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Mask of Smiles
Rock · 1985 · 9 tracks

Mask of Smiles

John Waite

Polished 1985 pop-rock defined by raspy, soulful vocals and neon-lit synth textures. A cinematic soundtrack for urban solitude and late-night highway drives.

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It's the ultimate 'driving through the city at 2 AM' soundtrack for the broken-hearted.

A restless, neon-lit romanticism that balances high-gloss production with soulful, raspy yearning.

Mask of Smiles · vs · John Waite
Keys/Synth+1.7σ

The instrumentation foregrounds keys/synth notably more than the catalogue usually does.

Tracklist · 9 Tracks
01
Every Step of the Way
4:15
02
Laydown
3:35
03
Welcome to Paradise
4:02
04
Lust for Life
3:06
05
Ain't That Peculiar
3:11
06
Just Like Lovers
4:34
07
The Choice
4:30
08
You're the One
3:22
09
No Brakes
3:17
Moments Worth Waiting For
The explosive, gated-reverb snare hit that kicks off the chorus of Every Step of the Way.
The grit in Waite's voice during the bridge of Ain't That Peculiar, turning a soul classic into a rock lament.
The shimmering, atmospheric synth pads that open Just Like Lovers, creating a sense of suspended time.
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