Icelandic alternative pop artist, Axel Flóvent has released his highly anticipated sophomore album, "Away From This Dream". Recorded in London last year with British production duo MyRiot, this project is about Axel expanding and evolving his sound that we already know and love - growing it into something even bigger and more powerful than ever before.
TRACKLIST
Moonlight
Don't Wait For Summer
Have This Dance
Wash It Away
Chasing The Night
This Feeling
When The Sun Goes Down
Asymmetry
Honesty
Away From This Dream
Axel comes from the fishing village of Húsavík, Iceland. He explores all areas of music as a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and a producer. He first officially introduced himself into the music scene in 2015 when he released his debut EP, "Forest Fires" which immediately made the world fall in love with his sound. The title track itself, "Forest Fires", currently sits at 81 million streams on Spotify and counting. Since then, Axel has continued releasing music, creating new styles and sounds along the way. He released his first ever album in 2021 titled "You Stay By The Sea" which gained notoriety from The Line of Best Fit, Atwood Magazine, NPR and American Songwriter, just to name a few. After teasing a new album over the past several months with singles and music videos, we are here now with Axel's second album, "Away From This Dream".
Moonlight
Opening up the album is the absolute stunning track, "Moonlight". The soundscape is filled with synthy-keyboard which sounds like twinkling, sparkling stars in the sky. With crickets chirping in the background, you're able to close your eyes and transport yourself into a grass field in the middle of the night, where everything is still and the air is just a little cold, and the only light is coming from the moon and the stars. The dreamy guitar creeps in and you star to feel like you're floating in space. As the song progresses, it starts to get a nostalgic 80's feel to it's rhythm when the drums come in. Sonically, this is a flawless song that tells you a story purely through it sound. However, it does have lyrics and vocals too which make it even better! Axel has such a beautiful smooth tone that fits perfectly with the mood of the music. The lyrics are about when you know a relationship is losing it's spark and you're having the realization it's going to be over, even though you don't necessarily want it to be.
Don't Wait For Summer
Released as a single in sync and in celebration with the release of this album, we have track two, "Don't Wait For Summer". Accompanied with a music video, "Don't Wait For Summer" picks up the pace and energy with it's infectious groove. Keeping the nostalgic 80's vibe and keyboard, this song has a pop/rock soundscape that would be so fun to jam out to live in concert. "Don't Wait For Summer" is a fun song that is basically telling you to go do whatever you want to do with your life. If there's a dream you want to follow, don't hold back because the only time is now! Don't miss out on any chances or opportunities due to fears and anxiety. Just go out there and make it happen.
Have This Dance
Next is "Have This Dance" which what I like to call an ear-worm. "Have This Dance" is about how your view of the world changes when start falling in love with someone new. The star of the show in this song is the bright 80's keyboard melody that repeats throughout. There's something about it that brings a sense of euphoria and makes me want to put this song on a loop. The rest of the instrumentation is just as incredible. You can hear a soulful, folk piano intertwined with electric guitar and a raw drum set, giving the sound a realness which is something we don't get much of anymore these days. Axel sings beautifully and wrote such a gorgeous melody for the hook in this song. It's actual pop perfection.
Wash It Away
We start to slow things down a bit with track four, "Wash It Away", which is an emotional ballad about when you don't want to depend on someone else to get you through your emotional distresses. You find yourself worrying so much that you almost convince yourself to sabotage something good for no reason. I'll warn you, you may need to grab your tissues for this one. There's something about the way everything in this song comes together that really takes your breath away. The piano and the heavily reverbed drums help keep the 80's vibe going. The dissonance in melody is a little bit reminscent of "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper. It's an honest and vulnerable track that can be relatable for so many people. So if you're someone who loves a great song to cry to, this is the one for you.
Chasing The Night
Picking the energy back up with track five, we have "Chasing The Night". Sounding like another radio hit, this track is filled with synth-keys and pulsing rhythms that make you want to get up and dance. It's exactly what I like to call feel good music. Continuing to be inspired by the 80's, Axel writes about how he's going to keep doing what he's been doing until he gets what he wants out of life - whether you like it or not! Nothing is going to stop him or bring him down from accomplishing what he wants to.
This Feeling
Released as the latest single after the album release, we slow things down again with "This Feeling". This track is a stunning piano ballad that relates to those vulnerable feelings of being scared to get too close to someone which we heard in "Wash It Away". However, even though there's fear, there's also no denying the good feelings this person brings him. "This Feeling" features beautiful harmonies and soaring vocals. There's guitar ringing in the distance which adds to the ambience of the soundscape. The poetic lyrics are the icing on the cake for just how incredibly well done this song is.
When The Sun Goes Down
"When The Sun Goes Down" was released as the leading single for this album several months ago, with the music video giving hints to the album's aesthetic. It's an uplifting song about not only accepting that life is going to have it's obstacles, but that you're strong enough to face those obstacles. No matter what you go through, at the end of the day you still make it home.
Asymmetry
"Asymmetry" is one of the most emotional points on the album. This song features soft, falsetto vocals and heart-stabbing lyrics And although he never actually says the word Asymmetry, the lyrics explore the idea of trying to make a relationship work out, even thought it's obvious that you don't conventionally fit together in the most perfect way. This stripped-down piano ballad puts Axel's beautiful voice at the forefront as he gently sings the most vulnerable and honest lyrics I've yet to hear from him.
Honesty
"Honesty", to me, feels like a "talking to yourself" type of song. I'm feeling those themes of being afraid to fall in love coming back in. You're so afraid of letting go or messing up, that instead you choose to be alone. You can't even be honest with yourself about why you are this way. Of course this is just my interpretation, and I'm sure there are many ways it could be understood! Keeping those dreamy, hazy 80's vibes going, "Honesty" is a great track to transition us into the ending of the album.
Away From This Dream
Closing out the the album, we have the title track, "Away From This Dream". This song was so beautifully done and has a melody that flows so flawlessly. When the second hook hits, it builds into a climax that just takes your breath away. I really love how Axel chose to end the album with this song. The mood and vibe is perfect to conclude all the emotions and stories that we experienced throughout the project. The song fades out with echoing vocals repeating the catchy hook and you feel like you're being transported back in time to the closing number at an 80's concert.
"Away From This Dream" by Axel Flóvent is one of the best indie projects of this year so far, and I really mean that. Axel is a melody expert and creates radio hits that are crafted and designed to get stuck in your head. Axel admits that he would listen to 80's hits radio on his way to the studio while recording this album, and you can really hear that influence within the soundscape of each song. There's such a dreamy, nostalgic feel to every track that makes you feel like you're floating on a cloud. The style is very reminiscent of Harry Styles, so if you're a fan of Harry, I can promise you'll be a fan of Axel. Axel mixes influences of pop, rock, folk and classic styles to create this universe of soundscapes that just about anybody in this world could love. If you loved this album as much as I did, make sure to follow Axel below to keep up with his musical journey and to see his tour schedule!
Written By Kaitlyn Nicole
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