Positronic - Into The Blue
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Positronic’s Into The Blue is an emotional journey through love, loss, hope and understanding. It is wrapped in richly layered synth sounds, well-composed melodies and lyrics that delve into all the challenges and triumphs of being human. I find myself drawn into its musical world as it unfolds.
One compelling element that attracts me to Into The Blue is the vocal performance that Positronic gives. He has a broad vocal range, emotional intensity and a style that is full of heart. I enjoy the way in which he is able to take the feelings within the lyrics and convey their full impact to the listener’s ears.
Direct, engaging lyrics are a hallmark of Positron’s songwriting on Into The Blue. His words cut right to the heart and deliver an expressive message in each song. I am enamoured of his skill at weaving an emotional tapestry and filling my heart with it. I like songwriting that makes a visceral impact and this album has it.
I also find myself drawn into the music’s layered soundscapes that bolster the singing and songwriting on the album. Positronic’s synth choices are well thought out and deepen the impact of the songs. When one adds the strong, clear and hummable melodies to the mix, the end result is deeply pleasing.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“Into The Blue” starts off as peacefully gliding synth gently patters and trembling, growling bass tumbles. Solid drums punch in while glistening synths rise light and a vibrating arpeggio shifts while chimes sparkle. Rising, warming synth washes like waves as the rich bass and big drums throb.
Positronic's heart-warming, tender voice beautifully carries the soothing vocal melody as massive drums throb. Metallic, bouncing synth adds more gentle feeling as the bright, undulating synth pulse caresses my ears. Shimmering synth flickers as widely turning arpeggios fill the song with settling ease.
Positronic's expressive vocals sail and snare drum adds shape while distant voices echo. The whole song breathes out caring feelings while strong drums drive and trickling, crystalline notes flit. Oceanic bass flows while accenting synth radiates light and the main melody sings with affectionate emotion before ending.
Our storyteller talks about how he and the song subject’s souls will collide “into the blue.” They’ll hold hands and go into “paradise” as he points out that under the water, the “sea divides the spaces between you and I.” He adds that they’ll escape, even if only for a day.
“Beneath the ocean blue” the narrator can only feel the other person. He says that they’ll “light the sky” together as he points out that their hearts “are one, beating in time.” He says he will always call the other person his. Now our narrator weaves an image of them laying “skin on skin” on a pristine white beach.
The storyteller speaks of breathing the other person in as “calming stillness” falls on them. He asks the other person to “surrender to me as the ocean sighs” adding that there’s more to the situation than they realize. Now they spin together in the sky “like starlight” and our storyteller says “I’ll never let you go, it’s just us tonight.”
Angular, rough-edged bass oscillates as broadly shining, digital-sounding synth carries a hopeful melody to open “Falling In Love With You Again.” Positronic's trembling vocals carry the gentle melody and the lead synth climbs with luscious sound above a gigantic drum pulse.
Positronic's voice is pleasingly full of heart, carrying the softly touching vocal melody as the triumphantly climbing synth gleams. Skipping lead synth sings with positive energy and a softer-edged, more nasal sounding synth takes up the feather-light melody. Bright synth arcs upward and the drums and bass propel the song to its end.
“Well, here we go, it happened again” is how our narrator opens the song, adding that he can’t explain how “I opened my eyes and fell so hard” but he is stuck on the other person.
The storyteller says that love comes around over and over, adding that words fall “like leaves upon the ground” and he finds himself unable to help falling for the other person again.
Now they are together in “time and space” and the narrator says love is plain on his face as he shuts his eyes and “ find you there because I’m stuck on you.”
“Freedom” begins as ethereal sonic breath floats out, backed by a steadily slipping bass pulse to create wonderfully easy going motion. Positronic's voice aches and dreams as fragile synth sparkles with starry light. Positronic's vocals are deeply emotive as colossal drums and dense bass create motion.
The vocal melody is yearning, tinged with more encouraging emotions. Below it all, drums add guidance along with powerful, but peaceful bass. Medium-high synth trickles through in a lightly touching pulse and Positronic's voice is full of expression.
Mournful and positive elements intertwine while a coruscating shine permeates climbing synth chords. Drums and bass keep pulsating as a mellow synth glides. Positronic's voice is strong, deep and brimming with pure emotion as we fade on delicate notes.
The teller of this tale speaks of searching for the freedom that takes his cares away and is “beyond the rolling sea.” He hopes it will soon come to him. He says he’s feeling “trapped, so far beyond repair.” Adding that even if he might despair at the fact that “life says you’re losing” he still intends to try because it isn’t hopeless. He continues, “I’ll rise again one day now, no matter what the cost.”
He’s feeling lost and his “head is in the sand” but he is going to continue looking for another person’s helping hand. He says he won’t quit because he knows the other person is there and “the cost of this bondage is more than I can bear.” He adds that he needs the “relieving power” of freedom to “align my heart” and feel right. He isn’t sure when he might find it again.
Reverberating kick drum and brushing snare drum form a strong pulse to start “Close To You.” Wobbling, squelching synth bends in clotted waves before reverent synth chords are touched by trickling piano notes. Positronic's pained, mournful voice carries a tragically emotive melody while heavy bass swells.
