ÆRO Vol. 2 EP Spotlight review
Album Cover: ÆRO Vol. 2 by Yaego
Yaego has done it yet again. His most recent EP, ÆRO Vol. 2, brings me to a familiar place in my mind. As soon as I press play, I am reminded of the potential for mainstage headlines Yaego can be looking at down the road.
“Avant Garde” opens the EP like a slow spreading fire. This track is also blessed by a feature from fellow producer, Beau. I originally found Yaego and Beau around the same time, so seeing them collaborate was truly something special. Both of their respective styles complement each other perfectly, with Yaego bringing the atmosphere and emotional pull, while Beau threads in that precise, crystalline touch he's known for.
In the start, the synths come in cold and measured, strategically setting a mood that feels like dancing at a club until 3 a.m. The vocals slide in from the distance, pulling you into a slowly rising drop. It’s the kind of opener that doesn’t explode; instead, it slowly expands with the stacking 808s, letting you know this project is different from the rest of his releases. The synths leave you stranded for brief moments, then the riser brings you right back with a quick drop. By the time the track slowly fades out, you realize the track wasn’t building tension for a crazy ending, but instead boldly setting the tone for the rest of the EP.
Track two, “TKOHHH”, reels you right back in, reminding you exactly what Yaego stands for. The moment the beat drops, it feels like you’ve been thrown into a neon tunnel cruising at light speed, with the bass flashing a strobe light in your mind. “TKOHHH” gives the whole track a sense of never-ending motion. This track quickly became the most significant standout moment on the EP for me. There’s a sharpness to the production that reminds you of Yaego’s familiar chaos, making every second feel alive.
Then comes a much-needed breakdown after the calculated madness of “TKOHHH”, being Track 3, “DJ ECHO HERO.” This song successfully shifts the energy without losing the momentum. The track makes it clear how much Yaego has refined his sound design. Each verse flows into place with a level of control that shapes the entire middle section of the EP.
Introduced initially in ÆRO volume 1, “musica electronica” reappears on the deluxe edition in a slowed version that greatly emphasizes the song’s psychedelic club atmosphere. As the track slowly opens, you are again pulled into a weirdly nostalgic place. The Latin-inspired synths feel like they’re lifted from a pop track you’d hear on the radio during the Sean Paul/Pitbull era, just reworked into something that reflects that modern electronica. It’s an unexpected pairing, yet Yaego makes it work with consistent coherence.
The final track, “aerotheworld - slowed version,” closes the EP in a reflective tone. Timbaland’s ad-libs atop the overall production pull the track back just enough to feel the energy calming, as if the project is exhaling after guiding you through a listening experience of a lifetime. Overall, this EP is up there as one of my favorite EDM discoveries of 2025. It’s very exciting to see Yaego slowly grow and achieve his much-deserved success as he starts moving on to bigger and brighter opportunities. If ÆRO Vol. 2 is any indication, he is more than ready for it.
