NOCTURNE

Let me jump on the wave of enthusiasm that has dawned on 'The Emerald Dawn' in the wake of their recent release 'To Touch The Sky' (2020). I started listening to their albums on bandcamp and found myself listening to three of their records in a row. The Emerald Dawn, I must say, has found a very original take on the neo-progressive genre. Their sound, style and atmosphere reminds me a bit of krautrock groups like Amon Duul II, Can, Dzyan and Gila. Or like Grobschnitt's 'Solar Music'. This is a neo-prog band that records its albums live in a big room (I imagine) and benefits from the flow and liveliness that such a set-up creates. As a listener you feel like your witnessing a performance of an obscure group of musicians that have really created a single mind; creating brooding, atmospheric, gothic, sometimes jazzy, blackened (without the metal) neo-prog. The synths, organs and piano's of Katrina "Tree" Stewart are leading and she provides some psychedelic, amateurish (in a pleasant way) haunting vocals as well (perhaps a bit like Gong's Gilly Smith). The keyboards don't sound at all like a direct digital recording does and benefit from the roomy vibes. Some of the synth sounds remind me of Vangelis. Alan "Ally" Carter plays some fierce psychelic rockguitar - untamed, unrefined, yet very in sync with the music in a gutsy way. Again, the live sound adds a layer of obscure finesse. David Greenaway has a nice pumping chorus (fretless) bass sound and the loose drums Thomas Jackson add to 'in the moment' vibe of the record. The album has four long pieces and there isn't a weak moment to be found. Though there's room for improvisation, the music does sound well structured (with a sense of direction). The recording sounds un-edited and has some small mistakes in it, but 'The Emerald Dawn' is charming that way. I myself find the recording sound very warm and lively, but it does sound more like a live album than a studio recording. For this much appreciated hack of the genre and a very enjoyable listen I will gladly reward a four star rating.