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THE REVIEW
There was a voice, named Jasper Steverlinck, that captivated everyone who listened to it, straddling the current decade and the last. Sharp and seductive, capable of high notes and falsettos, androgynous yet warm, it was the symbiosis between the ambitions of a young Freddie Mercury and the melodramatic expressiveness of a cool jazz vocalist.
After his band, Arid, debuted in 1999 with the marvelous "At The Close Of Every Day," titled for other markets as "Little Things Of Venom," "All Is Quiet Now" was born in 2002. The title alone explains that, unlike the debut, this is a more straightforward album, less packed and less pretentious; inferior, if you will, but better focused on melodies.
It's astonishing how they managed to reproduce the tones of old-style jazz and marry them with the "explosiveness" of rock; to blend "cool" intimacy with the genetic flamboyance of guitars: old jazz is whispered, rock is shouted... Above all, the unmissable "You Are".
Counterpointed by a few wholly rock tracks, "spring-like" such as the splendid "The Everlasting Change" or powerful and epic ones that try - in vain - to challenge Steverlinck's voice, yet, on the contrary, end up being the perfect testing ground for Jasper, who is free to express the power of his voice. And the higher he goes, the better he seems to deliver: it's no wonder Arid is known in Italy for the powerful choruses of "Me And My Melody," from the previous album, where Steverlinck reaches sky-high.
A voice always in the foreground against music undoubtedly akin to the pop-rock of the time and to the most famous bands from their home country, Belgium, but more melodic, arguably more beguiling, because it's more romantic. A voice that perhaps sometimes indulges in baroque embellishments for their own sake, but most often is a silver dust that settles on Arid's tracks and makes them shine. And splendid. A voice that is theatrical, that introduces you to the ideal atmosphere, that conveys the necessary mood. That knows how to soothe you, reconcile you... Oil that helps the ugliness slide off you and brings you into a secret garden of emotions.
Everything is quiet, now.
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Summary by Bot
Arid's album 'All Is Quiet Now' offers a more focused and melodic approach compared to their debut. Jasper Steverlinck’s captivating voice blends old-style jazz tones with energetic rock, creating a unique and emotional experience. The album balances softer jazz intimacies with powerful rock performances, especially highlighted in tracks like 'You Are' and 'The Everlasting Change.' The vocal delivery is theatrical and emotive, making this release a memorable expression of melodic pop-rock with a romantic edge.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Arid
Arid are a Belgian alternative rock band formed in 1995, fronted by vocalist Jasper Steverlinck. Their debut, released in Belgium as Little Things of Venom and internationally as At the Close of Every Day, was followed by All Is Quiet Now, a live set, and Under the Cold Street Lights.03 Reviews
