AWAKENING OF THE ELEMENTS

The sticker on the cover says it's in UK and KANSAS vein.Well, that's true for the opening hymnesque title track...but later it becomes obvious that CRIMSON's most Symphonic years serve as the main inspiration.

LOST WORLD's second album, far better than too much songy-oriented debut, offers a high-class instrumental Prog in TALISMA's vein - short (not longer than 7 minutes) but varied and flawlessly played/arranged tracks. The best ones here are beautiful "Infinity Street" in very TULLesque vein, fiery "Simoom" and "Collision of the Elements", quirky and atonal theme. "Schostoccata" is an Schostakovitch's piece adaptation, and it sounds very natural - in very LOST WORLD's vein. Some tracks like "Scenery with Guitar" (which sounds VERY like lost CRIMSO soundscape from 80s!!!) or second part of "States of Mind" offer more peaceful and even mellow mood. Being professionally performed and recorded, "Awakening of the Elements" can serve as a paragon of RUSSIAN PROG - inspired by Symphonic Classics, written with great melodic gift and avalaible world-wide through MUSEA label ;)

If you like Symphonic bands like LITTLE TRAGEDIES, UK, early KING CRIMSON and Prog inspired by traditions of Symphonic Melos like AFTER CRYING or QUATERNA REQUIEM, this one is definetely for you.Highly recommended for all Art/Symphonic maniacs!!!

Lost World is a Russian trio with a guest keyboardist who plays in one song. After their debut CD Trajectories from 2003, here is their new album entitled Awakening Of The Elements (2006).

The 12 compositions contain a great flow, lots of dynamics, excellent interplay and great soli on guitar and violin. Because of the fiery guitar and violin work and the propulsive rhythm-section, the music often reminds me of 1972-1975 era King Crimson. The songs sound elaborate and host many captivating elements, surprising breaks and shifting moods. Strong examples are the dynamic titletrack (great tension between the fiery guitar and orchestral keyboards and halfway a splendid break with propulsive guitar riffs and flashy violin), Infinity Street (delicate progressive folk with wonderful acoustic guitar overdubs), Over The Islands (swinging rhythm with exciting guitar runs and funky 'slap'-bass work), States Of Mind Part I (captivating interplay between guitar and violin, again funky 'slap-bass' play and subtle synthesizer sounds) and finally my favorite track, the alternating Collision Of The Elements featuring fiery violin - and guitar runs. Because of the lush and powerful Hammond waves, to me it sounds like 'King Crimson meets ELP'! The cheerful flute work on this CD gives the music a fresh extra dimension between all the heavy dynamic atmospheres.

I am very curious how this promising bands develops because Awakening Of The Elements is an excellent addition to your collection!

Lost World is a Russian band with an eclectic and modern approach infusing the sounds of the violin with a jolt of Crimson-like guitar rock. It's an impressive release from classically trained musicians but only partially successful as a complete album. First a bit of what it sounds like and then I'll try to explain my problem with this.

