REBIRTH

When your whole world is shattered by the horrors of your country being invaded and you are forced to flee from your home, spending several long weeks traveling across your country only to find, soon after settling there, that it was not the sanctuary you prayed for. Very little outside the safety of your loved ones and yourself matters during those long painful days and nights. Music can help keep the soul alive and with Anthony this was very much the case during the many conversations we had of music past, present and of the future was chewed over.

One cd in particular was proving very popular with our Caerllysi customers, which musically lit a flame that burned brightly for both of us. Antony's pre "The Water" days is a vast Aladdin's cave of delicious melodic pieces that, when revisited, we both felt had the sound foundations would make great music for 2022.

Antony, with time weighing heavily, trapped in a sort of groundhog day existence, duly sorted out the tracks he would use for the album from these vaults and asked his great friend Max Velychko to play guitar on the album, he would add additional keyboards plus other sounds and expand musically, where required, plus mix and master using his production skills to look to create a dynamic uplifting melodic instrumental album fit for today's listener.

From the moment we heard the demo of the opening section to the title track we both knew it was an amazing musical success and exactly what the doctor ordered to lift our spirits and carry on his fight for freedom and to live again in peace.

The second disc the "Land of Gold and Green" bonus disk has been incredibly popular and available for some time now digitally. We have always assured folk that, when the time allowed, it we would make it available on disc as well for the multitude out there. As always we keep our promises to you, our faithful supporters, and hope that long may that relationship prosper and grow.

Antony and his family are now safely in Poland for the time being so share his happiness via his music hope you enjoy lots of love and peace.

Will Caerllysi Music

We are in a horrible time for the Ukrainian people and can't even imagine the troubles Antony Kalugin is facing right now. I wish him and those close to him all the best.

That said, this review is not about that. It is about his new record "Rebirth". I will be giving my opinion about the music solely.

Labelled here as symphonic prog, I find it all a bit slick. And not very surprising. It found inspiration in groups like Pink Floyd, but then the 80s and 90s Gilmour dominated sound. Especially the guitar is almost as if Gilmour himself is playing. The accompanying synths do the rest to give that Floyd feel. And sometimes I also hear a bit of Focus and Akkerman. For instance with a day of joy.

It sounds pleasant, though it is not my favourite type of prog, which I really like to be a bit edgier and more adventurous. That said, it is a good listen. For fans of this particular genre. I rate it 2 stars.

Lite and melodic. So easy and enjoyable to listen to. Picturesque territory where New age meets art rock! Yes there are some touches of Pink Floyd in some parts- in my humble opinion, it's only a compliment. The header track "rebirth" and "planets" are the Hit instrumental pieces, while the "days of joy" and "nights of wonder" are lovely mixture of symphonic art rock. Also, I do like the "White Castle" track - it reminds me Steve Hackett at his best!! "Homecoming " is superb finishing of the album! Long live Ukraine , keep on doing great work, Anton! Highly recommend to all fans of AKP music!

I found 'Rebirth' on my initial listen a breath of fresh air. It is a change from Antony's previous releases. It is an easier listen that is instantly enjoyable. The album itself is in essence a rebirth of sorts. This is not so much a progressive album. It is stripped of the layers, it loses the complexity and I would describe it as more an instrumental album where the listener can chill out.

The first track, 'Rebirth' introduces us to this new change. It jumps straight in and you get the vibe straight away where this music is heading. It would not be a Antony Kalugin album if there wasn't a track that included Space. Hence that is what we have with the second track, 'Planets' which opens with this percussion that reminds me of composer Gustav Holst's 'Mars'. Of course we get that empty feeling that there is a sea of space in between our planets. 'Days of Joy' is a sprightly piece, the name says it all. 'White Castle' is a true joy. A medieval theme, maybe something you would hear from Steve Howe or Rick Wakeman. 'Solstice' is an uplifting tune that reminds me of a festival, a tune for celebration. 'Night Visions' gives you that feeling of overlooking a city at night watching all the lights, the busy nightlife flourishing. 'Skylines' is a happy tune with a hint of medieval through the wonderful acoustic guitar of Max Velychko. 'Broken Promises' is to me probably the most prog track on this album. It has slight hints of Pink Floyd. Please note, 'slight'. This has a nice moody atmosphere where I am a little reminded of 'Echoes'. A truly chill out tune that builds to a nice crescendo. 'Nights of Wonder' could be a second chapter to 'Night Visions'. Maybe it is a reminder of those magical nights with friends that live with you forever. 'Coming Home', the final track I hope would be the anthem for all the displaced victims from Ukraine for when they finally come home to their country in peace and prosperity. This track has a feeling of triumph and overcoming adversity.

