The up and coming band Al Berkowtiz has recently released their beautifully unique and indescribable album A Long Hereafter/Nothing Beyond. Each song in the album brings a completely different sound, yet connects with each other as if they are telling a story. The album has gained critical acclaim throughout Southern Europe and continues to build in popularity.
The art-rock band came together in 2006, led by composer and producer Ignacio Simón. The other band mates are percussionist Lorenzo Palomares and vocalist Santiago Estrada. Originally called The Inhabitants, the band befriended American Aldous Berkowitz. Aldous acted as their mentor and taught them about how to put seemingly strange sounds together. When he left the band in 2007, they renamed it Al Berkowtiz to dedicate their music to their former band member.
Over the past couple of years, the band Al Berkowitz has become recognized as innovators of sound, which can be seen in A Long Hereafter/Nothing Beyond. The album was recorded off the coast of Cádiz, Spain and it is said that the band members were inspired by beauty of this paradise. The first song, “You and I”, brings in the sound of rushing water and captures the feeling of peace and tranquility. The combination of the soft strums of the guitar, and the gentle percussion beats can transport the listener right to this beautiful European coast.
The second song on the album is called “The Frenchman and the Rabbitman.” The genius of the album can be seen in the fluctuation of emotions throughout this song. The song begins in complete contrast to “You and I” by bringing more essences of rock and roll. The beat is faster, almost frantic. The sounds in the background create an image of a storm. Suddenly, the chaos stops and the song settles, as if the storm is passing. And just when everything feels safe, the song picks up again and enters into a psychedelic whirlwind of sounds.
Al Berkowitz is influenced by so many different styles of music that it is impossible to classify it under one genre label. The band takes aspects from all genres and combines them into one harmonious and unconventionally beautiful song. The rest of the album manages to maintain its creativity and uniqueness. It truly does not disappoint. A Long Hereafter/Nothing Beyond is like an abstract piece of art. It doesn’t make sense and some people might hate it at first, but once the time is taken to observe it, to really listen to it, then the brilliance will become clear.
For more information on A Long Hereafter/Nothing Beyond, please visit Al Berkowitz’s website
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