CHAMELEON SHAPESHIFTER

the final chapter of the Magical AKP Trilogy - Chameleon Shapeshifter.

The music maestro has used the lengthy periods of isolation to create some of the most exciting and uplifting progressive symphonic art rock of recent times......

Marshmallow Moondust and Stella Gardener have been heralded by Kalugin's peers as groundbreaking musical statements and website reviews have been overwhelming. Antony played all instruments himself on both and whenever unable to use live he excelled with his software and production skills to enrich.

After completing the demo recordings which thankfully coincided with the first proper ray of light in the battle to retain our freedom and as a celebration Antony wanted to champion this by bringing on board his own musicians to make the album totally LIVE so drums, saxophone and flute along with additional guitar and bass make this totally MAGNIFICENT in its whole. Musically all genres are touched and crafted beautifully by Kalugin and the symphonic cinematic soundtrack and landscapes awash with gorgeous melodies make this a delicious listening experience and ensure this music trilogy will remain forever in the listeners memory. Happy Days

This album is another masterpiece from Antony Kalugin. All the tracks are made perfectly and show a immense creative talent. It's truly amazing how Antony could create something this incredible. From start to finish the album keeps you interested and impressed. You could tell that Antony truly loves what he does with this album. So far this is my favorite album of 2021. I would highly recommend this album to anyone who enjoys Symphonic Prog or any of Antonys other solo albums or bands. You will be extremely pleased and blown away by what you hear! Must listen album of 2021

Antony Kalugin's new album 'Chameleon Shapeshifter' has arrived. It seems too long since the last album which shows how much I desire more music from Antony. Following his previous two solo albums 'Marshmallow Moondust' and 'Stella Gardener'. This album completes his trilogy.

Unlike the first two albums where Antony played all instruments, this time he has brought in some favourite musicians including Max Velychko on guitars, the beauty of Elena Kushiy's flute and Oleg Prokhorov's grounded bass playing. Of course we can't forget Olga Rostovska's angelic vocals.

The first track 'Chameleon' is the epic of the album at more than 19 minutes which contains layers of synth with moments of classical piano. This track is well named as it shifts and twists. It is perfectly fractured as is suggested by Igor Sokolskly's cover art for the album. Varied music genres and time changes ensues to keep you guessing what is around the corner. This is a great opener showcasing Antony's magic as a musician and composer.

'Shapeshifter' is the next track starting with an elegant acoustic guitar followed quickly with the electric guitar. Max again brings his fluid tone to the fore mixed with Antony's keyboards and Yan Vedaman's emotional saxaphone playing. Another track with welcome changes and corners.

'Exceptional Chamel Ballard' the third track has a movie soundtrack like beginning. It is a musical feast with the byplay between Antony and Max, each telling their own chapter of the same story again with soothing moments of saxaphone. A high energy ending with Max letting loose backed with vocal chanting.

'House On The Hill' is the surprise track for me on this album. Starting out with a haunting trepidation. Then a beauty and brightness comes in with uplifting synths and vocals. Midway a lovely section with acoustic guitar and flute that truly lifts me followed by inspirational electric guitar. Stunning playing by all.

'Wonderous Glory' is introduced by a gentle wavering of keyboards backed by a laid back electric guitar in turn with sax. Each taking their part with more graceful singing by Olga. This is an even, gentle and flowing track.

The final track 'Key' is a ballad with a strong message. To find the key to all aspects of our lives. The final stanza of this song sums up the message beautifully, 'Key to the universe Everything sweet Everything worthwhile A life complete' 'Key' completes the album on a perfect and positive note.

I am starting to run out of adjectives to describe Antony's work. You can only mention beauty, exciting and passionate so many times. However if I have to be repetitive in my descriptions to truthfully tell how I feel, then so be it. This is a beautiful, exciting and passionate release. It is rich in sound and message. It has masterful musicianship lead by the Master himself. Mr Antony Kalugin.

A "live" in the studio full-band recording as opposed to the mostly multi-track solo compositions Antony has been doing so much of since the advent of the Coronavirus protocols. Very tightly rendered performances (though the very melody-oriented music is not so very demanding).

