Free Whenever

The Soundwaves Vinyl Of The Week is Ascension by Free Whenever.

 

The 2025 release by the Brooklyn, NY based trio is as fine as modern psychedelic music gets and is one of my favorite albums of the year. If you look at it in a spiritual sense, the album’s title might refer to the rising to a higher state of consciousness, awareness, or being. And that makes sense since the predominantly instrumental tracks have this trance-like ambient feel pedaled by a hint of Middle Eastern music. The drummer’s touch goes from jazz to funk in a heartbeat, the guitar creates tender vocal lines that pair nicely with the bass, all the while the addition of keys and synth sounds helps to formulate the overall mystique. 

 

If I were to describe this album in one word it would be hypnotic. The tracks seem to be set up in an order that moves from a slower tempo to a more energized one, bringing the listener on a continuous journey. The use of drones, airy reverb, and gradual swells gives the sensation of moving upward to a place you may have never been to before. And upward is just another way that the word “ascension” can be defined.

 

After you drop the needle on this album, make sure to listen to the Free Whenever Guest Playlist Series right here on Soundwaves. They were kind enough to curate some racks for you that have inspired their career.