Arón Piper - Arón Piper
Among an unexpectedly busy New Music Friday, a release that has gone fairly under the radar is the self-titled debut studio LP by German-Spanish actor and musician Arón Piper, best known for his role as Ander Muñoz in the Netflix series “Elite”. The record features 13 tracks, and was released on August 1st via UMG and Capitol. So, what is Arón Piper like as a musician?
Arón Piper (the album) is fundamentally a pop album, with some elements of pop rock on certain tracks, prominently on the second track and lead single, “Invisibilidad”, among others. This is a style that feels natural to Piper, whose slightly breathy vocals fit in well. The tracks don’t lack in energy despite his largely laid-back delivery, mostly due to the lively instrumentals.
The record’s strongest suit is the vivid, colorful production; it really brings the songs to life. The mixes are tight and polished - it’s clear that a lot of effort was put into the sound of the tracks. However, this also leads to one of the project’s weaknesses - the polish sometimes feels a little excessive, making the music feel less unique and a little generic. There is also a very strange moment musically on “Mamá”, where the track switches genres abruptly in the final minute from pop rock into something that sounds like an awkward 2000s club track. However, this strange moment is made up for by other tracks with standout instrumentals, like the light, funky “Sentimental”, or the dark, brooding opener “Bla Bla Bla”.
The main issue with the record lies in the writing, though. A lot of the lyrics come off as surface-level and pretentious; others feel like they’re trying too hard to be edgy or angsty. It feels like Piper is missing a deal of self-awareness which would make him easier to empathize with and relate to as a narrator. However, of course, this isn’t really a problem for non-Spanish speaking listeners.
Overall, Arón Piper (the album) is a perfectly decent debut studio LP. It has its highlight tracks, it’s mostly well-produced, and doesn’t do anything fundamentally wrong. However, it is brought down somewhat by Piper seeming to take himself a little too seriously, and by an excess in polish and insufficient personal touch. There’s unquestionably plenty of room for improvement, but it’s far from the worst start.
6.0/10
