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Kaipa - Keyholder CD (album) cover

KEYHOLDER

Kaipa

 

Symphonic Prog

3.78 | 277 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Gatot
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
5 stars This is my first experience with Kaipa and am amazed with the musical quality the band has produced through this album. At first listen I was surprised with the fact that the guitar work at the opening track "Lifetime of a Journey" (8:14) reminds me to the work of Queen especially at the beginning part. But when vocal of Patrik Lundström enters the music it's definitely not the kind of music Queen - it's totally different. The close similar band is The Flower Kings. The other notable work is the walking bass lines by Jonas Reingold who is quite aggressive in his bass guitar playing. Coupled with excellent production it creates a musical astonishment for me, really. Hans Lundin's Hammond organ, synthesizers, mellotron and pianos are really nice. Drummer Jonas Reingold demonstrates his virtuosity with his drumming work. The music flows in dynamic styles with balanced high and low points featuring excellent vocal of Patrik Lundström. Great composition.

It continues with the second track "A Complex Work of Art" (11:57) with inventive combination of keyboard and bass guitar in relatively speed. It's a wonderful opener. The full-blown music follows immediately with a fast tempo music combining great guitar and keyboard work and it flows into a medium tempo track to welcome Aleena's lead vocal. The music flows melodically - in relatively slow/medium tempo - backed with howling guitar sounds at the background. At the end of lyrical part the music gradually moves into a complex arrangement connected through a bridge with keyboard work - even though some are repetitive but it's cool.

"The Weed of All Mankind" (9:29) opens with a great combination of keyboard, bass and dynamic drumming followed with a blues based guitar style. The mellotron sound at background has indicated the symphonic nature of this track. Patrik Lundström sings uniquely like a rock opera singer. It reminds me to the singing style of Alex Harvey of Sensational Alex Harvey Band. I have to admit that Patrik quality of voice is great and powerful. The accompanying music varies from mellow to hard and from simple to complex with smooth transition. The guitar solo augmented with keyboard in the middle of the track is truly stunning.

Wow! The fourth track "Sonic Pearls" (6:06) would definitely favor those of you who love neo prog. Why? It has so melodic keyboard solo at the opening it serves as the tagline melody for the whole track. It's great if you enjoy this track in the midnight - the increasing sound of keyboard will deeply touch your heart. The percussion work follows the music in simple beats. Patrik voice enters wonderfully and brings the music in full symphonic nature with touchy melody.

"The End of the Rope" (13:59) delivers a stream of music that at the beginning like a classic rock tune but it turns into an art rock kind of music with some tempo changes and, of course . stunning guitar! During transition piece the music turns into jazzy style with bass guitar solo. "Across the Big Uncertain" is sung in duo fashion, Patrik and Aleena. "Distant Voices" (13:00) is a track that combines a musical gradation from mellow to medium and relatively faster track with some complex arrangements that features intertwining sounds of guitar, keyboard accentuated with drumming and inventive bass lines. The guitar solo by Roine Stolt is stunning! "Otherworldly Brights" (7:08) is another great track that concludes the album.

What do you expect me to rate this album provided with the above views? Well, I'm not sure whether you agree with me or not but I cannot give this album less than a five star rating for two reasons: 1. tight composition for each individual track 2. Great musicianship. If you like The Flower Kings, I'm almost sure that you love this album In addition to music quality, the sonic quality of the CD is excellent - it's on par excellence with any The Flower Kings audio quality. This album is best enjoyed with a decent sound system and play it loud. Or, you may use Sennheiser headphones. Keep on proggin' ..!

Progressively yours,

GW

Gatot | 5/5 |

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