To The Stars We Return - Lonely Astronaut: Beyond the Cosmic Horizon

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

To The Stars We Return (TTSWR)’s Lonely Astronaut: Beyond the Cosmic Horizon sings with deep emotion and paints imagery evoking outer space’s majesty and vast emptiness through a textured, nuanced mixture of instrumentation. I find this music both touching and engaging as it unfolds with poise and expressive richness.

All of the moods, feelings and tonal colours that the piano can create are in evidence on Lonely Astronaut: Beyond the Cosmic Horizon as it spins out its tale. TTSWR has written music that allows the piano to capture and evoke loss, pain, triumph and intense beauty. He uses it to add support to the other musical elements as well as carrying expressive melodies that fill the album with intense emotion and sonic imagery.

The way in which the instrumental palette is used on Lonely Astronaut: Beyond the Cosmic Horizon allows TTSWR to create musical detail and paint strong mental images. Synths that sparkle and float mingle with resonant strings that add textural lushness, not to mention emotional strength. There are lonely, elevated synths trailing delicate tendrils and bass sounds that evoke the depths of space. Taken as a whole, these elements weave into one enchanting tapestry.

I also enjoy the way in which TTSWR isn’t afraid to emote on the album. There’s no hesitation in being vulnerable and creating music that is full of feeling. Sometimes music producers pursue a sense of cool at the expense of touching human feeling which absolutely doesn’t happen here.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Overture Of The Traveler” comes to life as high, trembling strings cry out and echoing piano carries a slowly shifting melodic pattern. Elevated strings wheedle above the melancholic

piano pattern as it fills the space. Throbbing percussion drives the music on as the piano keeps up a textured motion.

A whistle-like synth instrument effectively creates a wandering, lonely feeling in its melodic pattern. Repeating piano notes are hypnotic as distorted, pipe-like synth wriggles in mournful motion above the hypnotic piano notes to create a swirling effect. The track ends on elevated sounds seemingly calling out in warning.

Stuttering, tapping drums with a hollow echo create an uneven beat to open "Negative Dimension.” An angular, cutting synth pulsates in between drumbeats. Ethereal choral sounds float in drifting lines, creating a hauntingly delicate pattern to which I am drawn.

Sweeping wind and dramatic, medium-high synth form an ominous soundscape, while digital-sounding synth notes give off a starry flicker. Dramatic strings add motion as they undulate, also contributing a shadowy quality that fills the sonic space.

Harsh, airy sound repeats as the broken, tripping drums shift underneath angular strings flowing in tremulous lines. Mysterious strings move with sparkling synth and uneven drums. Rounded, tech-y synth carries a melody shot through with ache and tragedy as the Theremin creates haunted feelings.

“Lonely Astronaut - Reprise” starts as resonant lower strings play a vibrato laden line. The elevated strings carry a gently pained melody that hangs suspended above the lower strings. Reverent choral synths surround the melody. Gleaming strings carry sharply pulsing notes along with distorted sound wriggling in the distance.

Twisting, open-sounding synth drifts along, amplifying the music’s evocative sense of loss. Thundering drums and a majestic piano melody create power and depth, throbbing drums radiating strength. There’s also a feeling of growing hope in the face of loss as strings add resonance and open-voiced synth flows before the track ends.

Warm, tender synth rises creamily as brighter piano chords glow to begin “Horizon Part 1: The Edge of the Known Universe.” Enfolding, soothing synth arises and intertwines around steadily moving piano chords. I enjoy the way in which the piano is tinged with hope and dreaming as high synth adds a wistful quality.

Sadness also radiates from the piano while the background synth creates a caressing sonic environment as the drums now add motion. Medium-high, gruff synth carries a triumphant melody, full of sweeping drama. Yearning and pain characterize this track. Silken synth washes easily and the track fades on wandering notes, trembling into space.

“Horizon Part 2: We Look Up” commences as ringing, gliding sounds enfold the piano’s victorious but still tragic sonic shading. The piano mingles aching and hope as raised, sparkling sound touches the track lightly. Now the string section beautifully adds rich textures and strong emotions, the violin sings and piano chords guide the music.

Cosmic, elevated sounds whistle out and drift along. A lost and mournful sound echoes abovethe hurting piano as strings add depth and a full resonance. The piano is bright, bass forms steady pulse and the violin is full of expressive pain. Active electric bass moves and choral voices complement the delicate piano as the track fades on flashing sound.

An uplifting, hopeful piano melody twirls through “White Sky/Black Stars” along with breathy, swelling synths. Bells ring out and hollow, slowly moving synth sails through while the piano melody flashes with tender feelings, underpinned by gossamer synths. A raised, tumbling synth floats above the energizing, but still wistful piano.

I enjoy the emotional depth of TTSWR’s music as expressed in this album. Airy sounds sweep and the piano blooms, becoming even more light laden, as it unfolds a positive melody. Strings lend an aching glow to the music, contrasting with the gleaming piano. Gentleness fills the raised sounds and the track ends end on breathily fluting notes, open sounds and a hint of the choir.

Big, wide open drums pop and stutter as “She’s A Comet” begins. A reverberant snare drum echoes out into the musical space. Elevated, tightly wound sound moves slowly, drifting into the distance while massive drums keep slowly pulsating. There’s a fragility to the raised sounds that is so vulnerable and affecting to me.

Loss and wandering qualities fill the high synths as the strings slowly slip along with worshipful choral voices that sail through above the guiding drumbeat. I enjoy this piece's peaceful sensation tinged with more troubling feelings as it unfolds. Slowly spinning sounds spiral through in the distance while the spaced out choral sounds make for a feeling of respect and something eternal in the music.

Underneath it all, drums continue to add shape and an elevated, glowing instrument plays climbing notes. Clean, raised sounds shifts with fluting notes that tremble while a nasal, very high sound wriggles and twists. Open-voiced synth sails along as a taut, nasal sounding instrument sings a melody with a journeying feeling before silence falls.

“In The End It’s All Stardust” begins as ringing piano flows out, carrying a melody that skillfully mingles hope, wistful feelings and something tragic. Swelling, rounded notes support a string section that is full of tenderness and caressing sensations.

The piano exudes tremulous, aching emotion as flowing synths intertwine and glide together. Strings add richness and more yearning as they resonate into the track. A very high sound adds a starry glow and we end on far away, feather-light synth.

Conclusion

Lonely Astronaut: Beyond the Cosmic Horizon fills me with intense feeling. Listening to the album is a journey through beautifully layered synthscapes with an orchestral quality to them. I find myself transported across starry gulfs of space and through loss, yearning and moments approaching joy as the album reveals itself.