Sonic Pulse Project - Syntactic Sugar - Stereo Stickman

Sonic Pulse Project Syntactic Sugar

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Introducing the latest songwriting showcase from Martin Lucassen. Sonic Pulse Project utilises contemporary AI vocals to elevate a piano-led arrangement of songs and poetic lyricism, blending pop and rock across an evocative collection of nostalgic reflections.

Syntactic Sugar begins with the story and scenes of the ballad-like anthem Berlin“I breathe in history, exciting history.” resounds as the bright peak of the song’s progression. It’s a timeless style, brought to life by modern production techniques, and the lyrics and melodies hold close to a distinctly human sense of appreciation and connection – qualities that work hard throughout Syntactic Sugar.

The album moves into something of an Americana slide for Sweet Candy, the same anthemic hook and lyrical focus at its core, raising the good vibes intensely before the stripped-back piano ballad Yearn for The Past. As ever, the song evolves in a similar fashion, the electronic peaks implying that a live performance, where possible, would captivate all the more so.

Happy Dancing is distinctly more pop-inspired, in my view, contrast utilised again from one moment to the next – the pop framework and methodology working its magic from start to finish. Then we get some stylish riff-work and storytelling in the form of Heart on Fire – something of a sequel to the former, a reflection on this story of ‘she’.

Track six is a definite highlight for its intriguing change in mood and tone. Beauty All Around is something of a sultry blues song at first, still with those clean pop lyrics and simple imagery as we build towards a bigger chorus and crescendo. A Better Tomorrow appears to employ the same kind of assisted conceptual writing, rising up from mellow to impassioned as we contemplate the current state of the planet.

Other highlights from this fourteen-track Sonic Pulse Project album include the country guitar swagger and warming embrace of Magic Home, the equally uplifting folk shuffle of Happy Travelers, for its optimism and quirks, and the funky and fun big-band take that is Welcome to My World. There’s also something completely unexpected and mysterious about the closing track Holly Graham, which again reminds us of the creative freedom of modern times.

Despite there being plenty of provocative references and ideas woven throughout Syntactic Sugar, the album is distinctly uplifting and hopeful for the most part – the music designed to reflect honestly but with positivity and possibility at its core, and this is presented in everything from the lyrics to the bright and bold uplift of each chorus.

Rebecca Cullen

Founder & Editor

Founder, Editor, Musician & MA Songwriter

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