Azwel

I came into this review a little blind on what to expect of Azwel. I was pleasantly pleased with getting to know this artist musically. Azwel is a project that involves songwriter Jason Perrillo from New York. For more than a decade, he has been releasing albums. There is an impressive catalog available online. My initial thought when hearing “From Now On” on a dry run is that it reminded me of the Beatles and Nick Drake. The voice kept brining me back to a combination of John Lennon and Ben Folds. In reflection, I realized that this may have been due to my own limitations in the scope of my tastes. By doing some additional research, Azwel has a strong influence in 90’s Brit Pop. It is a good combination of artists like Pulp, Happy Monday, Inspirations Carpets, and Dodgy. Even for a novice of the genre, it is very engaging.



Musically, “From Now On” has a balanced and full sound. It took listening to the album with headphones to really hear all the subtle nuances. I’ve always appreciated those kind of nuances, they are sometimes lost on the general listener. However, it is at times the piece that holds the composition together. The tones and instrumentation are nothing short of beautiful. The songs are structured well with creative and powerful atmospheres. The strings in “Convalescence” are haunting when added with the easiness of the vocals. The guitar and keyboard tones vary between each song, helping to develop a clear distinction of each piece. I am a fan of the way the horns are added in an imaginative and original way. Vocally, Jason has a distinct warm sound. His strong baritone is smooth and refined, with dynamic qualities that pull the listener into the lyrics. The whole album is layered in harmonies that give an inventive and varied complement to the lead vocals and instrumentation.



I often judge an album by how often I am singing it when I am not listening. “From Now On” has me hooked. It is hard for me to pick a favorite off the album, however I hum “The Writing On The Wall” pretty often. Is that a Hammond? Nice. Remember, I was a complete novice to the genre. If you already like Brit Pop, you will appreciate Azwel. Vocally alone it separates itself from the rest of the genre. If you are looking for a beautiful album that is both soothing and catchy, this is the record for you. I look forward to more releases from Jason Perrillo. If you are interested in checking out more from Azwel or an additional project called Azwel + Julian check out: http://www.azwel.com/home. You won’t be disappointed.

Respectfully,

Paris - Gashouse Radio

The disc "Diversions," from an artist called Azwel, arrived

in a clear plastic jewel case, with song titles scrawled in ballpoint pen on

the label. You never know with stuff like this: If the guy can't be bothered to

make his disc look half-way professional, what will the music sound like? Then

again, the music is what matters, not the packaging. So I put the disc in my

player.

It turned out to contain 11 wonderfully pretty, sad, evocative songs.

Azwel, otherwise known as Jason Perrillo, a 24-year-old living in Dix Hills,

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sings and plays every instrument on these mostly keyboard-based tracks, which

were produced in his home. But you wouldn't know it: The tracks are full of

gorgeous harmonies, resonant piano lines and romantic strings. Occasional

xylophones and odd sound effects help create a melancholy atmosphere, like a

sunny day cut by a cold wind.

The opening track, "mm," skips along on a lilting piano while Perrillo

sings in an earnest, gentle voice about fighting a mysterious battle: "We will

need everything that it takes to fight them over." He switches to old-fashioned

organ for "This Works Out Like a Charm," recalling the off-kilter cabaret of

Kurt Weill. He even fashions an odd kind of dinner jazz on "Taking Notice,"

with its swinging rhythm and groovy bass.

But "There's Got to Be Some Proof" is the album's standout track, a

five-minute ballad that dips and rises beautifully. It even hides an entire

sub-melody in its dramatic middle section. A close second is "A Ship Called

Who," a chilly mood piece with new-wave keyboards and weirdly revved-up vocal

effects.

Perrillo calls his music "interesting melodic pop," an understatement to

say the least. That's like calling Jimi Hendrix's music "unusual rock." Then - NY Newsday

The latest creation of Azwel ‘The Elastic Journey’ likely to rock chartbusters. Listen, enjoy and rock with the musical magic created by Azwel.

‘The Elastic Journey’ is a brand new album of the famous indie pop band Azwel which is masterminded by the famous songwriter Jason Perrillo releasing soon at the beginning of October 2017.

Bandcamp Link: http://www.bandcamp.com/azwel

Azwel is producing music for the past thirteen years with the very talented Jason Perrillo and his expert group of musicians which include the likes of Joe Lorge on guitar and backing vocals, Gregg Steele – bass and backing vocals, Johnny Zaletel the drummer and percussionist and Randy Bennis on the keyboard.

Jason has his expertise in alternative pop and rock songs which have been influenced by the various genre of music. He was a student of music for ten long years and holds a degree in audio engineering. He has produced and recorded his own albums independently in his New York studio. Azwel released their debut album in 2003 entitled ‘Hap End Void’. In the next thirteen years, Azwel published a few numbers of melodious works and received immensely positive feedback across various internet blogs and radio stations. His albums have always shown variance in style of songs and instrumental orientation.

