Zak Vortex - Black Star

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Zak Vortex’s Black Star wraps intertwining layers of tightly woven synth sound around beautiful melodies and expressive, emotional segments. I enjoy the multi-layered interactions between the different sonic components that create complex and ear-catching audioscapes.

Melody is something of great appeal to me as an integral component of great music and Black Star has some wonderful melodic moments. Zak Vortex is able to evoke strong emotion with his clear and expressive melodies. I particularly find his ability to convey multiple emotional states within his melodies compelling. I’m drawn in by the strength of his feeling in the music.

Synths allow for a highly varied, detailed and intricate level of musical interaction and Black Star shows that quality off to great effect. Zak Vortex combines shadow and light with gruffness, gliding and sharpness as he lays out his skeins of sound. He takes those tonal, timbral and textural threads and skillfully spins them into intricate musical layers that form a cohesive whole.

Atmosphere is another aspect that I enjoy in music and Zak Vortex creates atmospheric moments throughout the album. It might be the soothing feeling emanating from “So Into You” or the intense energy of “Leave Them Behind” but each track generates a difference ambience and mood.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Black Star” comes into being as gigantic, rough-edged bass blocks rumble and broadly glinting, medium-high synth carries gently gliding notes. A vocal sample echoes out above the other sonic elements. I enjoy the way in which the track’s power and intensity grows as solid drums form a steadily throbbing pulse.

Elevated, sparkling sounds shimmer as a thin-sounding arpeggio whirls out. Raised, caressing notes glitter and the vocal sample echoes out while strong drums create stability. Chimes gleam above the heavy, shifting bass blocks and wide arpeggios ripple out above the background flow.

Dense, gritty bass throbs as far away synth stars glitter to open “Triangulum.” Rounded, slightly nasal synth spins out delicate arpeggios as drums create a stable underpinning.

Another high synth carries a wandering, contemplative melody as the drums and bass guide the music along. The track echoes and glides in a deeply pleasing and delicate way.

Flashing, metallic arpeggios flicker in the background and elevated synth is broken by impassioned guitar. The electric guitar drifts out in an aching, mysterious melody while synth stars twinkle and drums and bass drive. Now the guitar whirls with a gruff edge as xylophone-like arpeggios keep twisting. The track ends as echoing, slowly reverberating notes fade away.

“So Into You” comes to life as delicate piano spins a tender web and synth notes swell. Smoothly pulsing drums are accented by glittering synths before metallic chimes ring out. Bunny X’s softly touching, airy singing is supported by deep bass. Now xylophone-like synth dances in a rippling pattern while the vocal melody yearns and encourages.

Chimes shimmer through the music as guitar adds a soothing acoustic element. Solid drums throb as Bunny X’s vocals carry affectionate emotion. After a drum fill, xylophone adds texture and a glistening synth sings in a feathery melodic pattern. Chimes add flashing light while Bunny X’s vocals echo over throbbing kick drum. Guitar shines now and smooth arpeggios slide while chiming notes sparkle.

Hope pours from Abigail Gordon’s lyrics as the song’s narrator talks about how they’ll put the convertible’s top down and drive knowing that “we’re gonna be alright, the future is ours.” She goes on to say that she knows they’ll go a long way and asks if the other person feels it too.

Our storyteller is unconcerned about gossip because “I’m so into you” and adds that she can’t “wish this away, as hard as I try.” She asks the other person to tell her how they are feeling because “this is all brand new.” She points out that she thinks it’s real but “I can’t read your mind.”

The narrator says that when she first met the other person, they took her hand and she adds that she was surprised but “it just felt so right.” She concludes by saying that “I know it’s alright when I’m with you.”

Shimmering high synth flares out with a light touch and xylophone notes quickly repeat a bright pattern to start “Cepheus.” Electric guitar sweeps through and smoothly guiding drums accompany a hard-edged bass pulse.

Chimes ring out and warm, slightly fuzzy guitar carries a hopeful melody that sings above the guiding drum and bass flow. Raised, trumpeting synth drifts in a melancholic line before sharply shiny xylophone beautifully mingles with the yearning, dreamy guitar melody.

“London Nights” opens as reverberant, enfolding synth chords with a hint of sharpness echo out and drift along. Fragile notes with a chiming, airy quality spin out arpeggios as broadly calling synth carries an upbeat melody. Rapid bass oscillates and leaping, radiant synths effectively build a feeling of growing anticipation.

Crystalline light pours from a high synth before drums add more shape to the music. Swirling, metallic sounds whisper as lush, breathy arpeggios dance and bass undulates. Steadily supporting drums come in and glowing, medium-high synth carries an uplifting melodic pattern.

Feathery arpeggios keep whirling and bass scuds along to lift the other musical elements.Rippling background synth underpins chimes that ring out with a gentle touch. There’s tenderness in the chiming notes while drums create support and motion. Brightness and peacefulness fill the track.

Heaving drums pulse with a heavy beat and steady metallic percussion adds shape to kick off “Leave Them Behind.” Medium-high, gleaming synth chords rise with positive feelings and string-like synth sings a pleasing melody full of light, ease and life above throbbing weight. A tightly bundled synth carries a melodic pattern that accents the main melody.

Sharply glittering synth arpeggiates to match the dense bass motion. Full synth chords lift the music with lambent glow while weighty bass and guiding drums smoothly pulse. Broadly shining synth carries the relaxing melody while string-like synth flickers in. Drums and bass press onward, accented by the strings and the track fades on the shining melody.

“Black Star Part II” starts off as soothing arpeggios twirl, carried on high, tightly shimmering synth. Deep bass oscillates and drumbeat imbues the track with weight and energy. Medium-high, hazy synth cascades in a shimmering line.

The glimmering synth becomes a melody that beautifully evokes yearning sensations. Arpeggios spin out in diamantine notes that move along with distant, delicate synth and undulating bass flow. The main melody returns to suffuse the track with calm and hints of more painful emotion. The track ends on ticking drums and thick bass.

Conclusion

Black Star is a confluence of strong melodies, lushly layered and interesting synth sounds and a good dose of expression and atmosphere. It represents the evolution and progress of Zak Vortex as a synth-based musician.