Two years ago almost to the date of this post I stumbled across a little band called
Anavae. Immediately falling in love and downloading every song possible - I think there were no more than three at the time - i've watched them grow, being continually impressed along the way. Unafraid it seems, or at least determined, to try and put into the music their deep rooted questions and ideas about our existence has made for intriguing listening over the last couple of years that's stood out amongst break up song after break up song and
Dimensions, the bands' second EP/mini album, is no exception to this.
Opening the EP is
Anti-Faith making it quite clear from the get-go that it's going to knock you off your feet. With a big sound and drums that make your floor vibrate it takes all of 30 seconds to forget that other music actually exists so by the time second track
Storm Chaser and it's brutally relatable content hits, you find yourself well and truly lost to the masterpiece
Dimensions is shaping up to be.
Not knowing the name of
The Wanderer when I first heard it months and months ago during
Anavae's first StageIt performance and then again back in May on one of their mini tours I had dubbed it
I Won't Return due to the soaring chorus bound to be stuck in your head for days. Disguising itself as one of the more tame songs on the album it's the 2:40 mark that sets the song off with
Anavae's signature dubstep breakdown.
With a frenzied guitar pattern opening
Hang-Man the word
psychedelic is brought to mind until it slows down when the verse kicks in. Drawn out, lazy day vocals lead the song towards another of those larger than life choruses just dying to be played live to a room of sweaty kids.
Aeon pulses it's way into your mind and finds you questioning the universe with this other worldly track showcasing Becca's flawless high notes and
Anavae's ability to incorporate electronics into the music with purpose and not just because they could - a trap many bands seem to fall down. If you're acquainted with the bands' first EP
Into The Aether - if you're not
what are you doing - you'll probably be reminded of
Invaesion and it's withdrawn pace which escalates into a perfect breakdown courtesy of that clever dubstep injection.
Melody wise
Dream Catcher is brilliant with a chorus to end all choruses it's bound to become a firm favourite to a lot of fans. The vocal control shown is impressive and in areas shows off a grittier vocal that adds a fierceness to the delivery of the lyrics much like the bridge on
Anti-Faith. However one of the true highlights of the album is
Bring Me Down which is gorgeous start to finish. The opener lyric
'I sometimes see the shadow on my back, I don't know his name but he sometimes loses his way' made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end when I first heard it - and it has done ever since. Sung with such beautiful desperation and accompanied by weighted music that matches the tone perfectly I challenge anyone not to like it. By now I feel
Anavae deserve some kind of award for writing some of the best bridges ever, as just like every song before it, the bridge is yet another fantastic one that builds on itself and offers a striking climax to a hell of a powerful song. Dropping the bold drums from full band
Anti-Faith the acoustic version holds an eerie calmness. Where the album opens strong and fighting it closes with an unsettling fragility. The arrangement is possibly one of the most stunning i've ever heard and has found me hitting repeat over and over.
Overall
Dimensions is a fantastic example of pure creativity unhindered by the bands' ever growing talent and obvious vision. With all eight tracks being above and beyond the exceptionally high expectations I had it's truly impossible to pick a favourite and put it this way, if you don't know who
Anavae are yet, you soon will. Forget taking over the world these guys are headed for unknown galaxies.
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