Album Review: Iamthemorning – The Bell (Kscope)

Following the success of Iamthemorning’s two studio albums for Kscope – Belighted, the award winning Lighthouse and their most recent live studio film Ocean Sounds, the Russian duo, comprising of virtuoso classical pianist Gleb Kolyadin and charismatic vocalist Marjana Semkina are releasing their new album entitled The Bell on 2nd August 2019.

Their dedication to writing forward-thinking and thought-provoking music sees the duo create a new album of impressive depth and playability. A modern blend of rock, classical and folk, The Bell makes use of 19th Century song cycles – a style established by Schubert – that cohesively tells 10 individual stories.

Vocalist Marjana Semkina explains in more detail:

The Bell is divided into two parts but each song is a story in its own right, all of them are fuelled by human cruelty and pain caused by it. Cruelty is the central theme of the album – together with all the different ways we respond to it and cope with it. This album is multi-layered and is, in many ways, a journey inwards, taking us inside of a mind of a person suffering from abuse or neglect or open hostility of the society or a specific person.

Aesthetically, the album is based on themes taken from Victorian England’s art and culture, but more in a way of turning our attention to the fact that at its core, humankind isn’t making much progress in terms of emotional maturity.

Words can’t quite do Iamthemorning justice. They are without a shadow of a doubt such an eclectic band that they must be heard to be understood. How do you describe the mix of melancholy, darker rock punches and jazz infused melody to someone without it sounding pretentious?

The Bell is an experience of an album, one that will delight many especially with such incredible vocals from Marjana Semkina. She exudes peacefulness and comfort while still sounding so melancholic. Her voice on Sleeping Beauty and Blue Sea is to die for.

Black and Blue begins so subtly then builds towards a darker and more fantastical sound with the piano increasing in volume. Enough can’t be said about how good the main instrument, the piano is throughout The Bell. The melodies touching on an emotional level but also turning the likes of Ghost of a Story into something a little more upbeat and peppy. Not something that comes up much throughout the album at all.

Then we have utterly transfixing medley of Lilies, the playful wonder of Salute and sweet and morose finale of the title track to wrap things up.

Wonderful.

Iamthemorning – The Bell Full Track Listing:

1. Freak Show
2. Sleeping Beauty
3. Blue Sea
4. Black And Blue
5. Six Feet
6. Ghost Of A Story
7. Song Of Psyche
8. Lilies
9. Salute
10. The Bell

Links

Bandcamp | iTunes | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Kscope Shop