IZZ: Half Life

The cunningly titled Half Life finds US proggers IZZ firing up the cylinders halfway between albums. Hence, what we get here is one live song recorded at CalProg, alongside a trio of new studio tracks - although the almost 80s pop of the title cut was created some time ago and then dusted down when the band realised its lyric seemed made for our strange times. The limited vinyl version of this EP also comes with an exclusive 20 minute cut called “The Car Crash Suite� but with it not being included on my digital promo download, that is as much as I know about it.

The feel from the new tracks lands in a slightly more sedate situation than the band’s exuberant previous album, Don’t Panic. However, that’s not to say that with the aid of some excellent arrangements and a few rather wonderful keyboard excursions that the opening cut, “The Soul Of Music�, doesn’t capture the imagination. “Into The Sun� and its booming Yes-like bass line sits somewhere between 60s smooth rock - thanks to some ear snagging layered vocals - and a more obviously progressive shimmer when an unexpected crescendo is sprinted towards in its second portion. Whereas the aforementioned title cut and its big thundering drum strikes almost lands in latter day Genesis territory, although with a much lighter, airier chorus. Add in an excellent live version of “The Wait Of it All� and, while not really giving a full picture of the breadth of the IZZ musical outlook, Half Life still proves entertaining.

Track Listing
1. The Soul of Music
2. Into the Sun
3. Half Life
4. The Wait of It All (live at CalProg)
5. The Car Crash Suite (limited vinyl pressing bonus track)

Added: September 6th 2020
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: IZZ Music
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Language: english

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