Aisles

 My favorite South American band.

AISLES Beyond Drama (2023)

Chile's 21st Century prog stalwarts are back with yet another lineup change. ("And then there were three.") Founding members guitarists Germán Vergara and  Rodrigo Sepúlveda are still with the band as is drummer Felipe Candia. 2012 addition Daniel Concha is back on bass as is keyboard player Juan Pablo Gaete (2014), but the band has had to find a new vocalist. Israel Gil has been brought in to try to fill Sebastién Vargara shoes.

This album is actually a collection of individual songs that the band worked on and released as singles, one by one, over the time span of early 2021 through February of 2023.

 
Line-up / Musicians:
- Israel Gil / vocals
- Rodrigo Sepulveda / guitars
- German Vergara / guitars, vocals
- Juan Pablo Gaete / keyboards
- Daniel Concha / bass

- Felipe Candia / drums

1. "Fast" (4:38) love the "fade in" fast-strum two chord progression that the song opens with but the mix remains too muted and distant for my likes. When keys and vocals join the rhythm section, it's with a MOTORPSYCHO-like sound and feel. Very cool! (I love Motorpsycho.) Despite its flaws (sound engineering) this is a great, catchy song with lots of impressive (and loveable) subtle nuances (keyboard, bass, and drum flourishes). Great drumming from Felipe Candia. (8.875/10) 

2. "Megalomania" (6:25) styled very much like a KARNIVOOL or LEPROUS song (the main melody is practically lifted from the Aussie band's "We Are"--one of my favorite songs of the 2010s), the instrumental palette/soundscape is far too weak and thin to pull it off (as is the voice of lead vocalist Israel Gil), and yet the imitation (borrowing) of the afore-cited Heavy Proggers continues. Still, I do enjoy the slap and percussion styles used on the guitars and bass as well as the drum exhibition around the six-minute mark. (8.75/10)

 
3. "Thanks to Kafka" (4:18) Pleasant but not very memorable (other than the lyrical line of literary homage). At this point in the album my jury is still out on Israel; here he's impassioned but the vocal isn't mixed well into the mix of the song (it's buried too much in the mix--behind the bass and lead guitar). I do, however, appreciate the lyrical intent. (8.6667/10)

4. "Disobedience" (7:18) I love the set up and rhythmic foundation of this one: fast-moving drums with thoughtful phrasing from the bass and keys with great vocal deliveries. Reminds me of early PAATOS. And the reach for heaviness really works on this one. I love the FIXX-like chords used for the awesome chorus motif. Great tune! Definitely a top three song. (14.25/15)

5. "Time (A Conversation with My Therapist)" (6:40) quite a melodically captivating song. Once in, you're stuck--but it's such a nice, soul-balming place. I think I could stay here forever. (Aisles has always the ability to do that to the listener with their music.) A top three song for me. (9.5/10)

6. "The Plague" (11:06) opening with those delicate, virtuosic guitar notes is so magical--so much of what I think of when I recall Aisles. (Which makes me think that this song may have been carried forward from a long time ago.) I love the atmospheric soundscape established to back Israel's MARCO GLÜHMANN-like (Sylvan) vocal delivery. As a matter of fact, the whole song to this point has a LOT in common with the music of SYLVAN. The chorus starts out a little blandly but then Israel and Germán (and others) come forward to win the day. Great drumming, keys, and thrumming bass beneath the lead guitar solo in the fifth minute. Then begins the echoed guitar chord play that feels signatory to this band. Very powerful use of choral voices in the sixth and ninth minutes (reminding me of MOTORPSYCHO). Great, emotional song. Almost a top three song. (18.5/20)

7. "Surrender" (6:44) a beautiful piano intro is soon joined by the rest of the band with such mature subtlety. What a gift is this band! Israel enters with an equally delicate vocal, but then everybody amps up for the brief chorus preview (with some awesome lead guitar riffing). Man the bass sounds so great on this album: I love how forward and full those notes are coming from Daniel Concha. Just a beautifully constructed, performed, and engineered song. My only complaint is that the drums aren't as forward as the bass. (Felipe is also such a master of subtlety in his drum play.) The instrumental passage in the fifth minute is good, just not as blow-me-away good as the rest of the song (though the drums come through a little better). The vocal delivery sounds so heartfelt--even from German on background vocals! My favorite top three song. (9.75/10)

