Album Review: 'The Fifth Step' by Rogue FX
Key Quote: "Some great stand-alone tracks threaded together with inventive dialogue."
‘The Fifth Step’ was released in August this year (2023) and as far as I’m aware is the debut long (or extended) player from UK based Synthwave artist Rogue FX (aka Andrew Wood). I’ve heard some of the previously released singles from Rogue FX and they’ve whetted my appetite for exploring his songs a little deeper.
1. Think About The Future
A short but tantilising taster of what’s about to be unleashed…
2. The Fifth Step
Arcade game style synth intro gives way to a ‘S-Express’ style bass-line. Although the infectious music is rooted in 80s Synthwave, the vocals are a little more soulful and free-flowing which is a nice overall mix.
3. Welcome To Mind Corps
Another short interlude in what is developing into a ‘Total Recall’ type narrative for the album.
4. Psychology
On this 2nd full song, there’s a neat little synth ear-worm from the very start which develops into multiple hooks. This is a great pop-song and the instrumental breaks really shine through inbetween the vocal sections.
5. Mind Melt Alert
The kind of warning you don’t really want to hear when taking a virtual drive through the countryside.
6. Chaos Theory
A funky bass-line leads the way and gives me a ‘Heaven 17’ kind of vibe which of course is no bad thing. It also has that ‘Heaven 17’ slick production and mixing quality - yes the Sheffield steel is strong in this one.
7. Crisis In Med Bay 4
Another short interlude but this time with a breezy musical accompaniment.
8. Drifting
The synth arpeggios continue from the last song into this one which is about ‘Drifting’ into some kind of nightmare-ish mind journey. The chirpy music is a little at odds with the nature of the lyrics when in context of the album. But, it works much better as a standalone pop song.
9. Reborn
The final short piece concludes the journey and all's well that ends well. However, I felt a bit short changed when it finished. This one definitely needs to be developed and extended into a full song. Perhaps it will at some point in the future.
I won’t use the words ‘Concept Album’ here as this is more of a short story with some great stand-alone tracks threaded together with some inventive dialogue. Coming in at 20 minutes long it’s a perfect length for short escape into the future - so give it a whirl.
I will be looking out for future releases from Rogue FX with great interest.
Rogue FX Contact Details:
Website: https://linktr.ee/roguefxsynthwave
Twitter: https://twitter.com/roguefxsynth
Bandcamp: https://roguefx.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1psB83BaWeNkcTc34rqBCr?si=sX0g5EPkSPiwH8PpznFn4w