The singular presence on the synthesizer-driven A World We Pretend is Todd Loomis, who has populated his "solo" effort with songs of introspection.  Known as The Twilight Garden, Todd has crafted tunes out of his deepest ponderings of life's imperfections and shortcomings, released on 10 reflecting tracks, reflecting because his words might mirror your own sense of helplessness.

His words swirl like small vortexes within the gauze of airy synth melodies.  The songs' presentation are melancholy in nature, thus immersing you in a frame of mind to take in, and wrap around these thoughts.  The music merely serves as a home for the concepts that permeate A World We  Pretend.

The gothic-in-nature songs are pleasureable to listen to.  Loomis has an attuned sense of vocal variation in his music.  The monotone push of the correctly sequenced "I Am Echo,"  which leads off the album, beautifully shifts to higher ground as he ends each stanza.  The song is more guitar than synth, setting the stage for a varied album of music that is satisfying in it's intended scope.  "Retainer Maintainer," found in the middle of the album, introduces a soundtrack-like dance track.  More dance follow on the similarly paced "The Puppeteers".

A World We Pretend is not going to be for everybody.  It is for discriminating tastes accustomed to and receptive to all the nuances found in our diversities of music.  If that's you, then give this album a listen.