EXOTIC CREATURES AND A STOLEN DREAM

SUNCHILD was born in 2008, another project by Antony KALUGIN, showing the extent of his talents as a composer. A sound at the crossroads of stored sounds of yesteryear, reworked to leave for flowery bucolic lands; varied tempos where the keyboard takes the lion's share; a symphonic sound more fruity rock than on KARFAGEN, more MINIMUM VITAL, less TRANSATLANTIC, less folkloric, with 3 guitarists to take up the keyboard battles. 4 years of work and this two-part album comes out on various reminiscences of YES, CAMEL, SUPERTRAMP and GENESIS in the background. Progressive, luminous, light, airy and catchy music.

"Life Lines" begins at the crossroads of a YES and GENESIS, symphony on the ubiquitous keyboards, a calmer voice than on a KARFAGEN, which refers to the works of the FLOWER KINGS above all; yessian break from 5 minutes with a squirian bass and a piano worthy of a SUPERTRAMP; horns, oboe, it comes from everywhere on a fresh air, modern and vintage at the same time, quite disconcerting; Antony on the vocals avoids getting lost in his meandering notes, the twirling air with choirs and borderline hard guitars suddenly brings back the scent of PINK FLOYD. The last quarter is intended to be more folkloric, however, with accordion sounds, then sax, then guitar solos that we must not forget, which give depth to this river title. "Northern Skies" from its intro reminds me of David GILMOUR that's how it is; the piano flirts with the SUPERTRAMP sound, that is to say the progressive intention, warm female choirs and an epic tune, I read 'stage anthem', I easily confirm; it goes up on grandiloquent progressive, like a bouquet of artifice with a Charisma label sound all of a sudden, between SHELLER and GENESIS, stunning because I hear a bit of MAY's guitar there just before returning to a more oldies sound; last third with a dark vocal break, phrasing voice and cozy atmosphere with plaintive sax and again the frenzied choirs of Olha and Maria for the soft finale, to listen to again!

4 bonuses including 2 tracks taken from major pieces and "Timeless Motion" for? the cover with sax, syrupy intro on OLDFIELD, YES with the guitar of Steve HOWE. "Northern Lights" title oh so located on the ambient, the melody; moment of cinematic musical space with the magic synths of Antony, a counterpart to the following single, "Northern Skies" taken up as a short title to play on the radios?. Ah no, I had forgotten that in France good music no longer has its place; Enough of palaver, the sound à la William SHELLER who also worked well in the prog, a title where the choirs warm the air. "Life Lines" as a short title for new prog fans who are looking for the prog soul without wanting to immediately plunge into its meanders, to help glimpse the sub-chapters of the flagship title in which one can get lost if one does not fix not the right light.

SUNCHILD releases a prog album on two long titles leaving, returning, bifurcating, surfing on the oh so controversial era of the progressive movement. Symphonic and melodic pieces with long breaks in a luxurious digipack with posters, for fans of the old days when time was taken. An album that is piling up in the demonic catalog of Antony, a true goldsmith of the 10 fingers. More voices that irremediably differentiate it from KARFAGEN, more lyrical sense and melodies that show that today's prog, while gorging on old reminiscences, can still move people. I who think that prog owes its survival only thanks to metal, I understand that there are exceptions like this superb album, messy but melting, remarkable. To see if it will hold the road during the year.