Azwel have landed on our radar recently with their new album “Lives in Motion”, and it’s been a good surprise to come across a band with this much care in their songwriting. The album has 15 tracks, but it doesn’t come across as a pile of songs thrown together. There’s a thread running through it, with different people and places taking shape as the record moves along.
“Start of the Story”, opens things softly, with warm melodies and songwriting that gets to the point. It’s catchy, but not in a way that wears out after one listen. The rich and smooth vocals are our favorite here. The delivery is interesting without pushing every line too far. “In Defense of These Two” follows with fuller instrumentation behind the singing and the melodies are strong enough to keep your attention even when there’s so much happening around the vocals.
“The Life She Promised” is one of the more emotional stops on the album. The writing is lovely, the vocal delivery is gentle and the female vocals add another side to the song without taking the attention away from the band’s sound. It’s a good example of how a small change in the arrangement can give a track its unique character.
“Low Tide Temptation” is one of our favourites here. The rhythm is easygoing, the melodies are soft and the lyrics are catchy and stays with you. There’s no need for a huge production trick to make it work. The simple arrangement gives each part space and we really liked the choices made in the production. Then “Nifty Fifty” brings more energy with guitars and drums that give the song a great lift. The sound design is strong, but the vocals still sit right at the centre.
There’s so much honesty to “Railway East” with warm instrumental work and a smoother pace. “Wishing Well” picks things up again with its rhythm and melody, both of which were highlights for us. And “Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right” has lovely guitar work, well-shaped instrumentation and smooth vocals that can stick in your head after just one listen. The drums deserve a mention here. Everything works together without sounding overworked.
The idea behind this album adds something extra to the listening experience. The songs follow different lives in one imagined town, almost like scenes from a film, but Azwel don’t need to explain every detail for the idea to come across. The album’s changing sounds help keep that world moving. At the same time, the songs share enough warmth and melodic sense to belong together, each one adding something to the track before it.
What we really loved is the mix of strong writing, memorable melodies, and production that has been given real attention. We’re glad Azwel crossed our radar and we’re excited to share this album with more listeners. There’s raw energy and human passion behind their music and that matters to us. “Lives in Motion” is an original and melodic record from a band with so much talent and room to keep growing.
ABOUT THE BAND:
Azwel is a project that involves songwriter Jason Perrillo and the live band. For the past 20 years, Jason has gained online success recording and producing independently released albums in his New York studio. He describes the music as melodic, eclectic catchy pop/rock with songs that are influenced by various styles of music. The sound is often compared to britpop/rock artists. The live band consists of Joe Lorge (guitar/backing vocals) Gregg Steele (bass/backing vocals,) Johnny Zaletel (drums/percussion) and James Murray (keys/trumpet/guitar/ backing vocals)
