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RECORDING INFORMATION |
CD InsideOut Music America IOMACD 2064
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| COMMENTS & REVIEWS |
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ProgNaut
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Published on: 21 Sep 2003
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Nuno
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Published on: 14 Aug 2003
Swedish proggers Kaipa are not new in this business. On the contrary, they are one of the historic bands of Scandinavian prog, also responsible for the development, construction and cementation of the very typical and localized Scandinavian Symphonic Art Rock, proudly represented by The Flower Kings, Ritual, Simon Says, Tomas Bodin and Transatlantic.
Curiously, this style seems to have a core of players that brainchild this particular school of progressive rock, and a good portion of them are a playing part of this Kaipa project.
Kaipa is now living it’s second breathe, as they were very active in the late 70’s and early 80’s, took an oblivious path for 20 years and came back in 2002 with the excellent Notes from the past. Now, with the brand new Keyholder they urge to be recognized as one of the strongest outfits for this rich genre, that blends like no other, the symphonism of Anglo-Saxon prog from the 70’s, with folk, some jazzy textures and a lot of flair and passion.
With the contributions of Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings, Transatlantic, …), Jonas Reingold (The Flower Kings, Karmakanic, Reptilian, Par Lindh Project, …), Hans Ludin, Patrik Lundstrom (Ritual), Morgan Agren (Matts & Morgan, Fredrik Thordendal) and Aleena, the band is clearly comprised by excellent musicians, with a strong name in the prog scene, and that can only secure a superb result.
So the music in Keyholder, which swirls like an hypnotized snake in the hands of an experienced enchanter, does justice to the very rich history of its intervenient players, for it is comprised of each and every characteristic that has been making the delights of the progheads and their surrender to the exquisite quality of Scandinavian Sympho.
This means the music is, without a doubt, Kaipa, for it respects the past achievements of this band, but also has a very strong component of The Flower Kings and Transatlantic architectural and sound design, occasional but strong Ritual folksy interludes, some very distinctive Yes and early Genesis textures, but it maintains freshness and a strong positive attitude.
The offer here is basically one of variety, good-mood, melody and enjoyment, but the band is perfectly able to translate complexity, emotional shifts and compositional richness into that fascinating result.
The rhythm section is frenzy and arousing, providing the right bases for the keyboards to draw its tapestries and the other instruments to float in harmony but also in free soloing experiences. To top, the vocal interplay is excellent and capable to support the instrumental savvy of the band.
Though I slightly prefer the prior work - Notes from the past - , this new album seems to be somehow richer in content and concept, and it secures the continuity of exploration of the rich mine of glorious (many times Epic) music that this style unfolds.
So if you want to open the door of some of the best contemporary symphonic art-rock, all you have to do is ask the Keyholder to do it for you!
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MJBrady
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Published on: 9 Aug 2003
Oddly enough, I found myself wondering why the ever prolific Swedish progrock band The Flower Kings had been unusually quiet this year, considering the huge amount of material they had released as a band, and as various side project by the bands' musicians in the last few years.
Kaipa was one such project, 2002 saw Roine Stolt re-unite the one time Swedish 70's progrock band for the Notes From the Past cd. Many people found a new outlet for great progressive rock with this release, enough so, that the members were compelled to follow up that cd with some more fresh ideas, and hence we are treated to the 2003 release Keyholder. I'd be lying if I said that this music didn't have more than a few derivations of the Flower Kings music, than again, didn't the Flower Kings sound a bit like that old band Kaipa? In this case history doesn't repeat itself, it just improves on it's past. The fact that two key members of the FK's are playing on this cd, is going to have more than a small influence on the musical output that is presented here. Yet the input of the rest of the cast gives this Kaipa cd a voice all of it's very own.
Roine Stolt is mostly contributing as the bands guitarists and co-composer, his trademark vocals are kept to a minimum thanks to the vocals of the other members, which is an important key here if Kaipa sincerly wants to be Kaipa, and not another variation of the FK's. Hans Lundin handles all the keyboards, and plays a large role in defining the musical direction of Kaipa, his style, and choices of instruments and patches are significantly different that that of FK's keyman Tomas Bodin.
And this formula works wonderfully. Patrik Lundström and Aleena compliment the vocal duties perfectly, with Lundin and Stolt mostly doing backup and harmonic choirs. Filling out the band are Morgan Agren, arguably Swedens' top drummer, and Flower Kings bassist Jonas Reingold. With such a list of talent here, one should expect greatness to abound, and it does. The music on this cd is fantastic, rewarding the listener with every possible element progressive rock has to offer.
Keyholder easily rates as one of the best progrock cds I have heard yet this year, everything is done with perfection. There are no hints of the amaturistic piecing of musical pieces some bands are known for, everything flows with a graceful continuity. Like some of the FK's best material, I am reminded of the work done on their masterpiece Stardust We Are. The mix of Lundin's atonal midranged voice with that of the sultry and smooth female vocals of Aleena are truely complimentary. Yet, the vocals are but a sideshow to the musical arrangements you will hear. The band takes no shortcuts in creating majestic, complex yet melodic detours into instrumental territories, which exemplifies the musicians very best attributes.
Be prepared to be impressed, only if you are a progressive rock fan, as this cd delivers the very essence of the genres greatest demands for excellence. You may even find this cd rated along side of your Relayer, Close to the Edge albums, as it compares to some of the most ambitious music done on a grand epical scale by the great Yes.
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| TRACKS |
CREDITS
(click to view performer credits) |
PROGGNOSIS SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY
(click to view Release Page) |
- Lifetime of a journey (8:14)
- A complex work of art (11:57)
- The weed of all mankind (9:29)
- Sonic Pearls (6:06)
- The end of the rope (13:59)
- Across the big uncertain (8:30)
- Distant voices (13:00)
- Otherworldly brights (7:08)
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