The Ikan Method is a project
based in Alessandria, Piedmont, that came to life in 2019 on the
initiative of drummer and composer Luca Grosso (who previously
collaborated with Projecto, Narrow Pass, Marcello Chiaraluce, The
Rome Pro(g)ject and others). Their debut album, inspired by bands
such as Marillion, IQ and early Genesis, is entitled Blue Sun
and was released in 2020 on the independent Ma.Ra.Cash Records label
with a line up featuring along with Luca Grosso himself (drums,
keyboards) also Marcello Chiaraluce (guitar), Davide Garbarino
(vocals) and Fabio Zunino (bass) plus the guests Piergiorgio Abba
(keyboards) and Giacomo Grosso (flute). According to the official
website, the title of the album refers to a concept that
encompasses all the alienation and unease of a world that has
become enslaved by technology, where the individual is isolated from
each other, in a sort of ‘golden cage’ where solitude reigns...
The
first track, “The Great Opening”, is a caustic piece that
describes in music and words the spectacle of the commodification of
one's dreams. It takes us to the inauguration of a new temple of
modern society, a huge shopping mall. There one can wander freely
among the crowd under the lights, forgetting anger and frustration,
and it doesn't matter if it's raining outside! There, it's always
spring and everyone can find everything they desire in exchange for
their savings. And if their savings aren't enough, they can buy on
credit... Welcome to the show!
“The
Journey” is a beautiful instrumental piece that alternates dark and
alienating atmospheres with bursts of furious energy and electric
tension and leads us to following “No More Lies” that portrays a
man in front of the television, overwhelmed by images of catastrophes
and wars around the world. He wonders what kind of world we will
leave to the future generations if we continue to greedily consume
all available resources, thinking that we enjoy life without
realising that we just bring death. We think we are free, but in
reality we're nothing but slaves to a machine that never stops
turning. We need the illusion of an enemy to hate and we are no
longer able to think. Eventually, the protagonist falls asleep and is
overcome by sadness, fed up with weapons, words, tears and lies...
“The
Long Way To Madness” is another good instrumental piece,
rhythmically intense and in line with what the title suggests. It
brings us to “The Storm”, a long and complex piece divided into
three parts. The first part is a brief, calm and dreamy instrumental
introduction titled "The Grand Illusion Of Life". It is
followed by a long central section, titled "The Calm Before The
Storm", where the music and lyrics describe an approaching
storm, metaphorically referring to life: an unexpected and violent
event capable of unsettle the protagonist's life, who must now prove
himself strong. The description of this event is left to the
instrumental coda, titled "The Storm"...
“Golden
Cage” describes the protagonist's reflections on the illusion of
freedom when we're constantly busy and immersed in the daily routine
of the life we think we've chosen. In truth, it's difficult to
escape the control of those in charge, and we end up moving between
different scenarios, all within a golden cage to which we don't have
the keys and from which we can't escape. Thus, we waste our time
waiting for something that will never come and we realise too late
that the time to make our dreams come true has already passed... Next
comes “Time Lost”, a beautiful instrumental piece drenched in
regret and nostalgia with a flamboyant finale that might recall
Genesis...
The
title track, “Blue Sun”, is an instrumental piece in a
melancholic vein that leads to “Changes”. The final piece starts
with a delicate piano intro and marks the protagonist's awakening
after a restless sleep, pervaded by a sense of loneliness and
confusion. Slowly, the images of his nightmares fade, giving way to a
sense of confusion. The protagonist feels that something has changed
in him and finally finds the strength to move forward, supported by
the love of his children...
On
the whole, a very interesting work that deserves a try.
You
can listen to the complete album HERE
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