☆☆☆☆☆
Image: Supplied
Multi platinum-selling US singer-songwriter MAX has made his long-awaited return with new record, Colour Vision. With his last full-length release dropping in 2016, his latest album perfectly exhibits the singers soaring vocal abilities and songwriting prowess. Colour Vision perfectly blends pop, hip-hop and latin sounds over a somewhat electronic soundscape, creating unique genre-bending sounds.
The record opens with the epic synthesised and harmonic title track Colour Vision. The song feels like a modern day Queen anthem, with the singer, whose full name is Max Schneider, channelling the iconic Freddie Mercury in a variety of vocal runs. It sets the tone for the scintillating and energetic audio experience that follows. The upbeat Acid Dreams uses wave-like effects in the chorus, creating a trippy vibe that encapsulates the tracks title. At times, Schneider’s vocal performance on the song is reminiscent of Jason Derulo.
Colour Vision features five collaborations, the first being Working For The Weekend which features a verse from bbno$. The track is an an ode to hard work, almost feeling like a love song. His collaboration with Quinn XCII is a standout moment on the record. The bombastic Love Me Less explores feelings of insecurity and fear about opening up to a lover about their past. With a stellar bassline and the use of a xylophone, Love Me Less shines. Checklist with Chromeo is a stellar pop track with inflections of smooth funk, channelling a modern day Stevie Wonder on his vocal performance.
One of the most exciting tracks on the record is the singers work with BTS band member, SUGA. Their collaboration Blueberry Eyes, is a romantic love song on which the singer declares his love for his wife. On Missed Calls, Schneider employs singer Hayley Kiyoko, where the pair sing about the fallout of a relationship. The duos voices work in perfect unison, it’s hard not to groove along.
Whilst the album is mostly a burst of colour, there are quieter moments on the record. Still utilising electro-dance beats, Circles’ production is pared back with a more vulnerable vocal performance from the singer as he navigates a relationship that goes around in circles. Where Am I At is a contemplative moment, where the singer pours his heart out now that he has lost a loved one. The raw and emotional vulnerability present on the song is a testament to the singers versatility not only as a vocalist, but as a songwriter.
On New Life, the singer brings some latin inspired sounds. A standout in the collection of songs, the track sees Schneider taking control of his life, intending to live it to the fullest and reach the goals he has set. The singer continues his experimentation of sounds on SOS. With distorted vocals, Schneider elevates his voice to new heights, reaching soaring falsetto notes. A moment which feels like the whole album has been building up to. On the records closer, There Is A God, the singer finds his faith solidified through the love he receives from his partner.
Colour Vision sees MAX give an unparalleled vocal performance. Each track takes the singers voice from strength to strength, taking listeners on a feel good ride set to an electro-pop soundscape. There are clear influences and comparisons to legends such as Prince, Stevie Wonder and Justin Timberlake, but Schneider is carving his own path. The way he intricately, yet effortlessly, weaves in pop, hip-hop and latin sounds is unparalleled. Whilst cohesive in sound, the album has something for everyone and never misses a beat. More experimental than his prior releases, Schneider has honed in on his musicianship and created a record that feels nostalgic and fresh concurrently.
5/5 Stars
Colour Vision is out now!
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