WHEEL OF LIFE

Wow, What a treat. After being disappointed with the latest Flower King's release, "Adam and Eve" and being anything less then satisfied by The Tangent's "The World That We Drive Through," I was pleasantly surprised by this disc. Thanks diddy...

Jonas Reingold and Zoltan Csorsz comprise one the best rhythm duos in the prog world today. They are the only saving graces on the above two discs and they propel Karmakanic with power and style. Jonas' fretless playing is sweet and syrupy. I'd love to hear him in a straight fusion setting, ala the other Jonas. Csorsz playing swings and thrills. These guys got down. Very tight!

This is the first time I'd heard Krister Jonzon, the guitarist. He is versatile, from jazz to blues and straight out rock. First rate and then some. Roine Stolt does guest on two tracks and on "Wheel of Life" he tosses off a few Holdsworth-like lines that left me wanting more. The other TFK team members appear on a few other tracks, but thankfully don't turn this into another TFK album.

The main reason this doesn't sound like TFK is the great vocal work of Goran Edman. I really dig his voice. The main problem I've had with modern prog is the overwhelming number of singers who feel they have to play the overdramatic opera role in each performance. Thanks to Goran for not overstating his parts. He sounds down to earth and has some touches of Paul Rogers in his bluesy delivery.

Many of the tunes have heavy spiritual lyrics, though not too preachy. Two songs are instrumentals; Do You Tango?, a bit of fun, and Hindby, one of the best instrumentals I've heard in a while, bluesy and crisp.

All in all, a worthy selection for any prog catalogue and more satisfying then The Tangent and the Flower Kings latest. Of course, I will now have to hunt down the first Karmakanic release. Sheesh, all the money....