Up-and-coming artists are always underappreciated. Wil Stevens, hailing from Perth, Western Australia, recorded this album before he was 18 years old. That in itself is a genuine accomplishment for such a young man, making progress in the world of music in an incredible way and fashion, given he has not been signed to a record label. This album was self-created, written and produced by Wil Stevens himself and was released on 30 August 2022. Although this is his first album release, it is worth observing from a critical perspective. The album is available to listen to on Spotify. Let’s take a listen, and we shall hear what we have.

1. Intro: Post-Mortem begins with some unusual sounds of a tape click, and launches into a dark and gloomy sounding piece of electronic music. Wil sings deeply and darkly on this tune, sounding a lot like Syd Barrett in his spoken word delivery. This is a good start, although it is not for everyone out there. Some drums and other sounds enter, sounding unique. This is different, but good for what it is. A fresh start for this album.

2. Pre-Mortem is the main track from this album. It has some muted and processed guitar work, launching into a good and melodic tune at hand. This is a good listen throughout, with the vocals front and centre on this song. This is about being hopelessly paranoid and distraught throughout. A really fine tune to listen to, and it shows that Wil Stevens has definite potential at this stage. A really cool listen, this is a decent song for someone up-and-coming. There is a definite air of desperation and mental breakdown throughout, which many would never touch on. An electric, eclectic and powerful listen throughout. In the second half is a more subdued section of sampled guitar riffing, electronics and continues into a moody and self-destructive song about someone in trouble and who is contemplating the end, likely oneself. Nonetheless, a cool listen. It sounds like an avant-garde music experiment. Not bad.

3. Did You Know That They’re Closing The Nile? begins with some looped, flanger electric guitar parts that sound warped. Drums enter, and this murky, semi-Psychedelic tune gets underway. This is a good listen, given what this is. Wil Stevens is perfectly articulating teenage angst on this track. A really good effort to listen to, being self-created, written and produced. Wil Stevens has a glimpse into the future of the world, with lyrics about longing for love and affection in a world that has the Nile River shut down eventually by authoritarian forces. There is a keyboard solo in the second half, reminiscent of the music of the 1960s. Soon, what follows is a digitally modified vocal part that sounds a lot like Ozzy Osbourne’s voice at the start of Iron Man. Another good song that has genuine potential. A very warped and interesting tune to listen to. It begins with some faded-out vocals that are multitracked.

4. Cleaned Up (It’s All Fine) begins with piano and spacey keyboard sounds. It sounds very dramatic. Drums enter, and this tune gets going into a muted set of guitar riffs and other sounds. This is a song about fixing another’s mess in life. This is a different sort of music to listen to. Wil Steven’s voice is akin to Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, and is quite deep throughout. A good tune to hear, and it is a great tune to express adolescent fury from within at other people’s problems. Nonetheless, this works if you want to hear something different musically. The chanting of “everything is fine” is memorable in this song. One can clearly hear the despair and rather melancholy nature of this music. It ends fairly quickly.

5. I’ll Do It When I’m Dead begins with some sweet guitar riffs and some dark electronics. It sounds different compared to most of what is being marketed and sold on the radio today. Soon enough, this is a song that launches into the desire to avoid responsibilities and expectations throughout one’s life. This is a bleak listen throughout, but it is about avoiding social expectations from others. Which is exactly what being oneself is. A very good listen with some strange mash-up sections of instrumentation and sounds. Good nonetheless, and a strong moral and mature point musically to make. Very different. It ends with a guitar figure.

6. Spiders begins with some acoustic guitar parts that are simple, yet melodic. Drumming enters, and this tune launches into an uptempo listen. Not bad to hear. Wil Stevens sings humorously about being bitten to death by a spider and being terrified at the thought of that. It’s a quirky and funny tune throughout. Nonetheless, this song has some definite promise to it. A winner of a song if you have a good sense of humour, this is the best song about arachnophobia out there. Silly, yet solidly good fun to listen to. This song is definitely not designed to be taken seriously. Anyone who has had a pest problem in their house will relate to this tune. A short and sweet listen that is bizarrely funny. Good to hear. It speeds up at the end.

7. Look In The Mirror (End Of Side A) is a five-minute-long track. It begins with spacey keyboard melodies, which sound like they are out of a science fiction film. This has some heavy, subsonic bass which follows into the tune. Wil Stevens sings another fairly close-to-the-bone music statement throughout. This is very youthful, yet dark music that sums up the difficulties that we go through when we are broken-hearted. It has many layers of sound and is a very different listening experience. Obviously, Wil Stevens has a deep and insightful musical and melodic experience on offer. On this album, he shows the raw, naked nature of failure and disappointment, which young people can experience. Indeed, we all can experience sadness and regret about what we do, leading to a tragic mindset. Wil Stevens sings a good vocal in a deep and baritone tune about being distraught beyond all belief. This is likely inspired by Radiohead and similar bands that express similar emotions throughout. This is better than expected. It is never monotonous or boring, like many other artists today. A sad and moving listen from start to finish. It concludes with a lone piano part, followed by the sound of tape. This ends side one.

8. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (Pre-Post-Punk) begins with a sigh and begins side two of the album. It begins with some interesting yelps after some silence, and enters into some guitar riffs. Drums enter, which sound excellent. This is a good listen about the progressive nature of being early Post-Punk. Wil Stevens nicely on this song, and he makes a definite effort that sounds impressive. This is a good listen for those of you who dig early blink-182 or other similar bands who started off making garage-style Rock Music. A short, sharp and brutal lyrical set, mixed up with some interesting and different musical influences. A seriously good song from this album. A clever piece of music, Wil Stevens has some definite potential in his music. It ends after three minutes in length.