8. "Needsun" (2:09) fades in as if coming from a previously recorded song--a sentimental salvage job by the band. (It's gorgeous--with great drumming and powerful vocals--so I can see why.) (4.5/5)

9. "Game Over" (6:28) melodic yet using an industrial sound palette to get its syncopated CRIMSONIAN ideas across, this was one of the band's last single releases before completing and compiling this album. It's interesting--and very much like the condensed style of Jem Godfrey's FROST* releases of the past decade--with some great electric guitar playing (also in a John Mitchell style)--but I find myself missing/wanting Israel/the band's vocals! Fortunately, the song just keeps getting stronger as it goes along--until it wins you over! Impressive! (9/10)

Total Time 55:46

I must admit to being prejudiced against the possibility of liking this album as I have such love and admiration for the music (and lineup) of the band's 2009 incarnation and album, In Sudden Walks, but I'm won over. This music is great. It's different, but 14 years later you'd kind of hope that a band would grow and develop--not repeat the same sounds and songs over and over. Aisles have accomplished this in spades. I'm so glad the band persevered during the COVID years (and years of political and internal turmoil in Chile and within the band, respectively) to polish, perfect, and publish these songs!

91.79 on the Fishscales = A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of progressive rock music. Aisles continues their stellar contribution to 21st Century progressive rock music. My #11 ranked album of 2023 and my #2 favorite album of the year. 

AISLES Hawaii (2016)

This true 21st Century band releases its fourth studio album: a double album conveying a rather dour and emotional perception of the chaotic, slow demise of our planet, our species, the band's home country of Chile, as well as for the band and perhaps some of the individual members of the band (especially the Vergara brothers). 

Line-up / Musicians:
- Sebastian Vergara / vocals
- Rodrigo Sepulveda / guitars
- German Vergara / guitars
- Juan Pablo Gaete / keyboards
- Daniel Baird-Kerr / bass
- Felipe Candia / drums

Voice actors on "Club Hawaii":

- Matthew Baxter / Newcomer 

- Sebastián Vergara / Club Regular 1 (spoken & sung)

- Germán Vergara / Club Regular 2

- Rebecca Bell / Announcer

- Sebastián Vergara / Steward

• 
  

1. "The Poet Part I: Dusk" (10:06) a solid construct--complete with the band's now familiar impeccably-woven sophisticated multi-layered instrumental construction. I'm not so fond of the hard-drivin' straight-forward rock rhythm choices nor the multi-voice approach to lead vocals. (17.5/20)

2. "The Poet Part II: New World" (4:18) gorgeous melodies created by Sebastian Vergara over this surprisingly simple (but adequate) song construct. Great drumming. Not sure Daniel Baird-Kerr's bass playing style is the best fit for the band. Not the most polished or best engineered song the band has produced, but it's still a winner. (9/10)

3. "Year Zero" (4:36) nice dreamy two-guitar, two channel foundation with solid bass presence and background drumming over which Sebastian sings in a high pitch (and frail-sounding) voice. (Is he sick? Is his [heretofore amazing] voice failing?) Nice Berlin School-like synth patterns takes over in the third minute, at first supplanting the two guitars while Sebastian sits back on the sidelines, later re-introducing the two guitars for a bit before they yield to the piano that finishes the song. Interesting! (8.875/10)

4. "Upside Down" (4:53) piano with bass and delicate drumming open this before guitar strums and big tom-tom hits signal the entry of double-tracked lead vocals (both Sebastian, I believe) mirroring the piano. It's like a stage musical's central aria. It's okay, just not the Aisles we all (in the prog community) want to here Still, the topic expressed in the lyrics is quite heavy and, therefore, appropriately expressed with serious passion. Nice solos from the two guitarists and synth player in the fourth minute. (8.6667/10)

