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Finally, Izz puts out a disc that surpasses their 1998
debut Sliver Of A Sun. They are still the same schizophrenic
group with multiple, well established personalities, but this
time their abilities match their ambitions.***
The first and title track wastes no time in bludgeoning
the listener into satisfied submission with its alternative/progressive
slug fest. Guitarist Paul Bremmer's barging 7th chords run
smack dab into a Beatle-esque chorus straight from Strawberry
Fields. The whole thing ends in chaos with dissonance and
screeching sound effects. "Late Night Salvation" is a wonderfully
invigorating rocker that again showcases Brem's punchy guitar
playing. Izz blends Bremmer's riffing with a symphonic tradition,
cloud piercing, ascendant keyboards to create a magnificent
work that even boasts a solo from dual drummers, Greg DiMiceli
and Brian Coralian.***
Several tunes on My River Flows display the manifestation
of Izz's alter ego, that of a prog influenced Ben Folds band,
whereupon the restless, potentially heartbroken young everyman
sits at the piano doing his very best Folds/McCartney act.
Old chunks of Ben Folds Five tunes collide and mesh with snippets
of the Fab Four. It's so unnerving at times that it can make
your hands shake. Listen to "Anything I Can Dream" for a perfect
example of this phenomenon.***
This very nice disc ends with a twenty plus minute epic
"Deafening Silence", a six part suite that is firmly in the
Yes mold, beginning with very Wakeman-esque piano and simple
bass line from the Galgano brothers. Most of the vocals, which
are exquisite, are done by the Izz girls, Anmarie Byrnes and
Laura Meade with a few lines sung by keyboardist and principle
vocalist Tom Galgano. This tune bears a lot of similarity
conceptually with "Heart Of The Sunrise" and "Close To The
Edge", while actually sounding like neither. Parts one and
six present and then reprise the works main themes and the
middle four allow the band to explore variations and meander
through some nicely atmospheric passages.*** Overall, this
is quite a triumph for Izz and this disc will surely be considered
as one of the best releases of 2005 by many fans of modern
symphonic prog.
My River Flows is highly recommended.***
RATING - 5/5
©Thomas Karr April 11, 2006
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