Michael E. Tennant - 1993

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Michael E. Tennant’s 1993 is filled with musical depth and intricacy woven by wide-ranging synth sounds, strong melodies and musical variety. The balance of different sonic elements is well thought out as they interact to paint auditory portraits as the album reveals itself to the listener.

Synthesizers offer musicians a broad palette of sounds from which to choose, but the mark of a good synthesist is the way in which those sounds are used in combination. Michael E. Tennant combines synth tones, timbres and textures with an ear for unique and intriguing interactions. The sounds contrast smoothness with gruffness, energy with delicacy and light with darkness well. Each track has a distinctive atmosphere, while still fitting together well.

Melody is something about which I have an obsession and 1993 has interesting melodies in abundance. They are the sort of melody that evolves and contains within itself a series of emotions. Different feelings are created as the melodies unfurl and move through the tracks. I also enjoy the way in which each track may have primary and secondary melodies that interact with one another to create depth.

Atmosphere matters in each track of 1993. As I mentioned earlier, each track has a well-defined atmosphere and they are intensely portrayed by the interactions of many sonic elements. They capture mental imagery well, but as they all mingle they form a cohesive end result as a single album.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Nostalgia Trip” begins with hollow tapping into open space before a resonant drum reverberates and static hiss crackles.  Warm, trailing synth chords float and a metallic, round- voiced synth carries a melodic pattern combining ache and dreamy feelings as it shifts.

Nasal-sounding synth doubles smoother, more uplifting synth as it carries a livelier melody. Digital sounds echo above static crackling as gossamer chords expand. I enjoy the way in which the metallic lead synth carries the hurting, hoping main melody. A distant sound trembles above nasal-sounding synth drives the more energetic melodic segments.

Taut percussion throbs along with solid bass. A sitar-like sound twangs into the music as swirling chords lift the track.  The active melody sings out on mingled synth sounds and into silence.

Dense, resonant synth fills “Mind Alley Groove” with expanding, trembling notes as it starts. Gigantic drums hit hard and rich bass throbs while pipe-like, rounded synth carries a slightly aching melody. Ticking, metallic percussion kicks in as thick bass surges and twinkling synth forms a wandering pattern.

Wide-band, medium-low synth carries a pleasingly emotional melody, rising up above gritty bass depths as drums quickly rush. Chunky synth with a wistful quality carries the melody mixing uplifting energy with dreamy emotion. Pulsing, rough-edged synth oscillates and the melody is taken up by medium-high, glowing chimes.

An intertwining sonic wall moves behind the chimes as heavy drums hit. A nasal, medium-high synth repeats a brief melodic figure now. Thick, medium-high synth carries the melody as it explores varied emotional states. Underneath it all, the drums heave before fading out and the song ends on the lush synth weight with which it began.       

“1993” commences as wavering, thin synth slowly moves. Warm notes are contrasted with pulsing drums as razor-sharp, medium high synth carries a gently wandering melody. Roundly metallic synth carries the encouraging melody above broadly throbbing drums and flowing bass while angular synth accents slice behind.

Rich synth swells out carrying a wonderfully summery melody brushed by tender nostalgia. Gleaming, medium-high synth with a smoother quality alternates with the sharper-edged melody. Open-voiced, continually vibrating synth dances in an airy, oscillating line. A hint of roughness touches the lead synth as it carries a positive-feeling, nostalgic melody.

Unctuous, heart-warming secondary synth carries the melody out over the steadily guiding drums and trembling bass. Many sonic layers interact as before fading on thumping drums and vibrating, swelling synth that caresses the ears.

Bouncing synth with an eerie quality and a metallic twang shifts in open space to open “Soulflare.” Breathy, distorted synth carries a fragile melody backed by tender chords. Percussion throbs and trembling sounds move behind a rounded synth that carries the gentle melody.

Gritty, medium-high synth carries a secondary melancholy melody that returns to the enjoyably caressing, emotive main melody above thudding drums and flowing bass. Twisting, metallic synth wanders above soft vocal sounds cut by undulating, buzzing pulses.

An elegiac melodic segment is carried on rough-edged synth before the gliding main melody drifts in again. Rising, enfolding chords are punctuated by nasal sonic twinges as percussion throbs. The track ends on bending sounds and strong drums.

“Book of Memory” kicks off as a distant buzzing moves with volleying hang drum. The hang drum’s resonance moves above bursting, hollow percussion and ethereal sounds. Drums thud heavily now as dense, medium-low synth carries an active melody with an uplifting feeling and driving weight.

Lost-sounding, delicate synth carries a longing, melodic segment. Now a dense, broad-sounding synth carries another melody bursting with hopeful feelings. The drums grow quieter and lighter briefly before they gain strength. A melancholy synth melody unfolds as the thick bass and throbbing drums move below it.

Trailing, medium-low synth carries the main melody as feathery, raised synth carries the hurting secondary melody. The soothing synth that comes in effectively evokes the feeling of nostalgia. Twinkling, elevated synth intertwines with pulsing bass and tremulous high notes ring out. The “A” section melody returns, driven by pounding drums before the track sails into silence.

Taut, bright synth creates a slowly twirling pattern over hollow, deep drums and densely flowing bass to open “Something’s Out There.” Brassy synth calls out in drifting lines above a repeating, hard-edged note pattern and solid bass.

Full, slightly distant piano drifts in an aching pattern before gleaming synth carries the melancholy-tinged melody. The drums briefly drop out and a medium-high, glowing synth carries the floating, hurting melody above a background of choral voices. Hollow synth repeats a slowly evolving pattern above breaking, bursting drums as roaming digital notes create an angular pattern.

Gravelly, low synth carries the active, but wistful melody. I enjoy the contrast in feelings here. The main melody returns before a glittering, raised synth calls out. Low, pipe-like synth repeats a flowing note pattern before the main melody floats out again. The track ends on twirling, sharp-edged synth with a rich quality.

Conclusion

1993 is an album that lushly combines a unique, richly varied series of synths with strong melodic writing and tracks that exude atmosphere and emotion. Michael E. Tennant has the ability to make engaging, entertaining synth based music with an individual voice.