Time Passages

Cornwall-based symphonic proggers The Emerald Dawn explore the idea of time, both sonically and lyrically, on In Time, their latest album. Prog catches up with band founders Ally Carter and Tree Stewart at their Kernow hilltop base to find out more about the complex ideas and themes behind the new work.

- Alison Reijman

“Ours is not the sort of music to have on while you are cooking or having a conversation,” muses Ally Carter, summing up The Emerald Dawn’s all-enveloping, otherworldly style of prog.

That’s certainly true of the band’s fifth studio album, In Time, which takes a metaphysical, mythological look at the concept of time via three tracks of differing length and sensibility. They’re an eclectic quartet, as well. Multiinstrumentalist and vocalist Tree Stewart is also a professional circus performer, while guitarist, keyboard player and saxophonist Carter was a Professor of Philosophy. Bassist David Greenaway’s extensive career has included playing in a comedy musical duo and he’s now with a Blondie tribute band, while drummer Tom Jackson, who teaches drums, graduated from the University of Plymouth with a degree in Contemporary World Jazz.

Prog catches up via Zoom with Carter and Stewart in their Cornwall kitchen to talk about their creative process, which involves all four band members.

“Tree and I are obsessed with the narrative; Tom and David are obsessed with the music, so we all meet at some point!” says Carter with a laugh.

United in their belief and vision, they use their collective musical experiences and philosophical influences to expand the band’s elaborate, ethereal sound. There are many spine-tingling moments throughout In Time, which, unlike previous albums, starts with the longest, most complex track: Out Of Time unfolds across five suites.