In this first decade of this century/millennium, Omaha’s Azure Ray brought dreamy beauty when others were rocking. Like many acts from that time, they went into a hiatus in the next decade, but returned with 2018’s Waves EP (QRO review). Now their beauty goes big – and small – in the first full-length in over a decade, Remedy.
There are enchanting notes from start to finish on Remedy, which does make it a bit of a single whole rather than individual tracks. But among those tracks there are larger pieces such as “Bad Dream” and “The Swan”, yet also quiet intimacy with the likes of opener “Swallowing Swords” and heartbreaking “Grow What You Want and How Wild”. There is even a touch of sweet, wry twang to the penultimate “29 Palms”, and the album ends with the hopeful finish “I Don’t Want to Want To”.
The dream-pop to listen to in your bedroom at sunrise or sunset, Remedy is a charming, touching return.
