A band that can be named in the same breath as Spock's Beard, it's a strength you won't find with many bands. The equally American band Izz contains the same inventiveness as well as the craftsmanship of Morse and Co. The switching from electric to acoustic instruments creates a tension that makes this kind of music such an interesting adventure. What strikes me right away is the strong bass playing from Philip Gaita who could well be some stiff competition for the big Chris Squire! In the folky, playful "Lornadoone," two female vocals create a rather negative element but luckily the wonderfully crafted composition can tilt the balance towards the positive side by means of some ingenious movements. Mastered by Greg Calbi, who previously worked for McCartney and Aerosmith, Sliver Of A Sun has become a colourful collection of diversification, songs that bulge with renewal. The band itself is proud to say that their music contains the bombastic yet contemporary sound of Radiohead as well as the melodic quality of Lennon and McCartney. When you start delving into these eleven songs you soon arrive at Yes around their Tormato period, Marillion, ELP and Dream Theater. Especially in a song like "Assurance," the Yes elements are magnified especially what the Howe-like solo of John Galgano and the Wakeman-esque contributions of Tom Galgano are concerned. The organ in "Meteor" and the artificial vibration in Tom Galgano's voice then again remind us of the highlights of Genesis. A song like "Razor" perfectly illustrates the "open" production that is necessary to highlight the slightest of details. "Razor" is also the ideal song to illustrate the great diversity and the amount of influences. That's why you can see Izz as a symphonic masterpiece just like you can see Spyro Gyra as the king of fusion. After the success of Tracy Cloud with Glass Hammer, the arrival of Lisa Bouchelle in Mastermind and the great Lana Lane, the list of 'American first ladies of prog' is completed by Danielle Altieri, who is able to deliver all of her 'vocal goods' during the album's closing song 'Where I belong'. The song ends in true ambient tradition what with floating synth sounds and rippling water as if we are sitting close to the sea waiting for the big change to come from the other side of the ocean. It IZZ a wonderful album! Reviewed
by John ‘Bo Bo’ Bollenberg |
||||||
