Ideogram - Reunion Of Broken Parts - Progressive Voyages Review PV133

Idiograpram are a scottish progressive Rock band who seek to weave their own special magic through the collaborative effort of their members, This music is a little different in this it encompasses Post Prog, Rock, Electronic, Ambient and even Classical elements that are crafted together to make their unique sound,

A good case of this is the Opening track Hyperaccumulator which commences with a burst of static and some scratching sounds before a bass line emerges along with drums and a languid guitar lines is floated over the sound. It is quite a hypnotic sound they make after about 90 seconds. The track begins properly with a strong bass and chiming guitar and keyboards, hear we can also hear the classical elements by means of a recurring melody or theme, it is gentle and yet used very effectively, This then fades to shimmering keyboard textures with a subdued guitar line in the mix,the track is entirely instrumental as indeed is the whole album, this track builds it its intensity in a most interesting and entertaining manner.

This is followed by Butchers Parcel, this begins with more sequenced sounds that use a growling synth sound before bass and drums enter the sound, the sound is semi-hypnotic, and really captures your attention, I like that they are not afraid to use contrasts in the sound, From loud and brutal to soft and gentle as is the case here with the delicate piano motif that occurs halfway through. After this the song grows louder with heavy emphasis on bass and drums, I have to say that I really like the sound the group make together it certainly makes a very positive impression as you listen to it.

Lady Coats follows, This one starts with a gradually with an increasing swell of sound, With some interesting sound effects and a guitar line that never quite fully emerges, although the piano and bass do, after a while the guitar line does Reapppear playing a subdued melody line. It is very much a model of restraint here before the bass becomes more to the forefront as the piano repeats its genntle melody again, this is a more delicate number here, again you are impressed with their ability to use the gradually increasing sound to make the music impressive, I really like how this is sounding, especially as the music begins to reach towards a crescendo it really sounds fabulous.

Next track Chromosphere / Total Disruption introduces the Cello of Graham Coe to the sound, after the opening section of space sounds from NASA and a delicate piano motif, and some effect laden guitar tones and deep bassists and lines, This all sounds very atmospheric and very strong indeed, it is almost minimalist in is slowly evolving soundscape, The cello here is subtle and is used to support all that is happening but it sure sounds great in tandem with the bass. I really like the piano motif that is used here especially when it speeds us with the bass leading into the Total Disruption part of the track which is decidedly louder and harder in its sound with some severely distorted guitar and treated piano sounds, its all a little discordant really but effectively so.

Bevel is next and again this is a return to a gentler less aggressive sound, with languid guitar and a strong piano melody that plays throughout the track, the mid section features some great guitar and bass interplay that sounds great, there is a voice in the sound here, like a conversation or a commentary, I'm not sure which, However it sounds good as does the building synthesiser line and the excellent bass work of Ali Gillies, and the fine drums of Keith Kirkwood supporting the great guitar of Ali Kirkpatrick and the excellent piano and keyboards of Lesley Crawford who together make up the truly accomplished sound that Idiogram offer.,

Next up is Twilight Sleep which features an excerpts of a speech sample from Amanda Fielding's Life After Trepanation which is about Trepanning (self lobotomising) in order to achieve a higher level of consciousness as she did in 1970, She then later was an advocate for the use of LSD to trigger improvements in creativity, The track is an interesting one that tells a story without words.

Opening with a growling synth and arpeggio guitar notes, Before the sound expands outwards with a steady drum beat and some great syncopated piano lines and guitar lines, this is really quite an epic track with the speech intertwined with the music, It is dramatic too with defined peaks and troughs, I really like this track as it is unusual and doesn't proceed as you would expect, It actually has a haunting quality to its sound which makes it captivating.

Final track of the album is Telemetry, which as it is about recording instruments open with suitable sound effects, it has a strong opening Piano motif which is echoed and supported by the bass and with chiming guitars, This is all without the drums which are resting until the final part of the track when they enter powerfully, as dies a very powerful guitar which has switched to providing very riff driven chords, before quietening down 9nce again and returns to softer playing, which is still very effective indeed, there are definitely elements of Pink Floyd in this track especially in the guitar

Overall this is a most impressive debut album and Idiogram are making aname for themselves with strong performances at the Temple Of Prog 2 in Carlisle recently, I strongly expect their ascendancy to continue as this album beg8ns to make a real mark. Plus the cover is pretty eye catching as well. Highly recommended from here.

Info here: wwwidiogram.bandcamp.com