EASTERN DAWNING

In spite of being a disk recorded in 1996, and to be classified like NEO-PROG, "Eastern Dawning" of the German band INES presents a sound that can be defined as "healthy nostalgia." The disk presents a quite light musicality. . Yours influence are clearly anchored in the symphonic-prog in the vein of YES, RENAISSANCE,GENESIS, CAMEL, etc... and in the sound of less symphonic bands like STYX... etc... with beautiful harmonies performe by the keyboard (Rick Wakeman's , Tony Banks etc...), completed by the guitar (sometimes 12 strings and sometimes eletric ). I detach the tracks 1 "Friends" (with a beautiful initial passage where the keyboard brings the already mentioned harmony of the 12 strings guitar), track 3 "Healling Waters" (with their vigorous guitars that reminded me bands like STYX & JOURNEY), track 6 " Lonely Child " (a piece of acoustic guitar in GORDON GILTRAP'S style) and track 8 " New Age Dawn " (with a brief, however very interesting guitar solo in his final passage). In a general way a good disk, if not shows an y exacerbated creativity, offers very pleasant moments. My rate i 4 stars!!!

Two years passed by and Ines returned with their sophomore effort on WMMS / Music Is Intelligence.The main core of the band remained the same with Ines Fuchs writing all tracks except for ''Lonely Child'' written by Massimo Michieletto.''Eastern Dawning'' was recorded between April and November 95' at the Roxanne Studio in Leonberg by Davide Piai, eventually released in February 1996.

Again a very good collection of twelve melodic tracks is what Ines had to offer and they are all played with enthusiasm, containing nice melodic lines and beautiful vocal performances, offered through a clear production.Half about of them fall undoubtfully in the Neo Progressive Rock category along the lines of PENDRAGON, SHADOWLAND and LANDMARQ, extremely melodic, lyrical and easy-going music with a light symphonic twist, fronted by Ines Fuchs' floating synthesizers and the soft guitar solos of Massimo Michieletto and Hansi Fuchs and featuring up-tempo grooves and catchy choruses.The rest of them are a mixed bag of Melodic/AOR Rock, Folk Rock ballads ans short instrumentals in a MIKE OLDFIELD way and among them the folkier ones, featuring the majestic voice of Chicco Grosso, are propably the best with a delicate atmosphere and plenty of medieval tunes played with a melodic rockin' vibe.

Not exactly as good as Ines' debut, ''Eastern Dawning'' is likely to appeal to all fans of Neo Prog or Melodic Progressive Rock, who search for a more accesible listening among the adventurous ones.Warmly recommended.