As with every album of Antony's, each has it's own themes and character whether it is Karfagen, Sunchild or his own solo works. If I was to describe this album in one word, I would choose 'Effervescent'. Considering the horrific events that Antony and his family have had to endure, this album is a surprise because after such, you would think a darker mood of an album would occur. However that is not the case here. Antony I think has such a positive spirit, he is above the darkness that has enveloped his country.

Having reviewed the continuous chain of new albums by Antony Kalugin (whether under his own name or his band project KARFAGEN), I feel that with this work there's no urgent need to deal with the thread of the fatigue factor. Nor do I wish to think of the horrible situation his country Ukraine is suffering. This album made under such sad circumstances really proves the power of creativity and music as a torch. All the more so as Rebirth sounds sincerely inspired and hopeful -- and light, in a happy, good way.

Antony handles keyboards, synth guitars and programming while the electric guitar is played by Max Velychko. That's a rewarding deal indeed: Max has added organic strength that would perhaps be lacking if Antony had done everything by himself. Compared to the albums with the epic structure of 20-minute suites, Rebirth that consists of ten tracks (only 7:34 at longest) understandably doesn't attempt to be as symphonic. This approach covered the half of the preceding album Chameleon Shapeshifter (2021) in which the shorter pieces were somewhat inferior to the gorgeous epic piece. In that sense I feel Antony has now succeeded better as a composer of regular length pieces.

I enjoy the bright keyboard sounds on the opening track 'Rebirth', and the fine melody is nicely bouncing between keys and electric guitar. 'Planets' -- as the album as a whole -- makes me think of some post-80's MIKE OLDFIELD albums such as Songs from Distant Earth. 'Days of Joy' is, as the title suggests, among the most light-hearted pieces and pretty enjoyable. 'White Castle' features sounds that lead your imagination to bygone times and exotic places like Alhambra. A bit of BLACKMORE'S NIGHT, a bit of LOREENA McKENNITT (without vocals).

The entire album is very accessible and melodic, which shouldn't be seen as a weakness per se -- not even on a prog site. The melodies are beautiful in their sincerity, for example on the nocturnally sensual 'Night Visions' and the laid back 'Sky Lines'. 'Broken Promises' has a bit darker mood, but the album is finished by 'Coming Home' that radiates hope. Rebirth is a balanced and coherent album of light instrumental prog, easily worth four stars in my opinion. It manages to have a distinctive, warm and positive personality among Antony Kalugin's ever-expanding discography.

If anyone's read other reviews I've done of Kalugin's albums you'll see I've got a bit of a love/hate relationship. He's clearly talented at putting a composition together, but too much of his work screams of "prog by numbers", pandering too much to be inoffensive and just ending up with a beige, middle of the road, forgettable album.

Well he's done it again. Only this time, for some reason, for me its even more boring. Tracks like 'Planets' you wouldn't be surprised to hear in the channel directory on an old hotel TV, or hold music while you're 47th in the queue on the phone to your bank. Some others could easily be copyright free stock corporate presentation jingles. Its incredibly frustrating, because it could be so much better.

Judging by the ratings and reviews on Kalugin & Karfagen's albums there are a core of fans who clearly see something more than I do.

If you want bland and inoffensive, listen to his other albums. If you fancy a bit of offensively bland, give this a listen.

As I stated earlier in my review about the new Karfagen album Land Of Green And Gold, I am familiar with Antony Kalugin and his musical projects from the very first beginning. From Continium (2006), the debut album by Karfagen to Hoggwash, Sunchild, AKKO and AKP.

On this new solo album Kalugin played on the keyboards and synthesizer and he does the drum programming and percussion. Guest musician is Max Velychko on electric guitar, his sound has strong hints from David Gilmour (Pink Floyd). The 10 compositions are in general pretty laidback, lots of atmospheres between dreamy and slow rhythms with mellow climates, the focus is on colouring the music with pleasant work on keyboards and guitar, it all sounds very melodic and harmonic. My highlights.

First piano and spacey keyboards, then a slow rhythm, in a beautiful dreamy atmosphere, embellished with Mellotron choirs, moving guitar runs, jazzy piano solo and a fluent synthesizer solo in Rebirth.

This track entitled White Castle features an ethnic flavour with the guitars, blended with Mellotron choirs, very tasteful and captivating.

In Night Visions a tight beat, in a mid-tempo, with strong and varied guitar play, from tender to heavy.

A dreamy climate that contains lots of Floydian guitar, and finally a howling guitar solo in Broken Promises.

The final composition Coming Home starts with tender piano, then a sensitive electric guitar, in a slow rhythm, gradually the sound turns into more lush sound and powerful guitar, then again mellow and finally a build up to slow and compelling with moving guitar.

A wonderful laidback album that sounds as a pleasant dream, made in a nightmarish situation.

My rating: 3,5.