A Dark And Synth-Driven New Single from CØLDSTAR
Listening to the new single from CØLDSTAR gives me all kinds of bouts of nostalgia, as they managed to really pull together this amazingly classic underground late '90s blend of darkwave, post-punk, new wave, and more, all rolled into a sort of post-apocalyptic and ever-so-slightly Gothic aesthetic and delivered with such a heavy-handed mood that you end up just getting engulfed by the entire thing.
"Last Night On Earth" is defined by its synth work, but also has a bit of drive to it. The beat is cutting and thick, simply because it's got a massive kick drum and a snare that's drenched in reverb effect. This really gives the song a very vast and cinematic undertone, but it's not the only thing that helps accomplish the soundscape they're going for.
Now, the synthesizers and keys are layered in a brilliant way. You have synth pads that float through the background of the song, developing this ether that you have to sort of swim through. This also most definitely adds to the expansive and spacious atmosphere the song displays.
There are more synths that deliver catchy sort of melodies that do have a little bit of color to them, but are still a little edgy and dark.
The bass line is delivered with very deep tonality. This really adds a bit more depth to the song, showcasing how these guys are able to layer synthesizers to create certain textures, and all of that helps you get swallowed up.
Earlier, I mentioned it felt post-apocalyptic. That's not just because of the neon-drenched digital soundscape of this single, but also because of the lyrics.
First of all, before we get into that, the vocals are performed with really deep tones and catchy melodies that follow some of the synthesizer melodies and drill those hooks into your head really well.
You end up humming parts of this song hours after it's ended. There's something about it that sticks with you, but there's also something about it that puts you in the moment with the song itself.
To me, the vocals are almost like another instrument. It adds a bit of a different tone to this already rich soundscape, and I love how the synths and the vocals complement each other so well.
So, lyrically, the song is actually kind of post-apocalyptic. It's about the last days on Earth. The song gets descriptive, talking about cities burning, ghosts and freezing black skies, and talks about synthetic air.
Quite a dark future indeed, and I love how descriptive and detailed everything is. He really paints a picture in your head as the song unfolds. I found that to be something that showcases character.
The cool thing is that the song itself delivers such a mood for those lyrics. It all lines up amazingly, almost like puzzle pieces.
Of course, it is very filmic. It's not just about the vast underbelly of everything, but also the dark overtones, the way you sort of float alongside everything, and how, once again, you are able to envision the things that are being sung about.
This is a melodically thriving piece of work, and there was a lot of thought that went into the arrangement, how the song would play through, and how it actually builds up to these big thematic, almost score-like segments.
By the time you get to the end of the song, everything is in full swing. It's just massive and sonically invasive, but still has this great futuristic but nostalgic sensation.
A lot of those synths give off some colorful and flavorful melodies, and I like how they're not afraid to give some of that hint of brightness amongst all the darkness.
They wanted to make the song danceable, and it certainly is. As I said earlier, it mixes in a little hint of new wave, with the darkwave and the post-punk elements really well.
They managed to balance those genres out and blend them together in such a seamless fashion.
By the end of the track, it's all over. The Earth is gone; you are no longer, I am no longer.
So it kind of goes full circle. It brings you all the way to the very end. The last breath.
Such a cool concept and really portrayed with a great love for the craft.
This was pretty massive, and it had a way of sort of swirling around you, sucking you into its storyline and a whole vibe, and by the time it's over, you have to snap yourself out of it.
This track was like watching a scene from a movie. As I said, it stays with you. It's a little haunting, a bit eerie, and I feel like these guys completely hit exactly what they were going for.
I would listen to this track with headphones on because it's one of the best ways to soak in all of those tones and textures that are sort of floating around you.
Whatever you do, do not miss this because it's really good, and if you grew up listening to darkwave, New Wave, post-punk, or any kind of synth-driven music, you should definitely check it out.
So, take a deep dive into this track right now, and remember where you heard it first.
Website: https://coldstar.ch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coldstarmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coldstarmusic
Bandcamp: https://coldstarmusic.bandcamp.com
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