The Future Kids - Moonlight

By Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

The Future Kids’ “Moonlight” sweeps me along on a soothing, nostalgic synth tide. The entire album is suffused with delicate luminosity and tender emotion, conveyed through beautifully layered synthesizer textures. The melodies are calming and tranquil, while the entire soundscape radiates an ethereal quality. This is music that will take you away from the dullness and stress of daily life and transport you to a place and time that never really existed, but for which we all yearn. I am happy to be able to travel along with The Future Kids on this album.

The melodies on Moonlight are one strong draw for me. They elicit feelings of warmth, longing, and emotional uplift as they unfold. The Future Kids infuse the melodies with tranquil feelings and an all-pervasive sensation of meditative contemplation. I find myself drawn along by the emotionally engaging feelings created by the melodic writing on this album.

Another aspect of Moonlight that attracts me is the sense of longing for simpler times and emotional connection. The powerful nostalgia that fills the album is never overdone or full of clichés but brings up a deep sense of yearning for a time that was full of peace and ease. There is an ache within the music that touches me to the core as it unfolds.

The way The Future Kids use synths on Moonlight foregrounds effulgent, diaphanous sounds that surround me in a halo of light. The way the textural and tonal elements come together creates lushly interwoven, ear-catching soundscapes. There is a depth and richness to the musical palette on this album that furthers its ability to transport me to a special place and time in which utter tranquility abounds.

One other element of the music that I find enjoyable is the sense of dynamic contrast The Future Kids create. There are moments in which propulsive energy meets serene elegance and the way those elements contrast is powerfully engaging, keeping me listening as the sonic exploration unfolds.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“When the Stars Align” comes to life as a softly sparkling synth quickly riffles through the music and swells in strength. Scintillating notes dance quickly as a rich bass well undulates slowly and spinning notes tumble through the music. The bass adds a fullness to the music as the wistfully calming melody drifts out and evokes quiet nights full of gently twinkling stars.

The low end’s deep sound is balmy and provides a luscious underpinning as the arpeggios continue to sparkle with brilliant luminosity. I am carried by the music, cradled and guided to a warm place in the past. This is honey-colored nostalgia that wraps me in a blanket of good memories. The bass fades out and the tender melody wanders with graceful delicacy until it falls into silence.

Richly slipping bass and a steady pulse wash with silken energy through the music as shiny notes begin to flow, marking the commencement of “Moonlight”. The drums and bass form a gently guiding pulse as the melody trails through the music with a sense of utter calm. The refulgent notes bathe me in gossamer sounds and erase my stress.

The drums and bass act as a reassuring heartbeat while the sparkling arpeggio casts cosmic luminosity across the bass depths. A slowly oscillating synth glows with soft light as the dense bass flows in liquid motion. The continual oscillation carries a meditative quality, helping my thoughts focus and my body relax.

The bass provides a steady force, while the drums add shape and the synth drifts through the music like a single leaf on a current. The shimmering background pours out all-encompassing luminosity as rippling synths fill the soundscape and the low end pulses. This music makes me dream, lifting me to a place that feels hidden, safe and tranquil.

"Don't Let Go" begins with a tentatively hovering, rounded synth that moves into a melody full of encouraging but pained emotion as the solid drums punch forward and the lush bass moves. The lead synth intertwines in deeply soothing motion as the low end keeps shaping the music.

Now the lightly shining lead synth carries a tenderly enfolding melody as a slowly entangling, string-like synth fills the music with melancholy. The background trembles tenuously as the solid bass continues to oscillate. Breathy sounds shift, and the drums and bass press forward again.

I feel uplifted and held with affection by the music as effulgent notes shimmer with a gentle touch and a feeling of positive affirmation. Delicate notes continue to float in the distance before drifting out into quiet.

Broadly resonating synth mingles into one intensely intertwining pulse to start "Alone." The pulse slowly oscillates with a metallic quality as full-sounding notes shift in the distance. The bass rumbles with gigantic weight, descending as a steadily vibrating, bright note fills the background. The bass is truly colossal and a slowly trembling synth drifts out as the drums and bass form a driving pulse.