1. "Chameleon" (19:41) nice TONY BANKS like foundation to the first five and a half minutes. Then there is a sudden shift to rolling jazz lounge music for a brief minute before moving back into previously exposed symphonic themes. Still, for anyone familiar with Narada Michael Walden's solo work in the late 1970 and early 1980s or Camel and Mike Oldfield's work from the early 80s, this is music bordering on full-on Prog Lite. At 9:15 we burst out of the bucolic country roads onto a high speed autobahn into a near-Techno Disco passage until the end of the twelfth minute. When it comes back to symphonic in the fourteenth minute the music is just so slow, syrupy, and plodding as to almost be nauseating--like a cheap Harry Potter rip off. At the end of the sixteenth minute some nice symphonic orchestral sounds are ruined by some cheezy bluesy ones, but then things return to soporific cheese before a nice guitar solo starts up over an almost exciting rhythm passage. Alan Parsons would love this! All in all this is a highly chameleonic song--what could have been good but ends up being too scattered and distressing. Big piano finish. Still, it is impressive that Antony was able to get a full band to perform this 20-minute song "live" in a studio! (Or, at least, so he says.) (34/40)

2. "Shapeshifter" (6:06) pretty good, evocative instrumental song until the Mike Oldfield-like sax and choral vocals join in. Also, weird mood & stylistic shift at 4:25. The sax, as smooth as it is, turns me off. (8.5/10)

3. "Exceptional Chamel Ballard" (7:49) a very spacey, Blade Runner-like opening that shifts into second and third gears with some solid multi-keyboard work before smooth electric guitar and organ take over. It's amazing how Antony has discovered the bare-bones secrets to the power essences to the classic Genesis and Yes passages of the 1970s and now been able to build a solo career making perfect yet familiar instrumental prog. Nice Eef Albers-like guitar play in the middle before the funked up Narada Michael Walden like stuff takes over. Very melodic and accessible throughout--exactly what the best Neo Prog does. I'm sure the Hammond-heavy music at the 6:20 mark will make many progheads happy, but not me, I like the more melodic, classically-based stuff like then end. (13.5/15)

4. "House on the Hill" (4:04) so synth drenched from the opening that I'm gonna have to call a spade a spade: this is Prog Lite bordering on New Age. Paul Speer and David Lantz come to mind. Flutes, acoustic guitars, female vocalise, and hand percussions entering upon a Celtic motif only seals the deal. Nice set up for some Satriani-like pseudo-jazz New age guitar. (8.25/10)

5. "Wonderous Glory" (4:50) more Adult Smooth Jazz bordering on New Age elevator music. Synth horns, female vocalise, slow, methodic lead guitar soli and slow background arpeggi, lazy/sleepy fretless bass play, all trying to pull at our heart-strings. (8.25/10)

6. "Key" (4:16) a pleasant, nearer-to-Steve Hackett song with nice lyrics and peaceful music to engage and placate the listener for a good night's sleep. Very high quality Neo Prog. (9.5/10)

Total Time 46:46

It's all pretty, very saccharine, though perhaps a bit too formulaic and "by the numbers"--lacking much creative innovation. And then there's the question: How does this album, this music, this sequence of songs, fulfill the promise of the "Magical AKP Trilogy"? Plus, the overall reverberating impact of this album has left me thinking, Is this even prog? Is Prog Lite even prog? Isn't this just easy listening background music?

B-/3.5 stars; a nice addition to any lover of melodic Neo Prog or Prog Lite. Upgraded for exceptional sound quality and production as well as Antony's successful assemblage and coordination of a studio band.

So pleased to see Anthony developing as composer and musician! And I must say this album is 'wiser'. It seems like he's growing up with every following release. Anton is 40 years old and has released 25+ albums already, enough to cross Europe by car listening to the whole discography) I'm proud of being able to discover the 'chameleon shapeshifter' amongst the first. It's an amazing musical ride, with jazz, fusion, symphonic touches. Saxophones and flute as well as Max guitars making the album top notch! Nice and interesting artwork which is in a different vein than 2 previous ones, that makes it even more unique. My favs are - exceptional Chamel Ballard & Shapeshifter, though all material is highly recommended to be discovered and to be heard! Thanks Antony for another exceptional musical chapter in my life.

