Austin-based electronic music collective Xanimal are releasing their new single, “The Awakening”, and we are truly grateful for such a remarkable delivery. Claude McCan, Noëlle Hampton, and Ken Christensen offer us a fantastic song that defies easy categorization and pushes genre boundaries. At its core, it is a psychedelic electronic track, where Xanimal gifts us ethereal melodies and driving rhythms, all destined to linger in our minds for a long time. The band also collaborates with Indian-American vocalist Nagavalli, who gives her soul to the song with her angelic voice. But first things first. “The Awakening” begins as a psychedelic, spacey electronic piece, enriched with trance, trip-hop, and tribal elements. Then comes a strong beat, along with Hampton’s vocals, which make the song poppier and more danceable. Add to that the exceptional vocal contribution of Nagavalli, the atmospheric synths, and the hypnotic tablas, and you get the full picture of a song that elevates you to the skies. Many other artists may come to mind while listening to this wonderful electro track, but I would especially emphasize the influences of Enigma and Madonna. It is a meditative piece of musical art, a hymn that weaves strange and beautiful sonic landscapes, a psychedelic tune that speaks to both soul and mind. Take this journey into the universal world of music, and I am sure you will be more than satisfied. I didn’t know Xanimal before, but I absolutely enjoyed this fantastic trip and had the time of my life. Why don’t you step in and listen to this amazing track?
♦ 8/10
Dimitris Zacharopoulos
