'You & Me = Forever' is available on Bandcamp : https://zakvortex.bandcamp.com/album/you-me-forever
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Zak Vortex’s You & Me = Forever is full of a deep sense of affection and nostalgia as it unfurls in a textured, intensely interwoven synth exploration. Zak Vortex works in a palette of touching melodies, ear-pleasing synth sounds and a rhythmic richness as he carries listeners on this expressive journey.
Emotional depth is at the centre of You & Me = Forever and its melodic content. Zak Vortex writes melodies that cut deeply into the realm of the heart. There are moments of delicacy, tenderness and aching emotion woven into the fabric of each melody as it unfolds. I am drawn to the vulnerability in the music here.
The way in which synths interact on You & Me = Forever creates a beautifully luminous sonic tapestry. The way in which the various synth sounds work in unison gives all the elements an airiness and gentle warmth that is hard to resist. I feel that quality only adds to the heart-touching feelings throughout the album.
Powerful bass and active, retro-sounding drums combine to provide rich support underneath the other musical elements. The way in which they knit everything together adds compelling shape and motion to the album as it evolves.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“The Final Call” comes to life as it grows out of mistily intertwining synth while flickering chimes sparkle lightly and thudding drums throb above lush bass. Flaring chimes twinkle as rounded, medium-high synth carries a dreaming, hurting melodic line.
Guitar with a touchingly heart-tugging ache cries out with pained feeling above throbbing drums and bass. Chimes shimmer in the distance, adding starry glint to the track. The drums grow light as a bell-like synth carries a wistful and dreamy melody above the low end motion.
In the distance, soft-edged notes add tranquillity while a repeating, gliding synth undulates. The impassioned guitar cries again, hurting and tinged with lost hope, before the track fades on flitting chimes and bell-like synth.
Ethereal voices flow, repeating chanted vowels, as razor-edged, pulsing bass forms a giant underpinning for “I Need You.” Liquid, caramel synth warmly entangles as shimmering chimes ring out with aching luminosity above the huge low end.
Retro drums with a hefty sound burst in as tranquil arpeggios bring a wonderfully peaceful feeling into the track. The vocal flow has an airy lightness to it as muscled bass undulates. Colossal drums shape the music while radiant notes glimmer. Chimes with a glassy purity ring out, carrying a melancholy melody with a deep sense of yearning.
The solidly punching beat moves as choral voices trail in again with silken breath. Guitar winds out in a deeply emotive melody, full of a palpable and visceral need above the colossal drums and heavy bass far below. The guitar trails off into breathy voices as bass throbs and fragile sound fills the background.
The main melody winds in again, catching me in its touching flow and filing me with longing. Crystalline brilliance pours from ringing notes that call out as the guitar comes in again, sobbing with intense feeling. The music ends on the gargantuan bass pulsation with which it began.
“Please Don’t Go” opens as diaphanous synth trails above oscillating bass and bursting drums. Light fills a delicately floating synth above heavy bass and pulsing drums while metallic notes create flickering ripples. Chimes carry the tender, touching melody above the skipping low end.
Radiance fills the background synth as it spins and the chimes have a fragile touch above the weighty low end. Guitar calls with a gruff tone, expressing pained yearning with real conviction. Drums and bass push forward and chimes flutter actively.
A round-sounding synth pattern repeats with a hypnotic quality while the low end urges the music on. Guitar moves in again, its gruff-edged tones capturing melancholy feeling before the track ends on lightly glistening chimes.
Expansive synth slowly climbs as pure, sharp chimes ring out in a dreamy flow above lush bass to start “You And Me = Forever.” Giant drums create power as shining chimes carry the melody that fills me with wistful and heartfelt emotion. Rippling, broad notes tremble below the cleanly glowing chimes as rich bass slips out below.
Softer-edged sounds create calm while the huge drumbeat guides the track as bass creates deep pools. Medium-high, illuminating chimes carry a hoping, dreaming melody as the drums fade away. Bass lifts up gruffly slipping synth chords before fading to quiet.
“Better Times” starts as flashing keyboard chords with a metallic sound are joined by the warm, reedy sax that cries out with intense feeling. The sax melody tugs hard at my heartstrings as it calls out and smoothly intertwining synth is radiant around it.
Weighty retro drums punch in to shape the music and effulgent synth slides. Now the sax is let loose again, the melody it carries affectionate and nostalgic, while drums throb and metallic notes add luminosity. I find myself touched by the emotional punch of the slightly rough-edged sax sound as it unwinds in jazzy lines.
As the sax soars out, the low end adds motion and solar light pours from string-like synth as it entangles. Distant notes create uplift and the sax climbs into the track and howls out with piercing emotion that carries the song forward until a conclusion.
Reverberating, lambent synth drifts slowly downward to open “Snow Angel.” Choral synth with a breathy flow carries a gossamer melodic line and heavy bass moves along with crisp drums. Flaring light emanates from trembling synth and soaks the entire track.
Medium-high, glimmering synth carries a hopeful melody, imbued with peaceful tenderness. Arpeggios dance in circular motion as vibrating synth flits out and bass pulsates. Full-sounding synth drifts charmingly down like fresh snow as sparkling arpeggios spin and bells jingle in the background.
Medium-high, round-sounding synth drops like straggling snowflakes from the sky. Bells with glassy brightness sing out a melody full of gentleness and kindly feeling as huge drums throb. Shimmering synth tumbles down above bass spreading fully below as the track ends.
Conclusion
You & Me = Forever bursts with touching emotion and passionate affection, along with a degree of melancholy and loss to add more depth. Zak Vortex creates strong feelings within me as he unfurls his sonic storytelling.