By Keith Walsh
Classic synthpop runs through the sound of BlakLight’s new album. The duo’s second release Into The Void features darkly melodic, beat-heavy electronica using ‘inside the box’ synths and drumbeats.
Adam Collier does the synths and programming, while Brian Belknap delivers vocals, though it was done remotely in 2020 and 2021 and the two didn’t see each other in person until last week. Lyrically, the songs are playful, conflating the end of the universe with the end of a relationship. Themes covered included alienation, the distance between us, and the end of existence.
The programming and playing of Collier is efficient an effective, and Belknap’s voice serves the music well. There’s lots of commercial appeal in the project, but it was also a labor of love. As Collier explains: “The music is done all by myself in my home studio. Brian writes all of the lyrics and melodies. I find that this project has been very liberating for me. Brian and my musical tastes are very similar so the writing is very easy.”
The audio is crystal clear, recorded using all virtual synths and drums. For their upcoming live shows, BlakLight will be a duo. Collier explains, “I have my Mac, M Audio keyboard controller, Scarlett audio interface and mixer.” For the studio work, Collier says he uses the following VSTs: “Ana Synth2, Hive, Sylenth, Massive, Element, and Serum.” Collier uses Logic Pro as his DAW.
As Belknap explains about the recording process: “I recorded my vocals in North Hollywood, California, using Reaper on the floor of our kid’s playroom in between work and family life.” As Collier handles the instrumentation, Belknap expands on the concepts with lyrics and vocal melodies. Belknap said “Adam writes and records the music then sends me instrumental files to create some vocal melodies, add some words and my voice.”
With rapid triggered synth bass on most songs, along with washes of synth strings and hypnotic beats, the music of BlakLight is very much reminiscent of mid 80s synthpop, both sonically and lyrically. The sound is akin to Depeche Mode at times, as well as Erasure, the Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran, and Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark. Highly recommended tracks are “Reset,” and “World.”
Other projects of this talented duo include Mind Machine (Belknap) and Crush333, MDA, and Full Frontal Disco (Collier). Check out last year’s debut album by BlakLight, Music In A Time Of Uncertainty, below.
BlakLight Links
BlakLight Bandcamp
BlakLight on Facebook
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