Timecrawler 82 - Yellow Sunglasses

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Timecrawler 82’s Yellow Sunglasses is intricately layered, deeply emotive synth-based music that carries the listener on an intensely imaginative audio journey. Timecrawler 82 has woven a complex, nuanced web of ear-catching sound on this album.

A multitude of fascinating sonic interactions fill Yellow Sunglasses as it unfolds. All of the many synth sounds intermingle to give the music weight, shape and texture. I enjoy how the synth layers contrast with one another at times, while complementing and enhancing each other at others. Taken as a whole, the synth sounds form an intoxicating tapestry.

Creating auditory imagery is another skill that Timecrawler 82 demonstrates on Yellow Sunglasses. The way in which he combines his synth tapestry with expressive melodic writing and music that is full of feeling and complexity creates powerful images in my mind. I enjoy the transporting quality of this album.

I also enjoy the way in which he weaves together Silvia’s vocal performance with well-written lyrics on “The Greenhouse.” It is the one true “song” on the album and it makes me crave an entire album with Silvia’s vocals and Timecrawler 82’s lyrics.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Amaretto Sour” begins as massively rebounding drums smack into the music along with a cloud of flaring digital sound. Wide-sounding synth radiates flashing notes oscillating above smoothly guiding drums and rich synth chords. Hollow, digital-sounding synth plays an addictive melodic pattern with a slight hitch in it that creates more interest.

Brassily shimmering synth sings a pleasing, triumphant melody that is tinged with sadness. A tight sonic thread cuts in a bright line above thudding drums before rising bass lifts the music. Creaking synth tumbles as brightly glowing, elevated synth flies out hopefully above guiding drums and luscious bass.

Rough-edged, warm chords lift the glistening higher synth out above their tranquil edges. The wistful lead synth melody calls out, shot through with hope as it climbs above the drums and bass. The track ends on the melodic pattern with which it started.

Blaring, twisting synth echoes into open space to open “Tropical Fever.” After a huge drum flourish, the smoothly pulsating bass and hard-hitting drums are joined by an ethereal, haunted synth repeating a floating melodic pattern.

Misty, rounded synth creates energetic forward motion along with grooving bass. Chiming synth carries a dreamy melody, touchingly full of longing, above pulsing synth motion. Angular synth notes leap into twirling arpeggios above the main melodic pattern.

Flickering, elevated synth carries a drifting melody out above the ethereal space around it. Bright synth bounces out above the shaping drums and solid bass. Chiming lead synth carries the heart-tugging main melody accented by sunny synth. The underlying melodic patten repeats before silence falls.

“The Greenhouse” commences as rough-edged, swelling synth underpins Silvia’s richly expressive vocals as gigantic bass oscillates while the drums softly tap. The vocal melody is full of deep emotion and mingles pain with encouragement as delicate chimes flicker to accent it. The bass has a lush quality as airier, gentler sounds swirl and Silvia’s emotive vocals unfold.

Glittering high notes add sunny accents to the song. There’s a wonderfully soothing quality to the musical backing as Silvia’s voice resonates. Steadily undulating bass keeps flowing on and the drums shape the music. The song ends with fluttering chimes, rebounding drums and a washing bass tide.

The storyteller wonders when she slid away, how she fell so low and lost herself. She isn’t sure who she is now. She’s “broken in many shards” and caught in the shadows, but she knows that after the night passes there “comes the sun, comes a spark.”

Our narrator points out that in spite of all of the jagged shards, the sun has still managed to shine through. The lyrics create an intense and evocative image as they speak of how “a hundred glares are dancing on the edge of my scars to let the sun come in.”

Although the storyteller knows one can’t avoid the cracks and it is a struggle not to look back, she also knows that “in the greenhouse where I stand” her “mangled soul” will heal and she’ll return to life and “fill the air with my new scent.” As the night eventually turns back into day, she will “let my inner strength bloom in a new shape.”

Round-toned, nasal synth drifts in slowly undulating lines over solidly throbbing kick drum and metallic percussion to start “VHS & Popcorn.” Drums launch into a steady beat, locked in with an undulating synth pattern to create motion. Glistening, elevated synth sings out a dreamy, yearning melody that radiates tender emotion.

I am drawn in by the sense of melancholy remembrance in this track. Steadily pulsing drums are joined by a trembling, slowly shifting synth line. Bending, full-sounding synth carries an dynamic, uplifting melodic segment, tinged with a more pained feeling. Round-sounding, flowing synth repeats before bright notes echo out in shining lines.

The secondary, inspiring synth melody calls out before keyboard notes descend in a twinkling cascade. The lustrous lead synth melody floats out, full of heartwarming feeling as a trumpeting instrument adds more positive energy. Starry notes fall and silence ends the track.

"Landscape: Dunes of Aglaonice” comes to life as a sere wind sweeps and bass rumbles. Rushing bells quickly spin out entangled notes and sharply metallic sounds ring out. Mysterious notes roam on a woodwind synth as throbbing bass and ticking drums shape the music.

Bells trickle through to add a deeply ethereal quality while medium-high, broad-sounding synth carries a melancholy melody over sparkling, repeating notes. Twisting synth carries an airy melody, effectively tinged with a comforting feeling as bursting drums add guidance.

Unevenly pulsating bass is cut by cascading bells. Warmer, more tranquil synth carries a melodic pattern that caresses as shining, twirling notes move underneath. The lead synth mingles an emotive ache with the more encouraging melody. The track comes to an end on rushing wind and glittering synth.

Tautly shining, high synth slowly arpeggiates along with another raised, diffused synth to begin “Landscape: Gravitational Waves.” Full-toned, cool sounding synth repeats an arpeggiating pattern as sweeping notes swell and flow along. String-like, medium-high synth carries an elegiac melody, full of tenuous feeling.

I am touched by the emotional qualities in the main melody. Bass oscillates with lush weight and sharp, cutting sounds shift in extended lines. Interlocking, elevated synth entangles as a softly sunny synth sings the deeply pained, drifting melody out over thick bass and shaping drums.

Bass drops away and piano notes rise and fall in a lost-sounding pattern before sharp-edged synth sweeps along with the returned bass. The lambent lead synth melody is full of hurt leavened by hope. Piano notes roam and a raised, glimmering arpeggio flows in circular motion to complete the track.

Conclusion

Yellow Sunglasses takes retrowave components and crafts them into beautifully layered, emotionally engaging music that carries listeners on a journey through variegated soundscapes and complex feelings.