ALBUM REVIEW: The Bell – iamthemorning
Russia’s IAMTHEMORNING are certainly an interesting band within the progressive rock sphere. Whilst they certainly display enough characteristics that are commonly associated with prog rock bands, they utilisation of a range of instruments in a chamber pop style that has made them one of the most intriguing and wonderful bands to emerge this past decade. Three years on since the successful Lighthouse, the dynamic duo are back with their fourth effort; The Bell.
To fully understand what The Bell strives to achieve, some backstory is required. The album incorporates 19th Century song cycles that tell ten individual stories across the ten tracks on the record. This is tied together by an over-arching theme of cruelty, spawned from vocalist Marjana Semkina‘s fascination for Victorian-era England. Sure, it may be a bleak subject matter but the juxtaposition of this with the band’s beautifully executed musicality makes it all the more engrossing as the record weaves an elaborate musical tapestry of varying moods and feelings.
Whilst the album as a whole is elaborate and layered, opening number Freak Show does a remarkable job at setting the benchmark for the extensive instrumentation and forward-thinking nature that’s showed consistently throughout the album. Ample dabbles of avant-garde elements intertwine with moments of peaceful instrumentation; forming an arrangement that resembles an elaborate spider’s web. It’s certainly a bold opener.
One thing that is immediately noticeable with The Bell is just how incredible the album flows. Each track’s placement to the pacing of the record is crucial to the larger machine at work here. Blue Sea, first heard on the band’s live album Ocean Sounds, paints a picture of tranquillity as Semkina‘s stunning vocal deliveries work in gorgeous harmony with the melodic piano-play from Gleb Kolyadi and acts as the perfect entrance to the delicately haunting Black and Blue. Here, the song builds in anticipation as Semkina‘s almost-whispered vocals pave the way for Kolyadi to show his flair on the piano.
Similarly, even in the record’s second half, IAMTHEMORNING continue to demonstrate just how elaborate their sound is on this album. Six Feet‘s sweeping orchestral elements ends the first half of the record in triumphant fashion before it paves way for Ghost of a Story; arguably one of the strongest tracks on the album. Here, Semkina‘s vocal deliveries are at their very best, not to say that she falters in places as she is next to perfection throughout the album, but the inviting and heartwarming nature of her vocal deliveries is just astonishing and they combine so wonderfully with the other musical elements. It’s one of the most moving pieces of music on the entire record and you’ll be hard-pressed to not fall in love with it upon first listen.
As The Bell evolves into it’s final phases, IAMTHEMORNING continue to surprise and impress in both their musical approach and their consistently strong execution. Song of Psyche features some intricately harmonious acoustic guitarwork that acts as the framework for the track as Semkina‘s soft vocals intertwine wonderfully with the melodies, and the almost-harmonised chorus is spine-tingling, whilst Lilies‘ frantic piano play counter the leading vocals, giving an urgent feeling to proceedings without shattering the immersion the band have maintained throughout. The band aren’t afraid to throw in curveballs here and there as Salute, the longest song on the album, turns things on its head with an almost classical theatrical approach to IAMTHEMORNING‘s soundscape. For large periods, the instrumentation conjures up an atmosphere that feels both grandiose and ever-reaching, placing you right at home in the heart of Victorian London, whilst the sparse but effective use of an electric lead guitar whisks you back to the modern era. Two contrasting elements definitely, but the way in which these elements play off each other is simply remarkable.
The Bell is quite a difficult album to digest on first listen. The music on offer here is so elaborate and expansive, one cursory listen won’t reveal the treasures that lie at the heart of this album. However, invest some time and repeated listens, and the curtain will slowly reveal, displaying an album that is utterly breathtaking. IAMTHEMORNING have crafted a gem of a record here, one in which gets better and better on every listen and The Bell will stand as arguably their finest work to date.
Rating: 9/10
The Bell is set for release on August 2nd via Kscope.
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