Amethyst by JAKEY ORBIT is an excellent chillstep album, juggling a variety of different tonal styles while maintaining a sonic coherence that ties the whole project together. The opening three tracks seem to increase in pace dramatically from song to song. Beginning with Amethyst, ORBIT introduces the sonic palette of the album with a mix of soft, ethereal synths combined with deep thumping bass. The bottom end has this bold, crunchy distortion that adds contrast to the softness of the ethereal high-register synths. The second track seems to take elements from Amethyst’s main melodic motif and energise them further.

The rhythm is heightened and the melody more intense. It is interesting to hear so much overlap between melodic elements from track to track. It allows the album to flow together as one continuous piece, ever-evolving and growing from beginning to end. After the initial three tracks, the album takes a more mellow approach. Dreamstate Blvd is a lighter take on the sound ORBIT has established, leaning more on the chill influences. With that being said, even the quieter songs across the album still have a kick to them that elevates them above traditional chill music. The track maintains the album’s overall momentum while allowing moments for introspection, drawing the listener in with its layers of sound. The album does especially well in quieter moments. Each element seems so perfectly crafted that a quieter mix with more space allows the listener to appreciate all of them instead of being overwhelmed by different sounds. The latter part of the project takes the chill vibes of Dreamstate Blvd and combines them with the power of the earlier tracks in the album to create a wholly unique sound that stands on its own. It is brilliant to see every element presented come together so perfectly. The album sounds its best in these final tracks like HARAJUKU and Hot Ramen. I’m excited to see what JAKEY ORBIT does next!