Whilst you could call Wither Without, the second album from Akaba, a concept album, fear not: you won’t be confronted by prog-rock wizards writing grand suites about taking rings to Mordor. No, this is a much more human and relatable story, the songs thematically linked by the story of a relationship breaking down, of conflict and attempts at reconciliation, regret, grief and moving on.
As the band embrace a more electronically textured sound than previously, their soundscapes reflect the emotional introspection being lyrically laid out, starting with the opener, ‘Two Rights’, which spreads out a gentle and liquid backdrop, one where skittering beats and digital strings compete with the floating and the fluid.
‘Go North’ is gently anthemic, a perfect showcase for Åsa Carild’s impressive vocals; ‘One More Try’ echoes The Eurythmics at their most ethereal, ambient, and angelic; and ‘Northern Lights’ ends on a dramatic high. This is truly an album where atmosphere matters more than energy, and the musical energies that are present are delicately dispersed into broader, less imposing yet beautiful sonic backdrops.
Wither Without (clever title, by the way,) is a gorgeous album, and one where the music never fails to serve the song; guitars are used to create a soundscape, not to showboat; riffs are ephemeral, understated to the point that they become moods and meditations as much as melodies and grooves are transformed into something altogether more graceful. And through it all, Carlid’s vocals have plenty of room to stand out, both through the narrative she weaves and in the prowess of her crystalline, creative voice.
Understatement, in the right hands, speaks volumes, it would seem.
