AMPERSAND, VOLUME 2

Equal parts catchy musicianship, rich vocal harmonies, and a refreshing diversity of style, Ampersand Volume 2 is more than a sequel to Volume 1 and other previous IZZ releases. Here's a band that has always clearly taken cues from classic prog acts such as Yes and ELP, yet has forged its own sound and identity.

Particularly on display in this album is the rhythm section, with the bass taking front and center in many songs.

If you can fault earlier IZZ efforts, you might point to a bit of aimless meandering in their longer pieces. This is not the case with Volume 2. The music is pointed and more spare, cutting out the extraneous sections. It also doesn't generally feel as "thick." Overall this makes for a somewhat shorter album, but one in which the music never bogs down under its own weight.