I MOVE

I, like many others, am a big fan of the latest album from Izz, 'Don't Panic' yet that and their 2009 album 'The Darkened Room' are the only two I had heard prior to this, which is a definite oversight on my part given how long they have been together and the number of albums they have released. So now we step back in time, all the way to 2002, where the core of the band was Paul Bremner (acoustic and electric guitars), Tom Galgano (keyboards, vocals), John Galgano (bass, electric and acoustic guitars, vocals), Brian Coralian (drum programming, acoustic and electronic percussion) and Greg DiMiceli (drums, percussion). This was the second album, and since the debut bassist Philip Gaita had left, but instead of bringing in another bassist John Galgano switched duties and they brought in guitarist Bremner who had assisted on the debut.

I glanced at the reviews on Prog Archives before writing this, and it is an album which really splits progheads, and I can certainly see why, as here Izz are experimenting, but not in a style which many prog lovers would appreciate. Some of the keyboard sounds utilised would be more at home in a dance and trip hop environment, and there is no doubt they move and switch genres in a way unlike many. There are sections of songs which if turned into a full number I would quickly turn away from, but in the context of the piece as a whole it works very well indeed. Possibly my views are more accepting and diverse than many, as although I would not like to hear a whole album of dance beats, I can understand and appreciate what is happening here. Overall, the music has a very modern sound indeed, even now listening to it some 18 years after the initial release, so it must have been quite a shock to many when it first came out.

It still contains some of the elements I have come to love about Izz, namely well-constructed songs with wonderful vocals and harmonies. Interestingly Laura Meades is involved in just one song, later becoming a full member of the band, and having a major impact on the overall sound. Complex yet still containing simplicity, it is fascinating to hear what the band sounded like all those years ago and how they have moved and consolidated since then. It is not an album which many progheads will enjoy just due to the styles of music contained within, but no-one can complain that it is not progressive in its truest sense. Funnily enough I can remember a conversation with Brian Devoil more than 25 years ago when he told me he felt the next major move in progressive rock music would be in this exact area! I wouldn't give this out as a starting point for anyone looking to discover Izz, and would turn to 'Don't Panic!' as the place to go, but this is still a much better album than many have been saying and I am so glad I have heard it.