ECHOES FROM WITHIN DRAGON ISLAND

Karfagen is the project of the Ukrainian multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Antony Kalugin. Together with a long list of guest musicians his 'Echoes From Withing Dragon Island' album of 2019 has made quite an impression on the progressive rock community.

Karfagen is a symphonic rock project with folky and world-music undertones and some major jazz/fusion influences (though hidden in layers of folky and proggy instrumentation). With this release the band successfully added a layer of authenticity by creating a work in which the artwork, the title and the music (with its island and French seaside charm) really come together beautifully. Though the music of Karfagen is as typical for symphonic progressive rock as it can get, it is actually quite hard to name bands that sound much like it. Furthermore, the variety of instrumentation - sometimes evoking chamber music - can be linked to many bands; Gryphon (wind- instruments and chamber music), Focus (symphonic jazz-rock and overall 'lightness') and perhaps a bit of Solaris (because of its non-English'y vibe). In the folky bits the music can sometimes get a bit airy-fairy like, but then again - is has a sort of authenticity about it that makes it easy to swallow. Sometimes I'm also a bit reminded of Pat Matheny's 'The Way Up' album. Though the often light hearted vibe can take some darker and more dissonant turns, the music never sways from its happy romantic adventurous feel for long. The album has three fifteen minute plus tracks and one shorter song, yet it plays like a single long track. The music is ever in motion, hardly ever repeating the themes it introduces for more than once. There are some instrument solo's , but most of it composed and well though out. The vocals are handled quite well by the guest performers, but the music would still benefit from a performer with a little more of personality to it. I guess my main complaint would be that Karfagen sounds a bit anonymous. The one shorter song 'My Bed is a Boat' is a good example of a song that does benefit from some personality. The production of this album is top-notch. Full-bodied, detailed and not overly compressed.

Though this record does not appeal to my personal tastes like some of my favorite 2019 releases, this surely belongs in any top 10 list of this year. Well composed and recorded chamber music infused symphonic rock that comes without a single weak moment. It is, simply put, quite easy to let your thoughts sail away to Karfagen's Dragon Island. A warm four stars for this one, this is a charmer.

PS. Would love to buy this record on a double vinyl.