9. A Philosophical Song About Pepsi is a quirky addition to the album with clean guitars, piano and drums to begin with. Wil Stevens sings about taking a bus to school and sings about the odd sensation of drinking Pepsi by the side of the road. He shares his passion for the drink over your average Coke. Listening to this, this is absurdly hilarious throughout. This is a good tune about finding a bottle of Pepsi on the side of the road, and wondering if one should drink it or not. The same could apply to those who pick up cigarettes off the side of the road and use the leftover tobacco to roll cigarettes of their own. In short, a moral choice. Hilarious and quirky music, this points to the fact that one can feel with these choices. Wil metaphorically dies in the song, and he details a great story set to music throughout. An awesome song, and definitely worth hearing for a big laugh. It ends with acoustic guitar playing.

10. The Waltz Of The Reaper begins with some dark, warm electronic sounds and enters into a great Acid House styled textured piece of music. Organ enters, and this tune gets underway. It is an interesting piece of music, with some unusual beats and sounds about it all. Wil Stevens sings about taking Prozac and doing his best to get ahead in life, until the day we die. Ladies and gents, that is the key to a happy life. Wil Stevens sings about the difficulties and disturbing emotions that one can have in life. Singing about dying in a car crash. Wil Stevens makes simple and melodic music for the 21st century. A winner of a tune, this has some definitely strong lo-fi Electronic Music vibes going on. A refreshing take on life itself, Wil Stevens is likely an old soul in a young body. He articulates a variety of emotions and reflections on death itself. Good to hear, once again. Worth it, especially if you are a teenager in distress.

11. Soon begins with some digital organ sounds, piano, and some murmured singing with drums entering. This quickly launches into a song that is good and has some singing about the fears and difficulties that one can have. Indeed, Wil Stevens understands more than most the difficulties that young Generation Z or later generations of people alive today face. This is set to good, lo-fi music that showcases brilliant potential and music quality to it all. The song continues the album’s theme of dark and occasionally disturbing music of an original sort. The guitar in it is dark and murky. Towards the end, Wil articulates the typical distress that those born after the year 2000 will relate to. Another solid tune.

12. Second Hand Smokers (Wil Cracking It) segues in from the previous track, and sounds very similar to what we heard on the track before it. Melodic guitars and drums enter, followed by Wil Stevens doing some spoken word dialogue over the top of it all. This is a good listen, which has Wil himself singing over the top of it all. He sings about the differences between himself and the listener. A good listen, and it has some interesting music changes throughout. Singing about some of the deepest and most disturbing emotions that the human mind can encounter, this is exactly the sort of emotions one can encounter if having a truly bad day in their life. Wil Stevens sings about the bad feelings that inhaling second-hand cigarette smoke can cause, and uses his psychological skills to articulate deep and dark emotions throughout. A good tune about the foolish nature that inhaling cigarettes in the first place. A good listen, not once does this song get dull or boring. Enjoyable.

13. Tim Minchin CD is a reference to the multitalented Australian celebrity. It segues in from the previous track with dark bass, snappy drums and a catchy feel to it all. This is a song about looking at a Tim Michin CD itself and the ongoings in a young man’s life. A much more upbeat song about wanting to avoid getting in trouble, this has some pleasantly upbeat piano throughout. If anyone has ever been on the edge, this is a fresh and intelligent take on the ongoings of a young man’s everyday life. Indeed, Australians in particular will understand and click with this song. A short, sweet and upbeat listen with some unusual instrumentation to conclude with.

14. IceCubesMelting is short, at under two minutes long. It begins with spacey electronic sounds and is very deep-sounding. Some distorted vocals emerge over the top of it all. Comparing life to ice cubes melting away, mixed in with some electronics that would make the Hippies jealous, this indeed is a good listen. Clicking clocks are in this one as well, along with a montage of other interesting sounds and textures throughout. Wacky and interesting to hear. A good sonic montage. It segues into the last song on the album.

15. Do I Love You Anymore? (End Of Side B) begins with some 4/4 beats and other spacey sounds. This is a seven-minute-long track. It leads on into a spacey, electronic track. Wil Stevens sings nicely about questioning the concept of love itself. He sings about reflecting on love from the past, and pleads to the listener about winning God’s trust upon reaching heaven. A lovely tune, he articulates the fact that people change, as does the flow of life. Wil Stevens is not to be underestimated in his quest for better music, and this is easily proven on this album. This is a song about reflecting on a love once there, but now gone. The ethereal keyboards are a nice touch as well on this song. A good song that is definitely about self-preservation in a failed relationship, and saying goodbye to a partner who doesn’t mean anything to oneself after some time. The original electronic sounds are definitely different and are worth hearing. A good listen that has definitely shown that this album is a good and original lo-fi effort. In the second half, guitars enter, along with drums. Wil Stevens’s chanting makes for a good finalisation of an album that showcases that anyone can make decent music if they have the passion for it. The vocals to conclude with are multitracked and conclude a very good album that has a bright and promising future for Wil Stevens. The song gradually concludes with organs galore and hi-hats. A good finish to the music before it. Nice effort, dude. Keep it up. It ends with tape hiss and some sampled cheering, before a drawn breath is heard.

Although this is not a major label debut album with advertising or hype, this is a very strong effort from Wil Stevens. Indeed, many people from a music background are unable to know when to start making their own music in their lives. Wil Stevens proves that, as long as you try, you can make good music on your own. A solid debut album. Should you listen to this album? If you like dark, experimental lo-fi music, you can give this a shot. People who like non-experimental Pop Music may wish to look elsewhere.

Ahead of the game.

6/10