Mahl - Wanderland
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Mahl’s Wanderland combines intriguing musical contrasts, a lavish synth palette and emotional power generated from the melodic and harmonic content of the album. Mahl creates soundscapes that are both touching and engaging as the music unfolds.
Throughout Wanderland, Mahl puts luminous synth up against shadowy bass, mixes sharply lacerating sound with smoothness and interweaves delicate notes with deep power. As a result, I find that my ears and mind are constantly engaged and stimulated. This is music that entertains my ears with its layers.
A varied mixture of energetic, gleaming, seething and swirling synth sounds fill Wanderland’s auditory landscape. Mahl roams across a complex range of synth textures and tones to help his music make an impact. I enjoy his decisions and the way in which they form an enjoyably rich musical whole on the album.
The melodic writing on the album along with the beautiful harmonies creates and maintains strong emotions. Mahl is able to compose melodies that reach my heart and harmonies that are attractive and engaging. Together both elements drive a wide variety of feelings and sensations as they fill the music.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“Hi Tech Rec Home Master” begins as computerized-sounding notes climb before clear light emanates from a raised synth that breathes gentle emotion. A vocal sample talks of “high tech rec” while iridescent chimes glint above heavily pulsing drums and dense bass.
As the bass oscillates, effervescent synth sings the main melody mingling heartwarming melancholy with hopeful emotion. The vocal sample talks about video games in retro tones as shining lead synth tumbles past and wide-sounding, digital chimes add resonant feeling. Gleaming notes trickle through and pulse-pounding drums and bass press on.
After a solid bass punch, the track slips into a segment in which tremulous synth spins out a soothing arpeggio while the vocal sample talks about the excitement of video games. Uplifting synth moves in leaping, positive lines and chimes flicker with delicate light as angular synth pulses. The track returns to resonant, chiming notes adding motion before silence falls on video game sounds and fragile notes fade.
Trembling notes slowly rise as a softly touching drumbeat is joined by massive bass to start “SpaceWalker.” Cosmically drifting synth swirls slowly through the track as ominous weight fills the bass.
Jangling, medium-high synth carries a dynamically twisting melody above guttural bass and easily pulsating drums. Bending, lustrous notes move with 8-bit sounds above the bass flow. Drama is effectively added by shadowy synth floating past while jangling notes in the background add texture.
Metallic, medium-high synth carries a slightly melancholy melody while digital-sounding notes descend in wriggling motion. Nasal, distorted synth adds a spaced out quality and we fade on giant bass.
“Italo 85” opens as a 1950’s ad talks about “soft soap” as colossal bass bounces and throbs. Ticking percussion dances as medium-high, rebounding synth carries a joyfully twirling melody above the pumping low end.
Rattling, tapping percussion moves as disco bass adds propulsion. A slowly unfurling arpeggio moves while computerized, rounded synth carries the hopefully energetic melody above angular bass motion.
Reverent notes glide past as gruff, minor key synth spins out a more tentative line. Soft-edged synth carries the main melody’s positive emotion out over the throbbing drum and bass before the voice over closes the track.
Otherworldly, resonant synth climbs from bass depths to open “Memory.” Full-sounding, medium-high synth glides in a fragile line above a sharper edged glow before massive bass throbs in active motion. Raised notes vibrate while bell-like synth floats past to accent it.
Flickering synth effectively fills the track with cosmic illumination above colossal bass swelling outward. Bursting percussion joins serenely unfolding synth to add contrast. Medium-high synth with a broad sound carries a melody expressing hope and motivation above the shaping drumbeat. The main melody has an elegiac quality as warmly aching synth airily drifts above it.
Drums drop away as chimes shine delicately. The round tones of the lead synth slip past, melancholy and gentling, while drums and bass return to add form underneath. Elevated synth adds a tragic note to the music as it fades away on enfolding notes echoing into space.
“The Beach” begins as intensely flashing synth moves above oscillating bass, carrying an encouraging and hopeful melody as the hard-hitting drums throb. A playful vocal sample adds more happy emotion to the track.
Now the steady drum and bass heartbeat supports the melody that pours out joy and positive energy in a deeply pleasing manner. Rippling, digital-sounding synth trips through and powerful drums press on with the lushly flowing bass.
The lead synth lustrously sings a heartwarming melody as the track moves with elegant ease. A child’s voice adds to the music’s wonder while flickering chimes slip by. The main melody buoys me up with simple joy. I feel a smile touch my face as the track ends.
Intimidating, steadily throbbing bass with a gruff quality drives as drums thud to start “Wanderland.” Metallic synth exhales as digital sound ripples and drums and bass slam forward. Wide-sounding synth with a reverberant gleam carries a pleasing melody that inspires feelings of adventure and wanderlust in me.
Towering bass rises with looming energy and a siren blares above pumping drums and bass. Feather-light synth gives a diaphanous sensation to the music as a vocal sample floats. Glistening lead synth emotes as it combines trembling with energizing feeling. High synth caresses with a tentative touch before huge bass throbs out into silence.
“Metropolis" opens as seething bass moves with shadowy power as tension mounts. Diffused snare drum bursts and angular, technological sounding synth cascades with a cold quality as hissing sounds drift past.
Sharp bass combines with driving drums as more hollow percussion adds shape. Computerized, pulsating synth tumbles above the throbbing drumbeat. Elevated synth calls out melancholy, lost-feeling notes that effectively radiate emptiness.
Jagged synth is touched by an orchestra hit while spinning notes twirl and open-sounding percussion taps. Steady, dark synth is touched with tenuous feeling notes above crushing bass. Drifting, mournful notes give way to gut punching drums and lacerating bass before fading to quiet.
Bass growls darkly as spaced out sounds flicker and cosmic notes create a gently reverent background to commence “District 1.” Sunlit, gleaming chimes flow in an astral pattern exuding starlit calm in an enjoyably settling fashion.
Dominating chords flare and bass oscillates with muscled strength as widely sweeping arpeggios twirl. The bass is a constant presence and the lead synth shines with flickering light as the arpeggios turn and wobbling synth moves into silence.
“Gran Turismo” begins as a cloud of intertwining, string-like synth creates an abiding feeling of relaxation to draw me in. Sirens soon cry out a warning and jagged, gigantic bass now pounds quickly. 8-bit notes vibrate and hissing snare drum joins the heavy bass power.
A pipe-like synth with a metallic quality carries sailing notes above the undulating bass and drums. Glossy synth carries a lively melody tinged with more troubling emotions. A raised beeping grows in intensity and gliding synth chords move while sirens rush.
Air-filled synth adds an easily floating sensation in contrast to the leaping snare drums. Flickering arpeggios spin and resonant synth bounces. Wide-sounding, lambent synth urges onward and soft arpeggios spin before silence falls.
A billowing synth cloud illuminates “Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt” like morning sun delicately lighting it from within. Slowly sliding sound joins a thudding kick drum as luminosity fills the main melody. I am enamoured of the wistful nature of the main melody as bass creamily curls around it.
Delicate, metallic synth carries a yearning melody that fills my mind with sadness and need. Swirling chords and far off chimes touch medium-high synth while throbbing drums and lapping bass waves add form.
I let go of my tension as interwoven synth drifts and chimes ring out. String-like synth unfurls, trembling tenderly while the low end adds direction. The song ends with night noises and peace.
Conclusion
Wanderland is indeed a synth journey. It takes listeners from ache to hope, from joy to darkness across a landscape of intriguing, soothing and energizing music. Mahl has a knack for producing music with depth, complexity and ear-grabbing life.
