I have no idea when I first heard AWOLNATION’s ‘Sail’, but it tickled my fancy the moment the dreamy melody caressed my eardrums. Unfortunately, it was a short lived relationship as the name of this masterpiece was lost to me in the airwaves of radio. The sample amongst all the songs to be reviewed was the spark that rekindled the relationship with the lost sound.

AWOLNATION is a solo project of American, Aaron Bruno. The five piece Alternative Rock band have already performed a sell-out show in London’s Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, to follow up with a place as headline act for both headline London’s XOYO  and Manchester’s Deaf Institute.

Despite being an alternative rock band, AWOLNATION have evidently had a heavy electronic influence which coincides with the increasing popular interests in genres such as Dubstep and House which has seen the likes of many pop songs, increasingly, over the last fourteen months take inspiration from these genres in an attempt to create a record for the newly emerging mainstream audience. This is by no means a poor attempt to keep up with popular trends but a perfect example of how one can create records that satisfy the criteria for this emerging market space and the music of the future as well as keeping the creation personal and more importantly an original.

Sail was the first single to be released ahead of the band’s debut album ‘Megalithic Symphony’ (released in the UK, October 3^rd 2011). Sail immediately sets the mood with a steady electronic keyboard rhythm not long after, followed by the strong distorted bass which makes the heart and soul of this track. As the song progresses, it matures perfectly as the sound becomes thicker and thicker as the unique vocals of Bruno engulfs you and takes you in to the wonder world of AWOLNATION.  Bruno’s, if not anything else, then depressing lyrics such as ‘This is how an angel dies’ and,  ‘Maybe I should kill myself’ , is perfectly flanked be the bass and seems to fall in line perfectly with the wave of bass which swallows it up carries the melody forward.

In Sail, AWOLNATION have created what appears to be a wonderfully simple yet complex track which seamlessly comes together to create a beautifully unique washing symphony filled with a grimy bass line and a light hearted melody. Sail is a perfect example of everything that is great about the Electronic music genre and demonstrates brilliantly that a heavy bass line and the use of synthesisers is not a tool of exclusive ownership of the fabricators of the Dance and Dubstep genres nor up tempo tracks, but can be used to create easy to listen to music which, despite standing perfectly on its own two feet, like Sail, can flow seamlessly in your playlist even on shuffle.

AWOLNATION are something to shout about and definitely one to keep your eye on for the future.

Nick Janse van Rensburg

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