"AAN" Experiments with Their Latest Album, "Amor Ad Nauseum"

Originally Posted 02/25/14:

Probably the most fascinating aspect of music is the experimenting with different sounds; lots of times one never knows how the final product will turn out. “AAN” (Pronounced “On”) is one such band that specializes in experimentation. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, AAN have been leaving a mark in the independent scene with their brand of “experimental pop” since 2007, performing with more famous bands such “The Smashing Pumpkins.” After seven years in the industry, they finally debut with their first studio album, “Amor Ad Nauseum.” Under production for two years, “Amor Ad Nauseum” manages to capture and hold the listener’s interest by utilizing a variety of sounds and styles throughout.

Playing with “experimental pop,” it can be said that “AAN” tries to cram multiple styles of music with each song. The first track, “Wet and Dripping,” begins with a distorted guitar with a hint of vibrato accompanied by what sounds like ghostly echoes, bats, and bones clashing like wind chimes. As the track progresses, its tempo increases, eventually entering a loud, electrical guitar rift along with Bud Wilson’s loud, gruff singing that sounds reminiscent of Rob Halford. Wilson’s loud tone gives a vibe of rage and aggression. After this, the song quiets down and Wilson sings in a high and timid tone, then transitions back to its hard, electric sound towards the end. These transitions are common in the album and are used to present new elements in the music. Listening to “Loveless Dreams,” the fourth track, it starts with a howling energy, and slowly, it inserts a guitar melody accompanied by a chorus. Some songs remain consistent with the sound.

The second track, “Spiritual Provisions,” contains a repeating guitar rift with varying notes, and the track maintains its general melody. Another example of consistency is “Wake Me with a Kiss," which is definitely one of the stronger tracks on the album. An angelic resonance kicks off the track and quant singing begs the question, “do you love me?” Soon, a second voice, who could be the significant other, enters, and a pseudo duet ensues. What is interesting is that Bud Wilson’s vocal range makes it sound as if a lady is singing with him, when it is actually just his voice layered over a lower octave. With this, the style of Bud Wilson’s vocals is worth noting

Bud Wilson’s singing, which is higher in tone, strikes a good balance between coarseness and refinement; his vocal range is very impressive. The Final track, “Weirdo,” also displays Wilson’s octave range, with him reaching counter-tenor levels of notes in contrast to his harsher tone in “Wet and Dripping.” Wilson’s flexibility serves him well here.

“Amor Ad Nauseum” in general has a bipolar-like sound. From harder tracks like “Wet and Dripping” to far softer sounding tracks like “Wake Me With a Kiss,” the variation keeps the listener curious. As far as experiments go, I would say this one is a success. “Amor Ad Nauseum” is available for purchase on iTunes, and is also available on CD and vinyl record.