FRAGMENTS OF LIGHT

Mostly written by the Spanish keyboard player Carlos Plaza, the music has moments of early White Willow's female vocals with lush symphonic keys, along with long composed passages using a wide cariety of real and sampled instruments. Other influences for Kotebel would be Kate Bush's dramatic overdubbed vocals and the odd chord structures perfected by bands such as Isildur's Bane or Anglagard, only in a happier mood more like After Crying. There is no ad libbing or noodling around, but a constant flow of interesting ideas. Guitar and flute take the melodies briefly, always returning to the two keyboard players for a new direction in the song, or a coda and an end point. This album (the second of three from Kotebel at this point, with another due out shortly) includes 12 songs with a full band and a solo piano piece. Of special note is the full blown symphonic "Children's Suite" complete with choral voices (not sampled) and a full orchestral sound that will take your breath away. This release and each subsequent Kotebel release have the range of ideas which push the boundaries of symphonic progressive rock without being annoying or boring. Highly recommended.