PALINDRONES - Abraxas & The Brightling Star

Written by Vero Kitsuné

UK-based electronica and wonder duo Palindrones unveiled their captivating and effervescent double single Abraxas and The Brightling Star.

Abraxas, from their third album Chapter Two: The Slender Blade, is a sparkling collision of synthpop, electronica, and modern drum & bass, with subtle hints of jungle rhythms threading through soaring, doe-eyed vocals. The track itself is a masterclass in sonic duality: blissful melodies weave above brutal, distorted breakcore beats, conjuring a space where chaos and harmony coexist. The accompanying music video, filmed in the enigmatic Chislehurst Caves, amplifies this vision, blending light and shadow with trippy, fragmented animation that mirrors the track’s balance of serenity and volatility. Abraxas is a ritualistic journey through creation and destruction, a vivid testament to Palindrones’ wondrous approach to sound.

Its companion piece, The Brightling Star, expands the sonic palette further, introducing hypnotic techno and trance elements alongside tantric synths, trance-driven crescendos and a starry-eyed performance. From smoldering, chaotic beginnings, the track gradually coalesces into euphoric unity, culminating in the mantra: “The Two, Become the Many, Become the One.” The video, featuring live performances across the UK, captures the ecstatic exchange between audience and duo, emphasizing the music’s communal heartbeat. Together, these tracks showcase Palindrones’ mastery of tension and release against cosmic atmospheres, leaving listeners immersed in both sonic wonder and emotional catharsis.

With their music and performances, Palindrones resurrect the raw energy of old school London rave scenes.

For more Palindrones, visit https://palindronesofficial.bandcamp.com/

Synth Single Review: “Doomsday” by Revert Disk

by Karl Magi

Revert Disk’s “Doomsday” is full of grit, shadow and danger. The track comes to life as a rushing sound echoes and soft scratching moves with computerized noises. In the distance, empty bass drifts and a tripping sound moves with ominous narration, capturing desolation and threat. The rumbling foundations thunder as the dark voice is joined by battering beats.

After a momentary pause, the beat begins to throb heavily, full of deadly intent, thumping while the drums add sharp energy. The rebounding bass is joined by hollow sounds that flicker and fade, creating a hypnotic pattern. Metallic tones move with a threatening feeling and the hard-hitting vocal sounds add a sense of impending terror.

Tapping sounds move with fulminating tones that grind through the music. The charging underlayer rattles forward, and twisting sounds writhe in tortured motion. A sense of growing menace permeates the music as the floating sounds slice hard and the voiceover adds tension. The bottom end surges forward with fierce dynamism and the drums speed again as bending sounds contort and silence falls.

Synth Single Review: “Quiet Life” by Stacy Gabriel

by Karl Magi

Stacy Gabriel’s “Quiet Life” is a reflection on the joys of solitude and silence. The track starts with easily flowing notes trickling in a fine filigree as the drums come in with a pattering softness. The lead synth has a diaphanous flow as it carries a melody which radiates soothing peace. The drums are clean as echoing tones twist in gliding motion and female vocals reverberate tenderly. A slightly gruff synth floats with a melody that is mellow and laid back, full of the relaxation that permeates a quiet day. I am able to let go of the stress of the world and melt into this music.

The crisp drums create a shaping rhythm as the open-voiced synth slips past like windborne flower petals. Undulating underpinnings add weight before the airy-sounding tones carry the serene melody as it moves like a zephyr. A metallic synth exhales with tranquility as the quickly dancing beat adds forward motion. Panpipes breathe out with pure, blue feelings as vocal-like sounds float. The track moves on rippling arpeggios, oscillating bass and thoughtful emotions as it comes to an end.

Synth EP Review: NEW GODS by Electric Seagulls

by Karl Magi

Electric Seagulls’ NEW GODS is a fearsome cyberpunk journey that rips through the darkness of digital pathways. It tells the story of a world dominated by God-like artificial intelligence as human beings struggle to survive and adapt to living with it. 

“MAYHEM” begins as an irradiated glow spreads outward while sharp sounds cut with clear precision. An evenly pulsing rhythmic beat establishes itself as colossal bass grows with threatening power. Above the growling weight, glistening tones flash with electronic luminosity before the beat erupts with ferocious strength. Deadly guitar towers with ominous intent, looming over the music with snarling presence, while the drum beat explodes in tripping motion. 

Elevated notes cry out with horror as the background seethes ferociously and the rhythm speeds with destructive inevitability. The lead synth melody is full of triumphant darkness, rampantly rising above the rushing heaviness that rockets through below. The high notes shine with majestic strength while swirling in minor-key shadow as the towering weight rises again. The foundational heartbeat is crushing while the guitar growls with ripping precision and the bass is like a living thing. 

The underpinnings burst with barely contained force as elevated tones add nervousness and tension. Trickling, tumbling synth spills like oily blood while the drums smash. I feel the terror growing before the illuminated synth carries a victorious melody tinged by evil. There is both opportunity and threat within the music as the song slowly drifts to an end with a caressing touch.

Enigmatically hovering notes revolve as crushing bass trembles and a sense of fear permeates the music to open “NEW GODS.” Arpeggios add growing apprehension while the glistening notes broadcast gentle shadows. The heaving rhythm propels the track as lively, luminous notes drift and strings keen with a painful emotional touch. 

Broadly floating tones convey the expansive weight of the landscape while a whispering sound floats with portentous emotion. Richly intertwining notes fill the background as the battering drums move with the huge beat. A waiting threat lurks in the music as the arpeggios twirl with metallic brightness, capturing haunting strength. 

The shimmering background adds to the sense of magical technology while a brass section cries out with victorious intent. I enjoy the immense energy that mingles with the ghosts in the music, painting a picture of terrifying beings born out of digital space. Cascading, shining notes descend through the music while the strings ripple and sing with melancholy effulgence as the track closes in a veil of shadows.

“RAINWAVED” commences as the pouring rain is joined by broadly reverberant notes that slowly wander. An uneven, colossal bass rhythm establishes itself as the clattering drums move with electric piano that echoes with touching gentleness. The wide-sounding synth matches the drums with a broadly shifting pattern, hypnotic and thoughtful.

Glassy tones skip quickly as the heaving bottom end adds lush weight, the xylophone-like notes matching the sound of rain. The strings wash in with a darkly shaded, tenderly broken melody as the militaristic beat pulsates strongly. The synth shifts with ghostly melancholy while the background notes shine like rain-soaked pavement.

The drums fade as the bass unevenly shifts and then the gigantic drums clip sharply as the rain continues to pour. As the broad-sounding synth moves in trance-inducing patterns, the xylophone twinkles again like raindrops against a window.

Rattling sounds move as wildly leaping notes squiggle through the music with minor-key shadow, bending and madly flying. Chaotic, digital energy fills the solo as the marching beat hits hard again. In the background, spectrally hurting notes rise and the rhythmic heartbeat goes on.

Glimmering strings wash like the storm cleaning the filthy streets, filling the air briefly with freshness. As the repeating pattern intertwines with vocal sounds, the xylophone trickles into silence.

Threatening bass echoes in long lines as an ominous vibration pierces the air to start “WIRES.” Shadows seethe before a ferocious synth saws with jagged edges, full of danger as the low end swells with unhallowed force. Worshipful notes contrast with slashing darkness as a steadily oscillating rhythm wobbles underneath. 

Dramatic strings capture portentous forces surging below. Ticking drums join raging, tearing tones that expand like fangs. The entire track trembles with hungry, dangerous sensations that permeate the creaking synth and driving beat. Laser-like tones reflect technological forces beyond control while the heavy bottom end is torn by angry resonance. 

Fear grips me as the track unfolds, glittering notes sliding above the rising horror. The bass crawls with dread while twisting higher tones warn like tendrils of shadowed energy. The underpinnings pulse with inevitability as the track reaches its end.

“NEW ORDER” comes to life as colliding drums explode and tender shadow sweeps while the oscillating bass marches in uneven lines. The drifting notes in the background have a haunted lightness as the erupting bass snarls with unbelievable pressure, and the rhythm is broken by splashing cymbals. Reverent synth hovers above the smoothly guiding underlayer as the heavier sounds rumble.

A sense of possibility leavens the heavy weight, filling me with a feeling of potential despite the danger. Quickly sparkling notes intertwine as the bass drops away for a moment while a glowing synth echoes. The thunderous underpinnings shift as the quickly twirling, elevated sounds add anticipation.

After the cymbals clash again, an extended synth sound moves with piano chords that are feverishly bright before the towering low end rises. Orchestral strings call out with twisted, gnarled sensations above the nervous piano, adding the more threatening side of the equation to the music.

Drifting sounds reverberate before the rapidly shining notes tumble over each other, and the rhythm continues to pulse slowly. The contrast between weight and tenderness, shadow and light is intense before the track glides to an end.