Slowly and thoroughly, UK artists have claimed ownership of my playlists. While the electronic element is par for the course, the pair that compose Aquilo break from the pack by tapping the brakes and pushing reflection over rhythm.
“You There” draws its awe from a comfortable pairing of solemn piano with vocals delivered with the sound of someone who just experienced an involuntary surgery in which a decent portion of their heart was crudely removed and is now looking into reversing the procedure. The track quickly congeals into something weighty that creates its own unique gravity. It isn’t until you break the track into pieces that you realize how little is actually being said relative to the enormous presence that the track creates.
The emotional depth of the song is impressive, but the duo’s background in metal and grunge makes it especially so. Personally, I’m starting to hope that the shift from angry thrashing to R&B-ish electronic soul-prodding becomes a thing.