Edensong

Edensong is a progressive rock group from New York, United States. It forms in 2002 at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, when James Byron Schoen, who plays guitar and sings, and drummer Matt Cozin begin the project. The group stays active from 2004 onwards and develops a sound that sits within progressive metal, progressive rock and rock, with elements of progressive folk, symphonic prog, heavy prog and occasional RIO/avant influences.

History

After starting the project, Schoen and Cozin work with guitarist Ben Wigler, an old friend of Schoen from a previous band called Echoes of Eden. They write new material alongside material from that earlier group, but Wigler leaves after a short time. Schoen and Cozin then expand the project into a three-hour “surrealistic pseudo-rock-opera” built partly from earlier compositions.

They bring in Ian Carbone on bass, Aurora Maoz on flute and Asa Sourdiffe on violin and keyboard. The first performance takes place in April 2003 and leads to a live tour. Because the rehearsal schedule and demands of the project become too much, Maoz and Sourdiffe leave and Rachel Kiel replaces Maoz on flute, with Mike Drucker replacing Sourdiffe on violin.

After touring, this line-up begins work on the material that becomes the debut album The Fruit Fallen. During that period Arthur Sugen joins on piano and organ, and T.D. Towers replaces Ian Carbone on bass. The band plays a long run of live shows in 2005 and 2006, but touring tensions lead to a split in spring 2006. Schoen then continues working on the album, which uses material recorded while the band is still together and later requires mixing, remixing and occasional overdubs. Bob Katz masters the album in October 2007, and it is released in summer 2008.

Style and work

Edensong’s music combines heavy and symphonic progressive rock with progressive folk and some avant-garde or RIO-influenced elements. The group’s debut album gathers material developed across its changing early line-ups and reflects the mixture of approaches heard in its live and studio work.