My Favourite Albums Of 2024…So Far
by Karl Magi
Introduction
Here's a roundup of my favourite albums from the last half year’s reviews. As usual, my reviews yielded an embarrassment of riches but I had to choose the music that most affected me. It was a hard choice and I just want to say that every album I've reviewed has been an enjoyable listening experience But these albums particularly drew me in.
Caspro - Coastal Edge
Coastal Edge painted oceanic imagery through lush, layered synth. I was drawn to its azure tranquility, tidal strength, and sun-dappled sheen. I also appreciated the musical contributions of the guest artists on the album as they wove an auditory tapestry that expressed all of the gradations of aquatic mood and experience.
Caspro impressed me with a confluence of compositional talent, synth selection, and auditory layering. He effortlessly painted images of sun-flooded beaches and sapphire water that carried me away on a meditative current.
I appreciated the depth and complexity that the artist and his guests brought with their well-considered synth layering. They created textural, timbral, and harmonic richness, skillfully interweaving sounds into an ear-pleasing whole.
The melodies on the album drew me in with their beauty and emotive power. I appreciated the nuanced melodic writing and his ability to transport the listener with atmospheric moments and intense elegance.
Hill Valley Hero - Electric Outlands
Electric Outlands took listeners on a cinematic journey through luxuriant synthscapes on a grand adventure, full of action and drama. It combined well-crafted melodies, intricately layered sounds, and talented guests.
Hill Valley Hero told a story through auditory imagery. A tangible sense of opening horizons and adventure filled the music. The album wove together ear-catching, layered synth elements to create compelling filmic landscapes.
The melodies were well-written and drew me in with their beauty. There was an expressive core to the melodies that created a cinematic impression in my mind's eye.
Hill Valley Hero evokes emotion and paints vivid pictures through layered musical elements. I also credit the superb guest performances on the album which contributed to the music’s multifarious nature.
At 1980 - Forget To Remember
Forget To Remember was retrowave with true heart and soul. It captured ‘80s music's earnestness while avoiding clichés. A combination of musicianship, superb vocal performances, and heartfelt emotion made the album stand out.
All of the musicians and singers on Forget to Remember brought high-caliber performances. Josh Daily's deeply felt vocals and intricate guitar, along with Adrián Quesada Michelena’s lushly layered production, were joined by superb contributions from Shadowrunner, Dana Jean Phoenix, Syst3m Glitch, and Camille Glémet.
I felt the music’s depth of commitment to exploring intense emotional states. All of the vocalists were able to capture the different moods and states of mind in the songs and increased their emotional impact. Each different singer created a fresh sound.
Each song's melody allowed the album to beautifully encapsulate feelings and transmit them to the listener. It’s uncommon to find music that cuts right to the heart of things in the way that this album did.
Cat Temper - Nineteen Eighty-Fur
Nineteen Eighty-Fur brought together a plethora of unique synth textures and colours that mingled in fascinating ways. His individual sonic style along with his compelling compositions made this an album worth replaying.
Cat Temper mixed different synth sounds in an exuberant, inventive way which imbued the music with fresh vitality. Cat Temper created luscious synth layers reminiscent of the way in which a painter's brush strokes become a cohesive whole.
Cat Temper wrote melodies that got inside my mind as they effectively moved between emotional states to create a self-contained world. I enjoyed the music’s richness and complexity.
I'd also like to acknowledge the playful quality in Cat Temper’s music. His joy and inventiveness poured out of every note he wrote. All of the pleasure that he took in his music infused me as I listened.
Full Eclipse - In Place Of Power
In Place Of Power featured intriguing songwriting supported by a unique vocal delivery and a musical backing that had richness, complexity, and depth to it. The album delved into a broad span of human experience that drew listeners into its journey.
I was stimulated by Full Eclipse’s lyrics as they dissected the dichotomies between competing emotions. He didn't shy away from exploring challenging topics, but did so in an engaging way. Full Eclipse’s resonant and expressive voice captured the lyrics’ complex emotions and delivered them in an irresistible way..
