5 Stars
Audio CD (paid link)
The name of the band is meant to suggest an environmentalist revolution.
Emerald Dawn were formed in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2010 by Katrina ‘ Tree’ Stewart – vocals, keyboards, flute, acoustic guitar, and Alan ‘Ally” Carter – guitar, saxophone, keyboards. They soon moved the Emerald base to the land of the Dawn, St Ives, Cornwall, England. From one end of the British Isles to the other. The fresh air of Cornwall obviously suited them, as after a few musical chairs with the band’s line up. It has now solidified to a quartet of the original two plus the accomplished Tom Jackson on drums, and David Greenaway on the instruments that play all the low notes for the band plus some excellent electric violin.
Immediately, there was magic in the air. An ardent fan base grew, with its ranks swelling at every turn. There have been four long playing releases, “Searching for the Lost Key” 2014, “Visions” 2017, “Nocturne” 2019 and now we are presented with “Touch the Sky” 2021. The band’s progression has been rapid, intriguing to listen to from release to release.
It is easy to say that “Touch the Sky” is the result of all that has gone before it. It is, of course, but so much more.
It is impossible to pigeon hole the music of Emerald Dawn. Of course it comes under the heading of progressive rock, but it’s so not just that. The music is played in Cinemascope for your ears, literally filling your speakers with sound. Everybody has their influences, and you can hear the better bits of Pink Floyd, Van Der Graaf Generator, even the Moody Blues entwined in the music. But most of all, it is the unique sound of Emerald Dawn that comes through.
With so many multi instrumentalists in the band there is plenty of scope for variation. The music is compelling, even harrowing. When Tree starts to sing it is quite haunting; that’s not to say she does not have a lovely voice, she does, but she uses her voice to emphasize the songs and sings accordingly. The combined effect of the music and Tree’s voice is quite hypnotic.
Emerald Dawn are not a band for quick, snappy pop songs. “To Touch the Sky” only has three epic songs clocking in at just under fifty minutes to make up the album. This is the only way that you can play this sort of music so you can melt into it. The opener ‘The Awakening’ shows all the progress the band has made developing their own sound. The music wraps around you, lulling you along, the four musicians combining perfectly. Without realizing it, to the listener each musician is given space to show their talents.
‘And I Stood Transfixed’ starts as though it’s a forgotten track from Pink Floyd’s “Animals.” The saxophone breaking through adds to the general relaxed mode, showing far reaching influences within the band, including jazz. But then the band slips back into Emerald Dawn mode and the music becomes more structured again, as if the waves are gently lapping up on the beach. Pictures of the craggy beaches of Cornwall come to mind as a flute gently plays in the background. Music for your very soul.
‘As I Stood Transfixed’ is a very apt title for this music. Halfway through, the music expands and takes on a darker hue with the drums and bass pounding into your numbed senses. Imagine a dream, little and pleasant that you are trying to control so any hint of darkness has to be ushered away. In the music the storms are waylaid and peace ensues. Emerald Dawn as a troupe play with admirable restraint. This is a band playing music that they wish to portray not bending to the whims of commercialism. It’s a beautiful lament to all that is good in the world, almost entirely instrumental.
Then the band break the mould as they go into the final epic, over twenty two minutes of ‘The Ascent.’ Surely Emerald Dawn’s jewel in the crown. The keyboards open with a grand entrance, giving way to a piano and flute duet. The lead guitar comes in slowly going through the gears to start showing the power of Emerald Dawn. The steel fist in a velvet glove. The power is there to be used if needed.
Tree’s voice comes lilting in over the music taking you away on a tale of fantasy and joy. The music unfolds like chapters in a book that is impossible to put down, carrying the listener off to a land of paradise. The band collectively are not ones to jam as many musical notes in as possible. Often the space between notes tells as much of the story as the notes included. There are some fine rousing keyboard and guitar solos during the epic’s midsection leaving you in no doubt as to the ability that lies within Emerald Dawn. It’s all a matter of timing. The music nonetheless is enthralling, even with the very limited use of vocals. A wonderful conclusion “To Touch the Sky.”
The Emerald Dawn are now taking their music out on the road. In 2021 from way down the bill they stole the hearts of everybody at the New Day Festival, Faversham, Kent. They are presently gigging all over Europe with more festival appearances on the horizon.
They have the support of the media now firmly behind them. They just need to build that fan base a little.
Written by Mott the Dog
Remember to visit and subscribe to Mott’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1003417143122919/
