Taeha - City Lights
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Taeha’s City Lights - The Mini Album combines her city pop sensibilities with a series of ear catching remixes by some of the modern synth music scene’s luminaries. City Lights combines Taeha’s touching vocal performances with a plethora of intriguing and engaging interpretations of her music by other artists which makes it an enjoyable and engaging listening experience.
I've already spoken of my enjoyment for Taeha’s musical style and vocal performances in my reviews of her singles but I want to reiterate that I like the way in which her approach to making synth-pop music keeps it fresh and lively. I enjoy the gentleness and sincerity of her performances.
Each of the remixers on City Lights brings their own unique approach to synth-based music to the fore. Each different artist takes Taeha’s songs in new directions while keeping their essence at the music’s heart. I enjoy the fact that I can hear the different artist’s originality and vision within the remixes on this album.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“City Lights” comes to life as luscious bass moves beneath sparkling synth before the snare drum explodes into motion. The main melody is carried on a soft-focus, radiant synth as Taeha's caressing voice echoes through the music. The drums and bass create rapid motion as Taeha captures the affectionate feelings in the lyrics.
Her voice moves unaccompanied now as the main melody flickers to life again with lively joy. Passion fills Taeha's performance as the drums burst into halftime motion. Elevated, scintillating synth gently entangles, and the vocals slip through the music with touching emotion. Fragile motes of synth float past above Taeha's heartfelt performance. The drums and bass continue to shape the music as the synth sings out above them.
Now Taeha's voice is muffled for a moment as the low end drives on. Luminous notes shimmer together and accent Taeha's voice. The main melody has a celebratory feeling to it as it leaps through the song above the suddenly pulsing low end. Elevated notes glimmer, and the drums rush on before the song ends.
Our narrator talks about the sun sinking beside her as "the night is coming up with a little love.” Everything is neon-lit and shadows surround her as “whispers are echoing in the street.” She and the song’s subject are holding each other close in the dark as they “chase the moon and…touch the sky.”
The storyteller can see the spark in the other person's eyes and they’ll “dance the night away underneath the moonlight” as they glow like city lights. She feels right with the song’s subject, adding that it couldn't be the same way without them.
Our narrator is sweetly dreaming about the song's subject. She can feel what they feel at night under the city lights. She says “everywhere we go, it’s all magical” and everything is brilliant as they hold each other tightly.
The storyteller is blinded by the shining city lights. She wants the other person to hold her close through the night “forever here by my side.” She concludes that “every kiss, every breath, every touch, every night I’ll be with you.”
A solid drum and bass groove supports twinkling, elevated synth as “Slow Motion” opens. Taeha's smooth voice carries a melody that bursts with positive energy above the steadily throbbing low end. There's a strong sense of forward progress in the music as it unfolds.
The chorus flies upwards with brightness and uplifting life as the low end grooves on. The horn section adds more illumination as the shimmering synth echoes with more encouraging emotion. Now the funky bass line moves beneath the silky vocals as the hard-hitting drums throb. I enjoy the depth of feeling that Taeha brings to the music as the horns flash.
The guitar quickly flickers in the background and finger snaps move with the slightly twisting synth. There’s a dramatic flourish, and the groove comes back with a vengeance to drive the song forward. Taeha imbues the music with a vivacious feeling before the song comes to an end.
The storyteller says that if she closes her eyes when she's with the other person, “you can see paradise like a butterfly.” She says it's like walking in the air when she's with the other person. She adds that they're blowing her mind.
When they're together, it's like the whole world has stopped for them and they are in slow motion. She says it's as if "just the two of us" seem to be moving, and she wants it that way. She loves the song’s subject by her side and wants them there constantly.
The storyteller talks about everything being focused on the song’s subject. In those moments, “only the faint sound of my breath exists between you and me.” It’s as if they’re in a movie, just the two of them together. When they look into each other's eyes, “time stops.”
“City Lights (Shadowrunner Remix)” starts with echoing sounds drifting out into open space. Flashing chimes ring out as warm chords rise and Taeha's voice is foregrounded with its heartfelt feeling. Rippling arpeggios quickly flicker through the music as the chimes illuminate the music with delicate light.
