Dearest gentle reader and music lovers worldwide let’s welcome Leo Arams-dawn. “Megastructure”, his new album out on the 16th of August, is something he hopes to be a little bit different. It’s a concept album that doesn’t sacrifice quality songwriting. It’s a “progressive pop” album, giving you instrumental virtuosity and soaring arrangements without compromising on catchiness and enjoyability. Let’s talk more about it
The first song is called “Intro” The song opens with the repeating the line “You the streetlights, turning on? which is mixed with lively piano sounds and a very captivating drum thrum. This song is unlike anything you’ve ever heard. This song paves the way for this one-of-a-kind musical trip which is this album
Next is a song called “Pluto”. The song opens with a delicate guitar sound fused with a flute sound which are fused together but not outshining each other. The song songs introduces a persona who describes the way his or her partner makes her feel” Hearts will feel alive, you make me feel like Pluto, never giving up”) The song shape-shifts throughout. Sometimes sounding like a ballad, sometimes sounds like a jazz song because of the way it is arranged and it will thrill you as you listen to it
Up next is the song “Money on the Wall”. The song opens with this deep baritone voice voice saying “One look and you can tell she is the belle of the ball”, money on the wall, money on the wall”). The song describes a beautiful lady whose appearance captivates you immediately you see her and you can tell by her overall appearance that she comes from money or a rich home. The variance of the vocals during the song and the instrumentation is off the charts
“Roadside interlude”. This song gives you more of a bluesy synth-pop vibe right from the start. The song talks about a love that is trying to stand firm against all adversity (”somewhere I hear a raging storm”). The song is very magnetic and the harmonies of the female and male vocals were very outstanding not to say the least
“Fifteen phonebooks” is the next song. The song’s intro is a very catchy drum beat that will keep you hooked to listen to the song in its entirety. The character in the song was looking through phone books, hoping to find a number which left him feeling hopeless (”I was hopeless”). There was a guitar so thrilling and exciting that you will listen to it over and over again, skipping ahead to hear it again. Just when you think you have the song figured out, it changes into a jazz-infused song, complete with all the markings of a jazz song right down to the saxophone solo which is so delightful and awesome
The song up next is “Were being watched”. The song opens with what sounds like static sounds and piano sounds. The song is about a person who is being contacted by someone who loves him to be careful because he is being watched. The song was very beautiful and emotive which will captivate you over and over again
“Winderlude” is the next song on the album. The song has a very ethereal intro. The song introduces us to a character who has been suppressed and has finally broken free from a controlling partner who always wants to get her way(”I tried to hide that fact from you”). The song is the complete embodiment of what heaven might sound like, enhanced by the female vocal floating in and out of the song
“Green satin/ Searchlight” is the next song. The song jumps directly into the vocal performance. The song describes a persona who is questioning his lover’s intention for him but is still holding out for her” wore my heart on my sleeve and then you turn my back to the wall”). The song questions the lengths people will go to for freedom The instrumentation (short piano solo)is very beautiful and the vocal performance is stunning and incredibly beautiful, further enhanced by the supporting female vocal performance, spoken word, and electric guitar solo.
The song that follows is called “Til daylight breaks”. The song has a very steady and exciting beat. In the song, the persona is a cocky and self-confident person who is trying to woo a lady he just met. He promised to teach her how to live properly which includes staying up together and enjoying each other company till the day breaks living like they have nothing to lose and living like they are not afraid of anything(” I’ll teach you how to live a life with no regrets”). The song includes trumpet sounds with give the song a beautiful jazz flair that listeners will enjoy
Next is the song called “It Breathes”. The song opens with what sounds like the bustling and hustling of a city some piano sounds and a very beautiful bass sound. As the song progresses, so does the instrumentation. This song seems to regard the hustle and bustle of a city as music. The song personifies cities and this song points out that cities breathe or a city which has a lot of life breathes. This song was just crisp and flawlessly executed
Next is the song called “When Desparate”. The song has a light and breezy guitar sound. The song tells listeners how disastrous desperate choices can be (”the sun sets on choices made when desperate”). The vocal performance is powerful and the instrumentation has traces of rock sound in it which makes it incredibly unique but wait, here comes the electric guitar solo you wouldn’t expected but will be welcomed because of how delightful it is
“Resignation” is the second to last song. The song has an airy and somber guitar intro. The song describes a persona going through a tough time and wanting to feel again because he closed himself off (”its a resignation, I wanna see the fields, its an education I wanna learn how to feel”). The vocal performance is tender and very emotive, with a wide range and outstanding voice oscillation. The song will evoke and stir up very deep emotions within listeners.
The album’s last song is titled “Outro”. The song is a song with a beautiful intro. In the song, the persona likens his recognizable image in the mirror to that of the society he is living in (” There’s nothing left for me to love”). The song talks about the ills of society in a demure way that is relatable to all. This awesome song ends our musical journey
This album is a self-produced, deeply individual piece of work that also lets other musicians and listeners into the process to help find their place in it and in the world. The album was a genre-bending album with influences from all genres of music. I respect Aram-Downs for making an album that everyone can vibe to regardless of their age and musical preferences. Aram-Downs is very talented and I hope to hear more from him soon
Stream the “Megastructure” album on Spotify
Follow Leo Aram-Downs on here and his socials; Twitter, Instagram, YouTube
