Avalon Skies Explores Melancholy, Beauty and Deep Emotion on Debut Album 'A Shape of Thought'
- Undrtone Blog
- Jun 16
- 2 min read
A 10-track journey of reflection, escapism and sonic worldbuilding, Avalon Skies’ debut album ‘A Shape of Thought’ feels less like a collection of songs and more like a story. A slow-burning one. Not chasing big drops or instant gratification but revealing new emotional layers with each listen. Download/stream it here: https://ffm.to/a_shape_of_thought.
It opens with ‘Woven’, a powerful introduction that blends organic and downtempo house grooves with orchestral arrangements. There’s a cinematic energy to it. Pianos swirl between intricate, layered instrumentation, building a rich emotional space that feels full-bodied and alive.
That groove continues into ‘In Solitude’ but with a heavier tone. It leans melancholic, coloured by sweeping pads and subtle cultural instrumentation. The undertones hint at a Balkan influence, something philharmonic in scope but soft and never overstated. It’s introverted, thoughtful, almost meditative.
By track three, Avalon Skies drops structure entirely. ‘For Mila’ plays like a dream sequence, floating and cinematic. It doesn’t follow traditional dance or electronic forms, but it doesn’t need to. It’s a short interlude that showcases depth and range.
‘Mesmerize’ keeps things downtempo but adds a layer of raw soul. There’s a beautiful contrast in its stripped-back percussion and sorrowful undertones. It feels deeply personal, music that makes you sit still and think.
‘Boketto’ shifts again, pulling in delicate harp lines and slowed breakbeat rhythms. There’s an unmistakable Oriental influence, but it’s handled with subtlety. As with much of the album, atmosphere leads, not ego.
On ‘Sun Haze’, that dreamy melancholy returns. Rippling bell tones, live drums, and warm, low-end movement give the track a sort of liquid feeling. The drum fills and little accents add a human element, something that’s present across the album.
Then comes ‘Rituals’, which edges closer to the dancefloor. It’s still introspective. Still dreamy, but more rhythmic and grounded. The grooves carry a sense of release, a reminder that you can lose yourself in music without it being high-energy.
Track eight is the standout, ‘Let It Be a Dream’. It floats somewhere between celestial ambience and slowed-down dubstep. It’s the only track with proper ‘vocals’, but they’re used sparingly and effectively. Noora Salmi’s voice drifts across the space like a satellite signal, distant, haunting, and stunning.
‘Coda’ steers things back into deeper house territory. There’s a definite Anjunadeep-esque flavour here: clean, emotional, spiritual. It’s the kind of track that feels built for introspection. The production is polished without losing its sincerity.
Finally, ‘Ode to Life’ closes things off with cinematic weight. It’s not a finale; it’s a final chapter. A reflection. A sense of resolution. You feel the full journey at this moment: from discomfort through to growth and on to peace.
As a whole, ‘A Shape of Thought’ doesn’t try to impress. It just exists quietly, emotionally, and honestly. It’s an album for people who don’t just listen to electronic music - they feel it. Avalon Skies isn’t chasing a scene or a trend. They’re building a world. And that’s what makes this debut so compelling.
Avalon Skies
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