While I certainly miss my metabolism, I’ve found that my 30s has its advantages.
I make more money. I’m married to the most amazing woman on Earth. And I no longer care about what people think in regards to my choices in music.
I’ve always loved ’emo,’ if that’s what you want to call it. Blink-182, The Early November, Fallout Boy — call them emo all you want. They’re just great rock bands. I would argue, isn’t any music worth listening to emotional? Why cast a sub-genre inferior simply for embracing what it is.
I feel Aurganic embraces what it is. And it’s ’emo’ in 2020.
The Toronto-New York duo labels they’re newest album, Distant Echoes & Close Encounters, as post-modern. The label fits because it’s certainly an unfamiliar but addictive sound that no one else appears to be making right now.
“Signs,” “Shaman” and “Empires” are my favorite tracks off Aurganic’s new record, the latter song having the most potential for commercial success in my opinion.
The entire 9-track record holds an incredible amount of dynamics. Its electro-pop dissonance holds an often unpredictable rhythm and song structure, which I really like.
I also like Michael Kossov’s vocals and his effects and style employed on guitar. Those two elements, along with Leo Pisaq’s synths, truly define the band’s brand — a sound that is smart, contemplative and ever-evolving.
Distant Echoes & Close Encounters is great night-time drive music. But it’s also almost like driving into the future.
The band lists influences such as Radiohead, Muse and Deftones. But I also hear a great influence of the emo-punk of yesteryear; there’s enough experimentation in each song to keep it ground-breaking, yet enough hooks to keep the trained emo’s ear satisfied.
Aurganic’s music has already been used on several TV shows: CNN’s Wonder List, MTV’s MADE, FOX’s Xploration Outer Space, and E!’s True Hollywood Story, just to name a few. The commercial success is because the music is ‘cool.’ It’s catchy. And it sounds like the future.
Although there’s nine songs on Distant Echoes & Close Encounters, the band originally had 20 written for the release. This effort tells me the band puts in the work. And even if the work isn’t at the level they had hoped, they’re willing to make the sacrifices needed to pack a punch.
Distant Echoes & Close Encounters is the first time I had listened to Aurganic. I’m impressed. Especially considering the project was entirely self produced and self-mastered.
The third album from this eyebrow-raising duo tells me they not only could be on the verge of something very special, I also feel like they’re a few years ahead of their time, giving me peak into the future sound of the genre.
I applaud their unapologetic way of experimenting with their emotions. If their fourth album continues to evolve in the same direction, don’t be surprised if Aurganic’s distant echoes truly soon become regular close encounters.
Josh Helmuth is the editor of Crave Sports and a longtime music lover whose first record was Eric Clapton. However, his first concert? That choice he will take to the grave.
Listen to and purchase Distant Echoes And Close Encounters by Aurganic here.
