I.E.M. - ARCADIA SON - 2002

IEM is Steven WILSON's (PORCUPINE TREE) solo project who continues his exploration into the arcane spaceyness of our deepest dreams. "Arcadia Son" is the second CD released under the title of I.E.M which takes the space of the debut album and takes us even deeper into the nebula. "Arcadia Son" is an eccentric mix of strange samples, speech, krautrock, jazz, space rock and psychedelia genres with some pretty trippy grooves. For those expecting something in the PORCUPINE TREE or NO-MAN or BASS COMMUNION theatre please note IEM is a very different beast. IEM is Steve WILSON's chance to really explore unique material and release something 100% his own. This is one of those ultimate headphone experience albums with some pretty lush sounds and atmospheres. On track 4, "Cicadian Haze",WILSON combines tribal bongos with flute and Rainforest sounds to create a highly ethereal song which also happens to be one of my personal favorites on the album. (Not unlike Edgar FROESE did on "Epsilon In Malaysian Pale"). Title track "Arcadia Son" reminds me very much of a psych'd out instrumental PORCUPINE TREE number. Epic track titled "Shadow of a Twisted Hand Across My House" clocks in at just over 20 Mins and would make a wonderful Horror movie soundtrack. If Blair Witch had this tune as its soundtrack, the world would still be sitting in the theatres ! 100% Self Indulgent music and 100% awesome !

IEM is of course a Steven Wilson project where he can explore his love for Krautrock and Psychedelic music. "Arcadia Son" was released in 2001 and features four longish tracks along with four short pieces.I must say the longer tunes are so amazing,i mean we're talking my kind of music, while the short ones i could do without.Oh well the short ones range from 25 seconds to a minute and 24 seconds so no big deal right? "Wreck" is the longest(and my favourite) of the short tunes and consists of chaotic sounds including horns and percussion. "Beth Krashky" is 25 seconds of Beth telling us she's a rocker and got a drum stick at an Ozzy concert. "We Are Not Alone" is very psychedelic as these mono-tone vocals speak over top.Flute joins in early. I like when the drums,bass and flute lead 4 1/2 minutes in.It turns spacey after 6 minutes.Great tune! "Circadian Haze" opens with the birds singing as percussion builds and flute joins in.The birds are still chirping then the bass joins in.Great sound. Spacey synths before 4 minutes.Nice.Flute,synths and birds end it. "Politician" is a short piece where we hear this woman making love with music playing in the background. "Arcadia Son" sounds so good when the drums come in before a minute with bass as the flute and synths continue.It stops 4 minutes in then this distorted guitar takes over loudly then continues with drums in tow.The guitar stops as the flute returns. "Shadow of A Twisted Hand Across My House" is the over 20 minute epic.It opens with these frequecy-like sounds as mellotron rolls in then drums.Dissonant sax after 3 minutes.It stops as the drums become the focus.Synths before 7 minutes as choas follows.A calm after 8 minutes as it turns spacey.Mellotron 12 minutes in.TANGERINE DREAM-like 16 1/2 minutes to the end.What a song! "Goldilocks Age IV" is a child telling that story for just over a minute.Cute. Nothing less than 4 stars will do.I really like the way he impliments flute on this album,it sounds so much like some of my favourite Krautrock music.
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