Awake & Dreaming – Inevitable
buffaBLOG warmly welcomes Awake & Dreaming, an awesome Canadian alt-rock quartet, to our reviewal archives. The band recently recorded their debut album, Inevitable. In this album, which the band defines as a “… 2 a.m. self-talk dream session about letting go of what’s dragging you down,” Awake & Dreaming (Instagram account here) successfully position themselves as a standout act who brandish massive mixes formulated with slick technicality and intense catharsis.
After the album opener, Inevitable leads us to “Rewire,” the second scheduled single. In “Rewire,” the melodic portion of the band allows the percussion to go wild at times. Overall, this tune is pretty funky and understatedly cool. The song halts into questionable bliss while the singer intonates, “I need something to get me through…” referring to the idea that our numbing world is difficult to cope with alone.
Inevitable offers jazzy, syncopated drums, mumbling, bubbling bass guitar, and bright, trembling synthesizer before we reach the first single, “Underwater.” The kick, snare, and vibraphone settle the excitement stirred by the prior song, yet the dancing of the cymbal work, contradicting the ghostly vocal delivery, brings you right back to that same arousal. The track eventually swallows you like the ocean’s maw.
With time, the listener treks to song eight, “Can’t Sleep.” The hypnotic grand piano adds sincerity to the lyrics, “Baby? Are we in over our heads?” The slow heartbeat of the kick drum calms quickened pulses, bringing you to a peace like quiet evenings spent with your lover. The bass guitar is punchy and almost staccato. Little intricacies help smooth out “Can’t Sleep,” and the song’s certainty quells any denial of true love.
Inevitable is FFO Radiohead, AURORA, and Muse, being perfect for a night when you’d like something experimental. Awake & Dreaming’s debut is set to release October 16th, 2026, and is accompanied by vinyl pressings and a support tour. Early releases are available to listen to on Spotify and Apple Music, while Bandcamp offers a full preview!
Categorised in: Album Reviews, New Music
This post was written by Jake Sessanna