Detailed Reviews [Aether - 2024 - "Trans-Neptunian Objects"]

Prolusion. Italian band Aether started out back in 2021, initially to help out bassist Andrea Grumelli with a project but following this the musicians decided to continue as a band unit. They released their debut album "Aether" last year, and just a year or so later the quartet is back with their second studio production. This second album is called "Trans-Neptunian Objects", and was self released by the band in the fall of 2024.

Analysis. Many years ago I came across a song called 'Cosmic Jazz' by legendary UK band Wishbone Ash, and while Aether isn't a band that will ever be comparable to those legends the title of that song pretty much summarize the impressions I have of the landscapes explored on this production. It's cosmic, and it's jazz. With rock elements added to the mix. There's a bit more to this album than just that of course, and a common denominator throughout is the inclusion of more careful and floating passages with a distinct ambient music orientation. Often used in the opening part or opening half of the compositions. These sections are often gradually developed into floating and flowing creations as drums and bass comes in and wandering or flowing guitar patterns are added to the mix. With a recurring appearance of the careful sound of the electric piano making its way into most of the songs at some point too. Occasionally flirting a tiny little bit with the symphonic progressive rock tradition inside of a cosmic jazzrock context. We do usually get a twist over to a more firm and less cosmic flavored type of landscape along the way too, where the guitar solo has it's mainly elegant appearances with bass, drums and the electric piano or keyboards in support, and cosmic elements will usually return for the final part alongside darker and more brooding undercurrents. The latter presumably provided by the electric guitar. The use of darker effects with a textured noise characteristic is a recurring element on this album too, and whether supplied by the guitar or by synthesizers this creates many fine and intriguing contrasts throughout. Being put to use in some form or other in most of the different types of arrangements we encounter. The more loose and elegant instrument performances does tend to have a solid foundation in jazz throughout, at least as far as the rhythm section, the guitar and the electric piano is concerned. At times with a bit of a quirkier edged feel to these endeavors that arguably has a little bit of a free jazz spirit to them.

Conclusion. Aether describe their music as "a synthesis of Jazz, Ambient and Progressive Rock", and that is a rather fitting general description. On this most recent album they have added cosmic flavors to the proceedings alongside occasional tasteful textures of the kind that exist on the border between noise rock and post-rock, while retaining a neat and elegant flow and motion to the landscapes explored. Cosmic jazz, or cosmic jazzrock if you like. Those who tend to enjoy instrumental ventures into such landscapes should feel right at home with this album I suspect.

Progmessor: October 2024
The Rating Room