I and Thou is a

progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. Init ...

group that is primarily a solo effort from Jason Hart (keyboardist for

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

, and

Camel A camel (from: la, camelus and grc-gre, κάμηλος (''kamēlos'') from Hebrew or Phoenician: גָמָל ''gāmāl''.) is an even-toed ungulate in the genus ''Camelus'' that bears distinctive fatty deposits known as "humps" on its back. C ...

) with supporting musicians John Galgano (bassist for IZZ), Matt Johnson (drummer for

Jeff Buckley Jeffrey Scott Buckley (November 17, 1966 – May 29, 1997), raised as Scott Moorhead, was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. After a decade as a session guitarist in Los Angeles, Buckley amassed a following in the early 1990s by ...

and

Rufus Wainwright Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright (born July 22, 1973) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and composer. He has recorded 10 studio albums and numerous tracks on compilations and film soundtracks. He has also written two classical operas and set ...

), and Jack Petruzzelli (guitarist for

Patti Smith Patricia Lee Smith (born December 30, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, poet, painter and author who became an influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album '' Horses''. Called the "punk poe ...

and

The Fab Faux The Fab Faux is a musical tribute band performing the works of the Beatles (whose members were often known as the "Fab Four"). The group was founded by Will Lee, bassist for ''Late Show with David Letterman'', and features Jimmy Vivino, bandleader ...

). Hart stated in an interview that the name was chosen to pay homage to the

Martin Buber Martin Buber ( he, מרטין בובר; german: Martin Buber; yi, מארטין בובער; February 8, 1878 – June 13, 1965) was an Austrian Jewish and Israeli philosopher best known for his philosophy of dialogue, a form of existentialism c ...

book ''

I and Thou ''Ich und Du'', usually translated as ''I and Thou'', is a book by Martin Buber, published in 1923, and first translated from German to English in 1937. Premise Buber's main proposition is that we may address existence in two ways: # The attit ...

''.

Discography

As of June 2014, I and Thou have released one album, and they are currently working on a follow-up recording.

Speak

I and Thou's first album ''Speak'' was released in 2012 and features a cover image by Renaissance lead vocalist

Annie Haslam Annie Haslam (born 8 June 1947) is an English vocalist, songwriter and painter. She is best known as the lead singer of progressive rock band Renaissance since 1971, and for her long and diverse solo singing career. She has a five-octave vocal r ...

. Hart has stated that he began developing material for the album in 2005, and recording began in 2009. Rob Hughes writing for ''PROG magazine'' observed

"The ravishing minimalism of ''Speak'' is reliant on mood and atmosphere for much of its effect, with Hart combining elements of symphonic rock, prog, classical and ambient music. It's a record of discreet pleasures, slowly unlocking its secrets with every play."

The album has received generally positive reviews, receiving a 4/5 rating from Henri Strik at Background Magazine, 12/15 from Jochen König at Musikreview.de, and 9/10 from Grande Rock.I and Thou - Speak
review at Grande Rock

Track listing

All songs written by Jason Hart except as indicated. #"Speak" – 12:23 #"...and I Awaken" - 11:35 #"Hide and Seek" - 16:34 #"The Face Behind the Eyes" - 13:38 #"Go or Go Ahead" (Rufus Wainwright) - 6:43

Personnel

*Jason Hart - piano, keyboard, lead and background vocals, percussion, glockenspiel, trumpet, additional guitar and sound effects * John Galgano - bass guitar and background vocals * Matt Johnson - drums * Jack Petruzzelli - electric, acoustic, and classical guitar, mandolin, banjo

Additional personnel

*Paul Bremner - additional guitar *Maxim Moston - violin *Laura Meade - background vocals * Keren Ann - vocals on "Hide and Seek" *

Steve Hogarth Steve Hogarth (born Ronald Stephen Hoggarth, 14 May 1956 in Kendal, Westmorland) also known as "h", is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Since 1989 he has been the lead singer of the British rock band Marillion, for which ...

- vocals on "Go or Go Ahead"

Production

*Jason Hart - producer * Jack Petruzzelli, Philip Hart and Mac Simpson - executive producers *Mixed by Fernando Lodeiro *Mastered by Fred Kevorkian *Cover image, "This Glorious Earth", by Annie Haslam

References

British progressive rock groups Musical groups established in 2012 2012 establishments in the United Kingdom {{UK-band-stub