CONSTELLATIONS

This review is part of my attempt to catch up with some of Richard's albums that I missed the first time around for one reason or another, and here we are back in 2003. Within his musical chronology this was the follow-up to his collaboration with Artemiy Artemiev, 'Equilibrium', which is my least favourite of his albums, but really this should be viewed as the follow-up to 2001's 'Eve'. Between the two albums there has been just one change in line-up, with the addition of Sarah Higgins on cello, to add to the violin and viola of Helen Dearnley and Rachel Larkins respectively, and the line-up completed by Caron Hansford (oboe, cor anglais), Zoe King (flute, alto & soprano saxophones), Ileesha Bailey (wordless vocals) and Richard of course providing everything else (classic & electric guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion).

This album epitomises to me just what Karda Estra are all about, providing thought provoking modern classical music that is enthralling, beautiful, poignant and dramatic. Richard is rarely the lead musician, allowing others the opportunity to shine, with the woodwind often taking the melody line. This is an album to fall deep inside of, and then to be carried out along drifting on the currents of melody without any understanding of time or thought. It is simple, with loads of space and plenty of contrast, yet is also complex, with incredibly strong arrangements. One unusual aspect of this album is that there is also a cover version, here of Steve Hackett's 'Twice Around The Sun' where Richard has allowed himself to Karda Estra-ise a song so that it is both true to the original and to his own style. So, fourteen years on I have finally heard another true gem from Richard Wileman.

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