Observatory, by Aeon Station

Observatory

by Aeon Station

supported by

harrug Some absolutely phenomenal tunes here, while I wish it was under better circumstances I'm glad this was released. Favorite track: Queens.

Daniel Lee I’m not afraid to admit this album makes me genuinely emotional. I loved the Wrens dearly and, while it’s incredibly sad that band is over, hearing Kevin spread his wings and realize his vision makes me stupidly happy for him.

Thank you, Kevin. Thank you for what you’ve given us and for persevering through some pretty dark years. Thank you for being such a friendly person when I spoke with you after a Wrens show.

I don’t have the words to describe how much this record means to me. Maje Favorite track: Fade.

loveday xae warsong-robijn a late entry, to be sure -- dec 10 is cutting it close -- but an album so good it shot right to the top of my favorite records of the year. it will make aware that your heart is still beating, if like me you sometimes forget. Favorite track: Better Love.

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1.	Hold On 01:37	info	buy track
2.	Leaves 05:15 video	info	buy track
3.	Fade 05:35 video	info	buy track
4.	Everything at Once 03:39	info	buy track
5.	Move 03:34	info	buy track
6.	Queens 04:59 video	info	buy track
7.	Empty Rooms 03:19	info	buy track
8.	Air 04:52	info	buy track
9.	Better Love 02:57	info	buy track
10.	Alpine Drive 03:01	info	buy track

about

Aeon Station’s Observatory is an epic statement more than a decade in the making, with miles of timeless melodies and the kind of overpowering songwriting that will reaffirm your belief in life itself. Longtime Wrens member Kevin Whelan’s first solo album draws heavily from the perseverance of the soul, resulting in rock music possessing an infectious and inspiring sonic uplift. If you’re familiar with Whelan’s past work, these ten tracks bear a certain and unmistakable familiarity—but they also mark an exciting new chapter in Whelan’s musical career, as he steps out with more vulnerability than ever before.

Observatory came together carefully for Whelan—over the course of 14 years, specifically, as clusters of demos and sketches were eventually assembled and recorded largely by Whelan himself, with assistance from Wrens bandmate Jerry MacDonald and Greg Whelan as well as Tom Beaujour in his Union City recording space. Additionally, his wife Mary Ann provided backup vocals. “It’s the best I’ve done and may ever do frankly,” Whelan states. “It’s written over such a long period of my life. Music I did in the past was tinged with expectations or presumptions, but this time, it was just for me.”

The long gestation of Observatory means that a lot of lived experience went into making this album. As time passed, Whelan got married, started a family, and moved to the Asia Pacific region for a period of time; at 15 months old, his son (now eight) was also diagnosed with autism, and the title of Observatory is inspired by Whelan’s relationship with his son. “The moment you’re told your child is not ‘neurotypical,’ your whole world expands in ways you never imagined,” he explains. “Even though he doesn’t speak much at all, or look at anyone directly, you can see him observing everything around him. The album title reflects upon the stories within the songs — each one observing a certain situation or feeling.”

Whelan’s scope of musical vision on Observatory is wide open and free with possibilities—at once recalling the reflective wisdom of Bruce Springsteen, Broken Social Scene’s huge anthemic burn, and the Wrens’ own pulsing-with-life take on rock music. Above all, this is music not only for dreamers but for those who realize and appreciate the enormity of every moment. “It’s about never letting go about those dreams and your passion,” he states. “The album starts from a place of realizing that everything is temporary, what we love eventually changes or leaves us, and regardless we continue to search and find our way back home.” If you’ve ever caught air in your lungs or felt your heart beating in your chest, there’s no doubt that you’ll find some level of connection with Observatory’s open-hearted, instantly classic-sounding rock.

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about

Aeon Station Jersey City, New Jersey

shows

Jun 8

Ardmore Music Hall

Philadelphia, PA
Jun 8

The Ardmore Music Hall

Ardmore, PA
Aug 12

The Independent

San Francisco, CA

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