INTRODUCING: Without Waves
If you’re looking for progressive post-metal with a sense of humour while being able to play with complex subject matters, and produce technical and emotionally engaging music, then look no further than WITHOUT WAVES. A joyfully experimental band, we caught up with Anthony Cwan and Zac Lomardi about the new record Comedian, the importance of letting the music happen organically and the cosmic comedy that is the inexplicable world we live in.
Comedian is an especially interesting title, given that the record deals with some dark topics. “There’s something about the world and state of things, the universe we find ourselves in that you have to laugh at,” Zac explains. When you think about it, it makes total sense, and adds another layer of enjoyment to listening to the record when you consider the almost Shakespearean mindset of this record. Comic tragedy versus tragic comedy; it’s a theme that trickles through the album as a whole without hindering the individuality of the songs on their own.
WITHOUT WAVES have a knack for creating bouncing, expressive music that really hits hard and pushes into new areas of experimental music. It’s heavy, it’s often aggressive, but also playful and alert, always giving something new to the listener. When creating Comedian, it was important to the band that the music was made in service of itself and to the band, not to any constraints. “Any time you’re putting out something artistically you want to improve each time,” Anthony smiles. “I think we went in with that mindset; it is going to be a dense listen, but also a dynamic listen too.”
“In the grand scheme of things there probably wasn’t any particular focus aside from trying to be more honest,” Zac shrugs honestly. “The songs were written in a shorter time than the last record so that probably has helped it feel more cohesive, even though there’s been several years between those two records. I think really, the goal was to tightly execute what we created. Diversity isn’t at the forefront of our minds when we’re writing, we don’t look to make something different.”
“I like the idea that this isn’t a record you can digest all in one pass,” Zac goes on. “I love listening to records that you have to revisit and some that you’re maybe unsure of for a while.”
“Sometimes you don’t understand our even see where a song is going until it’s done,” Anthony adds. “Even from a lyrical stand point, there are hooks and melodies they you hear in your head and then a group of words comes out to match them. Sometimes I’d have no idea what they’d mean but after sitting with it a little while, and understanding the emotional response you’ve come out with naturally to something.
Whether it’s the inspired use of timings and melody in conjunction with our anxieties about being online in .algorithm, or Day 15, with its clash of serene movements and lush harmonies of vocals that feels like listening unsettled mindset. Whatever they turn their hand to, there’s a huge array of talent and creativity in WITHOUT WAVES that’s very exciting in the post hardcore and progressive scene.
There’s also an ambient undercurrent in Worlds Apart, that makes it feel very spaced out. This songs particular ambience was another clear point of the importance of collaboration for WITHOUT WAVES. “I think a lot of our best material comes out when a band member comes and challenges us,” Zac notes. “It’s funny that you can work on your own on something for weeks. When you come into the room and introduce it to the guys it changes drastically.”
A prime example of that is the track Seven, which has an expansive rise and fall. The freeform nature of the track feels relaxed, and yet there’s clearly wrapped in tight, melodic patterns that are super interesting to digest. “I did have a dream at making seven a seven-minute-long song, but it wasn’t right for the song so we had to extend it,” Zac says. “It’s kind of tricky. I approached the band with it almost all written, but I had parts that were meant to be going on simultaneously, once we got in the room, it took on a whole new life. It’s also interesting because it was classically influenced, there’s a minimalist composer I like a lot called Arvo Pärt, I was very into his music when I started writing that one so it might show.”
Having such a varied taste in music, from classical to jazz, to bands and artists like DEVIN TOWNSEND, GOJIRA and PORKUPINE TREE makes WITHOUT WAVES a real one to watch.
“We weren’t working off a spreadsheet, it was organic,” Anthony reflects on the record, and the band as a whole. “Which was the essence of this band. We always want this to be just whatever it is. That includes musically, but also we’ve never made it a point to say we’re this, or we want to make this sound. We’re just us.”
Comedian is out now via Prosthetic Records.
Like WITHOUT WAVES on Facebook.