ISILDURS BANE & METAMORPHOSI TRIO - MIND VOL.3 - 2003

Of course MIND Vol. 1 + 2 where much better than this record,they were both masterpieces, no one with some knowledge about good music can deny,I think. But on the other hand one has to consider that most of the music on here consists of improvisations and therefore I would not underrate MIND Vol.3 as well. It might be suitable only for those who are more into improvised music and for collectors / fans. But actually I find it quite well accessible since I'm just writing this review during my first listen. IMHO this album continues quite well what the group is intending with their MIND project, in the sense that they are trying to merge obviously contrary aspects of music (as they describe as well in the booklet). Composed vs. improvised music, acoustic vs. electric music, extrovert vs. introvert music ,quiet vs. loud music and Italian vs. Swedish music. If one regards this album as an avant-garde piece of art, and I think this is absolutely essential, then one has to admit that it's quite a big effort. The musicians who are all brilliant are performing very well,especially the trumpet I like very much and for a music which is mostly improvised I find it quite enjoyable (there are much worse examples in this category). As far I was listening to improvised music, only KING CRIMSON can do it equally good. But for sure MIND Vol.3 is the most difficult album of them, it's a kind of experiment and one has to see it from this aspect. I own as well its follower, which is very good in some way, but completely different to the ones before. Altogether ISILDURS BANE is a very interesting band and only few of their numerous outputs were weak and I'm looking forward how the next surprise of them will look or sound like. I'm giving 4 stars for this album because I think it's a big effort from the artistic point of view, even if it might be not the most enjoyable album from them,but it's still a nice listen for a more advanced listener. I think everyone interested in chamber rock and improvised music should have this one as well in his collection, moreover since it's a essential part of the whole MIND project. And finally I have to mention that I don't hope they will continue in the same style of MIND Vol.4 (and I'm quite sure that they will not because they are a band always changing and developing).
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