A melodic range of soundscape-heavy, piano-driven tracks compel across An Electric Evening with Jonny Rythmns and The Magical Motif, the newly released album from Elevated Focusion. The collection of songs was crafted over two decades ago, representing recordings from 2001 to 2004. The New York-based project caught our ears a few months ago with the grippingly dynamic album Dark Nights, venturing into a wide range of styles — from synth-pop to funk and reggae — and An Electric Evening… now succeeds with a more consistent tonal arsenal; the Yamaha Motif Classic is featured prominently throughout, blending seamlessly within a range of vibrant synths and steady rhythmic pulses.
The track titles all reference the titular character of Jonny and various pursuits — from journey’s beginning to “feeling snazzy,” alone time,” and the ending of a “dream sequence.” It’s an aptly effective method that often captures the array of moods within. Opener “Jonny Dives Into The Deep End” melds spacey synths, percussive pit-pattering, and suave piano adornments for ample intrigue — then moving cohesively into “Jonny’s Journey Begins,” a brief though effective blend of blaring synth buzzing and more intensified piano clanging. The opening tracks thoroughly succeed in showcasing a smooth, lounge-set piano arsenal accompanied wonderfully by a range of synth-driven swells.
“Jonny Gets All Guitary” marks a departure into a more playful realm of illuminated piano tones, effectively subdued in their prowess as melodic guitar tones enter the fold as the lead emphasis, as the title suggests. The elongated, twangy guitar escalations prove invigorating here, and also succeed on “Jonny’s Darkness,” where eerie guitars and keys/organs intertwine with a cinematic, chilly allure. A jazzier, more dexterous range enamors on “Stairway to Nowhere For Young Jonny,” where trickling rapidity and warming synth caressing merge with replay-inducing sophistication.
The album’s second half doesn’t let up in the high-quality range of heady, atmospheric delights. “Jonny Dreams” is a particular standout, making a strong impression across a minute-long runtime that expertly infuses prancing piano and expressive synth spacey-ness. “The End of Jonny’s Dream Sequence” brings things back down to earth, as a hauntingly ominous piano progression leads the way with a nocturnal intrigue fit for horror films. Brighter moments of entrancement show in the saloon-set bounciness of “Jonny’s Feeling Snazzier” and the string-laden warmness within “Jonny is Loving Life,” further bolstering the release’s impressively eclectic unveiling of moods and tones. Elevated Focusion thoroughly impresses across An Electric Evening with Jonny Rythmns and The Magical Motif.
