The Pearl of Ever Changing Shell

Nach dem Erfolg ihrer Zusammenarbeit mit Peter Hammill an "In Amazonia" (2019) und "In Disequilibrium" (2021) kehren Isildurs Bane aus Schweden mit einem neuen Album, "The Pearl of Ever Changing Shell", zurück. Diesmal wird die schwedische Band von Sänger Jinian Wilde unterstützt, der am besten für seine Arbeit in der David Cross Band bekannt ist. Das Ergebnis ist erneut eine Veränderung des Kurses, während sie den Ethos, der IB inspiriert und belebt, treu bleiben. Mats Johansson, der IB 1977 beitrat und nicht nur das am längsten dienende Mitglied, sondern auch der Hauptkomponist und Keyboarder ist, kommentiert: "Unsere Zusammenarbeit mit Jinian ist ähnlich wie die Zusammenarbeit mit Peter Hammill und Marillions Steve Hogarth, die 2017 an unserer Veröffentlichung ‘Colours Not Found In Nature‘ gearbeitet haben. Grundsätzlich wurde die Musik etwa ein Jahr lang entwickelt, bevor wir Kontakt zu Jinian aufnahmen. Der Grund war, den Ausdruck von IB im Wesentlichen beizubehalten, aber Jinian sollte freie Hand bei Gesangsmelodien, Gesangsharmonien und natürlich Texten haben. Eine bewährte Arbeitsweise, die sowohl IB als auch Jinian die Freiheit und den Komfort ermöglichte, sich während des Entwicklungsprozesses frei zu fühlen."

1. Rise Part 1 & 2
2. Part 1 - Dream of Light (the Tempering)
3. Part 2 - Trigger Finger (the Spiraling)
4. Sign of the Times (the Calling)
5. Born Afraid (the Binding)
6. Sailing Home (the Following)
7. Avalon (the Knowing)
8. Lifetimes (the Remembering)

Following the success of their collaboration with Peter Hammill on In Amazonia (2019) and In Disequilibrium (2021), Sweden’s 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 in The David Cross Band. The result is another shift in direction while remaining true to the ethos that inspires and animates IB. Mats Johansson, who joined IB in 1977 standing not only as its longest-serving member but also its principal composer and keyboardist comments, “Our work with Jinian is similar to how we worked with Peter Hammill and Marillion's Steve Hogarth who worked with us on 2017’s Colours Not Found In Nature release. In principle, the music was developed for a year or so before we made contact with Jinian. The reason was to try to keep IB's expression basically, but that Jinian would have a free hand when it comes to vocal melodies, vocal harmonies, and lyrics of course. A proven way of working that allowed both IB and Jinian to feel free and comfortable as things developed."

Since the early 00s, change and collaboration has been an essential ingredient in the IB process. Their annual IB EXPO event has seen the core band work with players such as Mick Karn, Jerry Marotta, Pat Mastelotto, Valgeir Sigurdsson, Jakko Jakzsyk, Mike Keneally, Jan Schaffer, Tony Levin, Phil Manzanera, Trey Gunn, Percy Jones, Adrian Belew, Marco Minnemann, Julie Slick, Richard Barbieri, David Torn, Magnus Östrom, and David Rhodes, as well as Steve Hogarth and Peter Hammill. It was during 2018’s IB EXPO that Jinian Wilde first experienced working with the ensemble as part of David Cross’ appearance that year. “Fast forward to 2022 and I was spending a lot of time in Sweden, as my partner lives there, and was asked if I would be available to take part in that years IB EXPO on my own this time. Around February 2023 I was asked if I would be interested in a collaborative project for their next album, and here we are.”

Containing stirring themes, cinematic landscapes, hymnal reveries and haunting, beautiful melodies, The Pearl of Ever Changing Shell finds IB at its most contemplative. Although several of the pieces had initially been intended to be entirely instrumental, Wilde’s immediate lyrical and vocal responses upon hearing the demos changed the nature and dynamic of Johansson’s epically inclined compositions. “One of the reasons that I enjoy this kind of collaboration so much is because the music itself IS the trigger, or the ‘key’ that brings out the lyrical content. It’s very much an exploratory process, as the songs kind of ‘unfold themselves’ and come into being,” explains Wilde.”

