Diversions
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Newsday May 7, 2004: by Rafer Guzman
The disc " Diversions," from an artist called Azwel, arrived in a clear plastic jewel case, with song titles scrawled in ballpoint pen on the label. You never know with stuff like this: If the guy can't be bothered to make his disc look half way professional, what will the music sound like? Then again, the music is what matters, not the packaging. So I put the disc in my player.
It turned out to contain 11 wonderfully pretty, sad, evocative songs. Azwel, otherwise known as Jason Perrillo, a 24-year-old living in Dix Hills sings and plays every instrument on these mostly keyboard based tracks, which were produced in his home. But you wouldn't know it: The tracks are full of gorgeous harmonies, resonant piano lines and romantic strings. Occasional Xylophones and odd sound effects help create a melancholy atmosphere, like a sunny day cut by a cold wind.
The opening track, "mm" skips along on a lifting piano while Perrillo sings in an earnest, gentle voice about fighting a mysterious battle: "We will need everything that it takes to fight them over." He switches to an old fashioned organ for "This Works Out Like a Charm," recalling the off-kilter cabaret of Kurt Weill. He even fashions an odd kind of dinner jazz on "Taking Notice," with its swinging rhythm and groovy bass.
But "There's Got to Be Some Proof" is the album's standout track, a five-minute ballad that dips and rises beautifully. It even hides an entire submelody in its dramatic middle section. A close second is "A Ship Called Who," a chilly mood piece with new-wave keyboards and weirdly revved-up vocal effects.
Perrillo calls his music "interesting melodic pop," an understatement to say the least. That's like calling Jimi Hendrix's music "unusual rock." Then again, Perrillo isn't much concerned with marketing: Drop him a line at (old email), and he'll send you a disc, free of charge.
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