By Thomas Kohlruß
(Please note that this review has been translated using an online translator)
The second album of the British formation IOEarth – “Moments” – has me pretty excited at that time unexpectedly. The band had yet to offer a pretty private and idiosyncratic mix and in the range of more melodic terrain ‘our’ music. So I was quite excited about the studio’s successor, who now present with “New World”. And it has become equal to a double album.
Within the band, there were some line-up changes and extensions so that IOEarth are now grown into a septet. However, the main characters are still the two multi-instrumentalist Dave Cureton and Adam Gough, who are also responsible for the music. In addition, is also a saxophonist and flutist Luke Shingler on board who has always made important contributions to the overall sound in store. By Jez King, one now has a full-time violinist here, too, is a good change. The guest musicians maybe in particular the name Ed Mann catches your eye, an old hand, who was already Blazed with Frank Zappa. His percussion contributions and particularly his arrangement in the dynamic “Collision” values on the album with.
But what makes “New World” now actually look like? That’s not so easy to put into words, because still act IOEarth quite peculiar and idiosyncratic (to me equal times repeated). The British broad back from their mix of floating new art rock, powerful neo prog, dreamy folk passages and oriental-sounding ethnic overtones. Every now and then mingles sometimes a jazzy flavor to the sound. From this they knit colored and varied pieces with nested arrangements and truly epic melodies. Symphonic moments and passages with filigree-dreamy beauty alternate sent, without drifting into kitsch and too complacent euphony. The diverse instrumentation, with the guests there are also cello and trumpet eg hear, does the rest. Strong vocals – especially from the new singer Linda Odinsen – and powerful choirs round off everything.
But IOEarth can rock too neat and stripes even take occasional metallic regions. Contributes mainly the punchy drums game by Christian Jerromes (a New), but also the many excellent guitar solos that are always interspersed with fervor. The first CD is still a little quieter on the second then goes regularly from the post, but in their own way are beautiful and compelling both. One has to fear no lengths. IOEarth keep the tension throughout the album upright and filling material, there are none.
Melodic Progressive Rock, as you want it, combines tradition and modernity. Great moments, great emotions, epic arrangements, wild instrumental departures, lyrical passages, everything in it, everything is there to enchant the listener to move into other worlds and to astonish.
Thomas Kohlruß: 13 out of 15