MISCELLANY

Still in the process of assembling their second studio release, independent Russian group iamthemorning decided to release Miscellany, a short EP that will give fans something to listen to as they wait for the new album. As the title suggests, Miscellany consists of a handful of miscellaneous tracks with both some new material as well as some different versions of pieces found on the band's debut album, ~. While this EP may appeal mostly to fans of the band who are waiting for their upcoming second album, it is still a great release and a quality preview of things to come.

The first song on the EP, 'To Human Misery (Chamber Version)', is a beautiful and emotional new piece of music. The group's trademark classical instrumentation and ethereal sound are both present here and make for a song that that ranks among my favourite of the band's work thus far. iamthemorning have mentioned that a heavier version of this song will make its way onto the next album, and it will be interesting to see how it compares to this amazing chamber version.

This new track is followed by 'The Simple Story', another new song and the only one that will be found both on Miscellany and the band's next album in the same version. While definitely recalling the music on ~ to some extent, this song remains fresh and unique and is an excellent addition to the band's catalogue. An unplugged version of the same song also appears on the EP, and although it's not really necessary, it is nice to have an alternate version.

In fact, alternate versions will take up a good chunk of this short EP, with an unplugged rendition of 'Scotland' and a new mixing of the song 'Touching' both being found here. As they are both songs that were originally found on ~, these will be appealing for fans of the band who are looking for any different material they can get, but ultimately are not quite different enough to be essential or terribly interesting.

In addition to the aforementioned songs, the EP also contains a couple of new 'Intermissions' in the same vein as those found on iamthemorning's first record. These interludes are pretty and enjoyable, and while they are not substantial enough to significantly impact the quality of the EP, they really do add to the atmosphere of the release.

I will quickly add that the musicians really bring all of these compositions to life with sophisticated arrangements and professional playing. The pianist and the vocalist really stand out on this release, although each instrumentalist offers quality playing.

Overall, Miscellany offers a brief but pleasant musical experience that will be a treat for any fan of iamthemorning's first record. While this EP does not contain enough new material to warrant a five star rating, it is certainly more than enough to whet your appetite for the band's upcoming sophomore album. And if the new songs on this album are any indication of the quality of material to come, then the new album will be well worth the wait.