Six Days End - In Between Two Nothings (released October 16, 2020)

This is one I’ve been listening to a lot lately. Hailing from Tehran, Iran, Six Days End is the duo of Parsa Fayal and Armin Namdar, both sharing duties on synths, keyboards, guitars, bass, vocals, drum programming and FX. In Between Two Nothings is their entry into the space rock scene, but it’s space rock with a twist.

I love it when bands can so skillfully infuse rock music with electronica, and Six Days End succeeds admirably at it. In fact, I would argue that it's the other way around; they skillfully infuse electronica with rock music. Most of these tracks focus on rhythms, atmospheres and texture, then suddenly breaking out from the pulsing beats comes these moments of beautiful, soaring song. The atmosphere and sometimes the rhythm eases very organically into the background and melody takes over as Namdar’s soothing vocals take the lead, or in some cases, as with the instrumental two parter Chaotic Thoughts/Chaotic Awareness, it’s synths; in other places, it's spellbinding lead guitar from Fayal. It all comes together so beautifully that you get the sense that these two have been playing together for years, despite this being their debut album. I don't normally like to compare bands, but I will say, if you're a fan of Porcupine Tree, I'm sure you will love this stuff.

In Between Two Nothings’ songs are full of rich atmospheres, a fluttering of golden light and shadowy dark tones, like the beam of light as it flickers through a running film. You get that sense of motion and urgency, and then it gives way to release as we soar free. This is nowhere more evident that on the 18-minute long title track that closes the album. Drawing on all the elements from the previous songs: pulsing synths, dreamy guitars, and hazy atmospheres, while adding some warm Hammond organ into the mix as well, the duo offers up some truly sumptuous space rock that even gets a bit of a Floydian vibe in the middle with excellent vocals from Namdar and lovely, liquid lead guitar by Fayal.

This album is just so damn easy to listen to, which is probably why I’ve been spinning it so much these last couple of weeks. It’s pure sonic pleasure from start to finish. Highly recommended!

For more info, and to listen and purchase, visit: https://sixdaysend.bandcamp.com/album/in-between-two-nothings