What does it sound like?:
Swedish proggers Isildurs Bane have already had a long career on their own account, releasing numerous albums of their idiosyncratic, often instrumental, music. They’ve never shied away from collaborating with other artists though – check out 2017’s Colours Not Found In Nature effort with Marillion’s Steve Hogarth – and now they’ve joined forces with Peter Hammill to produce this collection. The band have never been afraid of experimentation, always being prepared to take a few risks to expand their musical palette, and this album is no exception, featuring for example, the 25 string koto on the excellent opener Before You Know It (King Crimson’s Pat Mastelotto also weighs in too). Hammill contributes beautiful, plaintive but fragile vocals throughout this imaginative music. For me, the longer pieces like This Is Where and The Day Is Done are the most successful, the songs really being given the time to develop through twists and turns in style and tempo while still remaining a cohesive whole. This fresh and exciting piece of work, from a band that simply refuses to stand still, really puts the prog in progressive. If you’re a fan of this genre, have a listen to hear an old master in a unique new context.
What does it all *mean*?
The excellent On Track books have a volume dedicated to the music of Hammill and VDGG coming soon.
Goes well with…
Listening with a furrowed brow.
Release Date:
Out now
Might suit people who like…
VDGG, prog.
Cannot abide Hammill’s voice, so that’s a “No thanks” from me.
Love Hammill’s voice: so that’s a “yes, please” from me.
This is an excellent album ( also well reviewed on Richard Williams’ “thebluemoment” blog). Lovely to hear Peter Hammill’s unique voice with this band. I would love to hear this played live.
I enjoyed the album they did with H so will check this out, provided it’s on Spotify.