AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE

STOP!!! Whatever you are doing and check out the mp3s tasters available at www.caerllysimusic.co.uk for the MAGNIFICENT SUNCHILD -"As Far As the Eye Can See" Kalugin with this latest AKP release has reached out musically beyond the normal parameters that others are capable of and delivered a Spine Tingling Masterpiece. Kalugin production talents are well heralded within the industry and as one has come to expect the mix and mastering here are truly cutting edge. Demanding you return to the CD time after time to unravel the powerful array of musicianship and vocal talents so beautiful painted by Kalugin. As ever SUNCHILD legendry tight rhythm unit of Oleg and Vanyas glue together an album that is littered with breathtaking sax, flute, cello, violin and other brass and wind instrumentation. The title track and the 15 minute Stars of Cardiff Bay alone are at least the equal to anything else musically in 2011. The Eye also heralds what only can be described as the new Kate Bush, yes and Olga Chernova is just as beautiful! She joins Regulars Victoria Osmacho, Sergey Kovalev and Kalugin himself to complete a human orchestra of sound with rich compelling and original vocal lines. Guitarist Andrey Kobylyanskiy playing shines beyond the darkest horizon complimented by guesting ANIMA MUNDIS Roberto Diaz axing his way dynamically thru the title track. YOUR SUPPORT IS DEMANDED AND WILL BE DULY REWARDED ENJOY FOLKS Concertgoers in the UK will get the first glimpse of the new line at this years Summers End Festival YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! Will CaerllysiMusic

Wow! More great music from 2011 yet revealed! This is part great neo-prog, part theatric rock opera (reminds me of a very, very toned down kind of UNEXPECT, if you can envision that), part eclectic-world music. What this is not is boring music: the myriad tempo and mood changes are so unexpected and out-of-the-blue as to always keep me interested--kind of like From.UZ or The Mars Volta. Plus, there are many interesting musical instrument choices (though, in this age of computer programmed composition one can never know what is authentic and what is played on keyboard--and Kalugin is, after all, a master keyboard artist). Favorite songs include: "Ring of Eternity" (9/10), "Stars of Cardiff Bay" (8/10), and the title song (8/10). Though Kalugin's vocal stylings are eerily similar to both COLLAGE/BELIEVE's Tomek Rozycki and TFK/TRANSATLANTIC's Roine Stolt, there are many other co-vocalists who add quite a bit of spice to each song. Another great release from 2011, The Year of Prog! Highly recommended.

2011 has been an excellent year for Ukrainian multi-instrumentalist Antony Kalugin. He is both the mastermind of the Karfagen project, with whom he released the more than excellent "Lost Symphony" and his band Sunchild. Again he has surrounded himself with a large number of first class musicians, of which a large number coincides with Karfagen. Some significant differences are guitarist Andrey Kobylyanskiy and two female vocalists of which it's hard to decide who is who. The quality of these female vocals however is exceptional.

I think the lead singer, who is also featured on the band photos in the accompanying booklet, is Olya Chernova (there are two vocalists credited, so it's hard to tell). She sounds a lot like Kate Bush and her singing is adding a totally new dimension to the Kalugin music. Just listen to songs like "The Ring Of Eternity" or the brilliantly and theatrically sung "Mirrors" (more of this please !!). Her voice is certainly one of the highlights on this album. It's a pity Antony Kalugin alternates these brilliant vocals with his own sometimes mediocre singing, bothered by a strong Ukrainian accent, which at some spots even causes timing problems. If it weren't for the great vocal contributions of the earlier mentioned Olya Chernova or the incredible musicianship of Antony Kalugin, I would have been inclined to take of one star. However the capacity of mister Kalugin to make extremely gifted arrangements and compositions is of such importance, that I think that every self-respecting progrock music lover should have at least one of his albums and I think "As Far As The Eye Can See" would be an excellent choice.

Don't think Kalugin is a bad singer. In particular the more solid passages sound more than all right and in the harmony parts he fits in more than well. You just have to listen to a song like "March Of Fate" to find out. The weak spots are in the more subtle sung passages in which he reminds me of Wallenstein's Jürgen Dollase, an excellent player, but not a too convincing singer.

