Starcadian’s new album, “Saturdaze,” is an homage to
Saturday morning TV, but that’s just where this collection of music begins.
This album’s intensity is not to be trifled with! The beats kick and run free;
these are all songs you could tear up a dance floor to. The real gem, however,
is the layers of instrumentation and FX. The whole album lifts you up, with
never a dull moment. “Saturdaze” keeps you on the plateau.
Saturday morning TV, but that’s just where this collection of music begins.
This album’s intensity is not to be trifled with! The beats kick and run free;
these are all songs you could tear up a dance floor to. The real gem, however,
is the layers of instrumentation and FX. The whole album lifts you up, with
never a dull moment. “Saturdaze” keeps you on the plateau.
“Ultralove” launches us forward at a decent pace, only for
“Dance Or Die” to throw us into breakneck speeds. The beats kill, compelling
you to move your body. There is no escape; the drums hit you and it’s
unstoppable. The high end is nice and clean, with a gleaming and surprisingly
modern edge to the instrumentation that doesn’t shave anything off the retro
feel. “Money” is a darker, mid-paced track that nonetheless builds well and
creates its own excitement. More crisp synth and sampling, with a lot of great
vocoder work. Things pick up again, and
heavily so, with “Alien Victory,” a superb track and possibly my favorite on
the album. It is full of energy and triumph, and again compels you to tap your
foot (or more, if you’re not sitting down at a keyboard). Midway through, it
explodes into a wordless anthem, a victory march without words. It is truly
exceptional, full of heart. “Entoptica” cools us back down, but trust me, there
is nothing boring here. Rich, layered sound and a steady, walking beat drive us
gracefully into the album’s final track, “Heart.” Beginning with a thump
similar to that of the namesake organ, it comes in with soft, golden tones to
lend a tasteful and memorable end to the album. One could even imagine it as
the end credit music for a wonderful cinematic story, complete with soft sunset
shot. More excellent voice work on “Heart” as well.
“Dance Or Die” to throw us into breakneck speeds. The beats kill, compelling
you to move your body. There is no escape; the drums hit you and it’s
unstoppable. The high end is nice and clean, with a gleaming and surprisingly
modern edge to the instrumentation that doesn’t shave anything off the retro
feel. “Money” is a darker, mid-paced track that nonetheless builds well and
creates its own excitement. More crisp synth and sampling, with a lot of great
vocoder work. Things pick up again, and
heavily so, with “Alien Victory,” a superb track and possibly my favorite on
the album. It is full of energy and triumph, and again compels you to tap your
foot (or more, if you’re not sitting down at a keyboard). Midway through, it
explodes into a wordless anthem, a victory march without words. It is truly
exceptional, full of heart. “Entoptica” cools us back down, but trust me, there
is nothing boring here. Rich, layered sound and a steady, walking beat drive us
gracefully into the album’s final track, “Heart.” Beginning with a thump
similar to that of the namesake organ, it comes in with soft, golden tones to
lend a tasteful and memorable end to the album. One could even imagine it as
the end credit music for a wonderful cinematic story, complete with soft sunset
shot. More excellent voice work on “Heart” as well.
“Saturdaze” injects a bit of modern sound into retrowave,
and Starcadian has done this more tastefully than imagination itself could
conceive. Both an excellent follow-up to “Sunset Blood” and a majestic work on
its own merit, “Saturdaze” is worth listening to, front to back, beginning to
end.
and Starcadian has done this more tastefully than imagination itself could
conceive. Both an excellent follow-up to “Sunset Blood” and a majestic work on
its own merit, “Saturdaze” is worth listening to, front to back, beginning to
end.
