New York Smile – Awning (Free Download)
For the past several months, I’ve heard more whispers and outright shouting about two-piece bands than I have for quite some time. It seems as though many of these couples are determined to assert that, with the depth of synthetic instrumentation now available, a standard three or four piece is simply not a requirement to produce a significant, deep sound. While this shift has obviously been occurring for quite some time, I’m now more frequently discovering acts that have found a way to blend elements of the old and new worlds of music creation. One such duo, Awning (@awningmusic), has caught my attention in particular.
To fully appreciate their new EP, you need a set of speakers or headphones that are fully capable of distinguishing the tiny nuances that make these songs fantastic. From the light guitar picking that acts as a prelude to the introduction of percussion in “New York Smile” to the layering of synth, acoustic, and electric that occurs later, this track and others force a thorough search for every sound. A casual listen is simply not adequate to discern every drumbeat, ding, haunting vocal refrain, and gentle guitar pick that explode out of every track.
While I always prefer the use of unaffected, genuine vocals to the auto-tuned variety, the wavering, mechanical singing with occasional harmonies layered on top work well for the split the band has achieved between their electronic and instrumental elements. Littered with synthetic sounds in each song, the music is rooted in a base of often acoustic guitars. “Home” with a simple, continuous riff running throughout most of the song, is perhaps the best example of this. Building from a beautiful, delicate melody, the song persists in driving forward, ebbing and flowing until finally reaching a conclusion at the end.
While the album isn’t available for download yet, each song is available for streaming on their bandcamp page. On the bright side, Awning has already announced that their first release will be given free of charge!