5. "CH-7" (12:33) oddly sparse and simple music behind a rather passionate vocal performance by Sebastian Vergara. Unfortunately, Seb's voice (which is surprisingly lacking any melodic "hooks" to gain our interest and enjoyment) is not enough to carry the song all by itself. (I swear: On this album it feels as if Sebastian's voice is failing--this despite his sincere passion behind many of the messages he's trying to convey.) But carry it he does: for over six minutes--and when the musicians begin to offer more to the soundscape it still feels thin (though it does, admittedly, take a noticeable amount of pressure off of Seb's performance). The musical construct beneath the song's instrumental passage in the ninth minute is rather laughable for its syncopation minimalism--despite everyone's participation. When everybody kind of congeals in the tenth we finally feel a bit of the inviting warmth that I've come to associate the band with. Finally! This section persists into the twelfth minute before taking a turn down a faster-paced downhill street. Unfortunately, the sound palette chosen throughout this song is one that never quite wins me over. Too bad! That instrumental finish was almost worth it. (21.875/25)

6. "Terra" (8:03) nice gently-picked acoustic guitar with fluid fretless bass and sustained volume-controlled pedal steel guitar chords open this one giving the listener quite a relaxing, almost lullaby-like setting. Sebastian's voice enters matching the angelic music with great delicacy, amazing vulnerability. Gorgeous. At the four-minute mark a "sonic boom"-like noise enters--as if signaling the event of some disaster. At 5:40 the vocalist (not Seb?) enters with an almost-operatic tenor, amping up the tension and drama of the song. He is soon joined by Sebastian and multiple other voices in harmonized choral form while the piano and strummed acoustic guitars keep time and the drums, bass, and odd synth noises create a very unsettling chaos--at first in the background, but then usurping the soundscape for the finish. A song of lament and regret? on behalf of the planet? Interesting and unique. This is the kind of creative song creation that keeps me coming back for Aisles music. (13.5/15)

7. "Pale Blue Dot" (9:53) tick-tocking percussion with layers of guitar and synth play over which Sebastian eventually joins--singing his long-held notes in a clear, frail, high register. The music that bridges to a new variation at the three-minute mark is a bit circus-like, while the next motif is more of a standard rock musical experience with Sebastian singing more in front of the mix (with his melodic flow feeling a bit forced and even, at times, incongruous with the musical landscape). Still, there is something not quite right with the musical coherence here: as if the Sebastian and the rest of the band are on two different, diverging paths of musical vision. In the final quarter of the song, there are even several instances in which Seb tries reaching for high power notes and fails to achieve pitch accuracy. (17/20)

8. "Still Alive" (4:46) an emotional radio-friendly song that does a great job at expressing the insecurities and unknowns of daily life in these frail "three-minutes-to-midnight" era of human existence. (9/10)

9. "Nostalgia" (2:11) Perfectly understandable considering the flow and concept behind this album. We all want to feel the security of nostalgic escapes to past memories or past art forms. This song conveys this rather effectively while still expressing the underlying tension (pace) rushing us through a process of escapism. (4.66667/5)

10. "Club Hawaii" (7:22) a very interesting, entertaining, and effective theatric musical play. Quite brilliant--and emotional! (14.5/15)

11. "Falling" (2:11) solo piano over which Sebastian sings in a very high, delicate, almost feminine operatic way. With progress into the song, Seb's vocal definitely expresses more masculinity--though of a very vulnerable emotionality. (4.5/5)

12. "In The Probe" (6:53) interesting and, yes, a bit depressing with a single destabilized guitar occasionally strumming some disharmonic chords and a very sparsely-employed drum machine rhythm track serving as the only two instruments, but, again, it is very effective considering the psychological and emotional goals of the band on this album. I'm very much reminded of the stark soundscapes of TALK TALK's TIM HOLLIS as well as the delicate vocal abilities of Marillion's Steve Hogarth. Very effective. Thank you, Sebastián. You have served commendably. (13.33333/15)

Total time: 77:45

Despite the space of three years since the band's last album, a lot of the music on this album feels forced--as if the idealistic fire that was present in 2009 (on In Sudden Walks) is flickering. However, knowing the cynical space the band was in during its making--about their native Chile, about the planet, about the future of Sebastián's participation with the band--I can better understand (and forgive--as well as learn to grow with) the often sparse, stripped-down soundscapes employed in their musical expressions here. 

