Soaring rock soundscapes both soulful and intense – meandering guitar lines and contrastingly smooth vocals, elevating the beauty of the Azerbaijani language. Alihsan delivers a fine fusion of power-ballad depth and alternative, poetic wonder, with 12 original rock tracks, and the opening power and melody of Cesaretin var mi.
Translating as Do You Have The Courage? Cesaretin var mi is beautifully structured, presenting with delicacy and intensity intermittently, almost like an aptly cinematic and epic journey, rightfully representing the changing weight and confidence implied by the title.
Versatility is a crucial part of hitting with impact these days, and as we move into the stylish and intimate tones of Vefasiz, there’s a hint of nostalgic creative freedom to the Alihsan repertoire, which lets the emotion of the songs connect, while the artistry holds attention and keeps things interesting. Always the mood is of contemplation to construction – an idea formulating, then action impending and ultimately taking hold. It’s an epic set-up, and here we get a world-music vibe to match its evolving energy.
Next we hear a piano and strings arrangement, but the depth and structure remains, for Al canimi (Take My Life). This storytelling, the delicacy then explosive passion, are all key aspects of the immersive and moving Alihsan sound. There’s a catchy and consuming repeat and resolve, and that moment sweeps you away, and lingers in the mind.
Then to switch things up further still, Cok da feels like a Celtic folk acoustic song, a fireside mood and hopeful tune lighting up a whole other side of Alihsan. And afterwards, the subtle urgency and rasp of Kaybolurum injects a sense of pace and rising energy, a certain clarity, too, and classic mainstream songwriting with a huge rock chorus.
One of the project’s most intoxicating and memorable riffs comes through for the Western cinematic composition Bosver Beni. The vocals are shaky, uncertain and evocative, and they meet with the piano and acoustic movement, and this idea of Forget About Me, quite beautifully. The modern production tools mean that there is no live performance to connect with yet, but if there were, this could be a rather transcendent moment.
Yasadim Bitti is incredibly satisfying and catchy, a fusion of Seether, Pearl Jam, and Papa Roach, with a twist of progressive rock distortion crescendo that’s almost Iron Maiden-like. This is one of Alihsan’s top three most streamed tracks, along with the opening two, and the immense guitar solo, story, and blending of genres undoubtedly helped achieve that.
We then get something a little unexpected, a colourful acoustic indie-pop beat and groove, with a world-music chorus of all-together now energy, letting Senden Benden leave its mark indefinitely. The old-school pop-punk guitar tone of Geceler is a also joyful trip down memory lane, with an edge of originality as ever in the voice and sentiments. Possibly an impassioned, uplifting highlight, but it fits so well amidst these songs, with the pop-rock energy and grace of Kalbim Yorgun adding another definite favourite to the mix.
Finally we have some acoustic fingerpicking and another distinct riff, as Ask n Odu provides a raw guitar pairing and growing cinematic intensity, while Bu Sabah softens the mood with a similar style, only something almost grunge-like in its rise and resolve. These two songs have a hazier sound, a softer vocal, and perhaps help showcase the evolution of the whole Alihsan approach. It’s a style driven by a passion for songwriting and the power and depth of soul rock, and despite an elusive artistic image, the songs speak for themselves.
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