By: Staff
When we first heard the backstory behind The Amsterdam Tapes, Vol. 1 by Jake Major, we rushed straight to his official YouTube Music channel to experience the highly anticipated lyric and visualizer videos firsthand.
When we started with "These Pills of Lust and Longing", the lyric video opened with a trippy, mesmerizing sequence of effects, perfectly complementing the ethereal and space-like opening sounds. The visuals and music align seamlessly, creating an exhilarating, almost otherworldly experience. The beats thunder in, rapid, relentless, and driven, immediately signaling that this will be a truly psychedelic journey.
As the song unfolds with layered intensity, the lyrics pull us into a dreamlike state:
“The final beams of sun are gleaming in the twilight / The fields of green glow auburn, as
we move into the night.”
The references to pills, love, and fantasy merging into reality create an intoxicating atmosphere, further enhanced by Major’s hypnotic vocal delivery. His breathy yet powerful voice soars with a signature style that is both commanding and entrancing. The interplay between his vocals and the drum fills is masterfully executed, adding an extra layer of excitement that is utterly tantalizing to the listener.
There’s something deeply immersive in the foundation of this track, it feels like you’re running through an electronic dreamscape. The synth sounds pay homage to the '80s and '90s, with a clear nod to Kraftwerk that had us instantly excited. Major brilliantly draws inspiration from electronic pioneers while crafting a modern, cutting-edge sound. The drum programming and vocal stylings are deeply rooted in classic electronic music but transcend eras, pushing into new realms of excellence.
The vocal mix is another highlight, sitting low and submerged within the music, it’s a stylistic choice that feels perfectly in sync with the genre. When the solo hits, it’s pure magic. There’s a subtle A Flock of Seagulls undertone present, blending seamlessly with other influences to create something absolutely spectacular.
The lyric video’s visuals are impeccably timed with the music, intensifying the song’s immersive quality. This was clearly not a hastily thrown-together project; every detail was considered to provide a fully engaging audio-visual experience. When the song reaches its peak and we hear:
“Fly me away, take my hand and go,”
it offers a brief, breath-catching moment before launching into a tsunami of sound, screeching, space-like synths carrying their own pseudo-vocal energy, elevating the song to a cosmic level.
As we moved on to "Euphoria Peloria," the thundering yet restrained bass created a pulsating undercurrent, perfectly mixed with sharp, rapid drum beats that struck like bullets, swift, precise, and electrifying. This track feels weightless and celestial, with Major’s vocals taking on an almost divine presence in the mix. The entire composition is wrapped in a hazy, dreamlike quality that spins through your mind as you watch the accompanying visuals.
True to its name, "Euphoria Peloria" evokes an ecstatic state. The reference to peloria, a rare botanical phenomenon where irregular flowers become symmetrically structured, adds depth to the song’s theme. The imagery of forests and trees aligns perfectly with the idea of finding beauty in the abnormal, mirroring the song’s sonic balance between chaos and harmony.
The song crescendos into a bold declaration:
“This cruel world / Let’s leave it behind,”
followed by a firestorm of beats that amplify its intensity. The track doesn’t just play, it transports you, offering a transcendental escape from reality.
We concluded our listening session with "Vigilante," a track that immediately grips you with its twisted, pulsating bass synths. The sound design is electrifying, filled with tension and an exhilarating sense of urgency. As the song builds toward its interlude before launching back into its storming crescendo, it feels as though we are being propelled into space,an auditory thrill ride that refuses to let up.
When the vocals hit, it’s a visceral experience. This track is an undeniable club anthem, bursting with unpredictable twists and turns that keep your mind racing and your body moving. The lyric video enhances the journey, adding yet another layer of sensory stimulation. The choice of vocalization techniques here is striking, but we won’t spoil it, this is something you need to experience firsthand.
Jake Major is an artist of remarkable talent and vision, skillfully reshaping electronic influences from past decades into a fresh, electrifying sonic experience. His ability to craft immersive, high-energy compositions demonstrates a deep understanding of production, song structure, and emotional impact.
The Amsterdam Tapes, Vol. 1 is more than just an album, it’s a sonic adventure, a thrilling blend of nostalgia and innovation that pushes electronic music into exciting new territory. It’s clear that Major doesn’t conform to mainstream pop formulas; instead, he takes listeners on a boundary-pushing ride that is as exhilarating as it is unforgettable
This album is packed with masterful work and stands as a testament to Jake Major’s ability to craft high-quality electronic music. While we’ve highlighted some standout tracks, we highly encourage you to explore the entire release to fully immerse yourself in its sonic brilliance..
You can find this release on any major platform, make sure to playlist, stream, and share “These Pills of Lust and Longing” by Jake Major.
Check out this latest release and listen to more on Spotify & YouTube
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