Introducing a conceptually enthralling dark-pop album, noting AI production tones and a clear sense of story and revelation, T-Halcyon’s Testimony is a complex and fascinating modern project, with a multitude of strong hooks and ideas woven into an ever-shifting landscape of genre-fusing qualities.
Promising 13 original tracks, Testimony presents highlights like I Remember – fem, and showcases two opposing sides of the masculine-feminine coin. This particular version notes a female vocal and hip hop-style production both spacious and intimate. The lyrics captivate, the melody long-form meanders in its passionate sense of vulnerability and pain.
Then delivering another version of the story and sound, featuring a haunting wave-like riff and bold but mellow rhythm, I Remember – masc is a brilliantly euphoric dark-pop single, with a strong groove and a huge vocal build up.
“They said you’re too loud, so I made myself quiet. They said you’re too much, so I settled for less.”
Other stand-out moments from the project include the heavier rap production and poetic complexity of No One Asked Me, a unique sound with an outpouring of lyrics that rise and fall through mysterious reflections on a journey towards empowerment and confidence. Another huge hook brings an anthemic twist to the dark-pop alternative style of the production.
Then for Venus in Retrograde, Testimony fully dives into the Hip Hop aspect of its style, with a striking rap vocal and soulful melodic resolves, a sharp lyrical framing of ideas that naturally grips, and the track speaks volumes on behalf of the future of genre-fusing human-to-electronic combination of elements.
Consider also the storytelling depth and quirky design of an uplifting I Had a Childhood, from Sacred Grief –something of a modern RnB single with an up-tempo backdrop and scenes that compel you to tune in more closely and reflect upon your own childhood and the innocence with which all of our journeys begin. Featuring an instrumental riff that’s incredibly catchy, the potential for this track to make waves through remixing and social employment is undeniable, and the song gathers intoxicating momentum throughout its dynamic lifespan.
T-Halcyon captures a creative freedom throughout the depths of many projects. Also from the album Sacred Grief, Venus & Mars is a piano-led ballad of notably softer tones, with a gentle vocal and another programmed lyrical complexity that’s both hopeful and vague enough to be made your own. The story is ultimately dark, but the music is soothing, and that juxtaposition is fascinating, and a huge part of the T-Halcyon creative repertoire.
