Review Summary: Like tears in rain
Traversing modern music is a daunting task. Amidst the static of fetishized nostalgia, DIY Soundcloud rappers, and the ever-expanding roster of controversial popstars, finding impactful artists can certainly be a challenge. The internet has essentially made the music world infinite, and the accessibility of information has compounded our artistic evolution. Composers now face the challenge of balancing tedious redundancy with unpleasant experimentation. Many fail to stand out from the crowd, while others deliver originality devoid of satisfaction. Yet, if you brave the endless library of styles and sounds, you're bound to discover an artist who perfectly walks the creative line. With "Nocturnal", The Midnight succeed where many have failed, and craft a synth-laden masterpiece of emotion, melody, and creativity.
A great way to describe this album would be "retro-futuristic". While The Midnight clearly draws inspiration from 80s heavyweights such as Tangerine Dream and Depeche Mode, the impactful songwriting and production form a highly unique sonic space. The opening track, "Shadows", sets the stage with the mysterious patter of rain, steady footsteps, and distant sirens. It's a cityscape, and while nothing about this seems directly hostile, there's a palpable melancholic atmosphere stirring. The track then ascends into infectious layers of melodic synth that immediately tug at your heartstrings. You're swallowed whole into the depths of stirring emotion and compositional detail, with lyrics painting a vivid picture of urban heartbreak. The city grows personified as it sews seeds of discord into our hearts, and preys on our deepest vulnerabilities. The chorus adds further dynamics, with vocals awash in vocoder effects and the sudden introduction of a female voice. Could she be our grieving protagonist's former lover? We may never TRULY know, but these intriguing details form an otherworldly listening experience that caresses every inch of the soul. From the intro's waterfront tragedy, to the outro's mournful cries of saxophone, it's the perfect introduction to the record.
On a majestic trajectory, the album continues down a path of seductive grandeur with "Crystalline". The track pairs soaring guitar licks with sensual pulsating key patterns and a chorus of screaming saxophone. It's a daring, compelling, highly-provocative song that wouldn't sound out of place in the Risky Business soundtrack. Rather than a somber ballad of heartbreak, the mood and lyrics tell a more foreboding story. It builds a very slick wall of sound, with every compositional brick laid with the utmost precision. We're reminded in stylized fashion to be weary of the night and be cautious about who we let into our lives. It's these little expeditions into unprecedented territory that keep you on your toes. They never feel unwarranted or gratuitous, and they are among the many artistic choices that make Nocturnal so special.
While every track offers an array of pleasantries, the crowning achievement is "Collateral". It's a bone-chilling display of spellbinding style that will seduce you to your core. We're greeted with a steady undercurrent of warm synth and thematic rainfall. The textures contort and entwine, forming a steady beat before receding under a soothing saxophone solo. A shotgun pumps as the sax wails with passion, before a breathtaking guitar solo takes the forefront. The leads are transcendent, taking us beyond the pain of lost love, until the sax guides us home and into the rain again. It's a masterful blend of 80s synth tropes and modern flair. A master work of The Midnight's greatest strengths. And, above all, an essential listen.
Although there are ebbs and flows of various themes throughout the record, The Midnight primarily drive home the issues of emotional distress and heartbreak. The thematic trinity of "Shadows", "River of Darkness", and "Light Years" portrays our world being shattered, the inevitable grief that comes with it, and the brutal difficulty of putting ourselves back together. "Light Years" is arguably the most poignant of the three, as it unveils the gut-wrenching scene of two former lovers calling out to each other. We hear a man and a woman, yet they never duet since they are light years away. It feels incredibly personal, and although the track is undeniably tragic, the instrumental accompaniment injects a lot of promise for these two characters. We're reminded this isn't the end, and as time moves on, so will they. We then get one more venture into hopefulness, as the hypnotic instrumental "Tokyo Night Train" closes the album much like slipping into a deep sleep.
In all, Nocturnal is essentially a perfect album. The themes are well thought-out, the song structures and production are immaculate, and the sound precisely balances homage with innovation. I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone dealing with personal issues like a bad breakup, bereavement, stress, depression, etc. This record has been a dear friend of mine through many years of trial and tribulation, and I will cherish it until the day I die. Like tears in rain, we all shall fade, but art such as this should be enjoyed while we’re here. Do yourselves a favor and check this one out.
