Asia Menor - Enola Gay
Sello Fisura
Asia Menor's debut project, Enola Gay, is finally among us. The demo that circulated back in 2019, which gradually garnered attention from music sites and sites alike, set the stage for the band, and debut album, that we've eventually received - fervent musicianship and musical simplicity among musical intricacy. A delicate wind caresses Asia Menor's debut. In the distance, a storm slowly stews.
As a bit of a preface to this, I don't speak Spanish, so it's more centered on the 'instrumental' aspect of the record. I could look up the lyrics and translate them, but that doesn't sit right with me for some reason - translations are generalizations; the nuance stripped. What is, is. It may seem like a cop out, however, sometimes a sense of mystery is a nice thing to hold on to. The songs will mean different things to different people regardless of whether they know what's being said in the first place. I'll dive in to the translations at some stage, but for now the mystery remains.
Asia Menor provide a refreshing take on weaving and interlocking guitar-based material. There's plenty to dig into - many an avenue is ventured down; with it, well-maneuvered left-turns. Sounds twist and contort on themselves as they simultaneously splay outwards. Like a tree caught in harsh winds, the limbs and leaves dance within their disfigured confines. There's a raw feel to the way things unfold - off the cuff, but well in control. A certain fluidity finds itself oozing from Enola Gay. Hectic, although an underlying beauty is present at all times - the light never quite leaves. The lights are on; someone is home. Whether they want to see you is another matter. The lo-fi tasters from 2019's demo EP have fround their hi-fi counterparts; cleaned up and sharpened, however there's still an edge to their rugged charm. A looseness pervades Enola Gay. Pieces fit, though they're their own being - part of the pack, but lone wolves on some level.
Asia Menor deliver on the hype. Enola Gay steps in to the arena, along with it a band that run like a well-oiled, though somewhat beautifully wonky, machine.
With a debut album already at a level which most often seek, but rarely find, it only really begs one question: what's next for the Chileans?
