ÆONIA

A dignified debut shot by a Lausanne-based post-rock quartet WHAT ALEPH SAID. Their first full-length album released in July 2021 via a post-rock / ambient label Fluttery Records is full of movements towards hope. It's said they are influenced by authentic post rock, progressive rock, or stoner rock, and we can find that the inspiration for them is stuffed into this creation. For the debut, their composition and performance are beyond expression. In addition, they would play in this opus for presenting shoegaze, stoner, psychedelic music agents in an intentional manner. On the other hand, it sounds like that they would be too particular about such an atmosphere to launch innovative spirits that can beat out the post / stoner / psychedelic vanguards. A brilliant production nonetheless.

Apparently in the first track "Aorta" we can feel delicate ethnicity and mysterious touch drenched in energetic guitar fuzz and complicated rhythmic bases. Enthusiastic sound developments in the middle part are fascinating indeed. Repetitive shoegaze phrases are crazy comfortable and addictive. The following "Elephant" has heavy sticky madness as the title says. Meanwhile this song involves sensitive chords too. This is one of the most challenging and interesting tracks in the album, we could feel. The opening of "Introspection" reminds us of kinda similar vein to 90s Seattle alternative garage rock units. We can easily imagine they also get inspired by them. In "Nostalgic" we can enjoy their contrastive appearances - delicacy, sensitivity, and violence, boldness. The last "Pyra" is the shortest but the loudest, most powerful one obviously to encourage and activate the audience under the pandemic situation. This produces unification between them and us.

In conclusion, this album shows their intentional musical strategy and brilliant instrumental technique. No novelty nor innovation is there but we can find they are definitely promising in future. Looking forward to their next creation, let me say.