What does it sound like?:
Iamthemorning are a young Russian duo consisting of vocalist Mariana Semkina and keyboard virtuoso Glen Kolyadin plus their chamber backing band.
Recorded and filmed in a remote costal studio in Norway, Ocean Sounds is the perfect introduction to the band. It consists of live versions of material from their first three albums and is presented on CD and Blue Ray.
If there’s a better way to pass an hour or so in front of the tele with a glass of wine then I’d love to see it.
Mariana who sings and writes in English seems to have fallen out of a Pre Raphaelite painting, but don’t let her wistful performance fool you, this lady is a force of nature. Trying to run a band is hard enough but imagine trying to do it from St Petersburg and targeting a European wide audience. Logistics and visa problems are one thing, but a day job in IT is something different altogether!
All that said, for me, an equal driving force of the material is the Piano led performance of Kolyadin. Check out his solo album released earlier this year too.
Together they are absolutely unique. It would be lazy to describe what they do as reminiscent of Kate Bush and the like even though it’s in that arthouse direction with a celtic, folky, jazzy classical mix. There’s just something about the compositions which are equally driven by accompaniment as they are song that I can’t quite put my finger on.
They are certainly becoming known in the prog circles (they won the best newcomer award a year a two back) but that is another label that doesn’t quite fit either.
If you only ever take one recommendation from me, make it this one. Do check this album out on Spotify but to really appreciate it, you’ll want to get the film version.
What does it all *mean*?
This is absolutely not a case of simply putting a pretty girl in front of a bunch a serious musicians to appeal to a wider audience. I think its great that there are young bands out there really driving music forward. Increasingly I’m hearing about really accomplished acts who have to have day jobs in order to survive.
Goes well with…
A quiet winter rainy afternoon in front of a screen and a willingness to lose yourself in the mix, secure in the knowledge that the future of music production and composition is in safe hands.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell, Yes, Planxty, Beethoven, Bjork – Ridiculously sounding list I know, but see what you think after listening and let me know.
LOUDspeaker says
FYI
There is a 2,000 word interview with Mariana Semkina in the new Prog magazine (King Crimson on the cover).
walker1 says
Lovely review. Never heard of them before but have been listening to this and Lighthouse as a result of this post – really enjoying it. Thanks for the heads up!
Martin S says
Genuinely delighted that you enjoyed it! The film version really is splendid and worth adding to a Christmas wish list.