STELLAR GARDENER

Another solo album by Antony Kalugin? How does he do it? With his previous album only a few months old, here he is with yet another CD of beautiful progressive rock that we all know and love him for! But this album does have a strange sense of irony to me. I'll explain in a few minutes!

Once again Antony has composed some amazing keyboard melodies and there are intricate arrangements on display here. Some chirpy synth solos, and in some places there are some blaring organ riffs. But what really "pops my cork" about this album is not his keyboard playing, marvelous though it is, something else grabs my attention. Its his guitar playing! Oh yes, that is the irony I was referring to earlier - how is a keyboard player so good at playing guitar? His playing has some great riffs and solos on both electric and acoustic guitars. Some of the riffs remind me a little of Brian May, and that's a good thing! A very good thing!

So with a perfect balance of keys and guitars, Antony has produced a most pleasing album that feels like a breath of fresh air, especially as here in UK we are still under lockdown (we were when I wrote my last review!) so if I'm to be a good boy and stay indoors, at least there has been some fantastic new music to listen to, and this CD is a must-have to anyone's collection! Great keys, great melodies, and I love the guitar parts!

I see from the sleeve notes that this is in memory of his Mother Irina. I'm sure she must be very happy and very proud of her son for composing and producing such amazing music as he has over the years. Keep it up Antony and we look forward to whatever come next.