The album opens with "Stars Of Cardiff Bay", an impressive composition of over fifteen minutes, in which mister Kalugin and his small orchestra display all their abilities. Well executed melodic symphonic art rock, stocked with impressive instrumental passages, gloriously centred around the brilliant and convincing keyboard playing by master Kalugin. A huge alto saxophone solo is provided by Misha Sidorenko. Excellent synthesizer and organ solos, worthy of Eddie Jobson's U.K., are alternated with subtle woodwind and string passages. Surprising and musical like vocal parts are followed by solid and virtuoso electric guitar solos. The song has everything a real proglover may wish.

As with the Karfagen project the arrangements provided by Antony Kalugin are incredible. He knows exactly to create beautiful new instrumental colours by finding all the right positioning of the woodwind and string parts. I was particularly struck by the inventiveness of the arrangements of the oboe and bassoon parts. Those who care for great flute performances should try out songs like the earlier mentioned "March of Fate" and the beautiful "Visionary Sights" in which even the male vocals are well sung. The chorus is catchy and it's a song that could almost become a hit, a song that keeps haunting your mind.

All songs on "As Far As The Eye Can See" are of outstanding quality. They all contain a melodic and harmonious warmth, that makes you want more. In these days of numbness and hurry, the music of Sunchild takes you away from it all with beautiful melodies, sometimes inspired by folk music sustained by the use of the bayan (a sort of accordion), but most of the time all of great originality. Apart from the earlier mentioned little short-comings the vocals are well arranged and perfectly executed. There are even spots where I was reminded of musicals like "Chess", because of the outstanding and theatrical quality of the choral vocals.

The album ends with title track "As Far As The Eye Can See" in which once more all Sunchild qualities are shown at their best. The only pity is that the album ends rather abruptly.

I have listened to the album lots of times and as so often with Antony Kalugin products you just keep on discovering new things in this so meticulously elaborated music. The recording and production are of excellent quality. It's one of the 2011 albums I have enjoyed most, so it would be a shame to deny Sunchild one of the so well deserved five stars ! Recommended to everyone !

Erik de Beer.

Not often I have had so much pleasure listening to a new album as I had with this great new Sunchild product. The music sounds, fresh, sparkling and daring. The arrangements sound great and the songs keep your attention right till the end of the album. The vocal parts are of excellent quality. I was in particular struck by the Kate Bush-like refreshing vocals by Olya Chernova. The harmony vocals sound warm and almost musical- like. I only was a bit disappointed by the male solo vocals, which sounded in my opinion too exaggerated and the pronunciation is too bad. I was agreeably surprised by the application of the winds. All players seem to be conservatory skilled musicians. There is also an excellent string section present, to embellish the music, composed by mastermind Antony Kalugin. Kalugin plays the keyboards and he is doing very well indeed. He is also responsible for the regretted male vocals, but that is easily forgiven. The music is remaining fresh right till the end and one may wonder where one single man can find so much inspiration. Another great ace on this album is guitar player Andrey Kobylyanskiy, who is both a master on the electric and the acoustic guitar. This album will please in particular lovers of progrock with folk influences, but I think that everyone who claims to be a true proglover, should try this album. More of this please!! Whistler.

It starts from an extraordinary "prog Musical" - 15min + "Stars of Cardiff Bay" . (0:46 -1:20) - Symphonic texture on the background is a fragment from "the Wrap" the concept predecessor of this unique Sunchild album symbiose of great ideas, virtuosic musicians and production. (4:40 - 10:00) Eddie Jobson`s UK at it`s best and than delicacies feast for the musical gourmet. The Ring of Eternity is one of a highlights as well - prog hit with gentle Olyas vocal. Seven Kings, Gordian Knot & March of Fate are "Mans" songs - true reflections of life. One of my favs isa title track, pure art rock jewel. Rising - mellow slightly "pop rock' ballad, Mirrors - beautiful track that was written mainly by Olya - one of those rare tasty female examples of writing. Visionary Sights is another ballad but very sensetive and sincere wuth the multiple vocal harmonies and "Steve Hackett" guitar. As Far As The Eye Can See has interesting concept cover, to discover the meaning just open the booklet. Great album! 4,5 out of 5

On As Far as the Eye Can See, the prolific Antony Kalugin teams up with his capable bandmates and a host of guests to create a charming melodic prog album, with influences from Pink Floyd and various neo-prog acts evident. I'm particularly charmed by the vocals from Olya Chernova, who has a sort of Kate Bush delivery which really adds to the album. The band have a fairly substantial number of vocalists, in fact, which they regularly use to good dramatic or theatrical effect. Less rooted in nostalgia for symphonic prog's golden age than Kalugin's Karfagen project, and with this album Sunchild well and truly put Ukraine on the prog map.

