Earth Prayer - Nine Days

  by Lisa Torem

published: 31 / 10 / 2011

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British quartet Heidi Jo Hines, Ian Montlake, Geoff Halden, and Pete Cowan comprise Earth Prayer. Their eleven-track debut, 'Nine Days' is pure rock gold, though it’s astonishing that they achieve their raw brilliance with such a simple lineup. Their lyrics are driving, and the songwriting, whether by Montlake and Hines, or simply by dazzling vocalist Hines, is concise, yet consistently powerful, and is matched spot on by the band’s relentless energy and ability to showcase each member’s talents. Immediately we’re asked: “How can we build castles in the sky when we don’t see eye to eye?” ‘Civil War’ features delirious, upfront vocals. The band bravely adds touches of psychedelia and hard-hitting riffs. The second track is a Stones cover, ‘2000 Light Years from Home.’ It is true to the loopy text, and compact, but acerbic and filtered through a very 1960s lens. ‘Cruel’ is defiant and desperate. “Still can’t believe that you can be so cruel…” Hines begins. She dangles the narrative and offers no relief until the chorus boils over: “I gave you all of my loving and now it’s gone.” This fresh, chromatic melody rings with savage desperation. The bridge allows Hines to play miracle worker with her classic rock voice that recalls the intensity of Ann Wilson, Grace Slick and, sometimes, Janis Joplin. ‘Hallelujah’ reaches a high-water mark in all possible ways, as well - it is a crisp and emotionally riveting ballad with a transformative symmetry that is masterfully executed. The song is followed by: blistering hook, fabulous electric guitars and brilliant keys by Tony Geffen of '747'. Cowan’s unrelenting drums come on full-force and Ian Montlake, co-writer, adds much excitement with his fret work and collaborative skill. (Montlake and Hines have co-written five of the tracks, and Hines completed the rest.) ‘Breakdown’ is a gorgeous ballad introduced by a wall of wailing strings. Hines illustrates that she cannot only ravish rock, but can gravelly defy any genre. ‘Ain’t Nothing’ is hard rock engulfed in flaming blues, and then spiked by subtle keys. Fiercely Hines touches us with “You walk the road of destruction/But you don’t want to go back.” “I was born in a hush/No time to tell a lie,” she swears in ‘Prophet'. This one is a pulverizing confessional compounded by equally responsive riffs. “I paid a price for freedom and freedom paid a price for me” she adds, and her voice, as in the other tracks, is marvellously echoed and supported by this dynamic group of musicians. The mood softens with ‘Sad.’ “Freefalling through the haze in my mind,” the singer moans, with her voice “turning inside out” just like the tune suggests. “Sad, sad feelings running through my veins,” she declares. Exciting keys trail her rapturous outro. ‘Freedom’ shows a completely different side of Earth Prayer. Backing vocals replace the hard-hitting panache that floods the preceding tracks. Hines reaches deeply into her palpable vocal bag and pulls out, like a magician boasting variegated silks, soulful lick after soulful lick. The last number, ‘I Can See the Second Sun’ explodes in like fashion. The line, "rise from the burning fire", starts the story off and it moves on by way of a shimmering, meteoric rise. Tripping-off-the tongue incantations abound, and, once more, the band shadows each vocal move with stellar ensemble wisdom. But the real kicker is that even though 'Nine Days' is Earthprayer’s debut, every song is a standout, which screams “classic.” I can only imagine what follows!

Track Listing:-

1 Civil War
2 2000 Light Years From Home
3 Cruel
4 747
5 Hallelujah
6 Breakdown
7 Ain't Nothing
8 Prophet
9 Sad
10 Freedom
11 I Can See The Second Sun

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/earthprayer/
http://earthprayerband.wix.com/earthprayerband
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxYBpJMratvWhYkF628XDag
https://www.reverbnation.com/earthprayer
https://plus.google.com/104274897403830234941

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