EZEKIEL

Ezekiel is a very unique album, sung in Bask language, Itoiz performance makes that the singing stays as a complement (even that is not bad at all) and let the instruments to speak. You will know what I'm talking about once you hear it.

I compare Ezekiel with Les cinq saisons of Harmonium: Change the country, move yourself to Spain and to the folk of the Basque Region add drummings and you will see the path that this is going to take.

Ezekiel is a very uplifting album, easy to listen, but the fact that is easy -or not difficult prog- to listen, it does not mean that you won't find beautiful passages of progressiveness. And ladies and gentleman, there are incredible melodies that you will find very technical and full of colors and with feeling at the same time, making it one of the best folkish prog rock albums you will ever hear.

In Ezekiel, all the instruments take the lead role in one point of a song. But I would remark 3 instruments that will show you the beauty of this album: the piano organ, the saxophon, and that beauty I found when I met this genre, the flute. The flute is executed so good, I enjoy it a lot and maybe that's why I will rate this album very well. But, first things last.

I don't know what's the story of Ezekiel, but I assume is a concept album, watching that the whole is dedicate to him.

Ezekielen prophezia starts with the electric guitar and some drumming very good, but then the sax kicks in and the song sounds very cool-to say something-, then the vocals shows up, and to be honest, I find them accurate for this, I like it, maybe it's the fact that I applaude the courage for singing in your own language and still sounding good, or maybe just the pleasure of hearing other different language than english (not that I hate english); then, the first appearance of the flute, very calm and soft this time, and the violin sounding in the background, the song keeps going on, mixing now the sax with the vocals and drums, making this song very folk rock, at minute 3, the sax makes the solo, that the only thing you can do is to draw a smile in your face and tap your feet following the beat. At 3:40, the flute and the violin, and they both mix beautifully, the violin takes the lead role and the flute goes along with her, achieving a great finale. Excelent track.

Ezekielen Esnatzea. The first notes are from the acoustic guitar, inmediately, some hints of the piano organ and the vocals. The piano sounds more notable now at 1:10, and from that, takes the leadership, making its solo, until the minute 2:10 when appears the flute, that now shows us a softer and mysterious passages and keep leadering the song, tremendous solo! Suddenly the sax shows in and together the sound it's just unique. The electrical guitar shows up and take the control, all together with the bass and the drums. Yes, I know, what a mixture! and it's a lovely one! and it's not over, because the piano at minute 4: 35 kicks in and set the jazzy ambient with his solo. Marvelous!

Ezekielen Esnatzea. Once, the spanish acoustic guitar shows up. The Bask vocalist very calm sings some notes. the song follows that path until the saxophon appears and it's very delightful. A very touching solo. Then, the flute, oh god!, the flute! here the flute is at her best! Reminds some Camel or Focus, The tempo is excellent, the short -but deep- solo of the flute is really pleasent! After this magnificent piece, the organ demonstrates that also speaks and finishes the song, and now I have a remember of Genesis. Very good organ solo my basque friends!

Ezekiel. This is the acoustic and shortest song of the album. The acoustic guitar chords playing through the song makes it enjoyable. A children chorus singing Ezekiel completes the song. Not much to say about this song. It's like the time-to-breathe and sit back-and relax, like a bridge to the final part of the album; but anyhow a very soft uplifting and enjoyable track.

Ezekiel Ikasgaia. Well, this song is my song. Here you will find anything you were looking for in a folkish prog rock song. For real. The song starts with the acoustic guitar and piano. After 30 seconds, a good change: a female voice begins to sing in Basque of course, very pretty and soft voice with vibrato, I inmediately love it. The song remains in that vein with the singer and the piano goes along with her until the saxophon cracks up. And here it comes the deal: the wonderful solos of three instruments, first as I said, the sax, in the background the organ (genesis alike), then inmediately the flute takes the place, and now the sax in the background. To end, the piano enters and complete the melody with the drums, sax and organ in the background. But that's not the end. The female singer, continues singing but uses a little scatting, like gibberish accompanied by the piano at the background, I just love that scat, reminds hearing Aretha Franklin or Clare Torry, or more accurate, in Della Natura of Museo Rosenbach. So the whole song is an incredible jazzy folk song. I just close my eyes and let myself away. Extraordinary song.

Ezekielen Ametza and Erantzuna. For some reason that I don't know I have this two songs together. Acoustic guitar follows by the singing of what it seems a little girl; after that, the flute with a brief solo, but of course a pretty one, Camel influence is notable. The song speeds up a little bit wit the piano, the acoustic guitar and the violin, and the voice of the male singer starts. Great performance of this guy, at the middle of the song a melancholyc sax shows up for a while, then the acoustic guitar makes a good solo. The songs flows perfectly once again with the singer and at the end the sax solo accompanied for the piano. Another wonderful track.

Ezekielen: la maitasun kantu bat. The sound of a freight train starts this track. Few seconds later, the violin sounds and the flute and sax do it a little bit later. The singing for the male singer. The flute sounds in some moments, spectacular as usual. The flute and the acoustic guitar take the control in the middle of the song, slowly the electric guitar appears for brief moments, also the violin, as the organ. The flute still the leader of this song. for the end of the song, the electrical guitar owns the song with a solo to end fading out, finishing a very, very enjoyable and once again, uplifting album

So, I have no other choice but to rate this album with 5 stars. Highly recommended and must for any prog fan..

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RSDMCG