"Takeoff" - The Orb of Night

While only being 20 mins long, this project feels like it should have been even shorter.

Takeoff is an EDM/Dubstep album with 8 songs and each song ranging from 1 min to 3 mins. The album begins with the song DOUSE which is a mix of the words "Dubstep" and "House". DOUSE was released as a single first on march 17th and the track feels like one of the most complete tracks off this album. The song has a good amount of changes to keep it interesting all the way through. It has this vocal loop that very much fits on an EDM track with a beat drop that I can imagine working well in a club setting. I think the "and the bass keep knocking like" vocal coming in like 1 beat over doesn't really sit well with me personally. If it came in a bit sooner then it would have been bettter but that's a nit pick (I don't like things going 1 beat over the expected drop lol)

Swimming In Space is the first song that really overstays it's welcome. This 4 bar melody loops for 3:12 mins and after 1 min I was already so sick of it but then it just kept going, especially at the end after the 2:32 the song stopped changing and it was just a loop for almost 40 seconds. What would have made this song so much better would be if it had had a breakdown. stripped away most of the instruments, leaving just the bass or just the synth, just something cause it was just the same loop for 40 seconds and you get tired of the melody after the 10th time you hear it and then there's 20 more left.

Elevator (Interlude) is a nice change of pace and acts as sort of a break from the loud EDM music or at least that's what it starts as but then it goes wacky mode! It starts off with this swinging beat and plucky synth that's nice on the ears but then it suddenly changes speed and this bass goes completely off key. This bass going off key could sound great and spooky with the right instrumentation along side it but it doesn't have that. The bass doesn't hit cause it's too high to even compete with the kick. If the bass was low and shook the room and the plucky key went away and was replaced with sounds that fit, it would be great but also, it could have just stayed as this nice break from the action, a moment to sit down and smell the flowers with that nice beginning being extended to fit that vibe.

Starstruck is a song that production wise is fine with interesting bass sounds, a huge sounding synth and interesting build ups but where it falls flat is with it's drop. The track sadly gets affected by the problem of structuring and overstaying it's welcome with not enough changes to keep it from sounding repetitive. Once the drop comes it doesn't change for those 16 bars which leaves much to be desired. if it changed up at the 8 bar mark it would be great but with no changes for 16 bars, you start to wait for that part to end so you can get something new and once it stays for more than 8 bars you start losing patience. All that was needed was maybe a new lead melody to join in after 8 bars or for it to just stop at 8 bars and go back to the "Verse" or the build up to the next drop

Now we finally get to my favorite songs off this album

Together is a nice track with this great chord progression, pretty bell's and it doesn't overstay it's welcome. The only thing I would have cut would be that harsh lead in the drop and rather have something more fitting of it's cuter theme. All in all though i'd say this is the first song off the album I don't have many gripes with. the production is great, the structure isn't off and I love the chords.

Goodbye For Now is another track I really enjoy off the record with it's pretty piano, keyboard, strings and lofi beat. This track is just a genuinely nice listen. It does also stay still for around 16 bars but since it's not a loud looping melody it doesn't feel so bad to listen to it for so long. It's probably the most flawless track off the album in my opinion and I could see it being added to lo-fi playlists cause it's a well made lo-fi track.

QWERTYUIOP (Bonus Track) is an intense song that screams in your face with these loud synths, basses and i can imagine if I heard this while I had a headache I would actually die, like 100% this is a dangerous song for people with headaches lol. The track is very interesting though and although I don't see myself listening to this track, I do like the dark undertones of the sounds and the variety of the sounds.

all in all, I think this album is flawed but if The Orb of Night worked on structuring they're songs better and letting moments end at 8 bars instead of leaving them on loop for double the preferred time, I think the next album could be a great! Production is great, everything sounds clear, reverb doesn't overtake the other instruments, Together and Goodbye for now are great tracks and I hope the next album has more tracks that I like.

4/10

Favorites: Together Goodbye For Now

Least favorites: Starstruck Swimming In Space elevator (Second Part)

(This review was written on March 31st, 2023)