The album broadly deals with the notion of change. The changing world around us as well as the change that springs from within, one informing the other. Together they form something special and unique to each individual: the pearl of the ever-changing shell. Central to the album of course is the ensemble that brings life and timbral diversity to the compositions. Alongside Johansson’s keyboards, the core group consists of Klas Assarsson – marimba, vibraphone, percussion, Luca Calabrese – trumpet, Axel Croné – bass, woodwinds, Samuel Hällkvist – guitar, Jan Severinsson – sound engineer, Kjell Severinsson – drums and Liesbeth Lambrecht – violin/viola.

Their collective prowess and formidable technique effortlessly encompasses rock, jazz and traditional folk forms, elements of electronica and pop across the album to stirring and dramatic effect. Mats Johansson says that there's a tradition that neither IB itself or the audiences who attend EXPO gigs or listen to their records, know what is to come. "Looking back, this is how we have worked over the years, and still do to this day. I don't think we ever consciously discussed a particular direction. To some extent chance has played a part, but so too also the presence of the musicians participating in each album. I think this new record has an IB spirit with a Jinian atmosphere, just like our productions with Peter Hammill and Steve Hogarth." With each change in singer, there is a change of expression in the music. The Pearl of Ever Changing Shell is the latest instalment of IB’s continuing journey.

Praise for In Amazonia and In Disequilibrium

“I love this record, for itself as well as for the fact that it arrives at a place where European rock music seemed to be heading when it veered away from American influences 50 years ago. To fulfil some of the promises made so long ago, while, sounding completely fresh and contemporary, is quite an achievement.”

Richard Williams, The Blue Moment 

“By turns odd, haunting and beautiful, In Amazonia twists, judders and swoops, somehow making sense of its cornucopia of ideas.”

Classic Rock Magazine

“A riveting and emotional performance”

Prog Magazine

“This is an album that was very challenging and right in your face. I need to check out more of Isildurs Bane’s music to hear what I was missing. But for this amazing alliance, it is one of the best releases of 2019.”

Echoes And Dust

“An album of exceptional inspiration and high-end interpretation. From start to finish, we are close to the peaks. One of the records of the year!”

Highlands Magazine

“We are reminded that, indeed, music can still investigate new dimensions.”

Something Else

“This is a fresh, exciting and truly progressive piece of work from a band that does not stand still. They are continually developing and moving forward.”

The Progressive Aspect

“It crashes with anguish and pulls us right into the vortex along with it.”

Beats Per Minute

“A real high-quality Chamber Rock ensemble at the top of their musical game.”

The Spirit of Progressive Rock

“Beautiful, sinister, epic, and unexpected changes.”

Echoes And Dust

“Bleak, stark, dark, brooding, hypnotic, heavy in parts, atmospheric...Properly superb.”

New Wave of British Heavy Metal Blog

“Continuing to push boundaries with their masterful craft of creating engaging and fresh music.”

The Progressive Aspect

Isildurs Bane

Klas Assarsson – vibraphone, marimba, percussion

Luca Calabrese - trumpet

Axel Croné – bass, clarinets, saxophones, flute

Samuel Hällkvist – guitar

Mats Johansson – keyboards

Liesbeth Lambrecht – violin, viola

Kjell Severinsson – drums

With

Jinian Wilde – lead and backing vocals

Guest musicians

John Anderberg – backing vocals

Xerxes Andrén - percussion

Noah Söderberg Stenman – guitar

All compositions by Mats Johansson & Jinian Wilde

All lyrics by Jinian Wilde

Produced by Mats Johansson

Mixed by Charles Storm

Mastered by Jan Severinsson

Cover art by Matti Engdahl