Shadowrunner’s fragile and tender touch complements Taeha's voice is as the clear arpeggios shimmer. The chimes ring with surrounding luminosity and Taeha's voice wraps through the music. Drums accelerate into rapid motion, and the jumping beat pushes the track forward. I enjoy the easygoing sensation of the placid, twirling arpeggios here..
Taeha's voice floats into the background now as the radiant chimes glow. Smoothly overlapping waves of synth flow for a moment before the heartbeat of the song continues to sail on. There’s a laid-back feeling in the music that suits Taeha’s delivery. Again, shiny notes dance out, and the drums and bass press on. Arpeggios continue to twirl, and silence falls.
Hollow drums thump and quickly flickering notes dance to begin “Slow Motion (Stilz Remix)”. The groove is even stronger in the remix than the original, adding a deeper level of funk to the music. Taeha’s vocals move along with smooth passion, though the male vocals are more prominent in the remix.
The hard-hitting low end gives more shape as the gliding synth in the distance levitates with silken light. I enjoy the disco vibes of the beat as the unctuous synth intertwines. The groove is undeniable in this track as it sits deep in the pocket.
Taeha’s voice remains front and centre again, now floating through with affecting gentleness as brushing sounds tremble in the background. Again, the low end explodes with a funky flow and vocals wind through with intense emotion. The elevated synth floats with laid-back smoothness above the punchy low end before the song ends.
“Dive in Love (Miami Nights 1984 Remix)” commences with a deep piano chord and pounding kick drum. Taeha's voice expands as the muscled piano adds strength, and the vibrant percussion moves the track forward. Now the track launches with a dance floor-filling beat, giving the disco vibes as the slap bass twangs.
In this track, Taeha's voice is in the background while the low end shimmies and grooves with hard-hitting power. This remix emphasizes the dancey qualities in the track, with the drum beat forming a thudding heartbeat along with the entangled bass guitar. Again, Taeha's voice is muffled and floats distantly as the gigantic low end throbs. Lithe synth wriggles through the music in an intertwining flow, glistening with effulgent illumination.
The synth whirls upwards and flies out as a raised, flaring line while the low end presses forward. I enjoy the propulsion inherent in the percussion and bass in this track. The slap bass twangs and Taeha's voice hovers in the distance, adding flavor. The track is definitely a dance floor anthem as it pulsates to a conclusion.
Massively throbbing bass and gigantic drums pound along with a seething synth to kick off “Satellite (WOLFCLUB Remix)”. This remix transforms the original with a much more ominous emotional tenor. The towering lead synth slices with an angular sound as Taeha's voice echoes ethereally.
The low end is ferocious and seething with darkness, while the vocals move with delicate, tenuous emotion. A heavy weight fills the remix with a threatening feeling as Taeha's voice glides in a gossamer flow. I enjoy the contrast of the heavy low end with the lightness of the vocals in this remix.
Elevated, tensely shining notes sparkle as the heavily surging drums and bass press on. The vocals slip past as elevated, twisting synth flickers through the music, and the low end growls and pulsates. The song ends as a nervously shimmering synth fades into silence.
"Taeha & woob <MISLD>" comes into being with quickly rippling notes tumbling and a heavy kick drum punching. The bass hits with a colossal weight, and Taeha's voice moves in the background. Dynamic energy bursts from the track as Taeha's voice climbs above the weighty low end. A synth trips and trickles as chimes flit past, and we move into echoing space as sharp-edged notes wriggle past.
Deeply growling guitar slashes in the background as the vocals float above the hard-hitting low end. I enjoy the snarling power filling the track as it unfolds. String-like, shining notes move past as Taeha's voice cuts in broken pulses. The music’s chopped-up sound adds to the unsettled quality of this segment of the song.
The track drifts into a glide as Taeha's voice caresses the listener's ears. Aquatic sounds move in the distance, and Taeha's voice comes in again, full of expression. Many different textures and sensations are created by the sonic layers here. In the distance, the arpeggios twirl to add more forward motion. The sound of rain falling and traffic rushing by ends the song.
Conclusion
City Lights - The Mini Album takes listeners on an enjoyable journey through Taeha’s energetic and stylish city pop. When one adds in the remixes, each of which creates its own impression of the lead singer’s music, the end result is fun and eminently listenable.
