Californian instro-proggers deliver classic sound with a modern twist.
Isobar are the San Jose-based trio of bassist Jim Anderson, guitarist Malcolm Smith and keyboardist Marc Spooner, augmented here by a plethora of guest players. Hitting the sweet spot between King Crimson, Camel and Rush, they specialise in multitextured instrumental prog that’s compositionally complex but pleasingly cogent, the various transitions handled with confidence rather than glued together in hope.
The flowing piano and Mellotron intro of opening track Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been? hits a mid-paced glide guitar groove before plunging headlong into a section of chromatic angularity. Parts Of Harvey has a looser, more laid-back vibe, before a shift into stuttering riffage. Face In The Blue is another piano-led mid-pacer, which then dashes off in a cosmic…
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Prog (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 138