MESSAGES FROM AFAR - THE DIVISION AND ILLUSION OF TIME

I like this album very much. Antony managed to gazer (again!) an excellent team of musicians, and this time he added a pair of excellent male and female vocalists: Nikita and Viktoriia Osmachko. In my opinion, this is Antony's best album to date and kind of modern prog classic. The music is your pure 21th century sympho prog with strong elements of Gilmore-led era Pink Floyd and classic era's Camel. It also reminds me modern Kaipa: highly melodic, bright, with excellent female/male duo vocals. The focal point of the album is an epic called Victory Voyager (20:33). This is the best track Anton and Co ever made, and it can be put alongside famous prog epics. I already listened to it at least 6 times, and every time I discover something new. Its first part is an atmospheric piece with Gilmourosque guitar solos that transforms into anthem-like piece a-la Ayreon. Next you travel into classic Camel's universe with Latimer's driving and melodic solos. The epic ends with the piece inspired by classic Pink Floyd. It has a gorgeous theme and even female vocalize similar to ones from Great Gig In a Sky. I'm not very good with track to track review, I just want to say that the album is packed with lush and clever arrangement, great melodies, and sound quality is very good.