The track gains power and speed as the low end throbs and a steady drone continues to flash light off in the distance. The snare drum adds a sharp quality, while the bass undulates and the synth chords in the distance are smooth and easily gliding. The bass continues to oscillate in unctuous motion as the shining notes tumble one over the other.

A raised, sunlit synth fills the music with deep lustre as the bass continues to tumble. The snare drum taps as the bass entangles and floats. Trumpeting notes ring out with laid-back tranquility and I enjoy the way in which the track mingles a lighter touch with the low end’s crisp weight. The brassy notes shimmer out and flick past as the bass rumbles. The droning note keeps crying out as the song slowly comes to an end.

“One Night” begins as rapidly whirling arpeggios flicker elegantly and round sounding, all encompassing synth chords reverberate. Arpeggios keep twirling crystalline light out into the music as the synth chords spread with sunset tranquility.

The bass is strong and easily supports the other sonic elements as the softly shining synth chords are joined by chimes that move into the music with bright clarity, drifting into a repeating pattern. The entire track creates an interlude of peaceful contemplation as it soothes my soul.

Tentative notes hover in the distance as a smoothly flowing bass pulse moves to begin “Journey.” The steady sound in the background adds a rosy luminosity to the track as the crisp drums move along with washing synth chords. The drum and bass heartbeat creates a steadying feeling as a radiant synth carries a melody that conveys deep longing as it reaches out.

The drums throb in the distance and the bass provides solid, supportive propulsion as a vocal-sounding synth exhales gently. Cleanly glimmering notes spin out as the drums rebound and I am transported to a realm of pastel contemplation while lithe notes intertwine and sharper-edged synth slices past.

The drums and bass continue a driving heartbeat while the revolving synth pattern lulls me into a thoughtful pause. The low end contrasts dynamically with the higher notes’ floating delicacy to form an ear-pleasing whole. As the track concludes, I allow myself to fly above the day-to-day grind.

Gently powerful synth moves with a graceful flow and a slightly muffled sound to kick off “Lost Times.” The drums grow in power, and rippling notes in the distance caress the ears as an arpeggio, like tiny jewel chips, dances and the bass moves below it. A nasal-sounding synth with a comforting quality carries a melody that conveys dreamy and thoughtful moments.

I get the impression of sitting in a sunbeam with this melody and it leaves me at ease as the solid bass pulsation continues with guiding weight. The trickling arpeggio twirls with a flickering filigree as it gains strength again. Now, a melodic pattern undulates with a rocking motion, adding more shape to the music as the big drums rebound and the bass continually oscillates.

I am carried this track’s breezy nature, lofted along past memories that leave me full of pleasant nostalgia. This track relaxes me as the trumpeting synth calls out with a silky, laid-back feeling while the drums continue to beat before the track ends.

"Forever" comes into being as intensely trembling bass moves with slowly waving synth notes. The lead synth drifts serenely as the massive bass pulsates steadily and Oceanide’s guitar carries a melody full of blue illumination and calming feelings. A luminescent synth adds another layer of shine and delicacy.

A snare drum contributes a sharp backbeat as the smoothly shivering synth slides past, trailing fragile tendrils. The huge bass smoothly undulates as the elevated synth carries the majestically calming melody, moving like a slow ocean current. The drums cut in crisply again while the background synth wraps itself around me like a pastel cloud.

Oceanide’s guitar calls out again with a melody that is energizing, wistful and touching in a way that draws me in. The drums continue to shape the music, while the bass provides a reassuring presence. Hope seizes my soul as the track unfolds, letting me believe that perhaps things won’t be so bad after all.

The glittering synth spins through the music with crystalline clarity, while the broad-sounding drums and luscious bass give form to the track. There is a quality of persistence and resilience in the rhythm, while the higher notes speak of dreams fulfilled before the song comes to an end.

Conclusion

“Moonlight” is one of those albums I can rely on when things get tough. It is music that frees me from the stresses and worries of life. I’m carried away to a place of tranquility and safety, reminded that in this dark world, there can still be moments of light and precious memory.