arms, it’s easier to “think that I’m wrong (and) live in the dark” but points out that really “easy isn’t easy at all.”
Now our narrator talks about seizing the opportunity right now, adding that “memories make memories.” She asks if what the other person wants is all of her energy.
The narrator muses that it might be a matter of time for them to have chances to “live in the same life (and) to figure it out.” She hopes for a time when they don’t doubt and concludes that “I know that I can do this without you, you’re a lifeline."
“Wheels Of Hell” comes to life against a deep bass backdrop as medium-high, gruffly shining synth floats out in a fragile melodic line. Now sharply glistening synth rings out in a slow moving arpeggio.
Angular, insistent synth flies out above throbbing drums and rich bass. Medium-high, full-sounding synth carries a victorious melody out above the powerful drums and bass. Jessy Mach's guitar flows out and a voice echoes through. I enjoy the dynamically bursting guitar sound in this track.
Wide-sounding, bright synth flares into life and glimmering notes rise as gruffly shining synth twists. The music moves into a segment in which Jessy Mach's guitar shivers and cries out while drums and bass push on. His guitar solo is intricate and full of energetic motion. Ringing notes dance out and the beat drives on below as the track ends on glowing synth.
Conclusion
Night Shifter bursts with energy, expression and neon-drenched sound. Jessy Mach and his musical guests create an intensely engaging atmosphere within the music and keep me listening as the album unfolds.
