eyitgoy_2016

US band EDENSONG is a project that was in development from 2002 and onward, eventually releasing their debut album “Fruit of the Fallen” in 2008, a production that was followed by the EP “Echoes of Edensong” two years later. “Years in the Garden of Years” is their sophomore full length studio album, and was released through renowned US label The Laser’s Edge in the fall of 2016.

Back in the spring of 2013 I sat in an apartment in Brooklyn and listened to just shy of half an hour of material that was in the works for this album. I cannot recall the specific details of that listening session, but it was a fun and interesting manner in which to conclude a weekend in New York City before traveling on to meet other friends stateside. I had stayed with drummer Tony Waldman for part of that weekend, and we’ve been in touch on a fairly regular basis ever since. He was passionate about the qualities of the forthcoming Edensong album even back then, and from what I can recall the band have worked quite a bit to add some quality finishing touches to the songs at hand here.

As with many other progressive rock bands, Edensong’s take on the genre is one that is hard to pin down. They appear to have something of a passionate interest in progressive folk rock of the kind that Jethro Tull made a career out of, and traces and echoes of that band can be found on numerous occasions throughout. Not merely due to the liberal use of flute soloing, but also in certain structural elements unless I’m much mistaken. That there are passages that comes across as something of a bastard child of Jethro Tull and Dream Theater is perhaps and indication of just how extensive the palette Edensong use is, although the more clear cut metal-oriented themes and passages strictly speaking is a minority feature on this CD. Very much present, but not in a dominant manner.

There’s a lot of what I’d describe as hard prog present however. Quite a few classic guitar riff and organ combinations,  but also various combinations of bass, piano and guitar creating a firm, hard sound that is vibrant and tension filled. That these may alternate with gentler passages of a more pastoral character as well as more dramatic and sweeping ones with more of a clear cut symphonic progressive expression again an indication of variety and versatility I guess. Add in occasional lapses into what I’d describe as a chamber rock oriented style, as well occasional details here and there that possibly have more of an avant tinge to them, and you do end up with an album that can proudly be described as eclectic in scope as well as character.

A special remark is merited for the final third of the impressively flexible instrumental Chronos, as what I’d hazard a guess at being Japanese inspired percussion and instrument details most certainly adds a distinct mood and flavor to those sequences. I would also guess that these details were directly or indirectly  provided by drummer Tony, who knows a thing or two about Japanese culture.

“Years in the Garden of Years” is undeniably a progressive rock album, one of those productions placed so much in the center of that universe that it cannot be mistaken for anything else. It’s eclectic, filled with variety, and feature enough alterations and changes in tempo and arrangements to keep even a jaded progger happy. The compositions are well worked out too, with excellent mix and production as the icing on the cake. A CD easy to recommend to any progressive rock fan with a taste for the eclectic and more adventurous parts of the progressive rock universe.

My rating: 86/100