MUSICAL WITCHCRAFT II - UTOPIA

Musical Witchcraft's second album is perhaps even a notch above the previous first solo venture by Solaris' Attila Kollár, a bit mellower but still just as replete with Baroque and Renaissance musings. The nearly 20 minute "Utopia Suite" is comprised of four flute driven pieces, the first an acoustic guitar /flute pastoral romp, the second introducing that rippling Zsolt Vámos electric sizzle with brooding keys and solid bass and drum escorts. This has a strong Jethro Tull feel and will please fans to no end, the bluesy lead guitar solos being a particular highlight. The third segment features a simply heartrending melody on flute with violin, percussion and acoustic guitar, gentle as a morning summer breeze and full of romantic splendor. The violin solo is particularly sensitive and reinforces the strong classical slant that Kollár likes to infuse in his solo work. The fourth and final section returns to more adventurous realms with flute, violin and bass clarinet doing the rounds with liberal bursts of electric six-string magic, egged along by the pulsating rhythm section. "In the Hiding Place of Castles" soothes the senses with another bucolic Kollár promenade, full of amusing optimism and "Secrets of Morus" conjures up the opposite, full of fiery bluster that entices Vamos' axe to smolder unashamed in a long tortuous solo. The interaction with the feisty flute is astonishing and refreshing. The "Feast" has a noisy fair-like atmosphere that creates a party like mood that underlines the need to amusement. "Inquisition" is the wildest workout here with raging lead guitar, sultry violin and jaunty flute all vying for some justice, each soloing with utter abandon and then howling in unison, a major highlight of this disc, for sure. The "Tower" reintroduces the main flute theme again, this time with jazzy piano in the background, glitzy backing vocal crooning and cool cat jazz riffing by Vámos, a superb variation that makes the whole recording shine even brighter. "Utopia from the City" reprises the same theme in a more conventional prog setting, flute straight forward, organ blazing brightly and soaring electric guitar along for the sprightly ride. "Fairy Tale" ends this short gem on a delightful rustic finale. 4.5 broomsticks.