Inevitable is the debut album from Awake & Dreaming, a Canadian alt-rock quartet. Across ten songs, the band explores what it means to stay human in a world that constantly seeks to numb us.
The very first track, I U Me, immediately suggests that this is going to be a genuinely strong album. Its opening moments reveal an intriguing production, a slightly distorted tone and tribal-leaning drums, topped with a vocal that occasionally reminds me of Aurora or various trip-hop artists. It is a seriously powerful voice, with an instantly recognizable tone and a great melodic instinct. The song gradually builds over its more than five-minute runtime, eventually moving into more pop-oriented territory with backing vocals, while occasional hints of post-rock emerge along the way. I particularly love the guitars around the four-minute mark. It is a fantastic opening track with a warm, atmospheric trip-hop feel.
Rewire takes a very different approach, with a much more garage-rock-oriented vibe. The vocal performance is also considerably more playful this time, at moments reminding me of some ’70s psychedelic bands as well as ’90s indie rock. It is a hugely entertaining track, especially because it takes a completely unexpected turn about a minute and a half before the end. Suddenly, instead of the raw garage-rock energy, we get something far more emotional, evoking my beloved band Daughter. Eventually, though, the song returns to its original garage-rock rawness.
The following Old Ghosts stands out thanks to its beautiful instrumentation, floating somewhere between Ex:Re and The National. I have a real weakness for slower, emotionally charged songs like this, so Old Ghosts is easily one of the highlights of the record for me. The piano is particularly beautiful and works incredibly well within the arrangement. The melody that arrives around 1:35 is genuinely fantastic – one of the most interesting melodies I have heard this year. At over six minutes, the song has plenty of room to breathe, and the precise drumming gives it an almost meditative quality.
The first half of the album also features Antidote and Cold Shoulder. The former is more energetic and reminded me somewhat of recent Smashing Pumpkins material, while Cold Shoulder brings a more electronic production, with synthesizers playing a major role. It is a welcome change of pace and another example of how varied the album is. What caught my attention most here is the raw “choir” of voices that emerges during the second half.
The second half begins with Underwater, driven by prominent piano and yet another strong chorus. The singer’s high register once again proves that she has a remarkable instinct for melody, particularly when it comes to creating hooks that stay with you.
Lights Down Low introduces an acoustic guitar and a more relaxed, optimistic atmosphere. Compared to the preceding songs, there is only a hint of sadness here, and the track feels considerably more euphoric, while still retaining a beautiful sense of melancholy.
At over seven minutes, Can’t Sleep is the longest track on the album and feels like a natural companion to the similarly expansive Old Ghosts. Once again, the band develops a beautiful slowcore, dreamy and almost trip-hop atmosphere that, in the best possible way, evokes Daughter. The excellent drumming, interesting and beautifully played and recorded guitars, and above all the captivating vocal performance with its memorable hooks make this another standout.
The penultimate Faceless carries a huge amount of energy, largely thanks to its powerful beat, and I imagine it must be particularly exciting and compelling when performed live. Once again, the second half brings in some excellent distorted guitars, giving the song a strong alt-rock character and adding another burst of raw energy to the album.
Finally, Event Horizon begins with a minimalist instrumental arrangement before the powerful vocal enters. There is something almost religious or church-like about the atmosphere, giving the track a sense of grandeur without becoming overly dramatic. Piano gradually joins the arrangement towards the end, and the whole album closes in a satisfying moment of catharsis.
In the end, Inevitable is an impressive debut that succeeds precisely because it refuses to settle into one particular sound. Awake & Dreaming move comfortably between alt-rock, garage rock, slowcore, dreamier textures and trip-hop influences, while the recurring contrast between raw energy and fragile, emotional passages gives the album its distinctive character.
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