Positronic's voice is permeated with loneliness as the drum heartbeat shapes the music. I enjoy the way in which the main melody mixed loss and hope. Shadowed synth oscillates in the distance, tinged by lambent notes.Tightly wound, high synth cries with heightened emotion and colossal drums bounce.
Lusciously undulating synth flows and Positronic's voice captures conflicted emotion. Diamond synth shines in clear notes and taut notes shake as the weighty low end shapes the music. The song ends on the hurt-filled vocals and medium-high synth.
Darkness is closing in and creeping into our narrator’s mind, reminding him of “my tortured past and all the things I’ve left behind.” He points out that constant striving will cause a “sickness” to creep into our minds and cloud “our deepest thoughts” while revealing regrets.
The storyteller says that he still wants closeness with the song’s subject “despite all you’ve put me through.” He adds that they’re unable to stop “digging up the past” and wonders when they’ll get go of it. He knows that they’re really longing for peace to arrive. As the song ends, he questions when enough is enough, concluding that “this treatment is so rough. Time to let it all go."
“Jump In” kicks off as piano notes unfold in a dynamic line and hard-hitting drums burst. Glowing, nasal-sounding synth sings out before Positronic's encouraging, dreamy voice carries the heartening vocal melody as the solid drums drive on.
Wriggling, elevated synth has an engaging effulgence as Positronic's voice captures deep love. The main melody is permeated with warming feelings as delicate piano flits above tender vocals. Energizing piano chords dance as bass and drums create strong motion. Positronic's voice is emotive as it carries the yearning vocal melody and the big drums explode.
The question of whether the storyteller and the other person should stay or go is posed as the song stars. He adds that nobody can be sure of the direction in which the wind will blow so “we can walk away or we can stay.” He points out that they can’t only have one “foot in” so they have to start having faith in each other.
Our narrator calls on the other person to “jump in with me” and see what might happen. He says that it is both of them until the end. He wants the other person to“make a stand, take the plunge with me” and do so holding hands.
There won’t be any fence sitting for the storyteller, he says they have to pick a direction. He asks if they can give up without a fight and asks for mutual belief in one another. He adds, “Time to let our guard down, let faith be our glue.”
As the song winds down, the narrator says they have come to a crossroads. There’s no time to dabble so they have to either “get out or… let our fears go.”
Darkly tumbling, rapidly whirling bass undulates to begin “Losing Control.” Positronic's voice chants out in a deep expression of pain and hopelessness. Hammering drums throb on as rounded arpeggios twirl and glittering synth flickers. The song’s low end shoves the music on while Positronic's voice aches effectively, conveying betrayal.
The vocal melody is tinged with shadow as the drumbeat punches. Flaring synth flurries and oscillating bass writhes before panpipe synth spins out a breathy melodic pattern. Raw emotion fills the vocals as the drums and bass heave forward. There’s a lacerating edge in the music, leavened by sunny synth glow.
Our narrator says that every night he’s left alone after the sun has set. He talks about how the arguments he and the song’s subject have and the games they play “chill me to the bone.” He points out that “it’s surreal, it’s the deal” and the fight keeps him holding on.
The teller of the tale says that everything “comes down and turns around” as he loses self-control. He says that the “world may drown and fade away” so that all that is left is the other person.
It is painful for the narrator as the other person says they won’t quit on him but then they walk away. He says that the lights dim and “fade on out” but the other person is “off to go and play.” Ultimately he concludes that “you always seem to let me down, every time you come around.”
“Blue Song” comes to life with softly rippling synth evoking light on blue water. Positronic's voice is caressing as soft-edged, deeply floating synth adds peaceful feelings. Softly brushing, elevated notes skim and Positronic skilfully infuses his voice with powerful love and need.
Easy-going synth ripples with aquamarine tranquility and Positronic's voice is accented by radiant notes. Trickling synth glitters with warmth while the vocal melody pours out dreamily. Shining, digital-sounding notes have a sunlit radiance while the drums and bass shape the music. As the song ends, a sense of powerful emotional connection fills every auditory element.
The storyteller says the other person in the song let him in when they were young, “ our hearts were pure and love was on our tongue.” He never wants to “be untrue” because it's still the time for them and he wants to be with the other person. He points out that over time “the words haven’t gone way” and he hopes to speak them before he dies.
It is both of their lives and the narrator says it is time for them to “look into each other’s eyes and never say goodbye.” He adds that he’d miss the other person if they left or if he left them one day. He calls them the “stars that light the sky before me, the sun that warms the air around me.”
Our storyteller says that his heart has always been with the other person and all the time he spends living without them “brings an emptiness I never knew.” He adds “here’s to us making it through” because otherwise he’d be “so blue.”
He says that, for him, the other person has been in his heart from the beginning and “it with me, hand in hand until the end” so he asks them to make a stand with him. It is the case that “the sun can burn out, the moon can cease to shine” but he’ll always consider the other person his best friend and “my heart will be with you until my end.”
Conclusion
Into The Blue carries me into a realm of intense expression, deep emotion and layers of synth sound that curl around me and pull me inward. I find myself experiencing all of the varied mental states that Positronic has created in his music.
