Here at the Send Me Your Ears studio today, we’ve been listening to “Lantern”, the latest single from the Canadian trio, Powerwalk.
Powerwalk are Amanda Lyn Parker – Vocals/Synth Arih SK – Vocals/Bass Guitar Mark Hoerdt – Vocals/Drums. Together they produce an 80s-infused synth-led burst of nostalgia.
In their own words; “Lantern is a song about being the bravest person in the room. Someone has to be willing to get to the light source in the dark- and when we are younger we rely on someone who isn’t as scared to do that for us. As we get older the people who were brave for us are gone, or we have children that need us to be that person for them now. It is about figuratively and literally passing the torch on to be a leader and have the courage to care for the people you love.”
Lantern starts with a synth/keys intro and an 80s-inspired electronic drum pattern worthy of comparison to OMD.
Throughout the song, the vocals are layered. Predominantly with Amanda as lead, but with male vocals taking the lead at times, and for a large part of the song there are some gorgeous harmonies. The synth interweaves between the vocal lines nicely and fills gaps in the sound. Amanda’s vocals reminded us in several places of Clare Grogan (Altered Images): adding to the already 80s-feel of the track.
Powerwalk make great use of sections in the song to maintain the listener’s interest and we love how the repeated synth line keeps returning to bring the different sections together.
Ideas from our ears
A hi-pass filter at 35Hz and a small boost around 60Hz would increase the thump of the kick drum sound. A careful surgical cut at around 182Hz would reduce a slightly muddy peak on the snare drum sound too. A small cut around 850Hz and a boost around 2-2.5kHz would reduce some nasal tones in the vocal and help them cut through a little more. A high shelf boost in the top octave would add some extra brightness and ‘zing’, making this an even more authentic 80s-style track! As always, these are just some ideas from our ears.
Final thoughts
For fans of OMD, Altered Images, Heaven 17 and 80s pop/ new wave, Lantern, by Powerwalk is an absolute must. A synth-laden stroll down memory lane.