The Emerald Dawn – “In Time” | Progressive Rock Central.com

The Emerald Dawn have returned to release their fifth studio album, In Time, on September 23^rd, (the Autumnal Equinox), on Wild Thyme Records.

I have reviewed their albums in the past and they have always been a delight to listen to, often.

The Emerald Dawn is made up of: Tree Stewart, playing: keyboards, flute, acoustic guitar, percussion and singing vocals; Ally Carter, playing: guitar, sax, keyboards, and singing vocals; Tom Jackson, playing: drums; and David Greenaway, playing: fretless and fretted 6-string bass guitars.

The band always weaves such intricate progressive rock tapestries of sound, and In Time is no exception. This three track album is full of, as they say in their press release, “interwoven threads of contrasting colors, hidden shades, layered beneath a carpet of sounds”. The album is a rebuff to, “Modern living; which appears to have bypassed the journey in favor of reaching the destination in the fastest possible time, an obsession with efficiency”. Instead, The Emerald Dawn, takes its time to deliver three long tracks of progressive rock symphony. The longest track at over 23 minutes, and the shortest at over 8 minutes.

Every track on this album is a fulfilling journey of sound, which will lift your thoughts and emotions and satisfy your soul.

This epic album begins as most of my favorite albums do, with beautiful, soft piano, for the epic, “Out of Time”. Then, a short electric guitar solo, which lifts the experience higher. Then, back, softly to stringed orchestration, with some soft electric lead guitar added for flavor. Like a Yes, symphonic masterpiece of majesty, with bass and keyboards that will bring back memories of all of their great highlights. The jazzy keyboards and all the guitar riffing that made Yes music so grand, back then. There is a nice, calming quiet section, just like you remember from Close to the Edge, and Topographical Oceans. Saxophone is added to great effect. Even, Middle-Eastern themes make their way into the music, helping to make this the best track on the album, by far. Then, they welcome the closing chapters filled with guitar, reminiscent of Steve Hackett’s Highly Strung, or maybe Cured. The superb keyboards and guitars roar, as the pace picks up and the drums add fire. And, a thundering closing finale.

“Timeless”, is the second longest track on the album and a definite keeper. At over 14 minutes there is plenty to appreciate here. It starts slow with a guitar riff and keyboards. Then, the sax takes over and it is Pink Floyd highlights all over the soundscape. Wonderful keys and atmospherics fill the soundscape as the sax commands the lead. Interesting lead electric guitar then takes over. Tree Stewart’s haunting vocals rise over the soundscape to provide distance and lyrical meaning to the song. The sax returns to finish the song triumphantly!

“The March of Time”, opens with beautiful strings and an almost bolero -like march. The soaring electric lead guitar riffs which follow, will take you back to any of your favorite Steve Hackett albums. It is wonderful, in every way. Tree Stewart, returns on vocals to close the piece.

In Time is another excellent album from The Emerald Dawn. You will find plenty of Steve Hackett – like guitar moments to brim nostalgic. There are Yes moments and plenty of Genesis-like reminders to take you back as well. A wonderful, Fall season album, to warm your heart during the exceedingly darker months to come. A very consistent band that always performs well and creates new musical chapters that we can all appreciate; as there are fewer and fewer classic, progressive rock bands around. This band remains vigilant of the songs and sounds they grew up with, and continues to carry on the traditions they respect and remember, fondly!