All of the musical elements subtly emphasized each song's atmosphere. No one part took over or was obscured and the sonic choices were superb. Michael W. Stuart’s sax work on the album drove home the music’s emotional nature.
JESSY MACH - Asphalt Reapers
Asphalt Reapers created a powerful atmosphere of tension, darkness, and defiant hope. Gripping emotional engagement filled the album as he showcased his intense guitar skill while layering synth sounds to create richly detailed soundscapes.
Jesse Mach painted a picture of a broken, crime-infested city and a man intent on pushing back the darkness on Asphalt Reapers. The album’s various musical components drew me into the story and that cinematic quality was deeply enjoyable.
Jesse Mach filled his guitar with so much emotional intensity on Asphalt Reapers. He can shred with the best, but he adds a layer of expression that takes the music deeper. He created detail, emotion, and ear-grabbing contrasts with intricate sonic layering to engage me even more with this music. Each time I listened to it, I gained new appreciation for the album.
Electron Odyssey - Citizen Generator
Citizen Generator was characterized by beautifully layered synth colours, tones, and timbres and Electron Odyssey’s guitar. Engaging melodies, thought-provoking ideas, and sophistication permeated every element.
My ears were kept constantly intrigued by the ways in which all of the different synth tones, timbres, and textures were combined by Electron Odyssey. The luscious layers kept drawing me back for another fascinating auditory exploration.
Electron Odyssey’s guitar skills were demonstrated so well on Citizen Generator. His playing was fluid and I enjoyed the way in which the guitar solos accentuated the synth palette, adding another rich layer to the auditory tapestry.
Electron Odyssey made me think while I enjoyed the listening experience. The song “Technology” was a summation of his thematic approach as it mingled addictive musical qualities while questioning humanity's relationship to technology.
Andromeda Dreams - Hyperion
Hyperion was a complex musical space exploration. The album wove an atmosphere of cosmic mystery, creating an intoxicating listening experience that evoked emotion through instrumental expression.
Like a work of orchestral music, the different tone colours and sonic textures became a harmonious whole. I found the nuance, expression, and beauty within the different musical layers deeply enjoyable.
Andromeda Dreams’ skill for writing melodies that were emotionally connected and expressive was deeply evocative. He conveyed varied states of mind and feelings within one melody.
Andromeda Dreams did a superb job of capturing the feeling of a space journey. The way in which he conjured up imagery held my attention as it unfolded. I found myself carried away by the journey on which I was being taken.
Hotel Pools - Nature
Nature was a skillfully crafted, ambient synth voyage through tranquil soundscapes and meditative moments. A quiet beauty permeated each sonic element, carrying the listener through moods of deep peace. I imagined laying in the grass as a summer breeze caressed me.
Hotel Pools wove together varied synth sounds to generate calm and relaxation, as soothing emotions mingled with nostalgia for summers past and hints of melancholy. Each track was interwoven into the others to paint luscious imagery.
Nature kept me engaged with fascinating auditory interactions embodied in each track. Hotel Pools lavished care and attention on the music in a gorgeous musical exploration of the natural world’s tender side.
Aeronexus - Fusion Break
Fusion Break was a synthesized journey through galactic high adventure and compelling emotion. Aeronexus has tremendous ability when it comes to telling stories and sound. I enjoyed the galvanizing musical moments that filled Fusion Break as the album progressed.
Aeronexus combined a beautifully woven synth palette with composition that was lively and engaging as it drew images of adventure and danger across the vast breadth of space.
Aeronexus didn't hold back with his combination of propulsive drums, towering bass and madly dancing synths. The end result was music that took hold of me and launched me into hyperspace in one powerful leap.
Aeronexus created melodies that effectively captured emotion. Whether it was soaring triumph or pained tragedy, the artist was able to write melodies that conveyed those feelings right into my heart.
