Reviewed by MJBrady on 27 May 2007
The Space Between Us, the aptly titled second release by Karfagen on the Unicorn Digital Label, starts right where the band left off on their previous disc - Continium, which is to say, that the band plays a pretty relaxing variety of progressive rock, which utilizes a lot of synth and a variety of keyboards, along with a rhythm section that provides a comfortable, non-threatening backbeat. Again the music stays the way of being mostly instrumental.
With an extensive list of guest musicians, Karfagen creates lush backdrops of sound, with steady rhythmic cadences, infusing some vocal renderings that are more chant like as opposed to lyrical. There are also many non-traditional instruments to be heard throughout the cd, harmonica, flute, lyre, bayan, and various percussions. While this band maintains a mostly instrumental identity, they are not setting their music up to be featuring any certain players as virtuoso soloists, but rather adding up the various parts and layers to create depth and saturation of sound. Again, the music never really paces itself too quickly, yet manages to stay in the 'rock' idiom of progressive, much in the same way Pink Floyd, Ozrics, or certain Camel was able to.
It's very good mood music, and does require that you take it in while in a perfect setting, in a quiet room, or as I did, inside the confines of my studio headphones, where I was able to hear the music unfold in the way it was conceived. These are all skilled, mature musicians that are not interested in displaying their wares through intense finger dexterity workouts, but more geared towards providing the listener a pleasant listening experience, the kind that will help take away the worries of the world, and allow some floating space to exist for the short time you listen.
Karfagen is not a band that will blow you away with sophisticated execution and complexity, as they are not that kind of band, yet for those that are exploring more cranial listening experiences are going to be pleased to discover this cd, and a band that knows how to take you on a imaginary journey into the realms of headspace.
The Space Between Us
