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IZZ — Half Life
(Bandcamp no#, 2020, DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2022-02-05

Half Life Cover art

After 2019’s full-length album Don’t Panic, some members of IZZ have been busy producing Laura Meade’s The Most Dangerous Woman in America (2021). The full band also released this EP in 2020, which features three relatively brief songs plus a live recording of a track from Ampersand (2004). These songs find the band indulging the more pop-oriented side of their style rather than the epic progressive side. Solid instrumental parts back their trademark vocals, where Meade, Anmarie Byrnes, Tom Galgano, and John Galgano all contribute. On “The Soul of Music,” the vocal arrangements bring to mind members of a Broadway musical backed by late-70s Yes, with John Galgano contributing a Squire-like bass part. “Into the Sun” also has elements of Yes, this time in a less rock-oriented setting, melodic and full of keyboards, though the bass is very prominent in spite of the minimal drums. This song finishes with an instrumental build-up and a great synthesizer solo from Tom Galgano. For the title track, we’re in even mellower territory, with soft vocals backed by electric piano chords. I haven’t heard the original version of “The Wait of It All,” but it fits with the overall vibe of the other tracks, being an accessible song with prominent vocals and vaguely proggish instrumental parts. Half Life is by no means a major addition to IZZ’s catalog, but it is an engaging diversion while we wait for the next album.

Filed under: New releases, 2020 releases

Related artist(s): IZZ, Laura Meade

More info
http://izzmusic.bandcamp.com/album/half-life-ep

 

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