HAWAII

Aisles, the band from Chile, made their first double record with great reception, leaving behind their previous works and style. Hawaii, Aisles' masterpiece, is a double conceptual album that tells the story of a spaceship named Hawaii. If you have enough money or influence, you can escape Earth's apocalypse on this ship. In Hawaii, Aisles improved their musical conception, pushing themselves to the limit.

Instrumentally, no other previous record by Aisles matches the precision delivered on Hawaii. The guitar work is outstanding, the keyboards create a futuristic atmosphere, and the bass and drums form the perfect rhythm section, blending all these elements into a great piece of music. In my opinion, the highlight is the vocal work?not that one aspect is better than the other, but the vocals are particularly strong. Sebastián Vergara delivers his best performance here, and yes, this is his farewell.

Hawaii is a remarkable, cosmopolitan album. In terms of style, it's impossible to pinpoint a single influence, as the album blends a wide range of inspirations into a unique musical cocktail?from 80s Peter Gabriel to IQ, Talk Talk, Marillion, Porcupine Tree, and a touch of jazz fusion. While you can hear these influences, they are perfectly merged into Aisles' distinctive sound.

The record opens with "The Poet Part I and II," showcasing intricate arrangements that set the tone for the entire album. The softer tracks like "Year Zero" and "Upside Down" lean more toward pop, while maintaining Aisles' signature atmospheric touch. Perhaps the best song is "CH-7," a 12-minute journey through great atmospheres and arrangements, demonstrating the band's capabilities. "Terra," an almost instrumental and melancholic piece. "Pale Blue Dot." the tribute to Carl Sagan, another highlight. "Still Alive" reminds of their previous record, 4:45 from 2013, but fits perfectly here.

The instrumental "Nostalgia" serves as a great opening for "Club Hawaii," which talks about the unique atmosphere of the spaceship and the pain of leaving behind what you love and fear. "Falling" is a sentimental, introspective piece reflecting on what you've lost. "The Probe" is a hauntingly sad song about life on Earth?perhaps everything was just a dream, and you're already dead.

Aisles crafted a fantastic thematic fantasy record with Hawaii. The album was presented during an extensive tour, including performances in several European countries, where it received a great reception. Aisles remains a standout Chilean band.

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