Cortlandt Alley – (Catastrophe)

‘(Catastrophe)’ by Cortlandt Alley: dark synth pop with a touch of melancholy

Sometimes I hear a song and I know immediately: it will stay in my head. That's exactly what happened to me with ‘(Catastrophe)’ by Cortlandt Alley. The track combines synth pop with dark wave elements and manages to create a deeply melancholic, almost dystopian mood. The synthesiser sounds are dark and perfectly balanced, reminding me of the early works of Camouflage, with a hint of Depeche Mode.

I particularly liked the lyrics: "My friend, I will see you in the stars" – there's something magical about this line. It leaves room for your own interpretations, but at the same time it sounds so final that it almost gave me goosebumps. Especially when you're slowly getting to an age where you're becoming more and more aware of mortality.

The vocals are powerful and menacing, which perfectly accentuates the lyrics. However, I would have liked the effects on the voice to have been toned down a little. For my taste, this would make the song even more direct and emotional. Nevertheless, ‘(Catastrophe)’ is a consistent whole for me. The dark sound and oppressive atmosphere literally draw me into this sonic dystopia.