Review: Aisles - In Sudden Walks (2009)

Artist: Aisles
Album: In Sudden Walks
Year: 2009
Label: Presagio

Review: Diego Camargo

Rate: 

Thoughts: Aisles is a band from Chile and In Sudden Walks (2009) is their second album. It was released by their own label Presagio.

I usually don’t review albums that are not just released. But the band is about to release their third album and was kind enough to send me their 2 previous CDs, so I’ve decided to review their latest album anyway.

In their debut album The Yearning (2005) the band was pretty much shooting its bullets to every side, that album was lacking unity. In Sudden Walks (2009) they corrected that.

In Sudden Walks (2009) has pretty much a similar tracklist to the one on their first album. 3 songs that are between 9 and 10 minutes long, 2 songs that are between 4 and 5 minutes long and one longer track, in this case a 15-minute-long track.

Aisles have learned a lot in the 4 years they took to record In Sudden Walks (2009). Also, by that point they had a fixed lineup that comprised 7 musicians, the first album lineup: Sebastián Vergara (vocals and flutes), Germán Vergara (electric and acoustic guitars), Luis Vergara (keyboards), Rodrigo Sepúlveda (electric and acoustic guitars), Alejandro Meléndez (keyboards) plus Felipe González (bass) and Felipe Candia (drums and percussion). This fixed lineup helps them to shape their music. Especially Felipe whose drums play a vital role on the album.

In Sudden Walks (2009) starts with ‘Mariachi’ which is a fabulous idea. The track is a theatrical piece where the band composed a very interesting piece of music with no vocals. Instead of vocals we have two actors staging a scene in a ‘hot’ text. A great initial track.
Then we have ‘Revolution Of Light’ that is very Neo Prog with a bit of Asia. It’s a Pop directed song with very good choruses.
In ‘Summer Fall’ the band continues with the previous track sound but less Pop and more Symphonic. The track includes acoustic guitars moments in a Genesis way. Bass and drums are great together throughout the album but especially on this one.

In ‘The Maiden’ Aisles goes a bit more Folk, a bit of Chilean Folk music here and there. But this track has everything, many different parts within the song like New Age keyboards, fast parts, acoustic moments and Symphonic.
‘Smile Of Tears’ is shorter and it’s kinda electronica. It’s the weakest song on the album in my opinion. This is something that Kitaro would do but without the vocals.

Then we have the final track ‘Hawaii’. Here we have a whole concept behind the song. It’s a Sci-fi tale where human race is about to be eradicated. In the year 2300 after 8 wars 200 people were chosen for a space journey with an unknown destination.
The main character of the tale was able to bring with him only one thing, he has chosen a gramophone and that’s how the music actually starts.
The music completely fits in the story. It is a long sound journey that you can take with your eyes closed. There’s a bit of cabaret Jazz here and there but in general it is a big Symphonic Space Rock, which was a great ending for the album.

Aisles was able to achieve a great and solid album with In Sudden Walks (2009). With much more unity than their first record. Listening to In Sudden Walks (2009) makes me really want to listen their new album that should be released in the next months.

By the way, what an intriguing cover, still trying to get it.

The band was included in our Podcast #21 and you can listen the track 'Revolution Of Light' HERE.