Aaron Brooks, the songwriter of the acclaimed American psychedelic rock band Simeon Soul Charger, returns with this album after a two-year leave from the music scene. In 2011 he moved to Germany with his band and over the years they garnered a large fan base all over Europe. In 2016 the Soul Chargers disbanded, their members following their own musical paths and with “Homunculus” we now hold the result of Aaron’s creative break in our hands. And it is spectacular!
Sad, almost depressing, Aaron’s crystal clear voice sounds over a wonderful piano carpet. And towards the end the mountain really does wake up, when – orchestral and cinematic – distorted guitars, strings and monumental choirs set in. Associations with Muse cannot be denied. And why should they be? Many of the varied songs on his album are progressive, not to make things complicated, but to surprise and inspire, especially when the door is ripped open and the light flows into the dark room. Compared to Simeon Soul Charger, Aaron Brooks also shows us slower, more melancholic songs. The piano often plays a leading role, as well as strings and orchestral percussion.
Aaron’s solo debut “Homunculus” was produced by Yogi Lang, one of the two heads of RPWL and label director of Gentle Art Of Music. His RPWL and label colleague Kalle Wallner contributed a lot of guitars, while Lang provided the excellent sound as he did in the past for artists like Ray Wilson.
You can simply sense that Aaron loves writing music and recording it in the studio, yes, he needs it – it’s a kind of catharsis for him. It’s nice that he lets us participate in this process and floods all the darkness with light again and again.
“Homunculus” is set for a September 21st release through German label Gentle Art of Music.
Track list:
01) Consume
02) You’re Just a Picture in a Frame
03) Wake Up the Mountain
04) Everybody Dies
05) Lies
06) Jesus
07) By Your Halo or the Fork of Your Tongue
08) Nobody Knows What it’s Like to be Someone Else
09) The Idiot
10) Bodega, Bodega
11) I’m Afraid
12) What is a Man but an Animal’s End
13) Digital
Line-up:
Aaron Brooks: vocals, guitar
Beni Wiedemann: piano, keyboards
Max Huber: drums
Stefan Rossinger: guitar
Joachim Schwarz: bass
Susi Salomon: violin
Sandra Rieger: violin
Isabel Schlegel: cello
For more information:
https://www.aaronbrooks.net/
https://www.facebook.com/AaronBrooksMusic/