The New Antony Kalugin. This is last part of Trilogy. And his best album of 3. With Addition of guitars and Saxophone. And vocals this is masterpiece.

Antony Solo Stuff reminds me of Tomas Bodin. From the Flower kings. This final part of trilogy. You would swear..this was instrumental version of the band the flower kings.

More guitar dominated on this album vs last 2. I can hear Roine Stolt tone. As Flower Kings are my fave band of all times. I can pick up on this.

Antony keywork is amazing on this new album. The epic long track opener is great piece. I feel songs follow after are the meat of the album

Especially 3rd track. Which is my fave off album. If you like Instrumental prog and love the flower kings this album is 5 stars.

Antony can do no wrong. He is Tomas Bodin of modern times. Those who miss Tomas Bodin. Antony is his replacement.

By all means order this new album you won't be disappointed.

As a prog-lover whose biggest long-time favourites [of the seventies] include Genesis, Yes, Camel, Pink Floyd, Mike Oldfield and Renaissance, I can sincerely declare Antony Kalugin from Ukraine to be one of my favourite prog musicians of recent years. His solo albums and the KARFAGEN albums offer the kind of melodic and soaring instrumentally oriented symphonic prog that I greatly enjoy. I don't see significant differences between the two (except of course for the fact that Marshmallow Moondust and Stellar Gardener were entirely performed by him), and since this album is a band work, it could have as well been a Karfagen album I guess. It also differs from the mentioned Kalugin albums in the structure: no two vinyl-side long epics this time, just one which is followed by five shorter pieces.

'Chameleon' (19:40) is simply marvelous instrumental epic! The fresh and CAMEL-like mellowish soundscape is relatively easy on the ears -- not a bad thing, is it? -- but the symphonic composition is packed with action so to speak. In other words progress, progressivity, in the means of constantly going forward. The melodies are full of emotion and the shifts from one movement to another feel quite natural, although here and there I would have even liked to stay a bit longer in the certain moods. The guitars of Max Velychko and Kalugin's wide cast of keyboards build really beautiful and uplifting arcs of melodies, not forgetting the flute either. Karfagen collaborator Olha Rostovska adds some occasional vocalising. The most romantic moments may approach the sonic world of Vangelis (another of my long-time favourite musicians). Full score for this gorgeous piece.

'Shapeshifter' is also very uplifting from the melodic point of view. Electric guitar solo is excellent, but the soprano sax and the choral-vocals sound a bit too cheesy. Funnily titled 'Exceptional Chamel Ballard' -- something like a Camel Ballad? -- indeed has a Blade Runner reminding beginning as BrufordFreak points out. The often used negative term "prog by numbers" could be used here, to be honest, but most of the sonic details are enjoyable, only some brief ingredients I slightly dislike (such as Antony's freaky voice part).

'House on the Hill' is a very mellow, Celtic flavoured four-minute composition with an important role for the flute. Pretty, sure, but luckily the whole album is not in this direction. The easy-listening music reminding sax returns in 'Wonderous Glory', to an unfavourable effect if you ask me. Also the human voices are frankly quite unnecessary in this piece. Sometimes I get the feeling that Antony Kalugin tries too hard, ie. overproduces his compositions, instead of relying on the essentials of song-writing where less can truly be more.

The vocal song 'Key' (why is it marked as a bonus track?) is an excellent and, most of all, very balancing way to end this album. Comparisons to STEVE HACKETT at his calmest are adequate. Kalugin's own warm voice and the vocal harmonies fit perfectly to the nearly nocturnal soundscape featuring beautiful acoustic guitar. For the little minuses here and there, I feel four stars is the right rating for this album instead of five, which is how I'd rate the long epic. Anyways, fans of Kalugin/Karfagen won't be disappointed! A beautiful work, again.