89.01 on the Fishscales = B+/four stars; an admirable and quite emotional ride through a band's cynicism and decay. A listening experience that requires attention but then, after several listens, can be truly and fully enjoyed for the artistic expression it is. Highly recommended to any prog lover. My #37 ranked album of 2016 and my 25th favorite. 

AISLES 4:45am (2013)

The band's third studio album sees them taking on a new bass player. While the rest of the lineup reamins constant, there are a lot of guest performers to help the band on their journey--here taking a step toward back to the shorter more radio-friendly pop-oriented songs that they burst onto the scene with on their debut.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Germán Vergara / Guitars, Vocals and Keyboards
- Felipe Candia / Drums and Percussion
- Rodrigo Sepelveda / Guitars and Vocals
- Sebastian Vergara / Lead vocals
- Alejandro Melendez / Keyboards
- Daniel Baird-Kerr / Bass

With:
Constanza Maulén / Vocals (Tracks 1, 3 & 8)
Alejandro Barría / Cello (5, 8 & 9)
Nelson Arriagada / Contrabass (5, 8 & 9)
Valentina Maza / Viola (5, 8 & 9)
David Nunez / First violin (5, 8 & 9)
Diana Brown / Second violin (5, 8 & 9)
Track 3 Voice Actors [DJs] / Chris Trout, Nicoló Rossi, Trinhity Tran
Track 2 & 10 Voice Actors [Mom and kid] / Soraya Castillo

1. "4:45am" (4:06) like a late 1970s AOR song from ART IN AMERICA or RUSH. I have to admit to being a little surprised at the directional choice exhibited by this song--obviously chosen to represent the band's new vision/sound in its being the album's opener. The extraordinary musicianship and dedication to complex minutia is, of course, still obvious, but this is definitely more of a pop-oriented song. (8.75/10)

2. "Gallarda Yarura" (4:32) a long guitar-centric instrumental that could very well have supported vocals makes me wonder if lyricists were either preoccupied with other parts of life or whether Sebastian Vergara was not as heart-fully engaged in the project. (8.666667/10)

3. "Shallow and Daft" (4:52) there's quite a bit of 1980s jazz-pop in this one--sounding a lot like HOWARD JONES, ICEHOUSE, and/or JOHNNY HATES JAZZ. Interesting choices for radio samples they included in the final minute. Melodically quite pleasing but technically and instrumentally quite a step down from the complexity of their past stuff. (8.5/10)

4. "Back my Strength" (4:54) 1980s BRIAN FERRY! Such a simple four-chord song that I feel quite disappointed. Even the beautiful little delicate passage in the middle is diminished by the standard radio fare that it is sandwiched between (though I do like the homage to WHITESNAKE in the instrumental guitar solo). (8.5/10)

5. "The Sacrifice" (5:08) lone acoustic guitar being gently picked shows promise--raises my hopes. Sebastian's delicate vocal (later harmonized) matches perfectly. Gorgeous. But, it never really develops into anything more than this (which leaves it locked out of the prog world, relegated to pop-stage craft). Even the buildup and crescendo in the fifth minute is not enough--more emotion than compositional genius. (8.75/10)

6. "The Ship" (0:57) ship noises--more engine and industrial gear than water.

7. "Intermission" (5:02) the opening weave here seems to suggest that "Side 2" might be more proggy.I love this! The long sustained notes up front make me think that there might be an electric violin involved. Something we might have heard from BRUCE COCKBURN when he had HUGH MARSH working with him. I even love the more percussion-oriented reprise at the end. Great instrumental! My favorite song on the album. (9.5/10)

8. "Sorrow" (6:57) acoustic guitars being picked with more traditional percussion sounds (like talking drum!) and Sebastian and harmony vocals worked into a nice gentle weave. I love the deep throb of the bass play. The interplay of the two or three guitarists alone is magical! I don't really like the way Sebastian's voice is compressed and held in the back. And why is the beautiful female vocalist's name (Constanza Maulén) uncredited? My other top three song. (13.375/15)

