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Karda Estra - Eve CD (album) cover

EVE

Karda Estra

 

Symphonic Prog

4.08 | 45 ratings

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Ivan_Melgar_M
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Few bands have impressed me lately as KARDA ESTRA, each new album I listen introduces me in a world of Symphonic blended with Ethnic Prog and wonderful atmospheres and "Eve" is not the exception.

I'm sure that some people may find them a bit soft and maybe predictable, but the beauty of the music is in the skills of the interpretation and the richness of sounds which blend perfectly with the Neo Classical root of the band, something only a talented composer like Richard Wileman can achieve.

"Eve" is based in "The Future Eve", a novel written in 1886 by Villiers de L'Isle Adam about a scientist who creates a fiancée for his fiend, some sort of Pygmalion blended with Frankenstein, a concept that fits perfectly with Wileman's obsession in the British Gothic Revival of the 19th Century.

The opener "An Ordinary Mortal" marks the style and atmosphere of the album, seems predictable and bland on a first listen, but if you concentrate, you will listen the incredible textures, the capable combination of instruments with Ileesha Bailey's voice (used as an instrument), the delicate work in the orchestration, it's really impressive, no detail has been left to luck, everything is carefully taken care of. A very good introduction for the album, please listen the fabulous work of Helen Dearnley combining with the violin with the Gothic organ in the background, amazing work.

"Andraiad" starts with a bells, acoustic guitar and oboe soft introduction, even when it's not usual to listen radical changes in KARDA ESTRA's albums, in this case the song develops faster than usual, the organ, violin and viola with some horns and ethnic instruments help to create a dramatic and tense atmosphere, another high point.

"The Pale Ray" is a short intermezzo after a long track, very close to Neo Classical with a mysterious sound and the creepy voice of Ileesha in the background, I don't know if they pretended to create a relaxing moment because the drama is always present.

"Super Electrical" starts with a tense piano solo soon followed by wind instruments, the atmosphere doesn't change, you almost feel like in Victorian England, but the unexpected happens, a couple violent changes and musical explosions occur, which is good for a change being that the track would be a bit repetitive otherwise.

"Eve" is the central track and it's about the central character Miss Alicia, a track that follows a subtle Waltz structure (The music of the 1800's) but the arrangements are so well done that the mysterious atmosphere is never lost, you can even listen some sort of spacey effects that blend with Illesha Bailey's voice to create a strange effect that reflects the non human characteristics of the "Future Eve". Excellent track and a very skilful composition.

"Sparks that Flash and Fall" is the longest track of the album, almost 10:30 minutes, a very weird intro prepares the listener for almost anything, but surprisingly a Church organ solo surrounds us and the band joins to create a spectacular section that combines all the instruments while keeping the atmosphere intact, the song flows gently until the end with impressive violin, piano and oboe solos.

"Eve" is closed by "Thoughts and Silences", a track that adds a nostalgic and very sad scenario, haven't read the novel so I can't guess why it was chosen, even when it's pleasant there's a strong sense of loss that invades the listener, but well, a good artist must transmit strong feelings and this is achieved.

Not hard to rate the album, is not an essential masterpiece, even when close, I would rate it with 4.5 stars but being impossible will be conservative and give 4 stars.

A great album for Classical fans, and for Symphonic geeks like me with love for the melodic side of Progressive Rock.

Ivan_Melgar_M | 4/5 |

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