Xynapsis - Midnight Caller
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Xynapsis’ Midnight Caller tells a vibrant and image-rich, cinematic tale. I enjoy the way Xynapsis has created a dynamic and engaging soundtrack for a movie that was never made. The mixture of finely crafted melodies, synth layers that paint vivid imagery and the overall atmosphere that feels filmic and characterful results in an extremely entertaining sonic journey, unfolding with creativity and fun.
One reason for Midnight Caller's success with me is the high quality of melodic composition by Xynapsis. These melodies capture me and transport me through the mental movie that the album unfolds. They evoke drama, danger and excitement along with a good measure of happy nostalgia. I am enamored with the way Xynapsis can grab hold of my ears and pull me deeper into the music.
Another compelling reason for my enjoyment of Midnight Caller is Xynapsis' careful use of a richly varied synth palette. Each sound adds to the charming auditory tapestry that preserves the emotional and visual sensations Xynapsis aims to create. As each layer combines with the others, the result is powerful feelings and beautifully unfolding imagery.
The way the melody and synth choices combine adds to the overall atmosphere of excitement and the celebration of the great action movies of the 1980s in Midnight Caller. The tracks feel cohesive, traveling through the story as it unfolds, pulling me in with their emotive strength and the sense of watching an intense movie.
I'd also like to mention the wonderful addition of saxophone to this album. I've always been a sucker for this instrument and the way Xynapsis deploys it here adds a deeply ear-pleasing mixture of throaty passion and gentleness.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
"Dangerous Love" comes to life as massive bass moves in a surging pulse and luminous notes flicker above it warmly while a tide of sweeping sound passes. As the tidal sounds wash, lambent synth shines and now the sax leaps into the music with passionate energy, its rich tones projecting a celebratory feeling.
The drums and bass punch hard, pressing the music ahead as the synth radiates an encouraging melodic pattern, the sax joining in to fill it with neediness and a sense of desire. The drums and bass interlock while the sax solos with heartfelt joy and a sense of freedom. I enjoy the way the sax deepens the emotional feeling in the music.
The track flows now as the drums and bass drop away briefly and the sax howls with reedy life. The elevated synth cries out with brilliant dynamism, projecting effulgent light. As the synth dances, it skips through the music and the sax jumps in again, adding ardent energy, becoming gentler and easier before the track ends.
Quickly spinning arpeggios revolve as the track swells into motion with warm pads adding luminosity to start "Transatlantic". The beat throbs tremulously as the drums erupt and a synth carries a melody that’s dancing and freely moving. The synth gleams with burnished light as it carries the adventurous melody, while the low end propels the music with rapidity. Piano adds a richer quality as the sharp drums burst and the bass continues to pulse.
The main melody takes hold of me and carries me away, my soul flying upward along with it. Now the track slows to a more measured segment in which crystal keys sparkle, adding gentleness to the melody. A ringing synth with broad brilliance takes up the melody, crying out and capturing yearning emotion. The drums burst forth again and the twinkling synth notes spin out a thrilling story. The drums and bass continue to undulate as the melody sings with glimmering light, skipping along as the track closes out.
"Inspiration" begins with broadly reverberating drums bursting below sparkling notes unfolding with luscious light. The drums and bass have immense force as glowing notes flow past and the sax leaps into the music, uplifting and joyful as it cries out. A smoothly gliding guitar adds jazzy vibes, lush and laid-back, before the sax calls out with the vibrant and energizing melody.
The drums continue to provide massive support and the bass is a strong underpinning as the sax calls out, creating an expressiveness that I find strongly engaging. The guitar has an easily slipping feeling, joined by the ardent sax as it leaps. The low-end pulse continues to propel the music as the sax unleashes sunlit emotion.
The guitar and sax form a superb interplay, trading off and deepening the feelings in the music. The drums keep punching hard and the main melody howls out on the throaty sax, filling the music with liveliness before the track closes out.
Widely spreading synth swells with strength and a sweeping wind to kick off "Antares." Oscillating, scintillating synth trembles and quickly shifting lines as the drum punches hard and the bass supports it. The full-sounding synth calls out with a melody that is hauntingly delicate and tinged with melancholy. Bright arpeggios spin softly as an exhaling sound joins a piano that floats through the music with an easy touch, giving off effervescent sensations.
The piano dances through the music and the light it radiates penetrates every corner. The piano grows in strength as it unfurls and the drums begin to punch again, driving the music forward. The melody adds fierce brightness, conveying mingled emotions in a way that I find gripping. The smoothly brassy synth that rises above it has a triumphant feeling, crying out to fill the listener's heart. The drums continue to rebound as the gleaming notes move out through the music and the track comes to an end.
“Syntheria” opens as tranquility pours from smoothly overlapping synths that glide into strength. The drums create a lightly tripping pattern beneath the smoothly intermingling synth notes that exude calm. The main melody cries out on a glittering, full and affectionately caressing tone, as dancing patterns below spin out an uplifting feeling. I enjoy the way the entire track oozes with luminous life.
The piano trickles through the music with a deft, delicate touch, while the drums pulse in again along with the guiding bass. The lead synth bounces through the music with dynamic brilliance as reverent sounds fill the background with a sunrise glow. The main melody moves with smoothly touching emotion as the slightly gruff-sounding, ringing synth swirls and sings.
As the track evolves, all of its encouraging and embracing emotion fills me and lets me breathe a sigh of relief. The piano closes the song out with deeply satisfying serenity.
Massive drums pound into the music and the main theme calls out on a choral synth that explodes with glowing happiness to start “One With the Universe.” The entangling synth has a medium-high, glistening sound as it sings a melody that is full of hope and resolution, filling me with a sense of pride and achievement.
The drums flourish and the melody calls out on a lambent synth that slips through the music with untrammeled ease. The piano rings out and shimmers with the light of a new sunrise. Now, the main melody takes on a slightly wistful, dreamy quality and adds a nostalgic note, as the vocal-sounding synth gives the impression of a jubilant choir.
The drums and bass erupt with life as the piano floats out in a filigreed and positive line. This is music that puts a smile on my face as the track comes to an end on fluttering piano and pulsing bass.
Conclusion
Midnight Caller is just a great deal of fun to engage with. Listening to this album reminds me of my younger days, watching an action flick on a rainy afternoon. Beyond the nostalgia factor, this album is well-crafted by Xynapsis and full of ear-grabbing melodies and intertwining synth sounds.
