Neon Shards - ELKTRO

By Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Neon Shards’ ELKTRO paints retro-futuristic streetscapes with beautifully complex synth layering and skillful guitar playing. This album's imagery is rich and detailed, drawing me into the world the artist seeks to create. His melodic compositions are emotive and the way he uses synth sounds creates ear-grabbing soundscapes. In combination with the music’s atmosphere, all of these elements make for an engaging and enjoyable listening experience.

The way in which Neon Shards creates atmosphere on ELKTRO is powerfully cinematic. The alchemical mixture of different synth tones, timbres and textures draws out the mental and emotional imagery within the music. It conjures up a futuristic city, washed in neon light and full of rushing traffic and waiting darkness. The guitar sounds also deepen the powerful painting of this dangerous and beautiful place.

I also have to mention how ELKTRO showcases Neon Shards’ guitar abilities. He's a talented player who is able to convey intense feelings through his guitar. He takes the melodies he’s written and uses his guitar to generate strong expression and engagement. His solos are intricately woven and played with confidence and ability, but more importantly, they also pull emotions out of the music and deliver them straight to my heart.

Layered synth sounds emphasize the melodies written by Neon Shards on ELKTRO. Each tonal and textural element helps evoke the moods he seeks to draw forth. The way he has carefully selected the synth sounds complements the superb melodic writing. His melodies are memorable and compelling, taking me on a journey as they move through the music and between tracks.

I'd also like to mention Anthony Hawkins' vocal performance and songwriting on “A Shot For Dreams.” He has a voice that reaches out and pulls me into the emotions of his lyrics. The lyrics themselves are well-written and considered, fitting nicely with the other sounds on the album to complete the package.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

"In Contact" comes into being as huge, rough-edged bass moves beneath a smoothly sliding melody. The drums and bass begin to throb as the chimes flash scintillating light. Neon Shards’ guitar howls in passionate motion, carrying a melody that aches with need above the hard-hitting low end. The chimes continue to sparkle with tender light as the guitar twirls and climbs heavenward while the drums and bass throb onward.

The chimes carry a delicate, caressing melody as the guitar unfolds with intensity. Flickering notes gently illuminate the music before the growling guitar cuts in again, fierce and full of heart as it jumps through the music. The drums and bass continue to pulsate as the blues-inflected guitar cries out, tugging at my heartstrings as it does so.

The drums flourish, and the undulating bass continues to move as broadly incandescent synth spills out luminosity. The guitar reaches for the heavens again, bursting with emotion as the low end drives on. The yearning melody flies through the track as quickly rippling notes arpeggiate in the distance, and the guitar finishes the song with wildly expressive emotion.

Gently floating synth moves with an easily pulsating drum beat and intensely luminous notes to begin “Ocean Drive.” The bass is a groovy pulse as the elevated, effulgent synth carries a wistfully dreaming melody. This track exudes calm and soothing feelings while the dynamic drum beat keeps it moving. Gem-like synth shimmers as delicately twirling arpeggios flicker past above the steady low end.

The melody is tender as it glows on the lead synth, creating imagery of a moonlit road and gentle driving. Neon Shards’ guitar comes in, gruff-edged and bursting with expression, carrying a melody that further evokes a midnight drive by the ocean. String-like sounds ripple and dance above the massive drums and bass. The shining lead synth carries the thoughtful, dreaming melody with grace above the solid low end.

The scintillating notes are joined by the leaping guitar, imbuing the music with intense emotion. Neon Shards’ skillful playing only increases my engagement with the track, the solo arcing skyward with poignant emotion as the arpeggios in the distance twirl.

“Summer ‘83” starts as intensely glistening chimes ring out and a smooth drumbeat rebounds. Flaring synth chords climb and the drums throb. The synth chords create a luscious backdrop for the passionate saxophone that cries out, embodying dreams of nostalgia and a past that is imagined but never really existed.

The saxophone melody is heartfelt and richly reedy as it captures hope and a yearning for youthful feeling again. The drums and bass provide a guiding pulse as the saxophone pours out poignant emotion that seizes me. Neon Shards’ guitar cuts in now, full of ardent feelings and a heartwarming sensation.

