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Envy Of None
"Park those expectations, clear the mind and dive deep into the debut album from Envy of None. Made up of Alex Lifeson, Andy Curran, Alfio Annibalini and singer Maiah Wynne, this is a record of dark cinematic alternative rock which is light years away from the previous day jobs of the collective who have crafted one of the most interesting releases of 2022.
It’s Wynne’s haunting melodies on the opening track “Never Said I loved You” which immediately grab the attention. The programming is sophisticated, Lifeson’s subtle guitar work is unassuming and flicks in and out around the pulsing bass line but its Wynne who steals the show on the ideal starting song. Upbeat and pacy, swirling synths add layers in a delicate fashion. “Shadow” has an altogether separate feel, with a light reggae beat, gentle synth backdrop and an ethereal and intimate delivery.
These two tracks set the tone for the whole album: progressive, expressive, and unpredictable. Envy of None evolves as the music progresses. Throughout there are flashes of Lifeson’s influences, alongside Curran’s understated touches. The Floydian vibes on “Look Inside” provide a dreamy, expansive track which moves at its own pace, swirling and enticingly poised – it draws you in with effortless ease.
It’s evident throughout this record that Lifeson has used his fifty or so years as a musician to great effect. Subtle effects rarely dominant. It’s Wynne who takes centre stage. You should be familiar with the semi-industrial stomp of “Liar”, the first single from the album and one now etched deep into the psyche. It’s a dark affair with Wynne’s gorgeous melodies presiding through a track that has several layers which need to be peeled away. The atmospheric guitar work seduces, the dark art rock reminiscent of bands like Depeche Mode and A Perfect Circle but very much with its own style and sound.
What makes Envy of None such a special album is the concise nature of the songs on it. Take “Spy House”, which rips through in just over two minutes, yet at no time does it feel rushed or forced. The brass section combining with a repetitive riff, before the first real solo on the album clears the ground, typically understated and yet full of emotion. “Dogs Life” is powerful, a more straightforward track that bashes out some heavier styles. “Kabul Blues” lingers long in the memory, whilst the poppier side of things emerges on “Old Strings”.
The variety continues with the electro pulse of “Dumb”, an intricate and clever song that delivers multiple textures, delving deep into the emotions. Penultimate track “Enemy” is another dark and heavy yet sinisterly intimate. An evocative and harrowing piece that crashes into life with explosive passion. This leads to the haunting and poignant tribute to Lifeson’s dear friend and band mate for 40 years, Neil Peart with the two-minute acoustic instrumental “Western Sunset”. Lifeson explains the song in the press release. “I visited Neil when he was ill. I was on his balcony watching the sunset and found inspiration. There’s a finality about a sunset that kinda stayed with me throughout the whole process. It had meaning. It was the perfect mood to decompress after all these different textures… a nice way to close the book.” For this lifelong fan of Rush, it seems a perfect way to finish an album that just gets better on every listen." - The Moshville Times
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