Ion Immaculada
by Franco Cerchiari
Staff Writer
Since the 1990s, the visionary behind Ion, Duncan Patterson, with his band Anathema has released an incredible collection of CDs rightfully taking their place as some of the best doom/gloom metal heard as of late. Taking a (massive) step away from those sounds which made Anathema (along with My Dying Bride, Type 0 Negative, HIM, November’s Doom and The 69 Eyes,) such a mainstay in the genre of doom/gloom metal, is his side project Ion, and their second release Immaculada, the follow up to 2006’s Madre, Protegenos. Patterson’s web site tells of the writing of Immaculada, “…’Immaculada; was written in a period I was traveling back and forth between Ireland and Greece. The album documents personal experiences of that time, set to introspective and reflective ballads…”
Through music and much like his other project Antimatter, Patterson’s Ion delves into the emotional feelings and personal times experienced by this gifted musician. He has superbly mixed influences from multiple cultures and different lands. And the end result is exquisite, sweeping, beautiful and haunting. Impeccable use of such instruments as diverse as violins, cellos, piano, various percussions, mandolins, synthesizers, guitars, flutes and others native to Portugal, Peru, Ireland and India such as the djembe, (a small, wooden hand drum,) cajon, (from Peru, a small, box shaped instrument played by striking the front,) Uilleann pipes (a type of bagpipe found in Ireland,) Portuguese guitar (a small, oval shaped 12 string steel guitar,) and darbuka (a large, goblet shaped bongo drum.) The voices are superb, crystal clear, emotional, stirring and in perfect pitch. Sometimes soaring above the melodies and in others adding little more than another instrument to the mix. The music is a gentle, richly layered outing that at certain moments burrows it’s way into the listener’s soul and evokes emotions that at times, makes them close their eyes and allow themselves to be taken on a musical venture.
Opening with the title track, the term “haunting,” just doesn’t do this track justice. It is almost mind-numbing with a synthesizer laying a soft undertone and above that is an acoustic guitar playing a repetitive 4-chord refrain mixed with gentle riffs. Rising above that is ominous percussion, with the soft, almost hypnotic vocals in a monotone voice, whispering “Immaculada…” with a soft violin playing in the background. All these instruments mixed together blend perfectly. One can feel their heart start to pound during this short start to this amazing CD.
Words fail however, trying to come to terms with what is heard on track 3, “Adoration.” With hints of Irish folk music, this is a simply beautiful beyond belief track that comes across as touching but simple in its delivery sung with angelic, gentle vocals. Listen as well to the flutes of the instrumental “Damhsa Na Gceithre Ghaoth,” (Irish for Dance of the Four Winds.) A track that opens with the sound of gentle falling rain, that closes with massive thunder is “Cetatea Cisnadioara,” a touching nod to a picturesque village in Romania. While throughout most of this track’s playing time are vocal chants, in the final moments come the only lyrics, “…Acesta este un moment de armonie. Un nou rasarit al limpezimii. Mangaiat de spiritul naturii, Un racnet al tunetului incuviinţand (which loosely translated means – This is a moment of harmony, anew dawn of clarity, comforted by the spirit of nature, a roar of thunder…”)
The multi-layered acoustic guitars of “Invidia,” with such though provoking lyrics as “…I thought I was someone else for you to use…” Mid way through “Invidia,” is a rise in intensity, anger and volume as an answer to the gentle first few minutes of this track. Wonderfully done, as time and again has it been said that we need to feel of the writer’s desire to tell of an emotion and to elicit a response from the listener. “Invidia” does exactly that as it was indeed perfectly played and written. The layered vocals and piano of “The Silent Stars,” almost comes across as reverent, and almost a personal message to someone. Closing out this CD is “Return to Spirit,” a deeply atmospheric and hypnotic track with ominous strikes of the snare, brought to life by spoken lyrics.
Overall, this is a marvelous release, with tracks that tell of personal turmoil, memories gathered through times of travel and moments of personal reflection. Heard are stories of a deeply personal time in a songwriter’s life and through the magic of music and song Ion brings these moments to life in perfect detail. Wonderfully done, vocals to only be praised, and tracks filled with character played by a talented, eclectic ensemble of musicians. Simply said, in its most purest form, this is was a treasure to hear. Duncan Patterson has every right to be proud of what is heard here – for this was, for a lack of better words – stunning …
Genre – World/Atmospheric Music
Musicians –
Duncan Patterson – mandolins, guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, percussion
Vic Anselmo – vocals on Adoration
Oana Alexandra Coman-Sipeanu – spoken word on Cetatea Cisnadioara
Gokce Coskun – violin
Aoife Cuthbert – vocals on Cetatea Cisnadioara, Adoration
Lisa Cuthbert – vocals on Temptation, Adoration, Invidia, Cetatea Cisnadioara, The Silent Stars
Ana Figueiredo – flute
Colin Fromont-Placenti – djembe, cajon, darbuka
Mark Kelson – vocals and 12 string guitar on Damhsa Na Gceithre Ghaoth,
Mila Maia – spoken word on Return To Spirit
Steve Mullen – uilleann pipes
Veronica Neumann – spoken word on Immaculada
Gina Rios – vocals on Immaculada
Nuno Roberto – Portuguese guitar, classical guitar
Viola Roccagli – vocals on The Silent Stars
Laura Santos – vocals on Return To Spirit
Filipa Vale – violin, cello
Track Listing
Immculada
Temptation
Adoration
Damhsa Na Gceithre Ghaoth
Invidia
Cetatea Cisnadioara
The Silent Stars
Return to Spirit
Label – Equilibrium Music
Hardrock Haven Rating: 9.5/10