Andrew Aged Takes Contemporary Indie to New Heights with “crown”
Andrew Aged has established himself as a distinctive voice in modern indie experimentalism with his latest EP, crown. While he is more recently known for his work as part of Mk.Gee’s three-piece live band, his recent solo efforts highlight his evolving sound and individual artistry.
Though this is Aged's first solo project, he has been involved in the music industry for many years and has a diverse background. His earlier work with Inc., a band with his brother Daniel Aged, leaned heavily into R&B and focused more on vocalization. With crown, he transforms that style into a more electronic, retro-inspired sound that pushes it into new instrumental territory.
This three-track EP is similar to the work he has done with Mk.Gee, who is otherwise known as Michael Gordon. You can definitely draw parallels between the release and Gordon's live sound, highlighting Aged's musical craftsmanship and impact on Gordon’s music. The EP's distinct sound can also be attributed to the fact that both Gordon and Zack Sekoff, another member of Gordon's live band, are credited as producers. These collaborations, along with Aged's experience in evocative, rhythmic song production, make for a fresh and impactful release.
The EP immediately strikes the listener with the screech of a guitar and a sharp, distorted backing beat. In this track, "Banner," Aged doesn't even let the listener catch their breath before his vocals come in, warped under overt autotune. The track begins similarly to the popular electronic sound that has taken the industry by storm from artists such as 2 Hollis. But, where this track really stands out is in the middle, when it enters grungy territory, with a crunchy guitar distortion applied to the initial backing beat. The song does not end on a smooth note; in fact, it fades out with the droning of an overblown guitar amp, sounding on the verge of explosion.
We are brought back down to earth with "The Road," which exudes a retro, 80s-like smoothness while incorporating the same futuristic distortion common to Aged's work. With echoing vocals and instrumentation, this song feels almost out of body, incorporating floating dynamics to create a dreamy soundscape that makes you feel as if you're walking the road he sings about: "I walk the road / The road with stones of remembrance." We hear the toe tapping of each stone through the staccato twinkling of guitar strings. The song finds its head in the chorus when the instrumentals come crashing in as he sings, "All the way bow my head / Am I to know."
Aged dials up the intimacy with the last track on the EP, "Heights," where he sings, "From now on, all I want is what you want for me/I gave up my rights when I knew you gave your life for me," devoting himself to whoever he is singing to. The classic Aged sound is not lost, with the song still whirring and squeaking to create another modified soundscape, but this time, unlike "Banner," it has a sense of closeness. The romantic lyricism is accompanied by beautifully harmonized vocals and a playful instrumental track that sounds like running molasses in its fullness. It's the type of song you'd queue up on a late night with a loved one, comparing the shining of the stars to the bright composition that backs Aged as he sings, "And now you've brought me to heights, and there's no way / No way down."
With crown, Aged introduces a new layer to the modern music scene, creating an abstract atmosphere for his songs that shifts the typical structure of contemporary indie songs. He has found a way to make the whole EP sound as if it were manufactured in the control room of an alien spaceship, pulling listeners out of their bodies and into a unique world of sound.
Be sure to check out Aged’s new release wherever you stream!
