LAND OF CHAMELEONS

Yet another new album by Karfagen was released two days ago, phew! How can anyone be so productive and keep it on such high artistic level? It took me ridiculously long to finally listen to this preceding one released in May. But all the more rewarding it was. Several years (and perhaps a bit too many Karfagen/Kalugin albums) ago, I was deeply charmed by the music of this amazing prog talent from Ukraine. The impression has naturally decreased in time, as it all has become pretty familiar.

But against my own expectations, my initial listening of Land of Chameleons was graced by that magic again. It definitely helped to have a little pause. Yes, it's all exactly what his listeners have learned to expect, but I daresay this one touches perfection as a Karfagen album, and I simply have to give it five stars as I have done multiple times before. I sense a strong inspiration and pure musical bliss on this album.

Since another reviewer here gives a detailed track-by- track analysis, I'll stay on my overall impressions. The band led by composer & keyboardist Antony Kalugin is in a terrific shape, and it's great to hear Marek Arnold's soprano sax guesting on many tracks. There's a suitable amount of both Antony's vocals and the female vocals while the emphasis is on the playing: soaring, melodic, passionate and Neo-flavoured contemporary Symphonic Prog in the vein of The Flower Kings and such. Well, by now Karfagen itself ought to be among the references when speaking of this style. It doesn't get quite so overblown, and a certain mellowness -- comparable to Camel and the quartet era Genesis -- is essential.

The pieces around ten minutes in length are all gorgeous compositions. Instrumental 'Journey to a Shrine' is perhaps the loveliest, so full of emotional melodies. 'My Shadow' uses (once more) a poem of R. L. Stevenson, and the childlike spirit is beautifully captured in Antony's and Mariya's duet vocals.

Two brief instrumentals are ideally placed. 'Dios Pyros' slightly reminds me of Tony Banks' A Curious Feeling album sonically, but enhanced with Arnold's sax. And the closing track '2 Minutes Before the Dawn' is a nocturnal, New Age approaching synth piece. The two CD-only bonus tracks are nice, too. One instrumental and one with vocals.

This album has deservedly earned a lot of high ratings (and I frankly cannot comprehend the few low ones). So, a sincere thank you to Antony. You still move me with your music!