Kategorie: CD-Reviews | Genre: Prog | Heft: Jahrgang 2012, eclipsed Nr. 139 / 4-2012 | VÖ-Jahr: 2012 | Wertung: 7/10 | Label: Caerllysi | Autor: AS
In the fourth work of the Ukrainian quartet Karfagen, too, light and shadow lie close together. But the light seems to have finally gained the upper hand. The concertante opener "Entering The Space Gates", reminiscent of Camel, and the Slavic-inspired "Salvatore & His Leather Jackets" that followed were a success. The baroque "The Cosmic Frog & The Beast" brings back pleasant memories of Gryphon (not only because of the bassoon). "The China Wizard" with its classical guitars is rather something for world music fans with a high kitsch tolerance. Also "Sylph" and "Daydream" are full of annoying clichés and don't fit to the promising first four tracks either. Then it must be the two following twenty-minute tracks that tear it out. And they actually do. With stylish combinations of classical music, folk, jazz and prog. Instruments of Eastern European folk music add additional splashes of colour. Karfagen may not be the most innovative Progger. But their music can be quite entertaining. They should, however, confidently step into the bin too shallow. That makes the cut.
Top track: Journey Through The Looking Glass