IZZ: Don't Panic (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Three years have passed since the publication of the disastrous compilation of drawer bottoms "Ampersand, vol. 2", and despite the solo efforts of Paul Bremner and Laura Meade published in the meantime, it is with a certain impatience that the amateur of the usually very worked progressive of Izz, an American group founded more than 20 years ago by the Galgano brothers was waiting for confirmation that this cake would only be an accident on the road.

Presented in the form of five tracks visibly inspired by Douglas Adams' cult work, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", "Don't Panic" will very quickly reassure the group's fans, despite a first half-figured half-grape track, mixing a somewhat shaky melody carried by dissonant harmonies and vocals introduced by "Na - na - na" rather kitschs with an already very rich instrumentation, carried by a very solid rhythm section.
And this galloping Chris Squire-style bass will definitely win all the votes for the album's main course, composed of the 18 minutes of "42", a yessian epic with its double vocals, its guitars with sounds straight out of Steve Howe's pedals, its well-packed instrumental parts, and of course in the construction that links the themes one behind the other.
And who, to imitate the great Yes, Izz even offers us as a dessert on this huge track a coda on acoustic guitar ('Six Strings Theory') like Steve Howe and his famous solo interludes during the band's concerts.
The rest of the album then moves somewhat away from the yessian model, but here again invites beautiful references. The beginning of "Moment of Inertia" thus offers us a magnificent passage to the piano, inevitably reminiscent of Tony Banks, before the piece starts a very electric score flirting with metal. Then it's Marillion's turn to be evoked in'Age of Stars' through an accompaniment of bass/keyboards straight out of 'Hotel Hobbies', and then continue in a very ELP mode, including keyboard solo.

However, far from plagiarizing his elders, Izz develops on "Don't Panic" a very personal music that will require as usual several listenings to feel all the nuances. This takes us far from the previous failure and will reconcile the demanding listeners with this group that has accustomed us to excellence.
- Official website

IZZ

DON'T PANIC

DOONE

PROGRESSIVE ROCK