OF CLANS AND CLONES AND CLOWNS

It is a long time since I last came across Israeli act Soul Enema, who were formed back in 2001, and released their debut 'Thin Ice Crawling' back in 2010 through Mals and Musea. It gained a lot of positive reaction at the time, but for some reason it has taken some seven years for them to release the follow-up. That of course may have to something to do with the fact that only keyboard player Constantin Glantz is still there, so in many ways this is a brand-new band. Singer Noa Gruman is a real find, as she is at home in whatever musical style that the band are prepared to throw out, and there are certainly plenty of them. The easiest way to describe these guys are as progressive, but progressive rock in its very truest sense as they bring in elements of melodic rock, progressive rock and metal, ethnic, psychedelic, jazz-fusion, sympho-rock elements etc., with a somewhat theatrical approach to the lyrics.

There are times when I find myself thinking of Orphaned Land in the way they approach some of the music, and a closer inspection of the guests shows the appearance of Yossi Sassi (ex-Orphaned Land, Yossi Sassi Band), as well as Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon, Star One). The album was mixed by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Devin Townsend, etc.), so as well as being intriguing in a musical sense, the production allows every instrument and nuance to shine show how important each element is to the overall sound. I haven't much from the Israeli music scene, and if this is an example of what is being produced out of that country then I really need to hear some more. The album is intriguing, and musically all over the place, so that if the listener doesn't like what is going on just wait a minute as it is going to be changing soon. I love this album, and sincerely hope that we're not going to have wait another seven years until we get the next one.