TAI BLIZKO DO SAMIA NEBOSVOD (Тъй близко до самия небосвод)

As Bulgarian I'm proud to review the first bulgarian artist here in ProgArchives. That is Velislav Ivanov with his second effort - Тъй близко до самия небосвод. I was waiting too long to see bulgarian musicians in the site. And now my dreams come true...

Velislav Ivanov is young self-taught musician from Sofia, Bulgaria, who use some poems from famous Bulgarian poets like Dimcho Debelyanov and Atanas Dalchev for lyrics of his songs. Тъй близко до самия небосвод is really interesting album with strong use of mellotron. Velislav Ivanov plays all the instruments on the album, except guitars on the fifth song - Дяволско, which is played by our forum member - Finnish Tuomas Renvall (nickname at PA: Passionist)! I think this young compatriot shows big promise and I shall follow his career from here onward.

Тъй близко до самия небосвод is very melancholic album, mostly because of good old mellotron. I would like to notice the pleasant bass works, too. The songs are pretty well constructed for self-taught 20 years old amateur musician. My favourite song from the album is Сарабанд (the fourth song). All other songs are pretty good without any weak song. The album is very calm and recommended for relax! I'm nicely surprised with the vocal. I like very much singers with similar voices like Velislav Ivanov. The recording of the voice is little amateur and it's not constructed well enough over the musical parts. The vocals are made in the traditions of bulgarian popular music (estrada)! I believe this talented young musician has a bright future ahead.

I think Bulgaria is already on the progressive map with this pioneer work for our country. But yet I can't give it more than 3 stars, because it lacks of something varied as well as something special in terms of musicianship or songwriting! Recommended for neo-fans and relax!