Fifteen years ago I had my first musical experience with work from the prolific multi-instrumentalist Anthony Kalugin (Ukraine, 1981, known for his work with Hoggwash, Karfagen, Sunchild and AKKO), it was the first Karfagen album, I was delighted about the duo keyboard work. A fellow PA collaborator who was also from the Ukraine told me that Anthony was very pleased with all the positive words about his first Karfagen album but that it was hardly available in his own country! I hope things have changed for him anno 2021, with the release of the final chapter of the Magical AKP (= Anthony Kalugin Projects) Trilogy entitled Chameleon Shapeshifter.

The album starts with the epic Chameleon (close to 20 minutes), it is structured in the symphonic rock tradition featuring lots of flowing shifting moods, breaks, and soli on a wide range of instruments, but it sounds very accessible and melodic (like Neo-Prog). From slow rhythms with spacey and brassy synthesizer flights to an accellaration in a mid-tempo with pleasant work on guitar and keyboards. From a spectacular bombastic break with rock guitar and flashy synthesizers to tender piano in ambient climate with spacey keyboards. From dreamy atmospheres with mellow play on saxophone, accordion and flute to a slow rhythm with sensitive electric guitar, then a lush synthesizer sound. And finally a strong build-up with exciting guitar solo featuring howling and biting runs, topped with spacey synthesizers and a tight beat, concluded with tender classical piano work. The music does not fail to keep my attention during the entire running time, and I am very pleased with the lush synthesizer sound, from spacey flights to a sensational pitchbend driven synthesizer solo, wow!

Shapeshifter (6:06) reminds me of Eighties Camel, very melodic and harmonic, with wonderful work on guitar and keyboards. First dreamy with sensitive electric guitar and piano, then a slow rhythm, mellow synthesizer flights join, the rhythm-section turning more dynamic. Next a sensitive and powerful electric guitar solo, culminating in bombastic climate with saxophone and guitar, the interplay is awesome. In the second part the mood shifts to dreamy with tender piano and guitar, culminating in powerful saxophone work, in a slow rhythm.

Exceptional Chamel Ballard (7:48) delivers a spacey synthesizer intro, followed by a slow beat, topped with a fine synthesizer solo and sensitive guitar solo. Halfway a surprising swinging break with powerful bass, fat synthesizer flights and fiery guitar solo (evoking Pink Floyd). Finally mellow work on keyboards.

House On The Hill (4:04) starts with a keyboard sound that comes close to Mellotron strings, pretty melancholical. Then the atmosphere turns more cheerful with folky flute and acoustic guitar. Halfway a slow rhythm with heavy guitar runs, but finally again mellow with folky flute. Another tastefully arranged composition.

In Wonderous Glory (4:50) first a dreamy climate with flute and piano, then a Camel-like atmosphere with guitar and piano in slow rhythm soft synthesizer flights. Halfway fiery guitar and a more lush sound, embellished with spacey synthesizers. In the end sensitive guitar and flute, simply wonderful, trademark Anthony Kalugin.

The final song Key (4:16) features duo vocals (male and female), blended with twanging acoustic guitar, sensitive electric guitar and soaring keyboards, the romantic atmosphere and vocals strongly brings early Steve Hackett solo to my mind.

After all those years I am even more delighted about Anthony Kalugin, what a strong, varied and tasteful prog effort!

This new album by Antony Kalugin is another breath of fresh air! It is the epitome of what classic prog-rock should sound like.

The album opens at a slow pace, but that soon changes and we are treated to a soundscape of wonderful harmonies between the keyboards and the guitars. Antony has composed some beauties here and there is not only a tapestry of melodies and counter melodies, but some very interesting sound effects too. There is a variety of styles ranging from prog to jazz. I noticed that there were some exquisite piano melodies supporting the main themes, but what really got me is the guitar playing. Some real juicy riffs and solos, adding extra texture to support the keys.

Also there is some intricate drumming that adds to the pace of these songs, and I have to admire the skill used here. And there are some nifty bass playing too! And I'm sure there is a vocoder in there somewhere. I love the sound of those things, especially in this type of music. I really enjoyed this album very much, and I shall be listening to this for some time to come!

So Antony has created 3 albums recently and I can't wait to hear about live gigs. Once bands can tour again when this Covid has settled, I'm sure there will be occasions to see performances, and I shall be so excited to see this music played live. But in the meantime, let's enjoy music such as this! Great album Antony!