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Francis Vace – Fading | Rock

Francis Vace was out of action a little when it comes to music over the last year or two compared to his regular output, but recently he’s hopped back on the release train with a plethora of awesome tracks that now make up this newly released album, Fading. There’s plenty to enjoy throughout this thoroughly cohesive experience, as it blends elements of pop, punk and electronica into a wonderful rock experience. There’s also support from collaborators too with features from TCB, Koa, Luck Rock, Jade Kelly and Scoonie. The consistency in feeling between all the tracks in the album driven most pointedly by the tone of guitars across tracks helps to make it a thoroughly cohesive experience, but with the help of the other collaborators there’s also more than enough variety to keep things interesting the whole way through.

(Some song recaps after the break)

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SOUND BANDIT – break the cycle / sleepless nights ft. Fetlocked | Hyperpop / Breakcore

Sound Bandit and Fetlocked have teamed up to create a masterpiece! The signature hyperpop-esque vocals with a fast and chaotic breakbeat rhythm while still reigning in that energy with a soothing, beautiful melody leads to an interesting melancholic experience! Break the Cycle / Sleepless Nights somehow gets the blood pumping while managing an atmosphere where the listener can just lean back on a rooftop in retrospect. The Fluttershy vocal chops in the breakdown just add to the overall ambience of this relaxed, yet restless piece. Perfect for a sleepless night.

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Nyancat380 – The Brightness | Prog / Electronic Rock

From “Methodic Ways To Break A Mind” this song ironically feels quite dark and tense. “The Brightness” is a riddle of sorts themed around Rainbow Dash, with hints sprinkled throughout for the album’s theme, plus there is an outstanding lyric video accompanying it! The tension and mystery is laid out with fast paced guitar riffs and hauntingly beautiful vocaloid lines. Cold, methodical, and chant-like, everything about this track grabs your attention and doesn’t let go! The chorus is heavily addicting and I guarantee your thoughts will be provoked by the poem that Nyancat380 has laid out.

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Whirlwind – Skybound | Chillout / Dubstep

This one is quite an airy one! Inspired by ‘Tanks For The Memories’, there’s quite a bit of interesting mixes and mashes here. Ambient flowing pianos and rising and falling ambiance with crystal clear melodies really give off an ethereal feel to the choppy and glitched vocals that adorn this track! Whirlwind even incorporates some old-school dubstep growls halfway through to breakup the relative calm with a burst of unexpected, yet not unwelcome energy. A fun track not afraid to experiment, Whirlwind’s first song of 2022 starts the year on a high note!

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Ocean Melody – Ethereal Walk | Orchestral

Ethereal Walk comes out of the gate with a rich and wide sound. A soothing melody of a string ensemble and subtle intricacies with chimes cutting through with little supporting harmonies. There is a relaxing air to the piece which does a great job telling its own story. It’s not too dramatic and not too subtle – it’s balanced. Overall, Ethereal Walk really is a relaxing journey.

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Radiarc – In these brief moments | Hybrid Orchestral

Radiarc’s unparalleled attention to deep atmospherics is on show in practically every track he creates, and it’s always a pleasure to be able to enjoy them. This piece has many of the qualities that help make his music stand out, from subtle piano and accentuated strings to gentle vocalised sounds and interesting hybrid percussion shifting between softer and more franctic sections that help to differentiate the energy throughout the track and create a feeling like you’re being given a peek into the artist’s psyche.

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Violin Melody – Popcorn | Drum & Bass

Violin Melody’s upcoming SWAN album has been in the works for a long time, but she’s been releasing tracks that will feature on it periodically and this one is a bit of branching out from her usual house style. With energetic drum & bass percussion, light synths and vocal sounds some heavy scream energy transitions between sections to add a touch of chaos to the track, worthy of the discordant theming.

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Jyc Row – An Army of Fire and Gold (The Molten) | Orchestral

Once again, Jyc brings the heat (stop booing me) for the latest installment in his soundtrack for the Infinite Eclipse prequel. Ominous choirs and spiccato strings carry the melodies in this song through tempo changes, constantly building towards the climax. Definitely worth a listen if you’re into epic fantasy soundtracks!

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Blackened Blue – Another Magical Song | Metal

Blackened Blue’s metal is always a treat, and this piece is full of all the energy one might expect. Starting out with aggressive vocals that launch into a heavy metal instrumental, the power doesn’t let up throughout the track with plenty of blast beats and aggressive guitar riffs. The track itself is about Twilight’s rage at Sunny unlocking magic to the ponies of Equestria in the G5 movie – an interesting concept for sure!

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PHES – Somepony To Cry With | French House

PHES’ focus on french house often results in some exceptionally groovy tunes, and this piece is no exeption. Featuring a combination of pony vocal chops from Equestria Girls and sampling from The Rah Band’s Tears and Rain, there’s a mellow atmosphere throughout the track that’s perfect for getting into a good vibe with.