The title track begins with a somewhat middle of the road Tull sound initially, until about half way through when the violin kicks in. At that point you know you're in for something different. Very proficient playing mixing flute, violin, and guitar with saavy percussion. Quite upbeat mood and decent opener. "Infinity Street" is next and this is the longest song at near 7 minutes. It begins with gorgeous virtuoso acoustic guitar work and when the percussion begins it has an almost Eastern-folk feel to it. At 2 ½ minutes the electric guitar comes in with some intermittent riffing. This is a complex composition that mixes electric and acoustic well but seems to fall short of being completely satisfying. "Simoom" is where the Crimson/Indukti references begin to emerge. Frantic violins racing to a quick beat with brief flashes of piano and flute. "Over the Islands" begins with an almost retro-60s guitar riff soon joined by some funky bass at a medium-fast pace, not bad but nothing special either. "Scenery with a Guitar" is some bubbling electronic sounds and manipulated guitar that reminds me of Fripp/Summer's "I Advanced Masked." Pretty cool. "Schostoccata" really kicks the door down. Driving intense guitar at a brisk clip with showy lead work for the first two minutes. Then a great section that begins like a calm pool of water with acoustic strumming, flute, and bass. This builds slowly and effectively until the electric guitar is back with some nice mood. At around 4 minutes the frantic pace returns until the end. Next is "States of Mind, parts 1-3." It begins at a brisk clip with the nervous violins and a dance club beat, this could be "rave prog." Programmed percussion is used here I believe. Part 2 is my favorite with a more thoughtful pace and some emotional, slower, more expressive violin with bass and acoustic accompaniment. Part 3 is somewhere in between, with more movement and spicier violin than part 2, and more varied bass and drums than part 1. The 3 parts together form a very interesting 10 minute piece of prog led by the violin. "Paranoia Blues" is a brief flute based track. "Collision of the Elements" is a full symphonic work-out with lots of changing scenery. "Sky Wide Open" is perhaps the finest moment, slowing enough to allow the flute and keys to paint some real mental imagery, to really stretch out. The guitars nicely compliment here without attempting to hijack the laid back feel. Good closer.

Awakening of the Elements is an impressive and promising album that showcases great talent in both playing and production. It is in a sense truly an "awakening" of the aural possibilities they are capable of. But it's not a home run in my book. First, the frantic, nerve-wracking pace they insist on putting many of the violin sections through can just drive you nuts after a bit, it can be really irritating. They are much more effective in "States of Mind-part 2" when they allow the violin to stop chugging and actually breathe for a spell, in that moment it was gorgeous. Second and much more importantly, there are impressive moments but they are rarely unified into something that connects on an emotional level, or on any level when considered as a complete piece of work. You have these great examples of musicianship and that may be enough for some to enjoy but for me there is a big connection missing. The album seems to be as much disjointed as it is impressive, the tracks seeming to be strangers to each other instead of siblings. For that reason I can only go 3 stars here but I believe these guys have a great album in them if they take the "elements they have awoken" and work towards creating something more connected and emotionally engaging with those elements.

Back in 1990, three friends at music college formed a band, calling themselves Lost World. It took until 2003 for the debut album to be released, 'Trajectories', and after 'Awakening of the Elements' in 2006 the guys made a slight change to the name, and added 'Band'. Although there had been some slight changes over the years, the original three, Vassili Soloviev (flute), Andy Didorenko (acoustic and electric guitars, bass, acoustic and electric violins) and Alexander Akimov (keyboards, percussion, programming, sound design) are still there (and indeed all played on the most recent album, 2016's 'Of Things and Beings'). But 2011 saw the guys working with a new drummer, Konstantin Shtirlitz, and Andy's thoughts started to turn back to their second album, and wondered what it would sound like if they re-recorded the drums, added violins and then remixed it. Well, it came out so well that they released it. I don't think I ever heard the original Musea CD, but I am so glad that Andy thought that I might like to hear this version! Russia has produced some amazing progressive rock bands, and Lost World Band have been a strong favourite of mine since I was sent the debut all those years ago (and looking among my racks I see I still have it). Influenced by the likes of King Crimson and UK, they can easily switch lead instruments from electric guitar to violin or flute, and given that they met at music college it is of course no surprise at all that they are all masters of their instruments. But, it is the arrangements and interplay that makes this album such a delight to listen to. There is a confidence and maturity that is pervasive, and Konstantin knows exactly what to add to provide emphasis and contrast to the melody. It can't have been an easy task taking on the role he was asked for, but the result is something that is complete, fresh, and totally enjoyable from beginning to end.

They can be bright and energetic, or laid back and thoughtful, while the opening title cut comes across as a mix of Kansas and Jethro Tull, with some more rocky guitar and a delightful Seventies feel as well as leads from both flute and violin. This is a great album, that flows and moves, so much so that the listener is never really sure where they are going to end up, but it doesn't matter as the journey is always so interesting. If you've never investigated Russian progressive rock then you should, and Lost World Band and this album are a great place to stay