LIGHT OF DAY, DAY OF DARKNESS

This is the CD I would take on a long trip if I was limited to one item. It is a fabulous kaleidoscope of sounds that captivate your senses through this marathon, one hour (YES 60 MINUTES) song/album. The Gods surely whispered in Tchort's ear (the band leader and composer) while he wrote this masterpiece, for it smacks of divine intervention. What is amazing is the fact that it manages to hold your interest (it really absorbs you) and keep you coming back for more. In fact when I first listened to it I was in my car and it mesmerized me. I wouldn't stop driving because I didn't want to stop the music. I keep driving for an hour even though I only went to the post office 2 miles away.

Light of Day, Day of Darkness Now what about the music? It is impossible to describe this music but I will try. A soft synth starts out this masterpiece which is soon joined by a subtle tea kettle whistle and some light guitar and drum work at the two minute mark. A childs voice can be heard in the background as the vocalist starts his agonized, melancholy singing about the 2:40 mark. This continues for about a minute and then after a heavy metal interlude is joined by a choir, then after another minute a very crunchy guitar comes in with the singer until the 6:30 mark, whereupon we slow down again and get reflective for about two minutes when the guitars and choirs very heavily chime in. At about 10:50, as good as the music is so far, Green Carnation is just getting warmed up, the music gets even better and we've barely gotten started.

I haven't mentioned the symphonic orchestra yet but their presence, mostly in the background, is invaluable. At the eleven minute mark the guitars, choirs and orchestra come together for a half minute leading to a drum and guitar interlude. Violins join in and take over at 12:40 and then the singer comes in joined by the crunchy guitars, singing "I think therefore I am, You are a fantasy made by me, I dream this world, When I end, the world will end with me, I am everything you are".

We are now at the 18 minute mark, at a slow heavy guitar part where the male choir sings for about two minutes and then solo for another minute culminating at one of my favorite parts. At twenty-two minutes and counting Green Carnation puts on their Pink Floyd hats for about five minutes and then becomes Green Carnation again until halftime(about 32 minutes).

At the 32 minute mark, a seemingly unrelated five minute section with a solo saxophone and lady singer makes it's appearance. I love lady singers but not this one and I find this section jarring and distracting in a most flawless performance otherwise.

At the 38 minute mark we return to the dark brooding passages that we experienced at the 18 minute mark, then a nice keyboard section that sounds slightly Pink Floydish again. This section also contains a great whining guitar solo. Now at 44 minutes(only three quarters of the way through), the music gets reflective again via our great singer and a plunking guitar changing to an organ at 46:30, then the pace picks up with the crunchy guitar a minute later.

At the 50 minute mark, the singer and both choirs join the crunchy guitar with a little up tempo section which leads us back to our half time singer and the full orchestra doing they're exceptional imitation of 'Salome' sitar and all. Back to the familiar G.C. sound and beat at 53:30 for a couple a minutes, then slow acoustic guitar and violins, leading to an ethereal sound and a baby talking. Then the Grand Finale and it is wonderful. If you think this sounds like a symphony or an opera, IT IS!!

Tchort himself writes inside the album literature; " Light of Day...is musically dedicated to my son, Damien Aleksander for bringing joy, inspiration and meaning to my life, and lyrically dedicated to Christian and Christopher Botteri - on an everlasting mental and emotional journey".

Similar Bands Evergrey, Therion, Thy Majestie, Dream Theater, Aryeon

I could write a book about this phenomenal creation, but here's the bottom line. LIGHT OF DAY is a profoundly, serious composition that is a must for the symphonic and progressive rock collector! GET IT, TURN UP THE VOLUME, PUT ON YOUR HEADPHONES, FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELT AND GET READY FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR MUSICAL LIFE!!! TEN STARS!

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