This is one of those bands I have been meaning to check out, completely expecting to really like them but annoyingly letting them slip me by. It’s really a certainty that anyone who grew up loving gothic music should enjoy them. The band are not one who stick to certain vocalists but bring in guests and I am kicking myself for not having heard their collaboration with Julianne Regan of All About Eve. Amongst the many guest spots the core of the group is constant and based around Tony Pettit founding member of Fields Of The Nephilim, Stephen Carey of Adoration and Andy Jackson who has been involved as a sound engineer with many greats including a long term collaboration with Pink Floyd.
Joining them on this mini LP we have Simon Rippin who pounded the drums into oblivion on that excellent Nefilim album ‘Zoon’ and no less than three vocalists Valenteen (oft a country folk singer) Armandine Ferrari and Megan- Noel Evans . Oh and we are not quite finished there and Mission fans should listen out for a guitar solo from none other than Simon Hinkler on the opening track.
It is difficult to judge a group fully on an EP, part way through their career but no doubt Timeflows gives a good indication of just what to expect. ‘Neversea’ gets off to an atmospheric start and any fans of certain bands will quickly hear their player’s identifiable sound. The vocals are sultry, gentle and beguiling and the song moves towards a lilting chorus, one that is not too in the face but with shades of light and dark one that builds nicely, that solo by the way is clear and one that you won’t miss easily. As this rises into higher peaks and the might of the song powers up it is obvious this is one that is short, bouncy and accessible and no doubt one that is hitting club-land for six from any self respecting DJ. ‘Into The Red’ has some nuances that are so Nephilim you at first wonder if it is a long lost track (get used to that as this progresses). The female vocals enchant and are so far removed from McCoy it is clear that this is not and it sounds a bit like listening to a mix of them and Portishead, which is at first somewhat odd. It’s a slow burning song but a slinky one which quickly gets beneath the skin. Similarly ‘The Only One’ is a really smooth and subtle number, one where the vocals really shine and shimmer through in a bit of a torch song, lounge-esque way.
However it is the two part title track where the magic is really found. With the guitar work of Pettit involved it is difficult not to mention his earlier craft and here it really comes through in spades. This sounds a lot like the frond work on Elyzium and at times also heavily like Psychonaut, there is no getting away from this and why would we want to as these are excellent periods of one of the greatest bands of their time? This is powerful stuff and with an almost tribal beat from Rippin and a post punk feel with slight echo on the vocals it has a lot of drive to it along with some psychedelic tinges on the slower parts. This is a track to lose yourself in and at 13 minutes there is plenty of time to do just that. Add to it a touch of violin and there is lots going on.
This is a great 25 minutes worth of music and I bet the group’s albums are equally impressive and have gone straight on my never ending shopping list. This will not be my last encounter with The Eden House and the band are sure to be worth catching early March at selected dates with Anne Marie Hurst. A full album is scheduled to follow in spring.
(7/10 Pete Woods)
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