The new album, The Elastic Journey, comprises of thirteen songs which are absolutely different from each other. The album seems like a collage of various thoughts and emotions with a completely different set of rhythmic melody and various musical notes from a variety of instruments. The lyrics are catchy and spontaneous and keep the listener interested and curious for the next.

Among the thirteen songs of the album the first one ‘Men of Dishonor’ gives a strong feeling of empathy and anger with its soulful lyrics. The acoustic strings bind the thoughtful words of abuse and misery drowning in the feel of power and submission. The song highlights the darkest corners of the universe, where humans are tortured, killed and dishonored every instance.

Contradicting the first song, the next few songs are soft tuned and pleasant to hear with an interesting chord progression and rhythmic vocal. The lyrics are kept warm and inspiring which portrays love, passion, sensations, and nature. The music falls calm and soothing that can easily evoke a catchy beat in anyone’s heart.

Jason Perrillo is truly a genius as he streamed the thirteen songs collectively into one album. He has cleverly shown his knowledge and expertise in musical instruments as he keeps changing the instrumental arrangement in the background according to the intensity and depth of the lyrics and vocals for the songs.

The music of the album is influenced by a number of other artists and their bands like Belle and Sebastian, Radiohead, Scott Walker, Pet Shop Boys, Stereolab, E.L.O, The Divine Comedy, Suede, Blur, Pulp, Teenage Fanclub, and Rem. The album truly brings an exclusive and interesting gift for all Britpop, Pop rock, Piano and Chamber pop lovers.

The Elastic Journey strongly bears the manifestation of an interesting melodic pop song collection which is sure to allure any rock and pop music lover. - Skope Mag

http://www.beachsloth.com/azwel-phantasmagoria.html - Beach Sloth Reviews

It is a very special week in music this week as New York based band Azwel, release their brilliant new album ‘Phantasmagoria’. Jason Perrillo and his live band have created an album filled with interesting and engaging music which is accessible for all.

The album begins with the magical track, ‘By The Daintree River’. The sound of Seagulls in the background are the first sound to be heard, swiftly followed by luscious strings and an ambient piano. There are gentle runs with the bass hand of the piano and the gentle pauses in the music to give the track time to breathe. The vocals remind us of Paul McCartney mixed with Brendon Urie in their tone and texture. It is sophisticated in it’s composition and has an old standard feel. It is most certainly a charming introduction to Azwel.

The second track ‘Half the Battle’ is as strong contender for our favourite track on the record. It picks up the pace from the opening track and is filled with a flavourful honkey tonk style piano, harmonies galore and catchy chorus which will have you singing along instantaneously. There is an element of spoken word half way through the piece which breaks up the momentum nicely and then the hook kicks back in. The catchy melody is blissful and carries the chorus through.

Each song on ‘Phantasmagoria’ offers something new and its own charm and character. This is enhanced by the many different instruments to be heard. ‘Meeting of Minds’ hears a harpsichord, bells and beautiful harmonies. ‘Pleading Eyes’ hears horns, female vocals, semitone rises in the melodies and 7th chords. ‘Equal Opportunity’ hears a gentle fade in followed by a xylophone, string and rich major sevenths chords. These instruments create layers of interest, intrigue and a pleasurable uncertainty as to what will come next.

‘The Path’ offers a shift in genre with a disco feel and funk style guitars laden with the wah wah effect. The organ balances the sound out and the minor chords on the chorus offers a special alternative turn. We also loved, ’Impression of your Silence’ which starts with a strong female vocal opening. Up until this point we have only heard the female vocals as a backing and it is wonderful to hear them take centre stage. The song has a nod to a nostalgic seventies feels which has been reinvented for 2018. The guitar riffs have been mixed and panned in opposite sides of the spectrum creating depth. The bass and drums drive all of the tracks along and have been mixed to have a fat, wide sound.

The closing track, ‘Legionnaire’ has a melancholic start which is juxtaposed to what we have previously heard. This change in character (again) keeps the listener on their toes. The vocals have been mixed into the back with the piano at the front. There is a slight delay on the vocals and the ominous strings create atmosphere. The horns shine out of the darkness until the outdo there are dark, unsettling, dissonant chords to a fade ending.

‘Phantasmagoria’ has been extremely well composed and executed superbly. It is officially released on Wednesday 5th September 2018, so feed your musical soul and check out this divine release!

Reviewed by FVReviews September 2018 - https://fvreviews.com

If Azwel had existed thirty years ago one could imagine him sharing a bill with Microdisney; crafting literate indie pop songs which might occasionally flirt with the lower reaches of the top 75. New York’s Jason Perillo is the talent behind the Azwel title and ‘From Now On’ proves that his prolific work rate (roughly an album a year) is matched in the quality stakes too.



