Music
Silhouette represents a dreamlike journey through nine tracks that take a walk through traditional jazz boundaries, creating an atmospheric experience that speaks to the transcendent aspects of human existence.
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The album features three original compositions by the group's percussionist and composer Anson Hohne, alongside thoughtfully arranged jazz standards. The collection showcases vocalist Erica Wilkes's ethereal, crystalline vocals accompanied by an accomplished ensemble including guitarist Ben Rice, bassist/producer Paul Defiglia (known for his work with the Avett Brothers and Langhorne Slim), and drummer Anson Hohne.
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The group creates soundscapes that feel both intimate and expansive. The band members move in perfect synchronicity with Wilkes's vocals, their instruments weaving together like moonlight on water.
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Together, they create music that exists in a space between traditional jazz, contemporary experimentation, and ethereal dream-pop, drawing comparisons to artists like Mazzy Star and Norma Winstone.
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The Look Aways began in 2016 as a trio performing Bossa Nova classics and jazz standards before evolving into their current lineup. Their sound now defies traditional genre boundaries, creating an atmospheric blend that draws from jazz traditions while incorporating contemporary elements and avant-garde explorations.
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"We try to be selective about the jazz standards we play, mining as deep as necessary for songs that continue to hold meaning in our current world," says Hohne. "A well written song spans time and culture, always taking on new meaning. Those are the songs we want to breathe new life into, and the kind of music I want to compose."
The album's title track, "Silhouette," composed by drummer Anson Hohne, emerges from a deep wellspring. The song explores a moment of existential awareness, with lyrics: "I saw a light through the door / a candle brightly / Burning before / A ghostly portrait / Silhouette of a man."
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Notes Hohne. "Our approach to jazz standards comes from a place of wanting to continue the tradition rather than recreate the past. We search for songs that resonate with our current world and offer beauty in the now."
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The album's sequence moves listeners through various emotional landscapes, from the melancholic beauty of "A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing" to the contemplative depths of "You Must Believe in Spring." Hohne's original composition "Little Poem" emerged from solitary morning moments, capturing the profound beauty found in everyday solitude and connection with the natural world.
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While not conceived as a concept album, "Silhouette" presents a cohesive artistic statement about accepting life's difficulties while remaining open to its moments of transcendent beauty. The collection demonstrates The Look Aways' unwavering commitment to their artistic vision, even as they operate outside Nashville's mainstream.
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"Silhouette" is available across streaming platforms an on cd through Tableaux Records. The album captures The Look Aways' live performance experience, where audiences are transported to a dreamlike state, guided by music that explores those ineffable feelings that, as the band suggests, "can't be expressed with normal language, but only through art."
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Collins Hohne