The debut full-length by
Akase
is the result of several years' worth of collaboration from two longtime friends, as well as final touches by veteran dance music producer
Ewan Pearson
. Tech-house producer
Midland
lays down tracks which are detailed but don't get in the way of
Robert Redway
's melancholy, wistful vocals. The rhythms are a bit more uptempo than usual for this type of vocal-centric indie electronic act, but these are still clearly intended as properly structured songs rather than rhythmic cuts intended for the dancefloor. The lyrics are generally focused around breakups, loss, and loneliness, and while those subjects are well-trod territory,
Redway
sings them with conviction, and his passionate vocals complement the tracks nicely. Even without lyrics, "Beseech" and the excellent closing track follow concise song structures before wrapping up nicely in under four minutes. ~ Paul Simpson