I think that most of us sci-fi nerds who have fallen in love with classic franchises such as Star Wars, Blade Runner, and Dune have always dreamt of visiting those fictional realms if but for a minute to experience the general atmosphere. The air, the ambient chatter of foreign tongues, the sights to behold of towering ships and skyscrapers beyond our very imagination, and blasters that could disintegrate a life form in less than a second. Spanish cinematic synthwave producer SUNESIS is one such nerd but where she deviates from a lot of us is that she’s also a creator. Drifting from this mortal plane to ones that can never be reached has she crafted an album that’s a huge love letter to retro-futurism, classic album art, and a very DIY approach.
SUNESIS explains easily that she’s inspired by “Syd Mead’s vehicles, Enki Bilal’s dystopias, and 70s Space Airbrush Art” as well as “Juan Gimenez’s are, Heavy Metal & OMNI magazines, and Vangelis scores.” Of course there’s so much more to this and so many other influences that it would be impossible to list them all. It’s a glorious salute to many things in the sci-fi space.
Destinations is both a concept album and a personal fantasy come to life. The opening track Port Mirada is nothing more than a voiceover with a bit of ambiance behind it describing exactly where this station can and will take you, such as Arrakis. A short and sweet fifty-second opening that leads directly into Onboarding Medley. This is the soundtrack to takeoff; I recall discussing the 2017 video game Prey in a previous review of SUNESIS, and how her music reminded me of the chills and curiosity I received when I first heard Mick Gordon’s Everything is Going to Be Okay, and the same thing happened here once again; it’s a golden standard for me. There’s a twinkle to her music, and excitement, and a blissfulness so well coordinated between each node that echoes something far off in the distance. Trying listening to this single whilst staring off into the deepest stars and tell me you don’t feel something and I’ll know you’re lying.
Save My Love (Terra Version) has a steady doldrum beat, something that you can lightly nod your head to but it isn’t exactly dancefloor material; it’s like Eurodance calmed down. There’s a vocal performance on here from SUNESIS as well, one that caters to the beat like floating in clouds. Galaxy Empress, a single that was previously seen on her EP Orbital, was reviewed in a lost review prior to our crash. But in that review I stated that it was a rhythmic track with twilight touches of the void with ambient, ethereal elements.
Soothing space ambiance is welcomed in Teardrop before The Plan is played. This is an odd one to digest. It’s what you’d come to expect from SUNESIS at this point; great and slow space-time aesthetics with a bit of percussion and cinematic synths. SUNESIS’ voice comes into the song again and she sounds pretty good; she sticks with the lighter, almost whisper like singing. However, I don’t really think that the vocals match the beat and vice versa. It’s a common thing I see in a lot of electronic music and a complaint I’ve had on many albums; two parts that sound good on their own but when mashed together they don’t exactly work. I also feel as if her voice is a bit buried beneath the beat.
New Horizon (Terra Version) does include some dirt and grit underneath it all. But don’t think of it as going into industrial or hardcore territory; the texture of the song gets a bit of grime to it whilst still maintaining the smooth synth vibes SUNESIS is putting out with Destinations. Be Alone is a fun little electronic tune if a bit quiet and a showcase where voice and beat can meet mutually while Surface gives us our first true dance track that’s closer to classic synthwave vibes than anything I’ve heard on the album thus far. Smooth drum pads and sweeping synths; a digital waltz. Locked to the Sun is similar in its presentation but goes for a smoother transition while the final track Surreal takes queues from a bit of jazz and brazen forgotten soundtracks.
Destinations is a phenomenal album to say the very least. While this is a science fiction love letter I do believe that anyone who appreciates a good synth score will find something to enjoy contained within. But for those of us who appreciate the little things and the effort gone in I think there’s a lot more here.
