This Israeli quartet returns with a sophomore album after the initial triumph of “MIR” (2016) , a release I enjoyed immensely but failed to review for lack of time. I regret it, because I still revisit it on occasion, where I get to love it even more. The core quartet is intact and have laid down four epic tracks , all in the 11 minutes range in length.
The luscious dreamscape of the title track is immediately attractive, seducing even the most casual ear, slowly entrancing the listener into its inner sonic web, each instrument highlighting the main melody (which will be recurring in various incarnations throughout the album). The spirit of the legendary UK band Camel is apparent in all its aspects, expertly played arrangements that seek beauty before any beastly technical prowess. Keyboardist Eze Sakson handles his various ivories with consummate inventiveness, relying heavily on lush organ runs and clever synth flights while guitarist Tal Rubinstein adds his own personal signature to the lissome Latimer sound. Drummer Avi Barak plays all the flute parts with guest Salit Lahav to perfection, while holding down the percussive side with jazzy overtones. Bassist Liran Herrnstadt holds down the bottom foundation like a pro, also sings lead whenever required. A sterling first epic to get the juices flowing.
Initially, “Field of Fade Memory “ possesses a slight “You Only Live Twice” (Bond classic) recollection before settling into an acoustic reverie that is accentuated by fluffy cloud vocals. When Rubenstein enters the peaceful pace with a glittering slow hand axe delivery, one cannot help but admire the overt beauty displayed, each and every note drenched in magnified passion. The organ slices through to displace the mood only ever so slightly into a more dynamic revisit, the vibrancy shining through, an undulating bass dancing in the lower foundation. Sakson then flips his switches on a terrific organ run that would make all the great Camel keyboardists (Bardens, Scherpenzeel, Watkins, Leblanc, Patterson and Jones) smile in admiration. The final section is sheer bliss as the acoustic guitar gets a chance to shine in the spotlight to finish off the track a la Steve Howe.
As the title may hint at, “Valley of Delerium” is a flute festival, all pastoral bucolics in a miraculous setting of unrestrained serenity, bathing in a mellow glow that is soothing to the core. Nothing hurried, no shilly-shallying of any kind, only exalted melodicism in its purest structures, with occasional theatrics that had a touch of drama to the cinematic score. Echoed voices flutter elegantly in the breeze, a hint of early King Crimson in the frittering drum patterns that recall prime Michael Giles (think Cadence and Cascade). The predominance of acoustic guitar is sheer delight, adding that special touch of originality. The final section has a bickering bass line that snakes through the mist, as the organ announces a shift in gear, the tempo now emboldened enough for a slithering synthesizer foray, cymbals akimbo, all insisting on the delirium that must take hold. Unadulterated magic and definitely a closed eyes experience.
Maintaining both the absolute quality as well as the unflagging consistency, “Somewhere Along These Lines” ushers in the ideal finale. The previously mentioned melody reappears in a different form, enchanting and intoxicating, with an overt Floydian feel. Even the electric slide guitar is there to uphold the obvious, as the floating sensation takes permanent hold on the senses. Peaceful panacea, a vacillating prophecy of sound and restrained salvation, this is quite the revelation. The quartet really shines brightly on the final stretch, pulverizing any remnant of internal pain and providing a salutary cure-all.
“Mir” was a massive find, but this is a great leap forward that bodes well for this talented group. In an ever increasingly noisy, agitated and nervy universe, this kind of soothing balm is a gift from heaven above, an album I intend to revisit whenever the stress reappears and my tired bones need a sonic caress.
5 peaceful shaloms