Azakaela - "Caught in the Static" (feat. ED Effects) (Song Review)
“Caught in the Static” from Azakaela (featuring ED Effects), is both a song and an unintentional culmination of many things that I adore, especially when it comes to electronic dance music, gaming soundtracks, and sci-fi movie scores. It’s a piece from their most recent album, Signal, which is their 32nd record thus far - and it seems as if all of the effort put into writing those releases, alongside output related to video games, podcasts and films is really paying off.
The intro to this tune consists of otherworldly synth pads, low-end oscillations, a general cinematic ambience, and an uncertain pulse around the stereo field that make you think “What have I gotten myself into? Am I in a machine?” - Suddenly, you hear the words “Now entering the cyberflow”, with textures moving around the headphones, coupled with a subtle build that inevitably enters into a wondrous lead sequencer pattern, which is then followed by quarter-note drum grooves and acid stabs that sit sweetly within the ether. It’s so smooth that you don’t realize it's sucking you in. It’s really clever, with slick transitions throughout.
Azakaela’s voice sits neatly in the glued mix, with clever note choices and lead melodies featured within several distinct sections. Part of what is so interesting about the vocals is the juxtaposition in regards to the lush reverb on the fx chains - they’re misty sounding, but still allow for an unexpected amount of presence and clarity within the arrangement.
In terms of the accompanying instruments, there’s a lot of color, note and chord-wise within the piece - the way that the different pads, sequencers, basslines and vocal leads interact with each other are wonderful. The drums keep pushing us forward, and everything seems purposeful.
Another noteworthy mention is the return to spoken narration in the middle 3rd, with lines like “you’re caught in the static - don’t drift away” being the icing on the EDM cake. It really feels like it’s trying to tell a story, and be more than just a well-produced dance track. Having distinct alternate leads (sung vs spoken parts) is also a plus.
Structurally, everything is niched neatly together, with plenty of time and space to savor all the individual elements; this shows a fundamental understanding of what’s required to make music within this genre and style (whilst making it their own).
The ending of the track, with “Please tell the ones I know that after all is said and done, I am not a hero”, at face value, sounds sad. However, one could argue that it shows a progression through getting lost in the static, one where we actually find out who we are. Ultimately, this means that we not only get a cool sounding tune to groove along to; we also have music that encourages us to also consider our own journeys through the digital landscape, whether literal or figurative, and ponder whether we’d feel the same. Well played!
SOCIAL LINKS:
- Bandcamp: https://azakaela.bandcamp.com/album/signal