I believe one of the main intrapersonal challenges that creative activity helps address is the process of self-definition. Naturally, musicians inevitably adapt to the expectations of their audience to remain relevant and advance their work, yet this does not diminish the need for individuality. The Lebanese band Pēlikel has been seeking its own identity for four years.

In 2021, three young musicians released their first significant record – the album Shambles. I listened to it at the time and was pleasantly surprised by how experimental and fresh it sounded. No track resembled another in terms of style. In the years that followed, they performed concerts far beyond their homeland. During this period, fans received only the mixtape Live at Radio Beirut, a compilation of live performances of some of their works.

It seemed unlikely that new records from the Lebanese band would appear anytime soon, until their latest single, Aether Voyage, was released. Honestly, these Pēlikel were entirely different. Not in the sense that their music had declined – on the contrary, it reached an entirely new level, especially regarding technical recording quality. At the same time, the band noticeably shifted its approach, moving away from its distinctive, occasionally brazen indie-rock toward a more contemplative style.

Aether Voyage is marked by an extremely acoustic, melancholic tone throughout the first part of the song – a blend of nostalgia for a brighter past and anxious despair for the approaching future. Yet, closer to the end, the mood of the track undergoes a dramatic transformation. Traces of wistfulness remain, but the overall motif evolves significantly, as if the lyrical protagonist, along with the listeners, finds long-awaited hope, ultimately embracing both themselves and their new life.

In conclusion, I can confidently call Aether Voyage Pēlikel’s finest track to date, both in terms of sound and substance. Moreover, the new single serves as a perfect introduction to their conceptual EP Okay, Maybe, which will be released on 12 September. Fingers crossed.

*Promoted content. All information provided is prepared in accordance with editorial standards and is intended to offer useful insights for readers.