\n
Klayton Meets Blade Runner<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Scandroid\u2019s debut (2517) was an excellent melding of retro 80\u2019s synth styles with contemporary sound production and storytelling. We were introduced to the robo-humanoids Atom and E.E.V and their struggles to escape human persecution and make it to the underground haven below Neo-Tokyo (\u201cEden\u201d). The saga continues here in Monochrome (2518) as the robots gather, regroup and plan for their survival. Musically, the synthwave\/darkwave electronic soundscapes continue to drive the story forward, although with a much more positive vibe and one totally focused on the protagonists and their growing relationship, as well as the survival of their kind. I can best describe this as a mix of 80\u2019s synthwave intertwined with that eerie\/futuristic sound of the Blade Runner world (Vangelis\/Zimmer). Klayton\u2019s synthesized drums and keys are blissful as they really transport the listener to an \u201coff-world\u201d experience, and one which will undoubtedly take older listeners back to an era when the wonder and excitement of\u00a0 great sci-fi motion pictures ruled the day.<\/span><\/p>\n \n There are essentially 7 lyric tracks here that advance the story, 3 \u201catmospheric\u201d instrumental tracks and then the two remakes of Jackson\u2019s \u201cThriller\u201d along with the remake of \u201cThe Force Theme.\u201d While it sounds a bit dis-congruent, it all fits together extremely well. I wasn\u2019t sure how \u201cThriller\u201d would fit into this mix but the lyrical content of the song and Klayton\u2019s unique approach to remixing it really works well. As he did with \u201cShout\u201d on the debut, he perfectly revitalizes this old tune while simultaneously showing respect to the original. Similarly, \u201cThe Force Theme\u201d is just really special \u2013 you have to hear it to appreciate the care Klayton takes in paying tribute to the original while adding his own signature elements. \u201cAfterglow\u201d and \u201cRendezvous\u201d go together and celebrate the \u201crelationship\u201d of our protagonists in the only sensual moments here, the latter track with an infectious danceable beat. The title track is absolutely killer with its dark and gothic vibe and may be the best track on the album. \u201cA Thousand Years\u201d is another great track with a definite Depeche Mode meets Tears for Fears vibe \u2013 extremely catchy synth and vocal melodies with passionate lyrics. The sleeper track would have to be \u201cThe Veil.\u201d I love this song. It has the pace and intensity of \u201cEmpty Streets\u201d from the debut, but I love how Klayton uses his deeper\/darker vocal tone to convey the importance of the events here chronicled. I love the punchy drums and piercing synths \u2013 just a great song. All 3 of the instrumental tracks are fantastic and they are quite diverse. From the somewhat jazzy \u201cOblivia\u201d to the more surreal \u201cSearching For a Lost Horizon\u201d (this one could have easily landed in the Blade Runner 2049 soundtrack) Klayton outdid himself. These aren\u2019t the usual filler \u201catmospheric\u201d tracks, but instead tracks that can really stand alone as musical compositions. \u201cOn the Face of the Deep\u201d is probably my favorite of the 3 because of its haunting and powerful vibe and its diversity \u2013 simply brilliant.<\/span><\/p>\n \n Although Monochrome doesn\u2019t advance the story chronologically as much as its predecessor, it definitely serves to expand the emotional side of the robot world while simultaneously opening up a broader musical landscape to fans of this retro-80\u2019s synthwave monster that is Scandroid. [F.I.X.T.]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Klayton Meets Blade Runner Scandroid\u2019s debut (2517) was an excellent melding of retro 80\u2019s synth…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1020],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-review"],"yoast_head":"\n