Artist: LukHash (@lukhash)
Album: Better Than Reality
Label: Time Slave Recordings (@TimeSlaveRec)
Release Date: May 24, 2019
I routinely scroll through my Bandcamp feed hoping to find the next synthwave album that will serve as the soundtrack to my life for the next few weeks. I distinctly remember stumbling upon LukHash’s Better Than Reality in late 2019. I was struck by the cover art, which was designed by LukHash. The cover shows a boy sitting in a hallway with legs crossed and a character reminiscent of early ’80s video games displayed on the front of his denim overalls. The boy is sporting virtual reality glasses and points to the sky in awe against the backdrop of dark blues with LukHash in a brilliant pink and Better Than Reality painted in white neon across the top. A moment reflecting on the cover might bring to mind the attractive idea of stepping into another reality for a bit.
I navigated to Time Slave Recordings and pressed play to sample the first track, “Perpetual Motion.” I listened for about 30 seconds, pressed stop, and purchased the album on vinyl. I waited for the album to make the trek overseas to hear it in its entirety for the first time on my ‘70s vintage Pioneer turntable and receiver equipped with subwoofer. I am glad I exerted such patience because Better Than Reality is a sonic masterpiece deserving the full experience of encapsulating the physical environment only high volume can provide. Little did I know, Better Than Reality would spin on my turntable night after night for the next several weeks.
The opener, “Perpetual Motion”, and the following track, “Neon Thrills”, set the stage for the album. the electroscape connected with LukHash to learn more about the making of Better Than Reality, and the artist said they wanted “…a solid opener that would pretty much tell the listener what you could expect from most of this record.” The opening tracks have a real presence to them, as if to say “ENTER HERE.” LukHash said, “…there was a lot of emotional inspiration that resulted in a rather hefty tracklist with a good variety of songs.” I experience intensity, passion, emotion, and theatrics on Better Than Reality.
I have only listened to Better Than Reality on vinyl which, as a double long-play record, is put together exceptionally well. Each of the four sides has a distinct feel, yet the album as a whole is coherent. A little crackle and pop while the vinyl spins perfectly complements the sounds from which the tracks are built.
Side A is a sonic attack. It showcases the palette LukHash will use to construct the album. The video game-related sounds are heavily used as a tool to create new melodies, which I find rather unique among albums drawing on such sounds. There are a lot of layers, a lot of textures, which LukHash said was intended. I detect lower undertones of digital beats, digital rhythms, and higher pitched melodies that structure the theatrics of the songs. LukHash layers melody upon melody in a harmonious fashion throughout, which shines in “Requiem for a Friend.”
The tracks on side A feel as if one is wandering through a three-dimensional maze, a sense of climbing upward, followed by a free fall, only to climb back up again. These sensations continues on side B where LukHash brings more drama to the table, including elements of metal, such as in the shredding guitar solo in “Museum of Failed Efforts.” On side B, I start to become more aware of the movement within the structure of the songs. There is a perpetual building, developing, and growing. On “Proxima”, the tempo slows down and lead synth lines dominate. Side B closes with bold theatrics in “Cyberninja.”
The emotions and passion run high on side C. “Tetra Tennis” has a chunky beat and a wicked lead synth line. It elicits feeling of darkness and images of night, crowded spaces, and raving. My favorite track on the album and, in all honesty, one of my all time favorite synthwave tracks is “We Are Forever.” This is the first track to bring in a vocal piece, which is packed full of passion, stirs nostalgic emotions, and is delivered and integrated with the sounds structuring the song in an incredibly harmonious way. Give the track a listen below.
Better Than Reality closes with a set of songs that have classical music elements. It plays like a soundtrack to an old black and white movie, eliciting images of bright colors scattered throughout time.
Better Than Reality makes a complete statement. It strings consistent elements throughout while sprinkling enough new elements and tempos to keep it interesting for its entirety.
What’s next for LukHash? The artist recently released Transient Offworld on NewRetroWave Records, and is looking ahead to another long-play record bringing together synthwave and chiptune.