Opener ‘Alone In The Park’ sticks to a similar indie pop template as previous album ‘Fact And Fantasy’ but there is an eerie edge to the song; the arrangement is haunting and a sense of moodiness prevails, not least when Perillo bemoans “I can’t stop this ringing in my ears”. Piano and strings provide a beautifully sad backdrop for the elegantly yearning ‘Convalescence’ as well as the Simon and Garfunkel-esque closer ‘In A Desperate Way’. ‘The Writing On The Wall’ offers a breezier form melancholy though. It’s an approach which Perillo follows regularly and rightly so on this form and – in a fairer world – the superb ‘Don’t Take It For Granted’ cries out to be a hit, thanks to its verses offset by lilting Orange Juice-style guitar which then burst into a wonderfully vibrant chorus.

Admittedly some of the later songs can be less substantial and at these times Azwel is a little too unassuming for his own good. The strength of ‘From Now On’ is that it impresses the darker it gets. Clearly, Perillo is establishing himself as a songwriter on his own merits and he is an imaginative arranger too; embellishing his reliably fine melodies with a plethora of instruments. - Leonards lair

rom Now On, is the latest studio album by the Long Island, New York based artist, Azwel. The album features mellow-toned compositions which use an array of instrumentation and approaches to forge this interesting and diverse record. The song arrangements range from standard acoustic rock with multiple guitars to avant garde pieces with piano and strings. All of this is the product of composer Jason Perrillo who has been the single, visionary member of the Azwel project for the better part of a decade and independently produced and released this album.

Perillo recorded the first Azwel album in 2003, with a sound that was originally more electronic based. Over time, Perillo added different instruments to his act and has consistently been prolific in composing and recording, releasing four full albums since 2010. These albums were recorded in Perillo’s home studio. The music draws from a plethora of influences ranging from rock to jazz to Brit pop to world influences.

Perillo also claims that he tries to make sure every instrument in his studio gets used. This impressive list includes electric and acoustic guitars, piano, Wurlitzer/Rhodes electric piano sounds, Hammond organ, harmonium, moog, mellotron, strings, trumpet, and flute. He also tries to be diverse in the feel of the songs, with a balanced selection of upbeat and downbeat songs.



Modern Rock Review logoFrom Now On by Azwel
Released: August 1, 2014
Produced by: Jason Perrillo
Track Listing Primary Musicians
Alone in the Park
Out On a Limb
Convalescence
War Against Innovation
The Writing on the Wall
Don’t Take It for Granted
The Fifth of May
All the Things to Come
In a Desperate Way Jason Perrillo
Vocals, All Instrumentation


From Now On starts off with “Alone In the Park”, where Perrillo’s lyrics describe the scene vividly, including the inner thoughts of the protagonist. Musically, the song is a steady, acoustic-rocker with a few deviations during short, strategic phrases. The vocals are smooth and distant, yet carry a distinct and complex melody. “Out On a Limb” takes on a totally different vibe than the first track, more light and upbeat with a bouncy bass line. An interesting trumpet lead arrives later in the song.

“Convalescence” has a doomy piano set against an outdoor backdrop with some subtle strings for added effects. The track never relents from its dark feel, especially when some spoken vocals usher the song to its conclusion. The first song written for the album, Perrillo has cited “Convalescence” as his favorite song. Swinging the mood back the other way, “War Against Innovation” uses a choppy electric piano in the verses and a stronger rock arrangement in the choruses. A song of interesting changes and interesting subject as a lament to past eras of invention.

Jason Perrillo, AzwelThe heart of the album, the next four songs are probably the best on the record. “The Writing On the Wall” is pure Brit pop with some really cool keyboard effects, flavors, and leads. Complex, melodic arrangements blend seamlessly with the basic and steady strumming. “Don’t Take It for Granted” is a funky ballad, but still with a distinctly smooth and mellow feel. There is more rhythm presence here than on other tracks and the slight horns swell behind the pre-chorus, while the chorus contains impressive, soaring vocals. “The Fifth of May” is a driving rocker and may be the most accessible song pop-wise. However, even this straight-forward track contains some caveats in arrangement and approach. “All the Things to Come” is a mellow, pop-sounding piano track that almost sounds like an Eric Woolfson led Alan Parsons Project track.

“In a Desperate Way” concludes the album as a dark folk track, starting with a methodic acoustic and working its way into ever more deeper strings which carry the song as it and the album fade away.

Satisfied with the quality of From Now On, Perrillo doesn’t have any immediate plans for another Azwel album. Still, there is no doubt he will continue to make music in some capacity, as he has a long history of collaborating and performing with other artists in between past projects. His philosophy is simple; “take your art as far as you can.” - http://www.modernrockreview.com