Above & Beyond are bringing their ‘We Are All we Need,’ tour to the famous Navy Pier in Chicago to make for a memorable Valentine’s Day 2015. The iconic Grand Ballroom positioned just off the coast of Lake Michigan will provide a perfect backdrop for A&B fans, couples, and ravers looking for their perfect EDM match this holiday. The tour, named after their latest January 19th album, marks Above & Beyond’s first major release since Group Therapy in 2011. The trio have always experimenting with their sound and this album was a wonderful reinforcement of their unique contributions to the electronic music scene.
Before the release of this album, the group performed an incredibly successful acoustic show covering their previous material at two live shows (London and LA). This live show brought to life the true depth and complexity of their iconic sound. Instantly in the first track on this album, “Quieter is Louder,” you can hear the influences their acoustic experience has had on their sound. This song sets the perfect tone for this album, as even the title itself makes a very strong statement towards current electronic music while mirroring their approach to production.
I was also very pleased to hear Alex Vargas had made appearances in a number of songs on this album. I was first exposed to his unique voice from their acoustic shows and distinctly remember his rendition of Sun and Moon. Alex’s voice is a nice departure from the soft female vocals that have been prevalent in electronic music. Alex is a keystone to this album and it’s clear that the foundation was built with him in mind. “We are all we Need,” as an album is quite a pleasant departure from the current electronic music scene. It has some longer ballads and provides more depth than your current four-on-the-floor jumpers. They do have a few strong crowd-movers woven in, but I’m hopeful the rest of the world will take this album in the same vain and appreciate it for the direction they’ve taken. As always, I look forward to what’s on the horizon for Above & Beyond.
Above & Beyond will be at their Navy Pier show in Chicago on February 14th. Doors open at 7PM and please note that the show is 18+. The tour heads to the Direct Energy Centre in Ontario the very next day, and all other stops can be found on the tour homepage, here.
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