Temporal Waves

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Temporal Waves' self-titled album is a fascinating auditory exploration combining richly textured, nuanced synth sounds with the tabla’s unmistakable percussive qualities. The complexity and depth that Temporal Waves brings to bear on this album makes it an intriguing sonic journey as it unfolds.

The first element that catches my attention on this album is Temporal Waves’ skill with the tabla. He clearly demonstrates a refined sense of timing and the skill to manipulate the drum in interesting ways. The organic component provided by his tabla combines with layered synth sounds to create varied and innovative music. There's a pleasant contrast between digital and human-made sounds here.

I am also drawn to the sonic tapestry woven by Temporal Waves’ synth choices. His musical instincts make for engaging timbres and refreshing auditory colours in all of the soundscapes on the album. He seamlessly mingles mesmerizing percussive sounds with the atmospheric synth palette. The end result is music that carries my mind on an auditory journey across wide-ranging vistas.

Special mention should also be given to the “interludes” that Temporal Waves sprinkles throughout the album. The short ambient pieces allow the listener time to absorb and contemplate what Temporal Waves is doing on the album. I enjoy the ability to take a break and reset for the next musical journey to come.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“I Remember" comes into being as a broadly expanding, rumbling bass synth trembles through the music in swirling motion. There's a darkly heaving quality to the bass and now the drums punch into the music with a unique sound as sinister bass slices. beaming, layered synth climbs above the snarling bass as the drums throb. The tabla swirls and throbs with active motion, the beat rustling as shattering synth slices and glowing chords climb above the dangerous sounding bass.

The tabla flourishes as delicate strings float out through the music above the threatening bass. Elevated sounds are open and tender, full of peaceful motion. I enjoy the unique quality that the tabla gives the music. The bass has raging power in it well that percussion is rich and layered. The descending notes radiate peace through the music as the ringing sound of the tabla forms luscious layers beneath the lambent synth.

The bass’ intimidating nature is contrasted with the luscious sound of the elevated notes and the continual complexity of the tabla drum. Open sounding, slowly floating notes drop through the music as a flanging, lucent synth continues to delicately flow in the background. The tabla bubbles and throbs before the track comes to an end along with radiant notes and deep bass.

Soothing waves of synth sound are joined by quickly rushing percussion to open “Sprawl Twilight.” Now the tabla with its slightly metallic ring ripples through the music as the rising waves of synth climb over top with peaceful calm. The tabla vibrates and thumps underneath Temporal Waves’ skilled fingers as it begins to shape the music with throbbing pulses.

Washing synth curls around the throbbing tabla with a hypnotic beat. I enjoy the tabla pulse’s meditative quality as it moves below undulating synth. The drum’s organic sound adds an interesting balance to the synthetic sounds moving around it. Gruff waves of synth expand through the music as the drum takes up a slightly limping beat.

A bass wave adds a menacing element as it swells and flows. The tabla has an unmistakable quality, vibrant and propulsive, as a widely gliding synth moves through the music. There's triumph embodied in the synths as they sweep past. Drama fills this music as the synth layers with the percussion to create a blending of the organic and the digital.

Muscled strength emanates from the oscillating bass and the tabla continues to twine through the music in a trance inducing beat. There's the metallic ring of the drums which mingles with looming notes that expand and contract in the music. The drum beat guides and drives the music, giving it a unique personality.

Images of a dark city haunted by the spectres of urban decay are evoked within this music. The flanging, bending synth is balanced by the unrelenting tabla beat that weaves like a thread through all of the other musical elements. Strength, shadow and intensity characterize this track as it pushes relentlessly on to a conclusion.

“Eclipse Of An Urban Dystopia” commences as threatening bass climbs in broken pulses, full of danger and lurking menace. The way in which the tabla’s tone can vary adds interest and texture to the music as a refulgent synth flows gently. The low sound’s intense weight fills the music with a steady heartbeat.

Bass and low synth become a wave of rough sound as flaring notes drift out into the darkness around them. The sound of Temporal Waves’ fingers brushing and tapping on the drum adds a fascinating sonic character to the music. Sweeping power radiates from all of the synth sounds. A medium high, luminous synth carries a majestic melodic pattern that is tinged by melancholy and pain as it bends above the guiding drum beat.

The imagery conjured by this music seizes hold of me with its darkness. Now the tabla becomes an insistent beat that propels the music forward with round toned resonance. energy imbues the music as it presses on with the tabla flourishing. The track slows and calms, the soft sounds of the tabla and its deep register filling the music as the long synth chords slip out with a gentle feeling. Silence falls as the track comes to an end on warmer notes.

Growling, expansive bass lurks below slowly shifting, haunted synth to start “Cortical Network Oscillations.” The tabla thumps into the music with dramatic power and noble, luminous synth with sharp edges floats out. A gleaming synth adds growing uplift as it cuts into the music while rounded notes delicately interlock and slip through the music. Now Temporal Waves’ tabla flourishes and flutters as the blade-like synth slices.

The track slips into a segment in which arpeggiating notes flare with gentle light and sharp sounds cut through in contrast. The tabla rattles and bubbles again as Temporal Waves’ clever fingers dance. I enjoy the shaping influence and fresh sound of the tabla in this track. Background sounds begin to swell and rise, intense illumination suffusing the track as the tabla drum trembles.

