THE YEARNING

Chilean band Aisles impressed me from the moment I heard samples avaliable on their site when considering them for addition to ProgArchives. Their first album, The Yearning, took a few listens for me to really dig it. At first I thought it was just another good Neo-Prog release, with nothing to distinguish it from the average hoard. I don't hold this view still. I think Aisles has written a very dynamic and enjoyable record. It is very lush in nature and the musicianship is quite brilliant, as is the songwriting. The band excels in acoustic interludes to link the more energetic moments. Ideas are fused together well and no track outwears its welcome. The band use. The production gives the album a personal feel, as does Sebastian Vergara's clear voice, which is often enhanced by his band mates in harmony. When listening to this record, I have distinct mental imagery of coastal avenues, beaches, breathtaking aquatic vistas, and undersea paradises. Further still, I have recurring memories of the film Whale Rider while listening to this record, as if the serene seaside setting of that film fits perfectly with the music on The Yearning. While it may be personal and not applicable to most listeners, I like to find distinguishing elements in my music, and I now feel this album will retain a place in my memory for that very reason. The Yearning is a beautiful album, but it just doesn't feel like a 5-star album to me, so I will award it a solid 4 stars. Fans of the bands Solaris and East will likely enjoy this album, and I think it can appeal to modern symphonic fans as well.