We Will Die Dreaming. Afasia

Sometimes it happens. Your brain tells you you haven't heard from someone for some time and then you either take action or forget about. It happened to me fairly recently that I hadn't heard from Greek label Puzzlemusik for some time and not much later a message arrived saying "Hi Wout, It's been years since our last contact. I hope that you're doing well". It turns out the label had been releasing jazz records only and knew it not to be my cup of tea.

The message concerns a new signing by the band Afasia. The band members are all 17 and 18 and did the writing and arranging themselves. That is nice information but not if the music isn't good. It is. For so young musicians, the album sounds very mature and rich.

Let's first introduce the band. Afasia consists of Aris Anastasiou,vocals, saxophone, Spyridonas Katsaros, electric guitar, Marita Malli, piano, electric guitar, Serj Kon, bass, piano and Nestor Orologas, drums. The production was done by label owner Christos Alexopoulos. Musically, I have a hard time trying to define the genre. Yes, it's a form of rock music, but what sort? Sometimes there is a hint of Gogol Bordello, not more than a hint though. There is some jazzy stuff, hints at pop. Perhaps it's better to take a listen and make up your own mind.

It all comes together in the song the album takes its title from, 'Dreamers'. Afasia is both serious and totally relaxed in this song. The background vocals are simply so great making a song a sheer joy to listen to on top of a song that is already so good and then that lead piano comes in. 'Dreamers' is a top song.

The instrumental 'Dystopia' combines the saxophone of Aris Anastasiou over the band that is rocking and then is replaced by the lead guitar turning the song totally upside down. But let's return to the opening song first. 'Unbalanced' starts with a guitar intro before the band comes in. The saxophone sounds somewhat hesitant it seems, immature perhaps even. But listen to the band. It certainly means business. It is in full action behind the saxophone, carrying it and delivering it right up to where the singing starts. Anastasiou has a raspy voice, belying his age by a few years. The sax is underneath the song, so can't be replicated in this way live. 'Unbalanced' has a great guitar solo and a supportive synth line that stands out as well.

I listened to We Will Die Dreaming before I knew what I was listening to. Just listening to recent albums to see if one caught my attention to review. I was thinking to myself a few times, what is it that I'm listening to?, as this album certainly is different from the average album that comes by. How to place it?, a puzzle I haven't answered yet. The album caught my attention and I listened the whole way through and jotted it down for a review. Only then I found out the who and what.

Okay, the bands that came to my mind, are two Dutch bands from around 1980, Alquin and Solution. Both long gone, but with records that I still play every once in a while or in the case of Alquin started buying second hand in the previous decade. Chances are, the members of Afasia have never heard of the bands, but who knows what their parents have in their collection or what streaming services serve up nowadays.

Remains the conclusion. Afasia has produced a very mature album, especially considering their age. This is not the reason why you should give the album a chance. That reason is the quality. Enjoy, including hearing the Greek language here and there!

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order We Will Die Dreaming here:

https://afasia-gr.bandcamp.com/album/we-will-die-dreaming-studio-album