Some of my favorite music has become both inspiring and entertaining, and it lives on well past its release because it tells a story. Storytelling transcends genre, whether it is a romantic story sung by the likes of Céline Dion, an anthem of independence from Sabrina Carpenter, or the tragedy of love lost, as in Halocene’s “When Love Dies,” and it has been the vocal point of music through every decade.

Music without vocals also has a way of telling a story to the audience, and that is the case in the latest album from DJ Paul J Williams. The album, titled “Farewell Andromeda,” is a unique concept from fictional DJ Paul J Williams, who has apparently become lost in space. Sent back to his personal robot assistant, Radar, the album serves not only as a narrative of the DJ’s time lost in space but also as an anthem against the rise of AI as a whole. 

What impressed me most when listening to this record was how each track seemed to tell a story while setting an emotional undertone and vibe that matched its style. For instance, in the track “Unknown Caller,” the artist takes a more cosmic tone with electronic beats and smooth melodies, using a distant vocal that is hard to distinguish to hone in on the “unknown caller” aspect of the title. Yet, in the previous track, “I Shall Return,” the artist used a different sound that felt more cinematic, letting audiences easily immerse themselves in either a 70s-era police procedural on the streets of Chicago or a training montage for a boxing film from that same era.

Each track is incredibly unique in this album. The steady, piercing pulse of each track produces fantastic electronic beats the audience can bop their heads to, while also infusing sounds reminiscent of piano riffs, steady drum beats, strings, instrumentals, and more that fuse pop and R&B. Each track is a good length, timing-wise, giving a feel of being composed for a cinematic score. One personal favorite off the album was “Neptune‘s Folly,” which brought more of an 80s synth-pop vibe that could easily have become an action sequence in a show like Stranger Things, while still bringing that cosmic element that tied back to the artist’s background and the album’s theme perfectly. This is a memorable, compelling album readers will not want to miss. If you haven’t yet, grab your copy of this album or stream it wherever possible today!

Rating: 10/10