Okonski’s new single, “Flying,” the second track in a series of new songs, is a slow, deliberate exhale that shows a small but important change in the trio’s sound. They are now open to working with others while still keeping their introspective core.

Okonski invites Cochemea to join for the first time, making the group larger than its three-piece base. This makes the change from trio to quartet smooth, with Cochemea’s tenor saxophone not just being an extra part but also a living, breathing part of the group’s identity. His lines come and go in the arrangement, never overpowering it, always making it better, like the wind catching a sail at just the right time.

“Flying” fits with the band’s already established thoughtful, meditative mood, giving space to act as its own instrument. Cochemea’s playing in that space feels almost spiritual, gently leading the listener deeper into the piece’s emotional undercurrent.

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“It Could Be Better” sounds like a late-night confession, honest, very human, and raw. It’s the official release of The Vlade, a 14-song rock album clocking in at over 50 minutes. The band glides effortlessly between slamming rock songs and bare-bones ballads, building a soundscape grounded in emotional honesty.

The title track, “It Could Be Better,” embraces imperfections while remaining steadfast. That thread connects the pointed and emotionally muscular “How Can You Sleep,” which lingers, to a song like “Falling for You,” which goes all in on openness with melodic honesty. “Standing Alone” and “Destiny” challenge you to look at yourself, take moments of solitude, and question things. “Hope” offers a subtle emotional lift without disrupting the album’s feel.

“Don’t Even Try to Live That Way” has a feel that complements the warmth of “My Dear Friend,” a song about loyalty and connection. “So We’ll Go No More a-Roving” and “The Old Man” both reflect on the passage of time and the burden of memory. “I’m Still Here,” a high-quality song about resilience, and “Walk On” maintain that momentum, urging you to keep going.

The alternate version of “Falling for You” casts the song in a new emotional light, while “Van Gogh’s Dream” ends the album on a contemplative, artistic imprint that lingers long. “It Could Be Better” is primarily about periods of loneliness, fleeting warmth, friendship, and small victories that go unseen. It’s an album for people who have felt trapped, made the moves they needed to make anyway, and who still believe in something better.

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