Album Review: Tyler Lyle - ‘Transcendentalist’

Tyler Lyle is surely familiar to most of the readers as one half of the legendary synthwave act The Midnight. With the release of the Transcendentalist, we hear a side of Lyle that we haven’t since 2019 when he released his last solo effort. This record is much more guitar-driven, particularly through its featuring of acoustic guitar.

However, that’s not to say that this one will be completely foreign to fans of Lyle’s synthwave work. His vocals are still as pure and warm as ever. Additionally, the man can really develop complex narratives from a songwriting perspective. And why shouldn’t he? He had no shortage of material to work from as the period in which he developed this one saw him move back to his home state of Georgia, become a father, and saw his wife be diagnosed with and overcome cancer.

The thing that is especially interesting are the themes that Lyle tangles with, that include life and death, grief and joy, and philosophy. He was admittedly influence by thinkers such as Carl Jung when it came to writing Transcendentalist. The result is a well written and polished output that features some elements you might expect from his work in The Midnight, while also heavily relying on acoustic guitar and piano.

What is clear is that no matter the creative outlet, whether that’s the more cinematic sounds of The Midnight, or the more paired back sounds on Transcendentalist. What I can say is no matter what outlet Lyle is utilizing, you know you’re in for complex sonic arrangements, dynamic vocals, and rich storytelling. Transcendenalist is a winner for me and one of the best things I’ve heard this year.

Rating - 9/10