Album Review: Aiko - ‘Expiration Date‘.
Rising singer songwriter Aiko releases stunning debut album ‘Expiration Date‘.
Inspired by lonesome travels, ‘Expiration Date’ is an album that captures a multitude of emotions and finds strength in vulnerability. Intricately woven into a fabric of bold melodies and captivating rhythms, the record showcases Aiko’s knack for magnetic choruses and emotive songwriting.
From the roaring depths of ‘Apology’ to the immaculately immersive synths of ‘Growing Old’, each song thrills with a different sound. The only constant: Aiko’s instantly intoxicating vocals that bend and stretch with the record’s shifting moods. Eclectic and versatile, combining modern electronica with soothing folkscapes, ‘Expiration Date’ is far from predictable. It finds its most memorable moments in ‘Hunt’ – a soaring battle cry driven by haunting melodies and a piercing chorus of “show me that you’re human” – and emotional centre piece ‘Vulnerable’. “So please don’t leave, I trusted for the first time. I’m vulnerable” Aiko sings, wrapped into a dark, cloudy soundscape, and keeps you transfixed by sheer force of her luminous vocals alone.
Speaking about the album’s overarching theme, Aiko says: “Everything expires and leaves us with a feeling of nostalgia, so one should cherish every moment, be it a good or a bad one,” A sentiment that reflects the dynamic nature of ‘Expiration Date’, immortalizing both, good and bad memories. This debut takes Aiko’s bedroom pop roots and grows them into something richer. A wonderful introduction to promising new talent.
Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven