Album review: IAMTHEMORNING – The Bell
K-scope (Release date: 02.08.19)
One thing is for certain – you don’t listen to the music of iamthemorning for a laugh.
Their exceptional 2016 album ‘Lighthouse’ which was based around the complexities of mental illness and which I described as both beautiful and disturbing – more than deserved the five star review it received.
Now Russian progressive/classical/folk duo Gleb Kolyadin and Marjana Semkina have returned with another gem ‘The Bell’ – a deep and thought-provoking work described by Marjana as “a paean to human cruelty and the pain caused by it”.
Based around 19th century song cycles, a style developed by Schubert (although each track has its own individuality) the whole concept of the album can be deduced from Constantine Nagishkin’s striking cover art depicting a Victorian ‘coffin bell’.
Victorian society had an obsessive fear of being buried alive and a coffin bell could be rung from inside the casket after burial if the person woke up – the concept being that no matter how desperate you are, you can always call for help.
The choice of subject matter would suggest depressive ‘music-to-self-harm-to’ – but nothing could be further from the truth.
In lesser hands this could well be the case, but such is the mastery of the songwriting and the sheer brilliance of the musicianship that the album is awe-inspiring, hopeful and uplifting in equal measure.
The piano playing of the classically trained Kolyadin is simply sublime and which the ethereal beauty of Semkina’s voice – a made-in-heaven amalgam of Kate Bush and, particularly, Tori Amos – complements magnificently.
Things get underway with the somewhat atypical ‘Freak Show’ which begins with cascading piano figures introducing the delicate timbre of Semkina’s vocals before some tasteful acoustic guitar heralds a faster-paced interlude with some slightly discordant sax before returning to melancholic piano and beautifully picked Spanish guitar.
‘Sleeping Beauty’, the most beautiful song you ever heard that included de-capitation, follows with some lovely acoustic guitar work from Vlad Avy and ‘Blue Sea’ with its strummed acoustic (by Semkina) and delightful piano cascades set the tone for what follows.
‘Black And Blue’ showcases Semkina’s staggering vocal talents as she sings against her own backing vocals. The coffin bell sounds at the coda – chilling.
Highlights rack up – the subtlety and savagery of Kolyadin’s piano work on ‘Six Feet’, the superb nuanced integration of many instruments on ‘Ghost Of A Story’, the gentle acoustics of ‘Song Of Psyche’ and the real progressive feel of ‘Salute’, replete with some electric guitar work of the highest order.
Special mentions for ‘Lillies’ where Kolyadin’s Lang Lang-like piano arpeggios are other-worldly and album closer ‘The Bell’ which has a feel of Tori Amos’ ‘Winter’ about it. Just listen how Kolyadin slips in one extra note now and again using the soft-pedal – genius.
The whole album is a complex and eclectic mix of classical, progressive and folk music underpinned with inspired musicianship and a contemplative libretto.
Kolyadin’s piano work is staggering, paradoxically, in both its complexity and simplicity and Semkina’s sublime, delicate vocals both complement and enhance the instrumentation in a way that will leave you open-mouthed.
Insanely brilliant and yet another contender for GRTR!’s ‘Album Of The Year’. *****
Review by Alan Jones
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Check out radio stream repeat on Tuesday 8th (16:00 GMT) and Thursday 10th April (21:00 GMT)
Next Session: Sunday 4 May
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 2 March 2025.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast on 4 March 2025
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 7 April 2025
SEVEN BLOOD To The Unknown (indie)
FROM FALL TO SPRING Incomplete (Arising Empire)
POP EVIL Side Effects (MNRK Heavy)
ERJA LYYTINEN Abyss (Tuohi Records)
SKY VALLEY MISTRESS Too Many Ghosts (New Heavy Sounds)
Featured Albums w/c 7 April 2025
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.
If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:
If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device
(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections