The Land, The Sea, The Air (Volume II) is the seventh studio album by the Cornish-based band The Emerald Dawn and the second part of an epic suite with an overriding ecological theme, something the band feels very strongly about. They possess the vision, talent, and conviction to communicate their important messages through their immersive, atmosphere-laden music, taking listeners on intensely powerful journeys every time, and this release is no exception. Alongside her customary array of keyboards, on this album Tree Stewart has expanded her sonic arsenal with a HandSonic, ROLI Seaboard, synth pads, and a tonewheel organ, giving her even greater scope to evoke the deep forests, vast waters, and open skies that have become such defining elements of the band's unique sound. The album opens with Song Of The Rainforest, an instrumental coming in at over 20 minutes, intertwines so many of the elements that make their distinct aural landscapes, beginning with the sounds of birds and animals over rich, emotive keyboard chords to start the journey into the dense, untamed forest. Rich bass lines from Dave Greenaway and a gradual rhythmic groove from drummer Tom Jackson set the scene, Ally Carter delivering a resonant guitar solo before switching to saxophone. The musical moods shift throughout its three movements, the tempos ebb and flow, yet the composition never loses its power, with Stewart's keyboards guiding its course toward a towering climax, beautifully enhanced by Carter's ringing guitar. Stewart's voice is a memorable instrument in its own right - ethereal, haunting, almost operatic at times, and it's never sounded better than on Rivers Of Tears, another stunningly evocative elegy to Mother Earth with a crushing lyrical pay off line. Its cascading piano arpeggios evolve into a delicate, classically influenced sequence, later joined by mournful guitar lines. The music maintains a constant sense of forward motion bringing in jazzier saxophone and searing guitar, plus a wide palette of Stewart's keyboard effects, mirroring the river's unceasing journey at its heart. An orchestral backdrop provides the band with a sumptuous canvas upon which to paint the rich textural colours of Paradise, while Stewart's impassioned vocal delivery underscores the song's urgent message: that this natural wonder is at risk of being lost unless humanity learns to live in harmony with it. Beautifully performed and rich in both musical and thematic depth, this is another remarkable achievement from a truly unique quartet. The more time you spend with it, the more its emotional power and underlying message resonate, revealing a work of great artistry - both musically and through its incredible cover paintings by Stewart, and lasting significance. ***** Alison Reijman Where to buy? |
