Label: Ataraxia Productions

Tracks:

1. Halo 1:24
2. Heal 5:03
3. Fury 0:46
4. Cage 5:31
5. Arch 1:00
6. Good 3:15
7. Open 2:17
8. Eyes 6:38
9. Self 2:44
10. Idea 8:32
11. Talk 1:40
12. Rage 5:33
13. Part 2:11
14. Dark 1:39
15. Loss 4:00
16. Ends 4:14

Musicians:

• Klas Assarsson / percussion
• Jonas Christophs / guitars
• Joachim Gustafsson / violin
• Mariette Hansson / vocals
• Christof Jeppsson / vocals
• Fredrik "Gicken" Johansson / bass
• Mats Johansson / keyboards
• Anna Lönnberg / vocals
• Linnea Olsson / cello and vocals
• Kjell Severinsson / drums

Guest musicians:

• Lars-Erik Björklund / backing vocals
• Luca Calabrese / trumpet
• Fredrik Davidsson / trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet
• Björn Jason Lindh / flute and recorder
• Povel Ohlsson / backing vocals
• Martin Söderlund / trombone, bass trombone, tuba
• Mats "MP" Persson / guitar

After "MIND vol. 3", an experimental jazz album that was recorded together with the Metamorfosi Trio, released also this year, Isildurs Bane returns with the fourth chapter of the project MIND (Music Investigating New Dimensions), a particular way of realizing music based on different rearrangements, in which different areas are explored in every new work.

"MIND vol.4: Pass" is a project that started in 1999 with the name "Screenplay", that was totally rewritten later and to which new vocal parts were added, up to remaining formed as it is today.

In this new work, Isildurs Bane surprise us with a concept work which has almost nothing in common with their old sound. An album where vocals do not just come back again after 20 years of totally instrumental recordings, but also they rule the whole work. An extraordinary work, fresh, innovative and of a clear up-to-date sound, that is without a doubt prog, although it has nothing in common with the 70's decade.

This new Isildurs Bane can sound like from After Crying to Portishead, passing by Kate Bush, Tori Amos, the current Peter Gabriel and, of course the classic Isildurs Bane.

In no way it's a complex album with long tracks, but is a work where the song structure has an important content. But always as an integral part of a unit, where Isildurs Bane's typical instrumental developments are not absent.

Talking about the album's content, they combine great beautiful songs like "Halo", "Heal", "Talk" or "Loss", all of them with precise melodic vocal work, and sensitive baroque string arrangements, with rhythmic gabriel-esque tracks (especially thanks to the male voice, certainly similar to Gabriel's) as "Cage" and "Good". There are also longer tracks where instrumental prog developments are included, like "Eyes", "Idea" or "Rage". This is alternated with little instrumental symphonies that are inserted between every track, giving unity to the album.

This album is difficult to classify, where they mix an important variety of styles, but they continue in a similar way. I think Isildurs Bane have done an innovative work in current prog and music as few other bands, without the need of choosing complex sounds. Probably, many people would probably argue about whether this album deserves the "progressive" label or not. Undoubtedly, this time Isildurs Bane have beaten After Crying and their "Show".

Rating: 9/10

Ferran Lizana