DROMOLOGY

INNER EAR BRIGADE were a young band when they formed in Oakland, California back in 2005 releasing an EP called "Belly Brain" that same year. It wouldn't be until 2012 that they would release their first studio album "Rainbro". I would describe that debut as having avant leanings, but it was far from being difficult music. Here we are five years later with the followup "Dromology" and those avant touches are all but gone. This is more streamlined, more accessible. Even the female vocals have gone from that THINKING PLAGUE, Susanne Lewis-like style to more normal sounding.

This just isn't as interesting in my opinion. Sure we get some good old prog rock played at a high level but those are a dime a dozen. I just don't connect with this 2017 release. Having said that I did enjoy, right from that first listen the opener "Dark Sleep Fortress", more of this please! A nice heavy sound to it with a couple of good instrumental sections, horns too. The title track is the only other song that comes close to it. At nine minutes it's the longest piece, but this one is more in the jazz style, especially early on and later.

I hope we get another release from this band, very talented. Half of the six piece lineup left before the second record, with leader Bill Wolter, singer Melody Ferris and horn player Ivor Holloway left standing here.

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