HEATH : Isaak's Marble

 

The Netherlands hold some of the best kept secrets of the kingdom of rock'n'roll and a young band from The Hague has dug down to the roots of the genre to carve out a rough diamond from scratch : a psych blues debut album called Isaak's Marble. To engage in its listening experience is to embark on an eventful journey through sound, beyond time and realms . Come hell or high water, the ship sails smoothly, kicking off with this the self-titled opener. 

Symbolically, Isaak means one who laughs or rejoices and marble is believed to provide clarity, self-control and stability, both physically and emotionally. This odyssey is aptly-named, the listener is greeted with an endearing harmonica, a trademark for Heath's intense sound and an unfurling wave of blues adorned with storytelling vocals that keep you on tenterhooks.

 The band's prog dimension has a layered effect with every tune unfolding into several song structures that remarkably fit into each other while keeping you alert.

The record itself is divided into four major soundscapes that flow seamlessly whilst being subtly distinct in textures and atmospheres.

One may suss out that “Wondrous Wetlands” refers to Heath's homeland of The Netherlands, a very hypnotic ode that evokes no rain in its ambiance and is filled to the brim with bliss and euphoria. The intro is quixotic, a dreamy pinnacle in a league of its own that propels you to another dimension, an ethereal vortex that unravels as a colorful dreamland. The vocals are very fitting and uplifting, the kind of tune you feel like humming to and daydreaming to before it turns into a proper psychedelic rollercoaster that catches you off guard.

This flamboyant mosaic of sounds is not dissimilar to what Nolan Potter's Nightmare Band achieved with Nightmare Forever, bursting with mental pictures and lush musical influences poetically colliding and blending as in a chemical osmosis. This analogy is even more significant when the soundscapes switch to the third tune “Strawberry Girl”, which oozes fairy tale vibrations. Blink and you may just catch a glimpse of a dragon whilst the frontman's  snake-charming harmonica keeps punctuating the narrative as a connecting thread. These Dutch troubadours may have just magically crafted a medieval-psych-blues sub genre, against all odds.

The final track “Valley of the Sun” goes one notch deeper to cover its tracks, unveiling another epic incarnation that manifests strong Arabian Night resonances. It is a tour de force that closes the narrative yarn with much flair and a hint of mystery. “Fighting the desert king is the only end out of the nightmare” with a full canvas of musical hues merging in a glorious tale'n'roll  epiphany.

To be listened to at maximum volume and in compulsive rotations.

Isaak's Marble was released on May, 10th 2024.