URSKOG

If I counted correctly KAIPA arrives in this year at fifteen albums released. What about with this latest installment, did they finally stand out from Roine's weight?

'The Frozen Dead of the Night' to have fun and realize that the KAIPA sound has evolved; layered keyboards from Hans, a guitar from Per that stands out, fruity, twirling and Patrik who uses his voice like a certain QUEEN singer. 'In a World of Pines' for the voice of Aleena, beautiful but which requires getting used to the vocal duality. 'Urskog' for being sung in the mother tongue. 'Wilderness Excursion' for the slap of the album, let me explain: it starts out jazzy-prog and it irritates my hair, I don't see the point even if it's nervous and well done; then it really starts around 3 minutes for a punchy instrumental; well nothing new but a title ... well done. 'In the Wastelands of My Mind' which bluffs its audience with an intro where the shadow of KANSAS floats, ah this violin; then the addition of the acoustic guitar gives new blood, it's still beautiful but always in the same vein. 'The Bitter Setting Sun' for the epic piece, a condensed, progressive melting-pot of what can be good in this slightly sclerotic world, beautiful flights of synths, rhythm guitar, solo, a sax that is reminiscent of the 70's and 80's; in short, beautiful things that also turn irremediably in circles.

KAIPA has therefore released a beautiful album of progressive rock, the kind of music that brings back and recalls the work of the great elders, from GENESIS to YES in particular. It's professional but/and it reminds me a little too much of the magnificent opuses of FLOWER KINGS, SPOCK'S BEARD and other Neal MORSE; it is in the continuity of a de facto symphonic prog rock, to be listened to preferably during the long winter nights. I can already hear the old progs throwing stones at me, while they unfortunately forget that this music could be shortened a bit to reach an audience, otherwise the prog will go into deep lethargy.