THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Envy Of None is the new band debut album from the supergroup of the same name — featuring guitarist Alex Lifeson (Rush), bassist Andy Curran (Coney Hatch), producer and engineer Alfio Annibalini and singer Maiah Wynne.
The ambient, cinematic darkness that the collective creates evokes a powerful atmosphere that will excite superfans and new audiences alike. Lifeson and Curran’s longtime friendship was the catalyst for the bands inception. But Envy Of None is not defined by its members resumes — they aren’t Rush or Coney Hatch and are far more than the sum of its collective parts.
Above the beautiful cacophony of guitars, synths, bass and drums sits the fragile melodies of 24-year-old vocalist Wynne — the newest name in Envy Of None’s impressive personnel. Hearing Mariah’s voice intertwined with the music will bring back memories of when you heard Shirley Manson of Garbage or Amy Lee of Evanescence for the first time. Wynne brings charm and beauty to these recordings in spades, with floating hooks and emotive lyrics transcending the oftentimes textural aesthetic.
The Storm Thorgerson-like visuals that grace the cover may remind fans of Lifeson’s earlier work. Curran explains: “The Hipgnosis-style artwork of albums like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin and others were so eye-catching, surreal and attention-grabbing, and we wanted to scratch that itch. We were instantly drawn to Lebanese photographer Eli Rezkallah at Plastik’s photography and design work. We fell in love with a bunch of his work — we had a hard time choosing something because he had so many great images.” However, the ’70s prog and Rush comparisons may end with the artwork. The music that this ensemble creates treads new ground with each track throughout their 42-minute debut, from industrial/electronic influences to post-progressive soundscapes. Envy Of None create a sound that will haunt, comfort and ignite.
Says Curran: “If you can picture maybe Massive Attack with a little bit of some electronic stuff with Nine Inch Nails influences, with this beautiful, fragile, sweet voice and some very, very dark heavy sounds.”
