Ascension album art

Ascension

Maxwell
Embrya (1998)
Moderate 90 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range7/10
Sudden Changesmild
Texturelayered
Predictabilitymedium
Vocal Styledynamic vocals
Notes: The song features smooth, soulful vocals layered over a rich instrumental backdrop, creating an immersive listening experience. The dynamics ebb and flow, adding emotional depth.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksmild
Breathing Soundsnone
Repetitive Micro-soundsnone

A soulful R&B track that explores themes of love and longing with a smooth, melodic flow.

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Moods: intimate, reflective, romantic

Traditions: R&B

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 7/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.

Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.

Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.

Vocal style: dynamic vocals.

Where this sits in Maxwell's catalog

We have 20 songs from Maxwell in the library. Of those, 2 are rated Safe, 18 Moderate, and 0 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 7/10 sits above the artist average of 6.7, making it the #1 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

Other tracks from Embrya

We have 6 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.

1998 context

Released in 1998. We have 339 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.3/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 1990s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
intimate · 2267reflective · 5792romantic · 745
Traditions
R&B · 935

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-17. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.

Songs with the same DNA

layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.

Lift
Radiohead
moderate
DR 7
Last Train Home
Fall Out Boy
moderate
DR 7
Gravity Grave
The Verve
moderate
DR 6
Strange Feelin
Tim Buckley
moderate
DR 7
Stigmata Martyr
Bauhaus
intense
DR 8
Wooden Ships
Jefferson Airplane
moderate
DR 6

Safer alternatives with a similar feel

These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

Willow
Taylor Swift safe
Luther
Kendrick Lamar (feat. SZA) safe
Adore
Prince safe
Turn Your Lights Down Low
Bob Marley and the Wailers safe
First Times
Ed Sheeran safe

What this song means to people

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