LAND OF GREEN AND GOLD

KARFAGEN is the group of multi-instrumentalist Antony KALUGIN who releases albums under this name with two in 2020 and under his, the last in December of this year 2021! Prolific you will understand and their 13th to date. Initially it was stamped neo-prog with hints of MINIMUM VITAL, which is why I came across it in 2007; then, atmospheres from FLOWER KINGS, TRANSATLANTIC, GENESIS, Mike OLDFIELD, UK, CAMEL. From a separate sound. The pandemic has this paradoxical side of increasing their outflows; a journey again in his thoughts of notes to unveil his intimate landscapes and melodies all in 3 chapters, a journey where I hope to be surprised by the novelty.

Chapter 1: Land of Green

"Kingfisher and Dragonflies (Part 3)" with a soft symphonic intro between GENESIS and ELP, maybe a bit of ELOY at the start, in short, it's the bucolic musical intro that gives the cachet. "Land of Green (Part 1)" for the beginning of the sensitive musical journey and wandering in the universe of Antony and his musicians; the sax between KING CRIMSON and RAFFERTY livens up, the aerial percussions allow the electric keyboards and piano to give an even more elaborate meaning, I perceive oldfieldian touches there; the finale descends on bluesy-jazzy guitar solos. "Land of Green (Part 2)" for a bluesy track, padded softness, candlelit meal with accordion in a spleen- melting background, the guitar which leads at the end and gives more character, explodes in a pleasurable way; great to have split the length, I'm putting it back on right away. "Solis Festum" on a classical Crimsonian variation, acoustic guitar, accordion, sounds of birds, an organ on the "Generation 13" of SAGA, in short, apart and singular; a sound Antony forged to give the band its nobility, much more than a simple interlude. "Land of Green (Part 3)" on a jazzy atmosphere with a sound of brass, funky almost disco from the beginnings, a clarinet, the lead guitar brings back to a sanitized rock expression that allows not to get bored, the accordion sends on "Pastoral" with a crystalline guitar arpeggio, an interlude like a "Horizons" closing the 1st page.

Chapter 2: Land of Gold

"Garden of Hope (Part 1)" opens with a cozy, warm atmosphere, a draft of musical research, a more pop-folk sound at first bordering on new age, a mysterious atmosphere also with wind instruments; the first voice appears on this track halfway through, denotes then gives warmth; Antony's synths are wonderful in the sense that there are several keyboards playing at the same time, just divine. "Land of Gold" follows with a sober piano bringing a typical CAMEL sound; Elena's flute does the job and almost forget about the developed jazzy-prog vibe; Max's guitar added fluidity; a vocoder to bring some recent space prog. A finale to listen to, difficult to transcribe into words, a pleasure in fact; always amazed when I chronicle a sound which is not my cup of tea but which I drink avidly.

Chapter 3: Land of Jazz (bonus tracks)

"Garden of Hope (Part 2) for the 2nd sung, it's simple, slightly repetitive; improvised exploration at the end, trumpet, sax, bass à la SERRA for an intimate and shimmering rendering; simple but entertaining. "Land of Jazz" always this bass and a title which seems to leave on an impro under acid?. The image of course not the reality; the sax reminds me a little of the soft PANZERBALLETT, in short a beautiful exercise in style. "Land of Jazz (outro)" and outro jazz cabaret for a nighttime reverie, back to earth.

Well, KARFAGEN has passed his passing exam again; symphonic prog where the instruments are at the party, where the rhythms and tunes are varied which also allows to develop the group, not to confine it in a retro-prog too sectarian. A fresh, varied album that shows the full range of musicians; a vintage album for the proposed climates but young for the richness of the sounds deployed; a musically rich, creative, bewitching and very rich album. There is certainly 70's sound but updated, sound that remains avant-garde, productive, airy and innovative. Symphonic Art Rock!