ISOBAR

Isobar (meteorological map) is a new name on the prog rock map with self titled album released this year 2020. Formed by 3 members from respected american prog band named Metaphor - Malcolm Smith on guitar, Marc Spooner on keyboards and Jim Anderson on bass, helped by excellent drumer from Anglagard and White Willow fame - Mattias Olsson.

The album is all instrumental, but is very well constructed, the druming is excellent, is tight and dense and all pieces. For sure rest of the instruments are at full capacity aswell, the sound is almost retro combined with some more up to day parts. There are some horn sections that integrated very wel in overall atmosphere.

The pieces are from 3 to 9 min in lengh, there are nice shifts, moods, twists, the complexity is present on every tune. Great playing at unison by all members involved, in the spirit of the best progressive rock out there.

I particulary don't know other band in today prog scene sounding like them, forte pieces - Weekend of Mammals, Major Matt Mason and almost all .

A truly great and inspired album, for me a great surprise that desearving attention from prog listners. 4 stars without hesitation

ISOBAR is a relatively new band project based in San Jose, California. While I'm writing they just have released the successor. Man, that second album contains some heavy fare, assured, definitely will take time. Eh, much time, I suspect. Anyhow, a few wellknown Metaphor members are involved here on the debut album, speaking of Malcolm Smith (guitar), Jim Anderson (bass), and Marc Spooner (keyboards). Furthermore experienced producer and drummer Mattias Olsson (Änglagård, White Willow) is completing the line up. Yet again they were keen on developing engaging progressive rock compositions. One distinct difference in the first instance, for good reason they are making it without a singer, the songs are completely instrumental. Thirteen tracks in total, a collection with more than one hour of tricky arrangements.

And hereby they are supported by a couple of wind instrument musicians, partially coming just like some Chicago brass addition, often enough underpinning the Jazz respectively Canterbury tinged atmosphere. This is the highest complexity I'm aware of what has been produced by that aforementioned longtime collaborator trio, okay, not yet considering the brand new sophomore album. I'm overwhelmed, what a highly productive entity. And I also have not noticed Mattias Olsson acting in better shape beforehand. Concerning all details this is perfectly balanced in it's entirety. Honestly, who actually is capable of describing such eclectic music? It really doesn't make sense trying to emphasize any musician or song in the further course. Just listen and determine your own impressions. 4.5 stars so far.