When relaxing or studying, what do you listen to? For some of us, we have a particular ‘lock in’ playlist consisting of our favourite songs, while others may utilise natural soundscapes to put them in a focused state of mind. I have one album that, thankfully, I had the fortune of finding through a random TikTok music reviewer. I can’t recall his name, but whatever magic words he used in his review somehow convinced me to give this album a listen. If anything good came out of doomscrolling, it would be finding what I consider to be my most revered, seven song collection of all time. 

Miracle in Transit — produced by British-based electronic artist Naked Flame — released in 2022 with a niche, but sizable number of streams (especially for a new musician on Spotify). This wave of popularity would unfortunately lose its splash with his follow-up records, but to this date, Miracle in Transit remains his most successful project with 1,474,000 streams. 

‘Pan Matsuri’ opens Miracle in Transit, standing as the most streamed song on the album, while closely tied to being Naked Flame’s top streamed song on Spotify. The consistent bouncy baseline, combined with the hazy high-pitched vocal samples, create a nostalgia cocktail that I have become addicted to since the first listen. ‘Pan Matsuri’ reminds me of the chill hangout sessions I had with my university friends, playing cards as we listened to melancholic video game soundtracks. For an introduction it works perfectly; as a hook it does a great job of displaying the medium-to-high tempo found in the next six songs. 

‘Carrot Car’ amps up the energy a bit. This is done with the rapid synth chords along with the claps in the background. If you pay attention, you can hear bird chirps that slowly blend into piano keys, a cool detail that I found out after listening to this album over and over and over and over again. 

‘Visiting Corners’ is the biological child to the previous two tracks; this song bounces all over the place in a satisfying way. In six minutes, it takes you on an electronic groovy ride. Unique instrumental flairs come as quickly as they go, creating an unpredictable but enthralling listen. Every second feels vital, which is special coming from a genre known for having little to no peaks in its music. 

‘Under Every Tree In England’ gives some much-needed breathing room. This track takes a backseat with a baseline that feels reduced with a moodier tone. There’s not much else to say other than It’s great to commute to and I can’t put my finger on why. 

If I had to choose my ‘least favourite’ part of this album, it would be ‘Miles of Conkers’. Don’t get me wrong, the eerie but unyielding beat mixes well with the chords and occasional synth tones. However, with this track running the longest in the album at a sizable nine minutes, I feel like it loses its mystique during the slightly tedious mid-section. You’ll find me skipping this one if it plays on shuffle. 

‘Taking The Stairs’ hits you with a thumping rhythm out of the gate, which continues unrelentingly as it’s accompanied by a pensive flute instrumental. If you have ever found yourself lost in a shopping centre or at a convention, ‘Taking The Stairs’ beautifully mimics that feeling with the following drone after the fast-paced chaos. The transition into the next song is seamless, as it calms down and slowly descends into: 

‘Tennessee Transit’, my second favourite song out of this project. The track concludes Miracle in Transit with a big, bold build up which leads to a chorus of low-toned vocals. The trumpets reinforce the climactic tone, blaring loud as they fade into the album’s conclusion. It keeps those familiar hi-hat sounds while standing out as a powerful finish to an album I consider my most beloved.  

I would highly suggest giving Miracle in Transit a listen, even if it’s just the first song, as I believe that this album is a great introduction to the ambient genre. It’s clean, satisfying, and stunning. To say that it’s underrated is an understatement; there’s a reason why this is Naked Flames top streamed project, and I can confidently add that it is by far his best work. If you need a few songs that’ll put you in a flow state, help you relax, or assist you in reminiscing about the past, then give this short seven track album a listen. Thank you ‘random TikTok music reviewer’ for giving me a musical experience I had no clue I was missing out on.  

Edited by Jemima Humphrey and Jess Dunipace