Positronic – Into The Blue – Album Review

Positronic, short for Positive-Electronic, is the alias of California-based musician, Michael McDannold. McDannold joined his first band, FOUNDATION, in 1988 and has been making music ever since. He writes, programs, performs and records all of Positronic’s music himself – a bona fide one-man band. We last reviewed his music back in 2020 when we took a deep dive into his New Life album, which was recorded during the first wave of Covid lockdowns. We were blown away by Positonic’s “engaging synth-pop sound” and were delighted to hear that he has another record set for release. Into The Blue is the name of his latest album, and it sees McDannold direct his energy into ten, beautiful, new original dance tracks.

The title track, Into The Blue, features a long, drawn-out intro that guides the listener through an underwater soundscape of synth textures. The song has an overwhelming feeling of euphoria and sees Positronic reminisce about spending time by the sea with his lover… “Our hearts are one / Beating in time / I will forever call you mine”. An arpeggiated line drives the song, while synth swells mimic the ocean imagery that is weaved throughout the lyric.

McDannold states that the overarching theme of this album is overcoming challenges … “even if you have trouble in life, stay true to yourself and push through, never give up.” A Long Goodbye exemplifies this message perfectly. It’s a mid-tempo dance track that is powered by throbbing bass and playful synthesizer, and it sees McDannold offers a wise perspective on the obstacles that life throws at you… “But we can change our past and let the light get past / If we hold on to what is true / Oh yes the light will shine through.”

Positronic captures a beautiful intensity with track four, Flames of Love. The song speaks to the humble elation of spending a quiet night at home with your lover… “Let’s stay in tonight / Let’s stay out of the rain / We’ll build a fire and stoke the flames again”. The song is built over a brilliant chord progression and features a nice harmonic change toward the end. Positronic executes a key change coming out of the bridge, and there is a short, sweet synth solo before the final chorus.

Close to You features some of the coolest synth tones on the album, beginning with some heavy wub-bass before settling into a downbeat groove. It is one of the darker-sounding songs on the album and sees a conflicted Positronic wrestle with the urge to be close to someone who has treated him badly in the past.

Losing Control is a wonderful, eighties-influenced club anthem that is dominated by a hard-hitting drum track. The lyric has a distinctly frustrated mood; Positronic is singing about the ups and downs of a relationship, but the energy of the track is so compelling that all you want to do is get up and dance to it. This is once again evidence of the transcendent, therapeutic nature of Positronic’s music. He starts with a dejected feeling and layers textures and rhythm on top of it until it morphs into an uplifting groove. It’s easy to see people in nightclubs dancing their worries into oblivion with this track.

Shimmer employs a host of futuristic synth sounds to create an energetic dance number with a wonderfully optimistic message. Positronic encourages the listener to lean into their individuality and show resolve in the face of the problems that they may face… “So shimmer like a star / Burning bright in the dark / Sparkle like a diamond in a dream / Making everything bright”.

Into The Blue is a captivating listen from start to finish. The production quality is sublime and Positronic’s skills as a producer only get better with each release. The songs on this album are sincere, melodic, and creatively arranged by McDannold. The lyrics are a perfect accompaniment to anyone going through a hard time, but it’s also easy to just put on Into the Blue, get lost in its wonderful rhythms, and have a good boogie.

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BELOW: Check out our full artist interview with Positronic, listen to Into the Blue, and connect with his website and social media platforms, watch his music video, check out his live show/tour schedule, and find his booking & contact information. Please support Positronic by visiting him online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing his music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!