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Wake Owl’s debut album, The Private World of Paradise, is one of the best albums to relax to this spring. Founding members Colyn Cameron and Aiden Briscall routinely capitalize on their acute awareness of pacing to drift listeners in and out of songs. Wake Owl is simply groovy. Its unique blend of retro jazz, experimental synth-pop vibes, and well-placed violin accents creates a melancholy mood that is infused with moments of joy. Well-known in Canada for its 2012 Wild Country EP, Wake Owl’s first full-length endeavor is a stunning mixture of highs and lows that leaves listeners wanting more.
The Private World of Paradise starts off on a high, and introduces listeners to a couple of band’s tricks right off the bat. “Days in the Sea” begins at a comfortably relaxing pace that is perfect to sit and close your eyes to. The intro track is one of the folkier and less experimental songs, but the use of a light vibrant synth during the chorus gives a glimpse of Wake Owl’s funky side. The album’s single, “Candy,” follows up on this, and immediately sets the tone for the rest of The Private World of Paradise. The track begins with a delicate and eerie synth that is quickly bolstered by a equally timid blues guitar. Cameron’s vocals complement the gloomy feel that opens “Candy,” before the tempo picks up and the gloom lifts revealing a little bit of joy amidst the sadness.
This is Wake Owl’s gift. Cameron and Briscall are adept at creating a melancholy atmosphere before infusing just a pinch of happiness into each song. “Vacation” is the best example of this talent. Beginning with “Some day I’ll get away,” the song instantly creates a downcast mood that is slowly alleviates as the track progresses. Briscall’s skill as a violinist is on full display in “Vacation” and effortlessly pairs with Cameron’s vocals, eliciting chills out of listeners. Wake Owl’s ability to smoothly create whimsical ebb and flow is a defining characteristic of the band.
Quite simply, Wake Owl is clearly is one of the most instrumentally talented bands out there, and it is amazing what Cameron and Briscall have accomplished. “Buffalo” is one of the many highpoints of The Private World of Paradise, using a deep bass line that evokes a tribal vibe. The eerie ghostly synth and tantalizingly guitar pickings successfully invoke an otherworldly atmosphere perfect for relaxing and drifting off too. “Oh Baby” is an impeccable song to follow “Buffalo,” and displays Cameron’s range as a vocalist. With the well-used falsetto to an angst-ridden cry, “Oh Baby” highlights the maturing theme of Wake Owl’s lyrics. Early on in the track, Cameron bemoans that “I was kind of feeling insecure,” following that with, “I fucked with your mind, silly girl.”
The Private World of Paradise is a tale of growing-up and learning from your mistakes, which is not a fun process. The album takes listeners from “Letters,” in which the protagonist finds love letters from his former lover, to “The Madness of Others,” in which his minds seems to completely fall apart. Wake Owl music is complex, creating both incredibly gloomy moods interspersed with moments of blissful hope for the future. Yet despite all the sadness, there is something innately uplifting about Wake Owl’s music.