LIGHTSPEAR - Motor

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

LIGHTSPEAR’s Motor is a lusciously interlocking synth tapestry that explores all of the facets of cars and what they mean to enthusiasts. LIGHTSPEAR combines emotive melodies, fascinating synth textures and powerful low end propulsion on Motor. The end result is an expressive musical journey that keeps me engaged as I listen.

Melody is something that never fails to draw me into music and LIGHTSPEAR has crafted some truly pleasing melodies on Motor. I especially enjoy how he leavens the rushing intensity of the music with melodic content that is melancholy or full of longing. It creates a balance that I quite enjoy as the album unfolds.

There’s an auditory depth and layered richness on Motor that lends the music a great deal of sonic power. The synth sounds range from delicate to robust while the tones run the gamut from ice cold to solar in warmth. All of these complementary or contrasting elements combine into an ear-grabbing totality on the album.

I want to give special mention to the percussion and bass on the album. They have massive presence and propulsive life that adds to the accelerative and energy-filled nature of the music. I enjoy the way in which the low end interacts with the other elements through the tracks.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Motor” comes to life as a delicately ringing bell-like sound flows steadily into open space. Tiny synth motes shimmer with fragile, tentative motion in the distance. The narrator talks about his love of cars, night driving and speed in deep, rich tones.

Widely turning arpeggios spin and chimes glissade with sparkling ease. The narrator has an engaging tone as he speaks passionately while arpeggios dance and bright notes twinkle. Now powerful drums pulse onward and a creaking, sharp-edged synth insistently vibrates as tautly spinning notes move.

Shining synth with a string-like quality sings a dynamic, ear-grabbing melody as piano notes form a drifting pattern. Twisting, high synth calls out as arpeggios turn. The low end pushes on while raised strings exude ear-pleasingly radiant energy. Bending, wandering synth calls out in an urgently rushing pattern and bass pulsates heavily before falling silent along with gliding, metallic notes.

Cars rush past on the highway before deeply rippling arpeggios move along with brightly jangling, metallic bells to start “Route.” The arpeggios add rich texture as truly massive drums form a powerfully throbbing beat. Slightly gruff synth chords flare into the music above the elastic drums.

Chimes spill out sparkling light, adding superb lustre and metallic sheen to the music. Below the other elements, bass undulates in waves while the hard-hitting drums keep up their unrelenting motion. Effulgent chimes carry a melody that makes me feel victorious and alive while full notes twinkle and angular bass rebounds as trumpeting chords leap out.

A kick drum throbs and a nasal, gently unwinding synth drifts dreamily while vaulting, gleaming arpeggios flow. Nasal-sounding synth calls out with wistful emotion and illumination flashes from wandering, soft-edged synth as bass oscillates slowly.

“DeLusion” opens as windshield wipers swish rhythmically and a background drone becomes a steady flow. Tightly wound notes shimmy as flat percussion bursts out underneath. A distorted synth carries an enigmatic melody while metallic trickles move through above the punchy drums.

Clean, sharp synth carries a majestic melodic line before becoming haunted and mysterious again. There’s yearning emotion in the melody, adding a touching quality to the track that I find charming.

Rippling synth motes spark in a steady pattern and gigantic drums explode with broad force. Now resonant notes move as glimmering synth repeats a taut pattern and springy sounds tremble. Soft-focus synth carries the ghostly but noble melody before silence falls.

F1 cars howl around a track to open “Formula” before the sound of breath is joined by jazz organ notes with a bell-like resonance. Trickling chimes flicker and brassy notes cry out in the background, unctuous arpeggios spin and razor-edged bass thunders as fat drums explode.

Giant-sounding notes surge before a silky smooth, medium-high synth carries a melody mingling intense energy with pained emotion. Sharply slicing notes rebound in the background. There’s a wonderful, lambent life in the melody as tumbling, bursting synth leaps out.

After a sweeping synth cries out, taut notes flit past and heavy drums pound. There is breath again before the shining synth melody keeps up a sense of dynamism above the huge bass surge and silence falls.

“Track” commences as enormous bass rumbles below distantly floating chimes that wander quietly. Soothing notes arpeggiate and hard-edged bass growls in waves to create an excellent contrast. The bass becomes a powerful oscillation as chords exuding brightness flash out.

A snare drum adds shaping influence to the dark bass pulse and piano-like notes create a feathery pattern with a hopeful quality. The piano melody has a lost and wistful character while the underlying chords provide noble sensations. Now the bass scuds along rapidly with a shadowed feeling and the drums skip easily.

Rough-edged, gleaming notes have a melancholy tinge as they shift and the piano drifts past above rushing bass. The gruff synth that winds through carries a longing melody feeling as the backing chords generate majestic sensations.

Filigreed synth interweaves as big drums thud and radiant illumination spills into the track. Sharp notes cut cleanly as drums collide and golden synth sings a pained melody while drums rebound. There’s a deep ache in the lead synth while the low end powers onward to an end.

A hazily floating synth is tinged with arpeggiating notes flickering through it to start “Rust.” Softly slipping, elevated synth threads drop in before a ticking hi hat is joined by pulsating, dense bass.

A snare drum kicks in to add more shape and the tensely shining synth carries a dynamically expansive melody. Chimes shimmer as arpeggios shiver and medium-high synth vibrates with a brilliant light. A flashing synth pattern lends active energy while the percussion pushes on and bass surges.

The broadly trembling, medium-high lead synth has a pleasingly energetic quality to it. The narrator speaks with nostalgia about a beloved family car and her family’s experiences, sadness about the state of the car but joy for the memories.

Conclusion

Motor carries me away on a intensely interwoven synth journey, full of nuance and auditory detail. This is synth music that roams across a broad landscape of emotion and instrumental complexity and draws me in more deeply with each listen.