BELIGHTED

I discovered Iamthemorning soon after they released their first album, and was anticipating the follow up with excitement and trepidation. The second album can make or break a career. It is either a disappointment or a triumph. I am glad to say it is a triumph with a few niggles. I will get the minus points out of the way first. The recording is flawed unfortunately, the vocals are too low in the mix, and in my opinion the whole thing sounds slightly over processed. Enough of the bad points,now the many positives. The intermissions are all beautiful in there many and varied ways. As for the actual songs,they are well constructed flowing and full of light and shade like any good song should be. The recording of a song cannot stop a wonderful composition from coming across to its audience.

The Howler. A nice medium paced rocker,starts the album of well.

To Human Misery. I like the mix on this one,a lot of interesting things going on in the background,it works well.

Romance and 5/4 reminds me so much of a Kate Bush structure,this is no bad thing.If talent of this stature can be mentioned in the same sentence you must be doing something right. The Simple Story.Just a good well structered ballad.

Crowded Corridors is one of my favourites, it flows majestically into the second part of the song which is as near perfection as you can get.

Gerda is just beautiful.

Os Lunatum. The piano and vocals together are stunning,the vocal being a little more predominant on this one.The guitar is also featured very well on this track.

K.O.S. This one loses its way a little, I find the drums a little over bearing in places,still a good track.

Reprise Of Light/No Light. Like the strings on this one,a nice blend with the voice.

My reservations apart about the recording,this is a fantastic album. The King Crimson textures that come across like on the Islands album are truly intoxicating. There is nothing wrong with things sounding like other things,not many things are unique. One thing is for sure,we have unique talents in Gleb Kolyadin and Marjana Semkina. I have had tweet conversations with Marjana,and I can say she is as charming as she is beautiful and talented. Gleb is an accomplished a pianist as you will ever hear. Buy the album and bask in its glory. A better recording would have given it 5 stars,then there is always room for improvement.