AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE

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.