Traveling back to the UK this time around; the prog garden has some wild varietals springing up and I am not one to turn away from a new adventure. The search for all things prog implores me to delve into the sounds of heretofore unknown or low under-the-radar bands...and as luck would have it, this week's adventure paints quite the mental mural. Even better, IO Earth is female fronted and comes complete with horns and a theremin...the lure is just too great!
IO Earth refers to themselves as a "...symphonic, contemporary, progressive rock band...truly genre defying..." To me, that's a powerful statement and one that sets the bar fairly high--and garners my full attention. Time to prepare the Concert Closet for a full set and find out what all the fuss is about...
I decided that to do IO Earth justice and give you my loyal followers a true glimpse behind the curtain, I would need to start at the beginning and hop through the band's catalog the way they hop through the prog garden; carefully, deliberately, and with skilled precision.
The band's journey started with their 2009 eponymous debut; from that album "Storyteller" seems the logical starting point. The music opens as if you're crossing the space/time continuum. As you recognize that eerie sci-fi mind warp feeling tossing your mind around inside your head, you settle into a more familiar atmosphere and let guitars and keyboards wash over you like summer moonlight dancing across a rippling lake. Perusing the IO Earth resume I discover an absolute beauty. The title cut from the band's 2012 release, "Moments," immediately takes me to a Paul Winter Consort show...dim the lights, close your eyes, and prepare to be swept through the prog garden as gracefully as an eagle gliding across the horizon. As the music picks up there is a mystical vibe floating across the entire piece. The top notes range from Transatlantic to Rhavi Shankar to Al DiMeola...quite the invigorating lap around the prog garden! The vocals are captivating as they caress your auditory sensors...
Liner Notes...Hailing from Birmingham UK, the current line-up for IO Earth includes Rosanna Lefevre on lead and backing vocals, Adam Gough on acoustic and electric guitar, keyboards, theremin, lead and backing vocals, and programming, Dave Cureton on lead, rhythm, and acoustic guitar, keyboards, lead and backing vocals, and programming, Jez King on violin and rhythm guitar, Christian Nokes on bass guitar and double bass, Luke Shingler on tenor and soprano saxophone, flute, and EWI, and Christina Jerromes on drums and percussion. To be a member of this band one must be a multi-instrumentalist apparently--or one helluva singer...
The music of IO Earth has evolved much the way the band has; a gradual maturation with naturally occurring changes, additions, and a whole lot of talent. The deeper I plunge myself into their music, the greater the feeling I have that IO Earth is more like a family than a band; they complement each other to a degree that the music flows seamlessly. Discover for yourself what IO Earth is all about at IO Earth where you can purchase their entire music catalog. Of course there is also a Facebook page and Twitter, IO Earth Facebook and @IOEarth to learn more about IO Earth and all the goings on.
Listening to the band's third album "New World" released in 2015, I find "New World Suite;" yet another stunningly beautiful tapestry. The imagery IO Earth projects with their music is nothing short of awe inspiring...the pallet drips with raw emotion as much as it reflects a captivating mural with colors pushing the boundaries of the spectrum. I pick up aromatics of Big Big Train, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Jean-Michel Jarre. As the song reaches its climax, let yourself be carried away by that theremin....oh yeah...
Continuing the waltz across the prog garden with IO Earth, their February 2018 release is called "Solitude" from which I chose the cut "Hold On" for your weekly eargasm. The album is a concept dealing with depression and mental illness...hence the dark clouds hovering overhead. However; IO Earth is nothing if not optimistic and inspiring--the mood may be dark and ominous, but the pallet has definite streaks of light and shards of brightness; hope perhaps?
And with that we reach the end of this week's journey. IO Earth has put together an impressive catalog on their (relatively) short journey through the prog garden. Their ability to take personnel changes in stride--in relation to the band's continued trajectory--is a testament to both their commitment to the music and each other. Family is the one sanctuary where rules tend to not exist, and the cohesive outer layer sometimes belies the stress within. Yet with IO Earth there seems to be no "smoke and mirrors" just a strong desire to bring the best out of each other and to the listener. That is the point, isn't it?
The search for all things prog has discovered some incredible artists, music, bands, and even prog specific record labels. Every journey is an exploration unto itself, leading to a discovery that expands the boundaries of the prog garden. IO Earth is one more jewel in the crown, and so the search continues...until next time...