Dark and mesmerizing

The solo project of Moon Duo keyboardist and co-founder Sanae Yamada, Vive la Void’s self-titled debut album is soft and stunning. The seven total tracks clock in at no less than four minutes each, giving the listener drawn-out yet thoughtfully composed dreamy synth-driven songs.

Opening track “Matter” prepares the album for take-off with static-y synths that drone on to a soft yet driving beat in the background. Through the duration of this instrumental track, the sound builds ever-so-slightly before thinning at the end. “Red Rider” and “Death Money” kick up the drive a bit, incorporating krautrock beats and vocals along with the synth-heavy sound. Vive la Void as a whole is dark and mesmerizing, and the vocals are minimal and mostly pop in at a whisper.

“Devil” is the most noteworthy track on the album, clocking in at an epic eight minutes, 21 seconds. The song drones on with a catchy, tribal-like melody, steady drum beat and shimmering deep synths. A deeper listen gives glimpses of layers of synth that unfold into one cohesive sound that is anything but dull, and the melody leaves a lasting impression the listener will want to hum along to.

“Smoke” is dark and heavy; the vocals and synth carry the same minor 4 arpeggio that repeats throughout the entirety of the song. “Blacktop” is straight out of Tron with deep, electro-inspired minor arpeggios driving the track and Yamada’s voice ethereally gliding over the synths and electronic drum beat with crashing, high snare that cuts through.

Closing track “Atlantis” is sans vocals, and a breath of fresh air at the end of the album. The lighter, shimmering synth chords are hopeful and bring to mind the sound of wind chimes. The remaining seconds of the closing track fuzz out and echo, leaving the listener in a dreamy haze as the sound slightly references the beginning of the album.

It’s no question that fans of Moon Duo will enjoy this album. The seven dreamy tracks experiment successfully with electro, dream-pop and krautrock, giving the listener an experience she’s likely to come back to for more.