The album is replete with melodic moments and beautiful synth washes that have the slightest tinge of melancholy which gives the album some extra depth and emotionally expressive motifs.
Ambient techno of the highest order
The Truth About Love by Joel Shanahan’s Golden Donna project truly is a labor of love. The premise for the album is based around a terrible tragedy, however I really feel it’s not my place to delve into his personal circumstances. So we’ll focus on the beautiful music that was borne of this defining moment in Shanahan’s life.
The album is emotionally driven, ambient techno of the highest order that documents the highs and lows of being in love and what it can do to you—how it changes your life forever. Shanahan, unlike many of his modern contemporaries, records everything live and each track therefore truly encapsulates his feelings at that time, and this shines through most admirably indeed. His approach also gives the album an element of real spontaneity and this is something that is often lacking in a lot of modern productions.
Alongside the more emotional pieces, there’s also some real movers that you can’t help but dance along to. However, you can even feel the love infused into these numbers, also. Even with the big analog thump of a kick that’s driving the rhythm in some.
The album is replete with melodic moments and beautiful synth washes that have the slightest tinge of melancholy which gives the album some extra depth and emotionally expressive motifs.
The CD version of the album is 11 tracks by Shanahan himself and there’s also a digital version that contains six remixes by other Mighty Force artists. Each remix offers something different from the album and fans of Mighty Force will most definitely recognize the signature motifs of some of the remixers. Each remix is also a work of the highest order. It’s a beautiful album from a label that never fails to deliver.
The Truth About Love is available on Mighty Force. [Bandcamp]
