Walmind - Walls Of Time
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Walmind’s Walls Of Time exudes airy tranquility and wistful emotion as it travels through lushly woven synthscapes. First-rate vocal performances add to the album’s emotional depths and the whole atmosphere has a tropical sensation filling it with warmth. I enjoy the relaxing, slightly melancholy sensation that unfolds through the music.
Both Walmind and Ligia bring their expressive and touching voices to bear on Walls of Time. They each have distinctive qualities to their vocal performances that lend more depth to the music. I also find the way in which they capture the lyrics to be affecting and touching. The end result are songs that may be short, but make a strong connection with my heart.
A mixture of well-chosen synth sounds and sensitive composition creates an atmosphere on Walls Of Time that bathes me in aquamarine peace and tropical warmth. Walmind has chosen synths that radiate relaxation and calm, occasionally contrasted with a sharper sound to balance the music out. I find myself drifting into a misty environment as the synth washes over me easily.
For me, this album has a summery essence to it that I find hard to resist. I enjoy the way that all of the musical elements combine to produce music for soothing afternoons in the warm sun. There’s a cohesion to this album that makes it easy to listen to more than once.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“Walls Of Time” starts off as a plush synth provides a cushioning cradle for medium-high notes flaring gently out as sharper sounds cut through for contrast. Slowly throbbing synth moves in a wide swathe, guided by a steadily moving snare drum.
Broad synth forms a breezy pattern above bursting snare drum and interlocking notes as a gritty sound slices through. Alien flute-like synth carries a fragile melody with a wonderfully soothing feeling over the widely pulsating drumbeat. Medium-low synth repeats a clear pattern as gruff sound cuts in.
A whale song sound cries out before tautly pulsing synth forms a pattern. Breathy, twisting synth adds a floating quality above widely scattered snare drum and thick bass. Nasal-sounding, lambent notes flash out and silence falls.
A richly entangled synth wash wraps me in a comforting cocoon as cleanly rippling arpeggios spin easily to open “Heart”. The drumbeat flits out to smoothly shape the music. Walmind’s voice is tender and exudes heartfelt emotion as he calls out into the song.
Lightly pulsing drums shape to the music under the background’s aquatic, rippling sensation. Medium-high, sharp-edged synth sings a melody that reaches out with yearning fingers as gruff bass swells.
Drums tap with laid back ease under Walmind’s touching vocals. Gleaming lead synth carries a melody mingling melancholy leavened by hope. The drumbeat adds motion as bass wells up to create support below it. The song slides to an end on a soft synth flow.
The narrator speaks of walking down the streets and seeing the other person watching him. He says “I’ve nothing to fear” even if it seems he wouldn’t go to them. The song’s subject has “bet your heart to stay with me” in spite of his fear for many years.
“Brazilian Synthwave” begins as an astral soundscape with flowing wind moves above billowing bass as Brazilian percussion comes in. Tautly nasal-sounding synth pulses in short bursts as percussion adds a tropical flavour.
Medium-high, bending synth creates a charming sensation of humid breezes and palm trees. In the background, synth whorls intertwine in a calming motion as steadily bursting drums add shape. Distant, softly touching synth wriggles past as nasally pulsing notes drift.
The main melody curls comfortably, giving off easy going sensations as the Brazilian percussion adds a unique flavour. A smoothly gliding segment carries the wistfully aching melody and before the drumbeat jumps in. Tropically flavoured percussion taps above the lush low end. Wind sweeps above bass clouds that guide the track to an end.
Slowly enfolding synth bubbles up as elevated notes ring out above it, gently swaying, to open “It’s More than Just A Dream.” Ligia has a tender expression in her voice as broadly pulsing snare drum adds shape above oscillating bass motion.
Rounded, medium high synth carries a melody that fills me with affectionate sensations as it reverberates with digital sound. The vocals capture deep need and wistful yearning in the lyrics as the drumbeat pulsates and trickling, smooth synth ripples out.
The main melody slips by again, lightly touching and aching with intense need before delicately gliding notes tremble. Ligia’s voice is tranquil as sparkling synth carries the floating melody, like a loving caress, out into silence on rippling arpeggios.
The storyteller says that she wanted the song’s subject to want her as well for “all the time I was loving you.” She points out that she’s only telling the truth and it is more than a nightly dream. She asks the other person if they see the stars and the light because “I give you everything I feel inside.”
“No Matter How Far” starts as washing synth forms a languid flow as it flashes past in slow, broad sparkles. Snare drum splashes in again as Ligia’s voice brims over beautifully with loving passion as sharp edged synth flares out in sunlit waves.
Tightly wound, elevated synth carries a melody mixing passion, hope and dreamy emotion as the towering drums leap in to add shape. The vocals rise, capturing the feeling in the lyrics above throbbing drums and bass. Clean, trembling synth vibrates and the melody sings in again, rising on a luminous cloud as the low end guides the music.
Rapidly dancing notes glimmer and echo into open space as the track slips on, Ligia’s singing adds emotional strength as the luminous main melody shines through with hurting, hopeful emotion. Sharp edged notes flash before silence falls.
Our narrator says that she’s waiting through the night, every day of her life to be the other person’s “bright moon.” The other person wants her back but it’s tough when “day and night don’t match.” The storyteller realizes that no matter how far apart they are, she is on the other person’s mind. In the midst of her sorrow she knows that “I gave you all the love.”
Reverberating, cascading synth flashes out into openness along with rumbling, full bass to open “Echoes Of My Mind.” Smoothly guiding percussion joins a sharp-edged bass pulsation as radiant synth trembles above the steady drumbeat and luscious bass.
Peaceful contemplation pervades the track in a deeply pleasing fashion. The background synth is silky smooth and the percussion skips along with a laid back sensation.
Bass with an unctuous sonic profile keeps moving far below, adding weight. Air slips through as synth waves lap up against the track’s low end and the drumbeat adds form. I find myself sailing away, carried above a calm soundscape and out into space.
“Astronomy” commences as fragile chimes echo underneath shimmering synth drifting through in twinkling motion. Dense bass wells up and open-sounding drums tick to create rhythm.
Nasal-sounding, medium-high synth slides with a slowly tumbling motion through the track, adding meditative tranquility in an ear-pleasing fashion. Now sharply glistening synth adds lustre to the track while luscious bass moves. The lead synth’s soft-edged, delicate sound rolls through the track.
Chimes add settling feelings to the music while a dense bass cloud expands below. I find myself sinking into the enfolding tenderness of this track, out among galaxies as flickering notes trip through and silence falls.
Broadly spinning arpeggios sweep in as clear, cutting synth leaps in rapid motion to kick off “Ego Block.” Massive bass actively shifts as huge drums pound solidly. Lissome, glowing synth washes through in extended notes as throbbing drums add strength and motion.
Bass pulsates in moving lines as radiant synth frolics in an energetic movement while the drumbeat presses on. Taut synth quickly shivers and the track’s low end adds dynamism.
I enjoy the mixture of floating sounds with more activity to contrast with them. Flashing synth adds a clear light as it trickles through above growling bass and muscled drums. The track ends on luminosity and gruff synth whorls.
Conclusion
Walls Of Time is an album drenched in the feelings of gentle breezes breathing tropical moisture against my skin, languorous days spent relaxing and a hint of something wistful and melancholy to leaven the more soothing feelings in the music.
