Released on: 9th February 2018
This is the future that liberals want: A diverse cast of voices presenting their unqiueness on a single theme or culture. Lightflare is the seventh studio album from the Belgium based Psy’Aviah and is the definition of Futurepop. Spinning on an axis of maudlin and melancholy, this album is a massive attack of sombre trip-hop and down tempo techno focused on thought-provoking verbatim.
As previously mentioned there is a diverse cast of contributors on this album and each vocalist is unique in tone and timbre. This is very important because every song has its own texture and each vocalist compliments their respective song brilliantly. Giving meaning to the lyrics and emphasis to the feelings they inspire. What sets these lyrics apart from examples in other contemporary musics however is their disregard for the immortal game of making a timeless hit. Lightflare is more than just the titular theme here as it’s also the context for the entire album and that context is firmly told in the present.
In electronic music voices transcend lyrics, pipes and vocal chords. As sound production encapsulates more than just the mixing desk Lightflare is composed of more voices than just terrestrial vocals. The tones and flavours; The licks and hits from the leads and pads have a totally organic expression. Where the velocity of each attack on the synthetic sounds mean something more than simple fanfare. There’s humanity hidden behind the machine and that curiosity makes for interesting listening.
As varied in tone as it is in guest singers Lightflare has many aspects that Psy’Aviah explores with valiance. The tracklist beginning with a saccharine approach is soon covered in dark clouds that hold forboding portents of rain where dancing is encouraged but consideration is mandatory. Yet even heavy rain isn’t enough to drown the radiance gleaming from this album. Lightflare is a like journey through alien landscapes with familiar eyes.
9/10
