SUBIMAGO

These two guys are, let's say, quite far from being too young, and they call themselves old-fashioned (in email communication). And their music is designed as a sort of prog retro if you like. But they aren't progsters of the left generation, not at all. They are not 'living in the past'. Their native time is 21st century, and Swedish prog duo Carptree is its peer. Though yes, Carptree's albums, at least starting with Insekt, have some features aligning their music to the so- called 'old English prog' school (early Uriah Heep, Cressida, early Beggars Opera). On the other hand, Carptree has parallels with the 1990s-2010s Swedish scene (Beardfish, Zello, even Anglagard and Anekdoten in some respects). But apart from that, their melody making and arrangement technique has some very individual features that have no precedent either in current or past prog music. In other words, Carptree performs old-fashioned progressive rock which is based on hoary antiquity (1969-1972) and leads to future.

Carptree's music has one interesting peculiarity: every new album makes very strong first impression. When I first listened to Emerger, I had no doubts that it's their best. Now the same story repeats with Subimago. But I already know what's to occur after multiple listening: I'll be convinced once again that for now, their magnum opus, after all, is still Nymf. Nevertheless, Subimago is an excellent prog album consisting of almost equally well done tracks, with no obvious highlights and no failures.

A few words about Carptree's musical style, if I may. Undoubtedly it's not neo prog. Dears, just as a reminder, Martin Orford hates the term 'neo prog', and this is not for nothing! If we classify (for example) Jadis as 'neo prog', we have to invent a different term not only for Carptree, but even for Ziff or Last Turion. As for Carptree, yes their first three albums have some common ground with Pendragon/IQ/Jadis-type music. But since late 2000s, Carptree performs fundamental prog that may be called - as our mood hits! - 'symphonic' (if not 'operatic' from time to time!), or 'dark', or 'hard'... though no, rather solemn than hard. This tendency (to solemnity) started with Insekt and seriously developed with Nymf. Now, with Subimago, it probably reached its apogee. Surely there's a reason to consider Carptree a prog artist with interesting past, magnificent present and bright future.

I first came across the duo of Nicklas Flinck and Carl Westholm with the release of their second album, 'Superhero', back in 2003. But although I also heard 'Man Made Machine' in 2005 it wasn't until 2018 that I finally heard the next two albums. But after 2010's 'Nymf' the band took a break, only coming back in 2017 to produce 'Emerger' (which I have yet to hear). There was so much energy coming out of the sessions that the day after the release party they were back in the studio, and 'Subimago' is the result of that. Looking back at my reviews from 15 years ago, I stated they were very influenced by Floyd but my review of 'Nymf' said just how much they had changed, and this is a direct continuation. This is modern melodic progressive rock with some keyboard sounds dragging it firmly back into the Seventies, yet with wonderful hooks and harmonies which makes one also think very much of the Nineties.

There is a lot of guitar at times, but also plenty of keyboards, and this is very much a rock album with wonderful vocals which is both instantly enjoyable as well as demanding further listening. The sheer accessibility of this is a delight, and the more one plays it the more there is to discover as there are hidden depths which take time to uncover and unpeel. IQ, Jadis, Flower Kings, Anekdoten, Galahad and so many others have imparted some influences into Carptree yet at the same time they are quite unlike any of them. The nature of being a duo, combining with NFO (No future Orchestra, who have the same personnel as last time) is very different to others. Combining this with focus on analogue instruments and amplifiers together with an analogue master results in a warm, organic and highly diversified album with a detailed texture. Let's hope the momentum continues as we all need to hear more music from these guys