Azwel is New York singer songwriter Jason Perrillo who has been steadily producing albums in his home studio over the past five years.
Now that these independent releases have reached double figures he has assembled a personal best of which can be downloaded free from his website. Depending on your level of cynicism, this could be read as an act of generosity or desperation on his part.
The sound of this modern day one man band is the type of melodic pop you'd expect from someone who includes Blur, Suede and Pet Shop Boys among his influences.
What I wanted to hear from these songs is something to help me understand what makes an artist like this tick. After all, it takes a certain stubborn determination and self belief to keep plugging away when hopes of a major commercial breakthrough must count as slim.
What I hear is a man who knows how to spot a good tune; Outside of Town, In Two and There's Got To Be Some Proof being ones that caught my ear and good places to start if you want a taster before going for the full package.
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But I also sense a strong level of detachment to the point that an FBI behavioural analysis unit would have their work cut out coming up with an accurate character profile.
I'd venture that he's a loner with calm, gentle and a romantic nature. I'd also guess that he has a pessimistic streak which he keeps at bay by writing pretty tunes which reveal little or nothing about his life or beliefs.
The songs come and go pleasantly enough, none of them jarring but, equally, none of them sticking in the mind.
File under quietly eccentric.
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