THE PEARL OF EVER CHANGING SHELL

Description

After the success of their collaboration with Peter Hammill on In Amazonia (2019) and In Disequilibrium (2021), the Swedes Isildurs Bane return with a new album, The Pearl of Ever Changing Shell. This time, the Swedish band is joined by singer Jinian Wilde, best known for his work with the David Cross Band. The result is another change of direction while remaining faithful to the philosophy that inspires and drives IB. Mats Johansson, who joined IB in 1977, is not only its longest-serving member but also its main composer and keyboardist, comments: “Our work with Jinian is similar to the way we worked with Peter Hammill and Steve Hogarth of Marillion, who worked with us on the 2017 album. Colours Unfound in Nature. In principle, the music had been developed for about a year before we got in touch with Jinian. The reason was to try to preserve the expression of IB broadly, but for Jinian to have free rein when it came to vocal melodies, vocal harmonies and the lyrics of course. A tried-and-tested working method that allowed IB and Jinian to feel free and comfortable as things evolved.” Their collective prowess and formidable technique effortlessly encompass rock, jazz and traditional folk forms, with elements of electro and pop throughout the album for a moving and dramatic effect. Mats Johansson says that there is a tradition whereby neither IB itself nor the audience attending EXPO concerts or listening to its records knows what to expect.