SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AYSANABEE – EDGE OF THE EARTH

AYSANABEE
EDGE OF THE EARTH
ISHKŌDÉ RECORDS

Aysanabee is a Toronto-based artist who has been making quite a name for himself. He is an Oji-Cree singer-songwriter of the Sucker Clan, and is originally of the Sandy Lake First Nation, a very remote community in Northern Ontario. He has absorbed music from all over to create something very distinct and unique.

Edge Of The Earth is his second full-length album (his debut, Watin, was released in 2022). In a very short time, he has accomplished quite a bit, including earning two Junos in 2024 for his EP, Here And Now (Alternative Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year), but more importantly he has consistently released incredible music.

Aysanabee has created his own brand of music. Some of the music taps into a Hozier vibe (“Good Love”), but just as quickly comes up with a more country-pop tune (“Into The Fire”). The album Edge Of The Earth may seem all over the place with styles of music, lyrics and sounds, and that is exactly the point. Aysanabee tackles different music with ease, and the one consistent is the fantastic quality of each song. He writes strong melodies, such as “Edge Of The Earth” which instantly attach to the listener’s soul.

Perhaps the best song on the album is the very moving “Home”, a song about survival in the face of extreme hardships. “Home is where the heart is,” sings Aysanabee. “We must be heartless, we can’t go back…” he finishes the age old cliche. It is at once heartbreaking but also remarkably powerful. In a very few words, he is saying a great deal. The album ends with the very mellow and beautiful “Dream Catcher”, a very personal and hopeful song. His powerful vocals with the wonderful vocal arrangement is beyond words.

It is hard to believe that Edge Of The Earth is Aysanabee’s second album (plus the EP). He comes across as someone who has been writing, recording, and producing top notch albums like a veteran. He creates incredible music by layering sound, instruments, and voices. Edge Of The Earth is an absolutely brilliant album.

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