THE SPACE BETWEEN USReleased February 11, 2007 Label: Unicorn Digital Songs / Tracks Listing 1. Entering the Gates (1:54) |
Line-up / Musicians
- Antony Kalugin / keyboards, percussion, vocals, guitars, fxs
- Kostya Shepelenko / drums
- Sergey Kovalev / harmonica, bayan, vocal
- Oleg Polyanksiy / keyboards
- Oleg Booklov / electric guitars
- Denis Moroz / jazz guitar
- Roman Cucherenko / bass
- Tim Sobolev / vocal
- Georgy Katunin / lyre, flutes
- Lena Moscalec / vocal
- Oleg Korotaev / occasional nylon guitars
- David Todua / electric guitars
All tracks by A. Kalugin (except tr. 6 by Oleg Polyanskiy, tr. 15 by A. Kalugin & S. Kovalov)
Mixed & Mastered by A. Kalugin & A Mirniy in March – Oct. 2006. Recorded in Kharkov, Ukraine
Cover art and layout by Jonas Thuren
REVIEWS:
I had mixed feelings towards new KARFAGEN CD. I remember how euphoric I was with their debut, mostly because it was the first Prog CD from Ukrainian artist I reviewed! But later my euphoria sapped, and I felt awkward with “The Space between Us”.
But they have managed to do their best. Now with bigger line-up, Anton continued to walk the path of their debut (CAMEL meets ALAN PARSONS), but without new-agy approach. This time sound is enriched with accordion and bluesy guitar solos, and some tracks are simply flawless (like wonderful “Retrofall” ballad), while other filled with ridiculous pseudo-intellectual chat samples (didn’t like that trick). Mostly short but varied pieces, some are riff-based, some are not (like that piano-only track that I, to be fairly honest, dislike ), but Anton still proves his melodic gift. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea due to its easy-listening approach, but still enjoyable and recommended record.
The Space Between Us ist das zweite Album des ukrainischen Quartetts Karfagen. Nun war die Ukraine bisher für mich ein unbeschriebenes Blatt in Sachen Prog-Rock (oder überhaupt in Sachen Musik), aber gerade auf Bands aus solchen bei uns wenig bekannten Ländern bin ich immer besonders gespannt.
So "exotisch" wie erhofft ist die Musik leider nicht! Das an sich wäre noch nichts schlimmes, aber leider bieten Kafagen über weite Strecken ziemlich Neo-Prog-beseelten, teils auch schon New-Age-angehauchten Schönklang. Es dominieren klar die Tasten, zu oft allerdings mit arg zuckrigen Klängen. Werden die Keyboards mal zurückgenommen und lassen beispielsweise lyrischen Flötenklängen mehr Raum (Sky of Couple Colors), kommt gleich viel mehr Atmosphäre auf.
Ein paar Elemente einheimischer Folklore bringen die Vier auch ein, sparsam und dezent, ach was, zu sparsam und zu dezent! Hier ein wenig textloser Ethnogesang (ansonsten ist die Musik instrumental), da mal eine zaghaft angedeutete folkloristische Melodie - viel zu oft gehen diese Passagen im Tastenkleister unter.
Es gibt aber auch sehr gelungene Stücke auf diesem Album, wie das wunderbare Klaviersolo The Dream Master in bester Keith-Emerson-Manier oder das stärker folkloristische und auch bewegtere Labyrinth. Insgesamt ist mir die Musik aber doch allzu brav und zu sehr in üblichen Neo-Prog-Strickmustern verhaftet. Neo-Proggies können dagegen durchaus ein Ohr riskieren!
http://www.babyblaue-seiten.de/index.php?albumId=8215&content=review
Karfagen returns with their second release on Unicorn Digital called The Space Between Us. They basically continue in a similar style to their debut Continium, which was a laid back variety of progressive rock that reminded me of bands like Pink Floyd, Camel, Alan Parsons Project and similar bands. They utilized a lot of keyboards, a rhythm section kept a mellow backbeat. Just like the debut, the music is mostly instrumental.
While there’s nothing that standout, this is a very solid release. In some ways I like it better than the debut. There seems to be more going on as well with some world music and other elements that keep my interest. I found I had a better experience with this album while listening with headphones.
This band is for those that like to explore via the lighter side of progressive rock and recommended for the fans of the aforementioned bands. This is the perfect relaxing album especially after a long day at stressful social environments.
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