It’s been three years since Envy of None had unleashed their sole self-titled debut on the Kscope label. They are more than just a super group. Why do you think the music may have divided a line in the sand whether they’ll accept it or not? It is divisive, some will love it, some will not. But it can be challenging of the musical partnership that Alex Lifeson, Andy Curran, Alfio Annibalini, and Maiah Wynne whose vocals still shine like finding a diamond in the rough when it comes to the race that leads them to the finish line.
And for Lifeson, he wants to prove himself that he’s more than just one of the leading founders of Rush, he’s more relaxed with the new band and more focused to keep his energy levels, up-and-running to see where his story with Envy of None will take him. And it’s proven to be a big step for the quartet when they unleashed their follow-up Stygian Waves.
The title comes from the Roman poet Ovid where he explained about the stygian waves and turbulence at the gates of hell. The musical forms that’s on here, its almost a continuation on where they left off from their 2022 debut. From the moment ‘Not Dead Yet’, and ‘The Story’ kicks in, you begin to feel the slithering arrangements Maiah has in her voice as it goes from a high-rising, yet sinister approach to its Bowie-like nod which speaks of the Reality-era, tipping their hat to the thin white duke and its Goldfrapp-sque vibe that comes out of nowhere.
‘Under the Stars’ and ‘That Was Then’ takes us deep into the jungle with its balladry approach in its African percussion themes and Curran’s fuzzed bass work to start the third composition. You feel as if you’re inside a dream, unfolding in front of your eyes with its cavernous atmosphere as Wynne’s double-tracking vocals sets up the trap that’s waiting for us to be lured into.
Once Lifeson brings up the temperature levels on his guitar, you know there’s no turning back as he raises the stakes high, pouring his heart and soul into his instrument as if David Gilmour is watching him, knowing he’s got it down to a “T”. Meanwhile the thump-stomping electro-rockers ‘Thrill of the Chase’ and the uplifting turned darker momentum on ‘Handle with Care’, is Envy of None’s take of writing their own theme song to the James Bond franchise.
It has this ‘80s new wave, Ra Ra Riot approach, harder, yet cyberpunk attitude, and solving the case in their own unique form that makes Maiah, a Mundy-like detective, searching for more clues the fugitive has left for her to get the case solved as soon as possible. I imagine the band were listening to a lot of the new wave / post-punk sounds of the late ‘70s for inspiration when it came to the new album.
I can hear elements alongside Goldfrapp, but John Foxx’s Metamatic, Radiohead’s The Bends, Kid A and Amnesiac, Kraftwerk, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Cluster, Lenny Kravitz’s Circus, and Ultravox’s music during the recording sessions Maiah and the band were listening to during the making of Stygian Waves. They know their source material when it comes to proving themselves, stronger than ever.
At times, its almost as if their tipping their hat to the krautrock genre, but when it comes to an Americana approach with its country-rock orientation that speaks of The Last Hurrah behind ‘New Trip’, they have stepped up ante by taking their sound a leap forward into the future that’s waiting for them.
Stygian Waves is as challenging as their debut release, giving listeners more stories that are awaiting them for weeks, months, and the years to come. There’s something special in what they do. There’s a partnership, a family, and a strong bond they have. And let’s hope they keep us on the edge of their seat, giving us more surprises that are waiting for us.