Something foreboding hides in the distance, balanced with the tender nature of the smoothly swirling synth. Temporal Waves makes the tabla leap and call out. The track slips into a segment in which deeply reverberant notes flow out above brightly bending synth and lush bass. the tabla flits past in the distance as the flickering synth moves with a nasal twist. An airy and paint to the music before the song ends on an intimidating, razor-sharp bass and the tabla smoothly echoing through the music.

“Cyclotron” opens with thumping electronic drums and digitally glistening synth moving slowly in caressing chords. Chiming notes ripple with sparkling luminosity as a melody carried on a tenderly touching synth glides through. The main melody is dreamy and has a feeling of drifting lightness within it as it moves above the guiding beat.

The drums are gently touching and the melody slips out above them with ease. The tabla comes in now to add dynamically popping motion and its ear-grabbing sound. Now a radiant synth sings the main melody with nobility and energetic life.

I enjoy the intricate swirling patterns of the tabla under Temporal Waves’ clever fingers as the drums and bass drive onwards. The drum beat exudes explosive energy as it rushes on and the snare drum has an additional element. The song ends with the majestic melody flowing out while the tabla’s deep vibrations come to an end.

Deeply resonating bass moves in slow waves to start “Water Temple.” There is a lurking shadow in the bass and a hauntingly floating synth glides out with a digital sound. The bass continues to flow far below as the meditative and graceful melody slips out. The tabla now throbs with a bright sound in contrast to the rounded, low element in the beat.

Ethereal chimes flicker with ghostly light as sharp edged notes cut into the music wow the tabla trembles and flicks under Temporal Waves’ fingers. Powerful, illuminating chords flash out and elevated, more delicate notes trickle through the music. Individual synth pulses are split by the wildly wheeling tabla as it intricately intertwines.

Spectral chords move with edged brightness as they slip into the music. The tabla is slipping and tapping rapidly underneath Temporal Waves’ dancing hands to create fascinating textures. The background synth has a misty, umbral quality as it curls above the luscious bass and tabla. Digital sounds ring out with misty light and the bass pulses far below. again the tabla becomes an integral part of the music as it brushes and thuds.

There is something wistful and lost about the main melody as it floats out through the music. Underneath the other elements, the rough bass is a continuous pulse. Cosmic synth glides with spaced out tranquility as the tabla rushes and flits through the music. The track ends on a slowly slipping, open voiced synth that wanders into peaceful openness before silence falls.

“Luminous Objects” begins as slowly slipping bass drifts out into openness with a gently touching sound of a richly gleaming synth curling through the music. Arpeggios exude serenity alongside the tabla’s delicacy and its lower register’s deep roundness. The arpeggios continue to undulate like wind through leaves as the tabla rustles.

The tabla's heartbeat has a shaping influence as the arpeggios continue to move with easily sliding motion. Uncertainty touches the arpeggios as they move to a minor key while the bass growls underneath. Now the tabla begins to pick up tempo and flicker through the music with rapid sounds. The track moves into contemplative floating and then silence.

Roughly trembling notes descend above a static background, tinged by shadow to commence “Data Cassette Sunrise.” There's an uncertain quality before gigantic bass sweets and the rapidly pulsating tabla moves through the music with active energy. A hard-edged synth slices through the music above the driving tabla beat. Bass insistently throbs as the tabla rushes through with an almost metallic sound.

The slicing notes have an aggressive feeling as the unrelenting bass pulse continues. The tabla raps and flurries as the bass continues to pulse. A snare drum and a hi hat add another percussive element above the flurrying tabla. I am drawn to the active nature of the drum playing here. Brooding bass rumbles with threatening strength as the drums batter and the high hat steadily ticks.

The low end is filled with the tabla’s hurried sound. An threatening shadow permeates the music as the bass heaves and synth sounds grumble. The percussion is a living thing in the music as the battering drums rush. The tabla’s deep vibrations add to the weight of the music as Temporal Waves’ fingertips dance. Now flaring illumination feels the background as the percussion charges to the end of the track.

“Awakening” opens as rapidly tumbling tabla thumps and echoes above jagged synth. The tabla has a heaving weight as it punches into the music with cascading motion while jagged synth snarls. Now a gleaming synth melody sings out, carrying a mixture of tentative feeling and something more hopeful.

A snare drum snaps into the music while the tabla thumps and throbs. Intricately intertwining synth arpeggios flicker through the music with a starry luminosity radiating from them. I enjoy the mixture of textured sounds and sheer power within this track.

The tabla stutters forward with intense motion while the computerized arpeggios sparkling shimmer leaps through the music. An incandescent synth shifts slowly with melodic aching before the track comes to an end on the tabla’s resonant voice.

Gigantic, wobbling bass pulsates as the tabla rings out along with an airy sound to commence “Postlude.” The tabla’s depth supports delicately shivering, mournful notes that sweep through the music in an undulating tide. The music has a haunting drift as gleaming synth sparkles.

Extended chords slip out underneath with melancholy emotion as the tabla rings and echoes. I find it hard to disregard this track’s meditative quality. This final track aches and shines with fragile light as it slips to an end.

Conclusion

Temporal Waves’ self-titled album is a listening experience that rewards a curious mind. The way in which it layers sounds and combines the organic nature of the tabla drum with synthetic elements results in music that is intriguing, beautiful and continually enjoyable.