9. "Hero" (8:11) a slow methodical progression of blues-rock guitar arppegi (using a soundscape quite similar to that of THE GATHERING on the twin towers of "Analog Park" and "Herbal Movement") with support drums and bass and frenzied synth noises flitting in and out turns into a more familiar Aisles style at the 90-second mark with some cool time and thematic twists and turns accented by guitar, synth, percussion, and vocalise flourishes here and there and ended by an almost Gregorian chant bridge at the four-minute mark that takes us into a very ENIGMA-feeling cave/cathedral place for a minute or so. Drums and distant power chords and aggressive but distant guitar play join in during the sixth minute as DAVID GILMOUR/BRIAN MAY-like strummed chords and RICHARD WRIGHT-like synth solos a bit. At the seven-minute mark the joinder and presence of the string quartet becomes quite noticeable. The final minute sees the song resort to beautiful classical guitar being picked over the remnants of the string quartet. Nice ending to a surprisingly long instrumental. hard to believe that these formidable vocalists did not create anything magical to complete the fully-dimensional realization of this one! Still, I call this a win--and it definitely pleases one's prog sensibilities! My second favorite song on the album. (18/20)

10. "Melancholia" (10:41) a little slow in its distorted blues-rock orientation, the full and theatric story and lyrics get a bit lost in the one-dimensional three-chord music that plays pretty much from start to finish. I like the way the instrumental portion of the music recedes over the final 90 seconds while the vocals lag behind, staying forward. (17.333333/20)

Total time (55:19)

Were it not for "Side 2" (the last four songs) this album would not be worth any prog lover's while.

87.02 on the Fishscales = B-/3.5 stars; a bit of a disappointment; as if the band was torn as to which stylistic direction(s) to go and was also kind of forcing an album out while lacking inspired, fully-committed contributions from the full complement of collaborators.

AISLES In Sudden Walks (2009)

The band now have found/hired not only a drummer (Felipe Candia) but a bass player (Felipe Gonzales) thus freeing up founding member Rodrigo Sepulveda to concentrate on guitar playing to go along with his compositional and engineering/production roles. 

Line-up / Musicians:

- Rodrigo Sepulveda / guitars

- Felipe Candia / drums

- Alejandro Melendez / keyboards

- German Vergara / guitars

- Luis Vergara / keyboards

- Felipe Gonzales / bass

- Sebastian Vergara / vocals

1. "Mariachi" (9:59) a mini-television romance telenovela--complete with the grevelly voiced old man and tortured young nymphomaniac. The music, as fine as it is, seems so subordinate to the teleplay going on in front. It would not surprise me to find out that these guys were, in fact, studio musicians for the making of soundtracks for some of Peru's telenovelas. (17.333/20)  

2. "Revolution Of Light" (4:41) the album's only weak point--and it is, unfortunately, quite weak. (7.5/10)

3. "Summer Fall" (9:56) One of the best prog epics of the year! (19.5/20)

4. "The Maiden" (9:28) Another incredible epic that really puts some earworms into your brain. (19/20)

5. "Smile Of Tears" (4:00) (8.75/10)

6. "Hawaii" (14:58) Yet another great prog epic! What a treat! What an album! (27/30)

Total Time: 53:02

AISLES' second album, In Sudden Walks, is brilliant! It is symphonic, melodic, ethnic, emotional, well performed, well engineered and recorded, beautifully sung, and very fresh and new feeling--very much, I think, (like MAD CRAYON's beautiful Preda,) due to its ethnic influences. Three of the album's six songs clock in at around 10 minutes with a fourth at nearly 15--and all are of the highest caliber symphonic prog. Only one song--one of the shorts, "Revolution of Light" (4:41) (7.5/10)--falls short of the standard and feel set by the rest of the album. I love "Mariachi" exploitation of the overt sexuality so typical of Latin American television. "Summer Fall" (9:56) (19.5/20) and "The Maiden" (9:30) (19/20) should, IMHO, be in everyone's playlist of classic prog epics. Their multi-layered instrumental interplay is so pervasive and playful, with so many twists and turns yet with equally as many returns to very catchy melodic hooks, while all the while threaded together by some great, almost mythic, lyrics sung in absolutely beautiful vocal performances. "Hawaii" (14:58) (27/30) is often pacifying, calming, dreamy, though it too has its tempo and mood changes (in the second half). Overall, an incredibly enjoyable and engaging listening experience. Highly recommended!!

