The new masterpiece of the peculiar Latvian indie rock association “Inspo” includes eight songs, which will take you only half an hour to listen to – it doesn’t take much. It should be remembered that this group loudly announced itself in this year’s competition “Supernova”, where it took an unexpectedly high eighth place with the song “A Happy Place”, and was even seventh in both the audience vote and in the evaluation of the jury. Prior to entering this contest, the group had managed to release one mini-album or EP with five compositions.
The group was formed in 2020 as a solo idea of Aivars Lietaunieks – this guitarist was once seen in the group “By The Way”, where he played together with members of the metal band “Legacy ID” Andi Jēkabson and Arti Apini . In December 2020, the song “Set Sail” aired on “Radio SWH”, but at that time, Aivaras was helped by another singer, while in the summer of 2021, Nadine Stirniniece joined him. “Listeners who have followed the band’s work so far will probably be surprised by the album, because it will also include songs in Latvian and emphasize even more the balance between soft and heavy, which also perfectly answers the question: why” Duality”. Continuing to explain, the band says that the album was a great experiment, but it successfully showcases the band’s shared musical vision. Music should be able to both calm and recharge, and it is exactly that that this album will provide to listeners,” is the accompanying message.
It should be noted that two tracks were created together with well-known musicians in Latvia: “Don’t hide” was recorded together with the group “Sub Scriptum”, while in the recording of the single “Tu manas mājas, es Tavas” the cellist of the group ” The Sound Poets” Undīne Balode lent her musical hand.
PAR. At the very least, the album can be rated as interesting, perhaps even more than interesting. Subjectively, the best ones seem to be the compositions in which Aivars recalls his skills in the field of heavier rock music and “notch” quasi or “nu-metal” guitar, which is especially true of “Distance”. Certainly to highlight the songs “Ugly Desires” and the superb “Solidify”, which will surely appeal to fans of good indie music. A wider audience will like “Don’t hide”, but Undîne’s cello also makes “You are my home, I’m yours” appreciated.
VERSUS. If the mini-album’s biggest drawback seemed to be that “Inspo” could not define a specific niche of its sound, now the style has become concrete, but the language of performance still needs to be clarified – three songs are in Latvian, the rest – in English, but conceptually and stylistically, they somehow stick together not stick together (the text “In the rain” falls completely out of context). Of course, not all of the songs included in “Duality” can be called successful, but that’s the whole point – what album doesn’t have it?! The worst part is that overall it’s a bit boring.
