ISOBAR IV

San Jose-based Isobar's fourth album comes a little over a year after their third, and my feelings on the two albums are just about identical. It's well-played, thoughtfully-crafted instrumental progressive rock that draws from the genre's 1970s heyday. There are plenty of fun passages woven into this record, and if you're into Änglagård, you'll probably find something to like here. I enjoy all the little jazz, folk, and Canterbury flourishes. However, the main stumbling block this record hits is its length. Everything feels too long. Every song could have been at least a minute shorter, if not more, and that adds up to a listening experience that can border on tedium. 66 minutes is simply too long for what this record is trying to do.

Review originally posted here: theeliteextremophile.com/2024/10/07/odds-ends-october-7-2024/