Review Summary: Dark symphonic flamenco electronica?
It’s been interesting seeing the twists and turns that synthwave has taken over the past decade-and-a-half. Starting with the lush, dreamy, chill synth sounds reminiscent of the 80s, more and more artists incorporated darker sounds evoking horror movie soundtracks, the heaviness of metal music, and the pulse-pounding potential of being in a violent action game like
Hotline Miami. While many synthwave and darksynth artists are content with coasting on their established sounds, King Stephen still has that drive for experimentation that pushed the evolution of the microgenre in the first place.
Even during his early days where he was putting out more standard horror-influenced darksynth, King Stephen had a cinematic flair to his songwriting that set him apart from the rest. His name is a charming reversal of Stephen King, which fits his earlier works, but with
Esoterica he firmly establishes himself as darksynth royalty. The album is an eclectic mixture of sounds: dark, danceable techno is the baseline, but there’s so much else layered on top. Melodic synths, orchestral strings, and soaring choirs are all throughout the album, but the main star of the show is the unique incorporation of flamenco guitars as a key instrument. Adding to all of this is a lovely nocturnal vibe draped over everything.
King Stephen says the challenge of making flamenco the star of the album took two years, and I would say he passed with flying colors. It’s always a treat to hear a fresh new blend of sounds that isn’t a gimmick, but rather a bold statement. Regal and rich, this album is truly a gem in the more obscure depths of synthwave.
