AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE

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.

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Posted Thursday, January 5, 2012 | Review this album | Report (Review #603818)

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.

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Posted Wednesday, April 17, 2013 | Review this album | Report (Review #945195)

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.

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Posted Wednesday, November 6, 2019 | Review this album | Report (Review #2278336)

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 proj ... (read more)

Report this review (#1865726) | Posted by ale73 | Wednesday, January 10, 2018 | Review Permanlink

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 t ... (read more)

Report this review (#1008263) | Posted by Memo_anathemo | Monday, July 29, 2013 | Review Permanlink

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 ... (read more)

Report this review (#889953) | Posted by sylphida | Tuesday, January 8, 2013 | Review Permanlink

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. ... (read more)

Report this review (#769120) | Posted by Whistler | Monday, June 11, 2012 | Review Permanlink

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 musicia ... (read more)

Report this review (#610922) | Posted by Life Line Project | Monday, January 16, 2012 | Review Permanlink

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 Spin ... (read more)

Report this review (#493145) | Posted by CAERLLYSI | Saturday, July 30, 2011 | Review Permanlink

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