I quite agree with fellow reviewer Cesar Inca: this little gem was one that was sadly overlooked from among the 2009 harvest. But: It's not too late!

90.08 on the Fishscales = A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of truly unique progressive rock music and definitely an essential acquisition for any prog music lover's music collection. MY #12 ranked album for 2009!

AISLES The Yearning (2005)

As far as I know, this is the band's first album.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Sebastian Vergara / lead & backing vocals, flute
- German Vergara / electric & acoustic guitars, basses, backing vocals
- Luis Vergara / piano, keyboards
- Alejandro Melendez / keyboards, piano, drum programming
- Rodrigo Sepulveda / electric & acoustic guitars, basses, backing vocals, drum programming

1. "The Wharf That Holds His Vessel" (11:21) a song that feels to me, start to finish, as if I'm listening to a band playing in the orchestra pit for a theatric stage musical; this would/could quite easily pass for an overture! (17.5/20)

2. "Uncertain Lights" (4:05) a very nice opening with very delicate vocal track sung over beautifully picked classical guitars and synth three-way weave. The harmony vocals here are also quite sublime. These musicians are so talented! So skilled! The only song on the album that really puts on display the amazing vocal arrangements so well-developed and exploited in their future songs. Quite mature SIMON & GARFUNKEL-like songwriting. (8.875/10)

3. "Clouds Motion" (7:07) here's the first song that conjures up for me more references to "classic rock" bands like JOURNEY or RUSH. It's also the first song to drop a few of those melt-my-knees gorgeous riffs, chord changes, bridges that the band becomes so adept at with their future albums. A top three song. (13.5/15)

4. "The Rise of White Sun" (4:57) A 1990s sound palette (or one quite like 1978's BABYLON) doesn't totally spoil another heart-felt vocal from Sebastian Vergara. It's comforting to comprehend how much more fluent Seb becomes with the English language (especially it's pronunciation) as well as with creating highly melodic vocals and vocal arrangements in the future. (8.75/10)

5. "The Shrill Voice" (4:59) portends some of the band's extraordinary future music with the unusual quick-mixture of multiple motifs in short spaces of time--and then repeating them throughout the song from time to time. Not Seb's best vocal, the street voice is interesting, but it's the driving motif that follows 1:50 that is, for me, my first real glimmer of the genius of this band: an extended heavy PINK FLOYD-like instrumental passage that sucks one in and entertains with the numerous surprise instrumental and vocal flourishes and nuances. Despite the many out-of-date instrument sounds chosen, this one serves, as another top three song. (8.75/10)

6. "The Scarce Light Birth" (7:34) a near-GENESIS-like ballad format in which we see the capture of some of Sebastian's most seductive vocal melodies yet. My third favorite song. (13.125/15)

7. "Grey" (16:37) almost completely flat and unexciting. (25/30):
- i. The Yearning
- ii. Unit Land
- iii. Path of Gleams

Total Time 56:40

Hearing these songs makes me wonder how much time these musicians spent together (or separately) as theater musicians, as cover band for "classic rock" music like Journey, and how long they worked on these songs. They certainly have a tremendous amount of courage and "maturity" in order to take on these fast-changing, multi-themed, unusually-complex and multi-dimensional songs. The chapter-like/epic storytelling flow of each and every song is quite extraordinary. Unfortunately, the band has not yet mastered its capture of great "earworm" melodies in the way it will in their next albums. Also, the "dated" computer keyboards and poor effects chosen for the drums do affect my enjoyment of the music. Again, I apologize to the band for not getting the songs whose commitment to the words/lyrics/message is paramount: it's your music that I've grown to love; I know not your intended messages! 

86.82 on the Fishscales = B/four stars; an excellent debut album from this totally unique theatric symphonic band.