Zak Vortex - Are You Happy Now?

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Zak Vortex’s Are You Happy Now? is a gentle, pained and caring expression of love and loss woven together from a tapestry of synth and guitar. Zak Vortex creates a powerfully emotional atmosphere on the album by combining affecting melodies, expressive guitar performances and well-chosen synth sounds. I have been moved by listening to this album.

Out of the many factors that make Are You Happy Now? enjoyable are the performances that Zak Vortex gives on guitar. He's able to capture the deep emotion within the music and convey it to the listener through his skill with his instrument. The end result is an intensification of the heart of and feeling in the music.

Another reason for the success of Are You Happy Now? is the melodies that Zak Vortex composed for the album. The melodies capture all of the pain, affection and wistful feeling within the music. I find that they draw me deeper into the sort of emotions which Zak Vortex creates on the album. I'm always drawn towards melodies that drive home a piece of music’s atmosphere and this album is full of them..

I also enjoy the use of different synth sounds to evoke atmosphere on the elbow. they're well chosen to compliment the overall tenor of the music and add unique tones and textures. Each element of this musical tapestry comes together in a richly woven whole.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Are You Happy Now?” begins as smoothly pulsing bass moves with delicately swirling synth notes. The oscillating flow slips out underneath lambent synth chords that run together into one tender motion. a softly whispered voice echoes into the drifting fragility around it, adding to the melancholy ache as metallic chimes ring out.

Vulnerability and delicacy fill the music in a way that I find touching. Softly luminous synth carries a melody which has a light touch while still full of deeply aching emotion. Chimes shimmer with refracted light as the drums and bass add form to the music. The voice-over comes in with an engaging feeling above the drifting low end.

The glowing synth melody is tentative and traces through the music with deep gentleness. Zak Vortex’s electric guitar cries out in a solo brimming over with deeply felt love and a sense of loss. Oscillating bass creates a heartbeat along with the throbbing drums while in the distance, glimmering notes pour out vulnerability. The track ends on the shining synth and soft narration while rain falls and chimes ring out.

Worshipful synth with a vocal quality exhales gentle notes out above gigantic drums to start “No Regrets.” Glimmering, reverberant synth floats out, carrying a yearning melody with a ghostly quality above the bursting drums. Elevated notes shine as the breathy sounds below flow smoothly.

Piercing chimes twinkle as they flash through the music with a sharper feeling. The electric guitar calls out now, full of lustre and shine, unwinding with passion. I enjoy the wistful need within this music.

The drums and bass form a powerful heartbeat that propels the music while intensely refulgent chimes spill through the music. The guitar cries out, carrying a hopeful melody that still embodies ache within it. Chimes flicker past again, spilling luminosity out above the shaping drums and bass before the track ends.

“Are You Lonely Yet?” commences as waves wash against the shore and peacefully flowing synth swells into the music. Bass tides float underneath a delicately luminous synth as it drifts through the music. The voice-over has a poetic and lost quality to it as it unfolds above the track.

The main melody is carried on a synth with a warming sheen as it pours out mournful, gentle emotion. Trickling, sparkling notes softly drop through the music above the slowly pulsing bass. Washing waves contribute tranquility and the voice-over adds to the track's longing.

Coruscating synth entangles with a more hopeful feeling, sparkling out like sunlight on water above the shaping drums and bass. I am transported into a world of dreamy melancholy as that journey unfolds. Radiant notes swell with affectionate and aching emotion as the main melody flows past with mingled feelings of love and loss before the track ends.

Diaphanous, sparkling notes flow out along with lush piano chords to open “London Nights (8am Mix).” Misty light permeates the background and powerfully rushing bass moves below uplifting piano notes. The slowly punching drums add shape to the music as the piano sings out with encouragement.

Gossamer synth carries a melodic pattern that overflows with joy. I enjoy this track’s lightness and ease as the piano moves into open space. A melody comes in, carried on a silken synth with tenderness and caressing emotion. Bright notes add glassy accents above the heartbeat far below them. Zak Vortex's guitar calls out, carrying a melody which aches with nostalgia, along with heartstring tugging emotion.

The guitar's smoothness integrates well with flowering synth chords and the piano. Palpable affection fills the main melody and thundering bass adds power to the gentleness. The track ends with the main melody enfolding all of the other elements as sparkling notes shine out above the low end and silence falls.

“In My Dreams (8am Mix)” opens as jumping synth sparks float out above majestic bass. Broadly flowing chords add tender luminance before a saxophone cries out in an emotional melody, flowing through the music with touching strength. Chimes with a metallic sheen float as the drums and bass shape the music.

I enjoy the chimes’ scintillating light and the saxophone's depth of feeling as it cries out with a yearning melody above caressing chords. Effulgent synth tangles together as cutting notes with intense brightness move through. The drums and bass have muscled power in them, contrasting with the higher synth’s tentative and soothing nature.

Chimes shimmer with starry light and the low end pulses onwards with more emotive strength. The track ends with the passionate saxophone melody, conveying love and calming emotion before the track ends on metallic chimes.

Ethereal synth glows behind sharply flashing notes that descend in a staccato pattern to open “Is This Goodbye?” The guitar echoes out with deeply embedded emotion as a fragile synth sings out with calming light. The drums and bass form a steady heartbeat underneath the floating synth that drifts out above.

Lustrous notes softly touch the music as the worshipful sound in the distance swells around it. Glassy chimes flicker out with clean light as the drifting background swirls. The bass is a steady flow underneath and the guitar cries out again, in a solo capturing nostalgic pain. Medium-high, brightly sparkling notes move in an even pattern as the drums and bass propel the music forward.

A lithe synth conveys affection as it flickers out with encompassing light. Touching, melancholy emotion washes over me on this track. The music ends on flickering chimes and the throbbing low end as the guitar flies out above all of the other elements.

“Are You Leaving Now?” comes into life as a billowing synth flows up above luscious bass. Burnished synth clouds climb as the guitar calls out with intensely felt, mingled emotion in a way that moves me.

Drums and bass keep shaping the music as they pulsate. Broadly slipping synth moves in waves as scintillating notes flash out, carrying a melody that mixes hope and pain. Resonant bells intertwine above the pink light that suffuses the background.

The guitar moves with poignant emotion as the raised, shiny notes above it trail with tenderness. Bells ring with spreading light as the drums and bass bring the song to a conclusion.

Conclusion

Are You Happy Now? explores the more melancholy side of being human in a way that is charming, gentle and knowing. Zak Vortex has produced an album which dives deep into emotion through instrumental expression.