AU4: On: Audio

Au4

On: Audio

© 2006 Torn Open Records / Au4 (625989390029)

CD OUT OF STOCK for re-production. Expect long delays.

If you want us to email you the minute this CD arrives, enter your name and email address here. We will not give or sell your info to anyone, and will not use it for any other reason than to tell you when it arrives.

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

These nine tracks draw from trip-hop, ambient and dreampop styles, featuring breathy, haunting vocals and lyrics scripted from fantastical stories of love and life.

try this

albums you will love

genres you will love

By Location

Recommended if you like ...

notes

For brothers Ben, Aaron and Nathan Wylie and their friend Jason Nickel, music has always been a constant in their lives. As the Vancouver-based electronic ensemble Au4 (pronounced: oh-four), the four musicians have created a debut album that explores and celebrates the other endless forces that shape and bind us. On Audio, the group's new full-length release, is an uplifting, ethereal trip through the rhythms of nature and the nature of dreams, mixing blissed-out ambience with melodic, fairytale songs.

Ben Wylie (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Aaron Wylie (keyboards, vocals), Nathan Wylie (drums, percussion) and Jason Nickel (bass, vocals, keyboards) grew up on music, each starting Royal Conservatory training at a young age. In high school, the boys formed the requisite alternative rock bands, while continuing their musical study and touring in jazz, choir and theatrical productions. Jason and Nathan attended Capilano College's Jazz Studies program, while Ben and Aaron began experimenting with the electronic loops and beats which would later morph into Au4.

Inspired in part by the electronica explosion, and landmark albums by Underworld, Massive Attack, Bjork, and Nine Inch Nails, Ben and Aaron (who was also DJing in Vancouver clubs) started writing with new tools, layering and shaping sounds late into the night. In 2003, Jason Nickel heard their demos and brought them to producer/engineer Richard Dolmat. The group Au4 was officially formed along with Nathan Wylie, their brother.

On Audio was produced by Au4 and Richard Dolmat at Digital Sound Magic studios in Vancouver and is released on their own label, Torn Open Records. The nine tracks draw from trip-hop, ambient and dreampop styles, featuring the breathy, haunting vocals of Ben Wylie, who also scripted the fantastical stories of love and life.

A melancholic tone weaves throughout On Audio, but the mood is of contemplative optimism: The acoustic-guitar laced love song "Hit and Miss" undulates like a watery embrace. The bass-driven "A Mile From Here" is an up-tempo track ready for clubs. Even the epic "An Ocean’s Measure of Sorrow" rocks, a fresh take on the piano ballad. "Everything’s Always Moving" sums up the album's hypnotic qualities and themes of hope.

"'Everything Always Moving' came in a state of amazement as one reflects upon one's own existence, and how we are always affecting, always being affected, always changing each other's lives," says Ben. "There are moments when this truth becomes more apparent and it always seems to be on the heels of either great hurt or extreme joy, moments where life feels like some heavenly poem or surreal nightmare. Regardless, as we continue to pour into one another, there is a fruit that grows. Such is the beauty of life."

The result of a lifetime of love and study of music, five years of songwriting and two years of studio refinement, On Audio represents the beginning of Au4's journey. The group plans to perform live in 2006 and is working on second album of remixes from On Audio. They are also working on an innovative website, a collaboration between Ben Wylie’s visual FX background, Aaron Wylie's DigiCoyote Software company and Juno Award-winning designer Vincent Marcone. The multi-media and live aspects of Au4 complement and reinforce the band’s musical message.

"We just want to connect with people," says Aaron. "At the end of the day, there's much more satisfaction of being when you realize that, yes, there is bad and good in life, but that is our common ground. We should all try to look beyond ourselves and share the time we have. That's what, for us, music is about."

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • Amazing
    author: Evan

    This cd will take u away

  • Love this CD!
    author: Reid Baccio

    Heard AU4 on Well Made Music's podcast, liked what I heard, checked out there website and really liked the samples I heard, so I bought their CD. Love it all, great music!

  • Love it!! It's glued into my CD player!
    author: Kiah

    On holiday in Canada from Australia last month, I met Jason Nickel in a pub in Vancouver (lovely guy) & a week later went to the website to listen to the album. I was blown away & ordered it online then & there. It was waiting for me when I got back to Australia & it's been in my CD player ever since - Papercuts from Paper Butterflies & One Thousand Rivers are my standout tracks. These guys deserve to be HUGE!! It's a seriously impressive debut release & I'll be keeping an eye out for a tour downunder & their next CD.

  • ABSOLUTELY WORLD CLASS PRODUCTION AND MUSIC
    author: BRETT

    Starting with a production level and quality that truly stands above and upstages most other similar acts today, this CD is a constant favourite of mine. Seemingly never tiring of the innovative layering, depth, harmonies, musicality and experience, this CD just grows and grows and grows on you. I have listened and benefited from it in varied accompaniements from driving fast on the highways to melancholy emotional and relaxing states of comfort at home in a dark room... This is a MUST have and these guys are poised for greatness.

email

Please log in to email this artist.