Review ENVY OF NONE “Stygian Waves”

Envy Of None is neither Rush nor Coney Hatch, although the band’s line-up includes two musicians with such musical backgrounds. Alex Lifeson and Andy Curran have both made major contributions to the Canadian music scene and are internationally recognised rock giants.

With Envy Of None, the two have found a new musical playground, and after releasing a debut album in 2022, they have added ‘Stygian Waves’ to their list of releases. In addition to Lifeson and Curran, the four-piece also includes Alfio Annibalini on keyboards and singer Maiah Wynne. The latter is an American singer-songwriter and it is her voice that has become a trademark of Envy Of None. Her clear voice and touching way of singing lead to fascinating moments on the album, and I can recommend listening to the wonderful “Under the Stars”. The song can be considered a ballad, but it is more than that. It is a soft and gentle swinging song with Lifeson adding a great solo part. It is a blueprint song for the album as it reflects the sound of Envy Of None in a great fashion.

To broaden the scope, the band adds a funky rock song to the track list with the following “Thrill Of The Chase”, which shows the musical range of the quartet. The album’s versatility is also reflected in songs such as ‘Raindrops’, which has an 80s vibe to it, and ‘Clouds’, which has some nods to the heyday of synth rock. Mentioning these references means that Envy Of None are using them as an inspiration for their own musical kaleidoscope.

“Stygian Waves” contains songs that are a soul treat and “New Trip” is one of those emotive moments on the album. Envy Of None manage to craft great music that grabs the listener’s attention without being loud and in your face. Subtle hooks and gentle melodies are the anchor points for each of the songs and once you have experienced the sheer brilliance of these songs, you just want to hear more.

“Stygian Waves” is the second album from a band of musicians with very different backgrounds. What unites them is a passion and dedication to music, and it feels as if both,, Lifeson and Curran, are enjoying the new musical freedom beyond the confines of their famous musical motherships. This album is a gem in stormy times and it is the colorful artwork that reflects the musical beauty to perfection.