PÕLETUS / SÕNUM

KASEKE is considered Estonia's finest progressive-fusion band. They started playing around 1980, and released their only full-length album in 1983 (which quickly became a collector's item). Their style of fusion is clean, and influenced mostly by the late-seventies American-fusion scene. In fact, many tracks here have a radio-friendly sound. Yet the music has a subtle complexity to it that will appeal to prog fans more so than the casual jazz listener. The thing that struck me, while listening to Kaseke, was that the band sounded incredibly modern. I would have never guessed that most of the music came out in 1983. Even the keyboards sound like that came out of the factory around 1998. And the keyboardists (there are several that play on the album) remind me a bit of Jordan Rudess's work on the LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT albums. The keyboard playing is not as complex, of course, but the choice of notes are similar to Jordan's. The listener will also notice the nice dual-guitar work by Ain Varts, and Riho Sibul who are known in Europe for their skills. Overall, this CD will please most progressive-fusion/jazz fans. Don't expect Iceberg #2, but the music here is of high quality.

When I first heard the re-releases of the HORIZONT albums on the Russian Boheme Music label I was totally blown away by these forgotten jewels. This time it's an amazing Estonian band called KASEKE whose two releases (The EP "Sõnum" from 1983 and the LP "Põletus" from 1981) are now re-mastered and re-released on one CD through the same label.

KASEKE are playing 70's influenced instrumental progressive jazz-fusion with some avant- garde and RIO (Rock In Opposition) influences. There are some brief reminiscences to EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER, FINNFOREST, GENESIS, HAIKARA, KING CRIMSON, and YES, but most of all they have their own original style. They are all magnificent musicians. On five of the thirteen tracks you can hear one of Estonia's leading jazz pianists, Tonu Naissoo, play keyboards.

This is one of the better releases lately, and I hope that Boheme Music will continue their search for these forgotten jewels, because this is a real progressive masterpiece that you can listen to over and over again.