The steady drumbeat guides the track forward as the saxophone again cries with unbridled, affecting emotion and is answered by Neon Shards’ guitar as it spills out deeply touching sensations. The two instruments move together now, locked into a melodic moment that conveys all of the longing for a return to a time lost in dreams before the track ends.

Smoothly sparkling notes intertwine as the background fills with cloudy light to commence “Helpless Nights.” The steadily throbbing drums and bass accompany a lithely unwinding melody, tinged with melancholy as it slips through the music. The low end acts as a heartbeat that guides the music, while the melody roams above it with gleaming ease. The lead synth radiates a soft glow as trickling notes spin out in the distance and the low end pulsates.

The lush and layered nature of the track attracts me as it unfolds. A glittering synth moves in shimmering waves before the guitar slices into the music with gruff-edged, deeply affecting emotion. Neon Shards pulls out intense heartache from the guitar, his skillful fingers extracting feeling from every note. A scintillating synth rises to carry the tragedy-tinged melody above the punchy drums before the track comes to an end.

“A Step Ahead” opens as raised, frolicking synth intertwines with flashing chords add gruff-edged light above huge bass. A kick drum begins to pulsate as the intensely intermingling synth jumps through the music with encouraging energy. The drums and bass form a smooth heartbeat as a warmly string-like synth twirls with uplifting exuberance, the melody calming and full of happy emotion.

The percussion continues to easily shape the music as the string-like synth weaves a tenderly hopeful melody. The track’s mood draws me in, capturing a sense of forward progress and the bright future that lies ahead. The string-like notes have an orchestral quality that is compelling.

A trickling synth in the distance is cut by Neon Shards’ guitar, arcing outward with muscled but joyful energy as it cries out into the music. The guitar solo is soulful and skillfully played, animating the track with further upbeat feelings before the track comes to an end.

A broadly expanding synth flowing as a kick drum thuds and softly gleaming notes move below the more sharply defined synth that spins out with bright light to begin “Twilight”. Now the main melody is carried on a shiny synth that sings out with glistening delicacy, embodying gentle emotion as it slips through the music.

I enjoy the melody’s majestic quality as it carries out over the continually pulsing low end. Its lightness lifts me above the depths, floating me away from the world’s hardness. Neon Shards’ guitar leaps forth and intricately sings a melody that captures my heart and soul.

The glimmering synth continues this peaceful and affectionate melody, doubled by the guitar, which adds a sharper edge. Underneath it all, the drums and bass groove with loose-limbed ease before the track ends.

“A Shot For Dreams” kicks off with sweeping synth that is joined by a steady low-end pulse. The snare drum punches in as the ethereally wandering synth drifts past. Dreamy hope fills the background as Anthony Hawkins’ expressive, touching voice carries a trembling, deeply felt melody above the gigantic low end. The synth has a gossamer fragility to it as it glides and chimes ring out with filigreed light.

Anthony Hawkins delivers the heart-hurting emotions in his lyrics with sensitivity as the drums rebound. I enjoy the touching depths of the vocals as the haunting melody floats free. Neon Shards’ guitar leaps and cascades, capturing the same piercing emotion as the vocals. The intricate performance again showcases Neon Shards’ talent well.

An oscillating synthesizer moves with the gruffer guitar as it cries out with powerful feeling, pushing home the mood of the song. The drums rebound again, and Anthony Hawkins’ breathily heartfelt vocals rise before the song falls silent.

The storyteller reflects that in this life, there’s only one shot and “just one dream within.” He reminds us we have only one life and “just a second to be free.” He pleads to be freed from “this dream within a dream” while also asking to see that dream. He encourages the listener to look beside them and embrace their fears to “find your way on path and pier.”

Conclusion

ELKTRO carries me away on a tide of engaging, emotionally rich sound, across the bright lights and dark alleys of the futuristic city captured within the music. I enjoy taking a vacation to a new place and time with Neon Shards.