MESSAGES FROM AFAR: THE WORKING TAPES

"The Game of Imagination (Uvertura)" for the symphonic intro which flirts for a moment with the sounds of TANGERINE DREAM; Ushuaïa flute and a solemn air with percussion in front, the synths bringing the sidereal musical beauty, a magnificent rise; great from the start and the why of my choice to talk about these 'work failures'. "Hymn of Hope" begins with Steve HOWE, yes, it's said; playful piece, fruity prog folk, delicate, like a sweet and fresh peach; the synth takes pride of place and sends you into a bucolic world where war is absent; distant reminiscence of Mike OLDFIELD; the guitar sounds on The EDGE, a nectar. "Second Nature Intermezzo" for this solemn aerial entrechat; a delicate touch with its classical orchestration, piano, harpsichord, finesse of sound. "Bond of Love" with Maria and the first of three tracks played on 'Second Nature'; shorter title with this divine intro quickly cut off by this riot of sounds: heavy riff, fat keyboards which fill the musical spectrum, ah for a moment I think of the fabulous 'Merlin will' by AYREON; short but nervous, fluid, air that flows like a sheet of water in Eden; a few notes from a BANKS in the distance, the dry guitar ends this intense moment; piece without the jazzy preamble with synth and sax which suits me better sending the watts, the slap. "Agora" second track without the night and the pompous synth rise of 'Second nature', yes I listened to it too; on an acoustic guitar, not a 'Horizons' but an unfolding on 'Forbidden Games'. "Searching for Mr. Kite" whose title I recommend on 'Second Nature' for a more expressive, punchier intro I would say; we are on a modern progressive sound; yes the guitar, the drums, the various keyboards alternate ambient tunes of our century; reminiscences to an active melody; its melodies are catchy, astounding with musical beauty; there is not a moment when the melody settles, it is swirling, twirling. Make way for the synth on a festive tune; final military drum with a Genesisian sound vibrating with memories before gradually fading away, great moment.

"Faces (First Contact Tapes)" for my choice to chronicle these 'vulgurus tapes': a bucolic, dithyrambic and hypnotic flight, an instrumental madness, an energetic progressive symphony, a space where feelings juggle with sound waves, where notes surf languorous, festive, intimate climates; an epic title that you just have to listen to, indescribable in words. The finale returns to the typical sound but it must be admitted that we have here a pure product of Antony de KARFAGEN, my opinion to chronicle these falls. "Summer Dream" to settle down with a melancholic piano-keyboard melody, a moment to imagine hearing Antony playing close to you.

The bonus CD, featuring the music of Max VELYCHKO: "Alone in the Field" arpeggio dark guitar flowing over embers, vibrant bass accentuating the effect of a Scandinavian folk melody, perhaps from the Balkans; cover yourself the wind is coming over and "Snow" the snow will fall; you have these flakes before you with this crystalline title, reverberation of the icy stars intertwining and forming this soft immaculate felted landscape; the air is more ambient, intimate and relaxing; close your eyes and "Red Moon" appears at the bend of a range; its electro, glacial, we have gone beyond the atmosphere; tune with high percussion to ramble a little more on this dark prog bonus; piano and choirs come to chat for the icy finale. "Morning View" as a cinematic space, spatial BOF, slow cold and dark melody which brightens your brain after this journey out of time and these delicate sounds full of sensitivity; the real or sampled Cello adding a more intimate note.

KARFAGEN, symbol of glory and wisdom which offers symphonic rock art, often orchestral.