By Simon McMurdo

Following the success of Sellaband and Ummo Uxa, AIOIA, perhaps the most unique and intruiging band at current, begins a new phase of their career. Escaping the clutches of the past, developing a newer and more relevant sound and managing to reach out to new audiences as well as satisfying their own current fans, AIOIA present one of the most stunning masterpieces in Sellaband's history with Gaa.

Ambient once again, 'Come Along Amazon' contains a flawless guitar solo on behalf of resident player, Dji. The song is a downtempo, male lead foray into darker and more intense sound that effectively leads perfectly into the interestingly titled 'Don't Give Up Your Mind'. As Kinnie takes over from Stéphane, she performs the song with mystical perfection, a track which becomes increasingly darker as the mysterious voices accompany her toward the climax of the song. A powerful, yet one of the most instant tracks on Gaa, it has a stunning piano-vocal pairing that accompany and compliment one another with ease and perfection.

Doing for Gaa, what 'Groom Lake Secrets' did for Ummo Uxa, 'Mars Insiders' is the core of AIOIA's dark, innovative and complex experimentations. Making use of the distorted vocal technique, and chord heavy piano playing, it is without a doubt a hard song to truly understand and appreciate at first, but after constant listens, it's beauty is evident and stunningly so - a great track, definitly recommendable to those who like their music with a lot of interperative potential.

If a song was to be released to radios, to show AIOIA's talent and potential, the perfect choice would certainly be the convincing 'The Earth Is Dead'. Giving Kinnie a break from lead vocals, Stéphane guides the listener through five minutes of pure AIOIA musicianship, from distorted guitars, to rock influences and, as always, topped off with a perfect vocal melody performed to precision. Furthermore, the song really shows the talent and development that AIOIA have performed with on Gaa, a perfect structure, stunning passages and haunting riffs that stick in the mind for days.

Closing the album in an uplifting manner, the band welcome Lori Greco to add her distinct deep, seductive tones to the track 'Garden In The Sky'. Along with Kinnie, the pair work together effortlessly, ensuring that every note is sung with passion and perfection. The album could not have ended in a better manner.

Starting as they mean to go on, Ummo Uxa saw AIOIA promising great things, and Gaa certainly delivers in this sense. What was seen in the bands music beforehand, is only furthered and developed dramatically to great effect on this latest opus, and an absolute recommendation comes, as I ensure that AIOIA deliver in every manner. A serene, ambient and thoughtful band, that take music to another level.

Speaking of which, the vocal standout performance from Kinnie comes on the next track, 'Angel's Tears'. Sounding like a structural mashup of 'Crop Circles' ambient and chillout nature, with 'Andropon's' dual vocal, rock orientated approach. Although not instantly catchy, 'Angel's Tears' sees the listener constantly hitting the repeat button, as the stunning melodies and gorgeous vocal lines really make the song another AIOIA classic. It also shows a distinct growth, from the dark, experimental Ummo Uxa, to this, a more uplifting and unexpected track. A stunning piano hook really brings the song to perfection, and pushes it to become something more than an average ballad, fuelling it with emotion and beauty and creating another breathtaking experience.

Metallic roots again occur within 'Ur 9/11'. As the title hints, the song is very direct and is a very lyrical affair, but with thoughtful and suitable musicianship present throughout. Taking the album in a far distant direction from the other tracks, 'Ur 9/11' proves to be a necessary risk. A fundamental track in the progression of Gaa, and one of the most experimental and attentive pieces on the release. The track also sees the band dealing with other issues than the space themes prelevant on Ummo Uxa, with them this time taking inspiration and guidance from historical and relevant events, whilst still remaining true to their roots, as AIOIA fans would certainly expect.

Kinnie takes lead vocal duties once again on the beautiful 'Spy Fly'. Harking back to the albums opening, we return to a peaceful calmness, that manages to be anything but boring due to the lead siren's engaging voice. It's worth noting that 'Spy Fly', as well as many tracks on Gaa utilize an amazing orchestration, through beautiful string sections to epic crecendos.

Another new voice appears upon 'Haarpsychord', with Gisel de Marco assisting AIOIA on the acoustic based track. The aforementioned strings, together with tensive drumming sees the song build up to powerful heights, only to suddenly return to the simplicity of an acoustic-vocal duet. The varying tempo keeps the listeners interest, as the song allows AIOIA to experiment in new ways, alternating with their older sound and their newer influences. Seeing the growth is a humbling and interesting experience and it truly sees "Haarpsychord' as an innovative and gorgeous piece of music.