As Far As the Eye Can See by music band from Ukraine, Sunchild is a real pleasure for your ears. The band manages to bring into mind a complete circus show full of wonderful musicians, excellent vocal harmonies, a refreshing of the old and an aging of the new. The album really got my ears in the very first minute with that incredible sound at the beginning of "Stars of Cardiff Bay" (the longest track in the album and the best to my own opinion). Song by song they have a feast of sounds and instruments that range from keyboards, guitars, bass guitars to violins, cellos, flutes, and voices... yeah voices, a great variety of them. I loved the album. Now, I'm craving to hear the first albums.

Some records have a winning title; some records have a winning cover art. So you are impressed by them at first sting. In this case both the cover art and the title are winning. And when you listen to the music you are sure your first impression was right.

I would say that, among all the projects of the prolific composer Antony Kalugin, this record is my favorite one and in my opinion it is also the most ambitious. It is very difficult to categorize this piece of music: you can say it is prog, but it is at the same time teathrical, emotional, epic and even romantic, with echoes of world music and gothic melancholy (for me the right moment to listen to it is the night). What impressed me from the first listen is the voice: ethereal and dreamy to say the least, it is very emotional and warm in all its shades and someway reminds me of Kate Bush. But the music is no less: it is enough to take an eye to the list of musician and instruments (guitars, keyboards but also alto sax, oboe, flute, accordion, viola, violin, cello') to understand the richness of it all.

All the songs are almost perfect and it is difficult to choose some highlights, but if I have to, I would go for the title track, the 15- minute long 'Stars of Cardiff Bay', 'Mirrors' (I remember it was the first song that impressed me when I saw them for the first time in concert) and above all the ethereal 'Visionary sights'.

This is the fourth album of Sunchild, and the best rated here. I haven't listened to other Sunchild albums entirely, as I have several albums of KARFAGEN, which is another band led by the gifted Ukrainian composer, keyboard player and vocalist Antony Kalugin. I don't think I can convincingly summarize the stylistic difference between the two bands. Perhaps Karfagen is slightly more of a Camel/Genesis-type, 70's-flavoured mellow, melodic symphonic prog while Sunchild has a bit more of groovy 'drive' and edginess, and more vocals especially from other vocalists, who are (at least on this album) Olya Chernova and Victoria Osmachko. It's common for both bands to have various reed or string instruments guesting. Here you'll here oboe, bassoon, alto sax, flute violin, viola and cello, plus accordeon, although these all are used only as additional colours here and there in the thick prog rock sound.

The opener is a 15-minute 'Stars of Cardiff Bay' which slowly begins with effects, distorted voice, etc, until at the third minute the energetic prog rock kicks in. Lengthy and powerful instrumental passages with myriads of little solos and hard-rocking riffs alternate with the rollicking vocal sections (containing both male and slightly Kate Bush -reminding and at times a bit too sharp female vocals) that give the piece almost a 10cc-like playful feel, combined with the Kansas-like power. 'The Ring of Eternity' featuring female lead vocals is also extended with instrumental passages.

'Seven Kings' is starring Kalugin's tender vocals. Many reviewers have mentioned his slightly accented use of English, but I have no complaints at all. This is at fisrt sight a relatively calm piece that you're expecting to be more song-oriented but which again stretches beyond that. 'Mirrors' is partly quite piano-centred and almost sounds like a Kate Bush song (something like 'James and the Cold Gun') from the late 70's. Nice additional colours from bassoon etc. 'Gordian Knot' starts promisingly in a more acoustic manner, but at this point I begin to wish that all tracks weren't so fully packed. Gracefully female-fronted 'Rising' remains gentler. The whole 63-minute album keeps its high and inspired level. The title track in the end has a nicely memorable chorus melody. A strong four-star album for sure.