AKORAS NOIR has delivered a fresh set of tracks to the indie-rock scene with their new EP, “Linguistics,” which encompasses a bit of soul, grunge, and funk throughout its entirety. Before listening to these new releases, I previewed the band’s style with their song, “follow the leader,” which was immediately reminiscent of songs by groups such as Lord Huron or MAGIC GIANT, given the raw instrumentals and vocal build-up.
Led by Aiden Saroka, AKORAS NOIR has two EPs under their belt and a plan for one more. Saroka, along with producer and drummer Sam Killian, personally writes, produces, and records tracks that are performed live by a different lineup from gig to gig. According to Saroka, this prompts a unique sound and image for each of AKORAS NOIR’s performances.
As I listened to the EP, specifically giving attention to tracks two and three, “automatic4u” and “goodbye June,” I couldn’t help but be immersed in a cinematic-like experience as the music’s style creates a great deal of imagery between the instrumentals and lyrics alike. The most notable aspect of the tracks was the build; there is happiness and comfort in the beginnings but they both develop into something much more meaningful.
A hopeful acoustic introduction starts off “automatic4u,” but a more intense and catchy chorus soon follows and highlights Saroka’s vocal flexibility. The music falls back to a calm state and rises again as the song progresses. It ends in a powerful and repetitive way, leaving you curious about what the rest of the album is going to bring.
“goodbye June” feels much more warm and delicate, beginning with some upbeat percussion and Saroka’s softer vocals. There is a consistent rise-and-fall in tempo and emotion until sharper instrumentals and guitar pick things up, mustering an inspirational end to this 3 minutes 22-second story.
AKORAS NOIR may be relatively new to the indie-rock scene, but they are obviously no stranger to the genre and have no problem producing captivating and immersive music.
These songs and the rest of AKORAS NOIR’s new EP are available to stream now on Spotify and Apple Music.
