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Imaad Wasif: The Voidist
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Tee Pee Records (TPE110)
 Imaad Wasif began his career in music in Palm Springs, California, in the 90’s with his band Lowercase. In 2001 he moved to San Francisco and formed Alaska! as well as joined the group New Folk Implosion. Later on he has also been working with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. His first, acoustic solo album was released in 2006 by Kill Rock Stars and he released his second solo by himself in 2008. I have not heard the guy’s previous recordings, but at least the new album The Voidist is excellent retro/rock/folk/pop with psychedelic spices. At times it gets harder which is just great in the middle of all the beautiful melodies and tender folk moods.
The album starts off with the hypnotic and guitar-driven “Redeemer” that effectively creeps into the listener’s subconscious. There is a more laid-back part in the middle and then the track grows a bit. The vocals work very well. The heavier but melodic “Priestess” is clearly one of the most hit-potential songs on the album and indeed is a great piece. This one also has quite psychedelic overtones. A Killer track! The more peaceful, melancholic “Fangs” is some kind of folk rock with a heavier chorus. There is some wild fuzz guitar jamming almost in the stoner rock style towards the end, wow! “Widow Wing” is a very much Led Zeppelin styled acoustic ballad with soft vocals and “Our Skulls” follows similar paths but does go into the heavier hard rock vein later on. There is some really great going in the end! The track “Return to You” has an exciting, a bit mystical vibe and it gets pretty wild in the end including some Jim Morrison styled screaming. Phew! The soft and pretty alternative country number ”The Hand of the Impostor” has nice vocals, acoustic guitar, tremolo guitar, organ and little bit of slide guitar. .”Daughter of Fire” is steady, groovy and killer Zeppelin boogie, and also the laid-back acoustic folk piece “Her Sorcery” brings to mind Led Zeppelin. ”Another” is a very quiet, slow and tranquil ballad that grows a bit closer to the end. The album is finished with the superb, a little longer piece “Razorlike” that begins slowly in very mystical spheres. After two minutes the going gets heavier being close to stoner rock. We’ve got some amazing vocals as usual and this really works splendidly! At times the track cools down only to gain momentum again. Absolutely one of the best songs on the album.
In summary, The Voidist is a marvelous, quite versatile but fluently flowing and well-balanced album and Wasif is a gifted composer, musician and especially a great singer. I feel he also has the potential to be successful on his career so I want to wish him good luck. In the usual Tee Pee style, the album is also available on vinyl.
www.imaadwasif.com |
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