AZRÆYIL’s ‘War’ is an exquisitely soft piece of ambient indie pop that effortlessly took me somewhere warm and safe with its gentle instrumental and melodic embrace. A wonderful listen that will leave a lasting impact on me.
Singer, songwriter, and artist AZRÆYIL has his roots in Bridgeport, Connecticut, but is currently in New York. On his latest release, AZRÆYIL’s first release in 6 years, the artist is returning with a piece that showcases stellar musical maturity. It takes a bold musician to truly embrace ambience. What can be considered as a skeletal and empty arrangement can be scary to most people, but it is easy to see AZRÆYIL thriving in the ethereal emptiness, transforming it into a lush and engulfing soundscape that is rich with nuance and detail.
‘War’ is as simple as it is elegant. With its few hypnotizing chords, AZRÆYIL leaves ample space for the forest of airy synth pads, soft percussion, strings floating in the breeze, and in the center of it all, his own soulful and captivating delivery. A superb melodic composition creates vocals that wrap tightly around the song’s chords delivered via cloudy synths and haunting acoustic strums.
‘War’ is an extremely welcome return of a talented artist. Recorded in the rural and beautiful western Connecticut at friend and collaborator DarkMaestro’s recording studio, it is safe to say that the duo have struck gold with this gorgeous piece of ambient pop.