IN THE WAKE OF EVOLUTION

Kaipa is in a weird spot between being a retro prog band, and a classic?symphonic prog group. They started in the 70s with their eponymous debut in 1975. They would go for a couple of years since then, releasing about five or so symphonic prog records before disbanding in 1982 after their new wave flop of Nattdjurstid. They then reformed in the 2000s with Notes From The Past, marking their new shift as what many would consider a retro prog group, with brand new members such as Patrik Lundström of Ritual, and some older members like Roine Stolt popping in to help the group out. This new iteration of Kaipa is not to be confused with Kaipa Da Capo, which features predominantly the older members of the classic Kaipa from the 70s. This timeline sort of makes Kaipa a time piece of sorts for both the old days of prog rock, and the modern music being put out.

Personally, I am more of a fan of their newer stuff. My journey with Kaipa actually started quite early in my prog rock adventure. You see, in early 2021 I was obsessed with the track 'In The Wake Of Poseidon' by King Crimson. I tried to scour any renditions or versions of the song the best I could. This was how I discovered the Italian band La Maschera Di Cera as they played that song live on their Belgium 2005 album. Whilst continuing my search for lofty Crimson covers, I managed to find the title track of the album I am currently reviewing. I didn't think much of it, I liked the song and carried on with my search. Then 2022 rolled around, and I discovered Kaipa once more through Urskog, which I still think is their best record they've released. I decided then to check more of their stuff out, even looking back at their older records. I wasn't obsessed, but I certainly had quite the infatuation in the summer of 2022. Then I eventually wound back right to where I started, In The Wake Of Evolution.

I gotta say, this album is certainly one of their best they've put out to me. This album is the second release of what I dub their 'butterfly era', which started with Angling Feelings in 2007, through Vittjar in 2012. I dub this the butterfly era, as their logo then had a butterfly over the i. They stopped this era with Sattyg in 2014. I haven't heard Vittjar yet, but out of the two I have heard from this era, Wake Of Evolution takes the cake.

I really love this album because of the joyous energy Kaipa has on here. Kaipa, and most retro prog in general, always had quite a celebratory energy, but here it feels like they took that power to a whole new level, which they continued to hold in the albums after. The title track has this very bouncy feel, Folkia's First Decision feels like I am in a glamorous medieval pub, Arcs of Sound has this absolutely fun guitar solo; You would be hard pressed not to find something enjoyable here, or at least something that doesn't make you smile while tapping your feet.

The title track in particular is really fun. A 10 minute extravaganza of these bouncy keyboards, fun guitar medleys, and super enjoyable vocal performances from Aleena Gibson and Patrik Lundström. I consider this track to be Kaipa's bonafide masterpiece, and that's not counting my slight nostalgia for it. It's also the best longer track on the album, which leads a bit to the issues I have here.

Aside from the title track, of course, the longer tracks feel just a tad too long for me. I know, "GASP!" a prog fan finds a song too long, but it's true. The epic of Electric Power Water Notes, and the final 10 minute track of The Seven Oceans of Our Mind just feel like they are played for much longer than they probably should, if I am being honest. Electric Power Water Notes ends quite greatly after the 11 minute mark, and would be a good end to the song with that nice guitar solo, but then it keeps going for much longer, and with a pretty not so satisfying ending too. It feels more obligatory than it should.

The Seven Oceans of Our Mind isn't the worst offender here, but it's certainly not the best either. It has a perfect cap on the song with the 6 minute mark, being a reprisal of the first lyrics sung off the track. It would be a great way to end off the album, but then we get an additional 3 minutes of guitar solos and music, and while it is admittedly good music, I cannot help but feel it is also very unnecessary. These two long tracks feel more enforced, and certainly show that later Kaipa releases have a better understanding of how to implement these longer songs much better into the track listings.

However, a remedy is found within the lyrics. A lot of Kaipa releases don't quite follow the same thematics this album includes, being that of questions that the new generations may have to answer, and how the future for the youth doesn't seem to be better than the present we have now. It is very conscious, and I think this album certainly holds some of the group's best lyrics, which is admittedly not a high bar to set since the group is more instrumently focused than lyrically.

While imperfect, this record holds some of the best moments of Kaipa, and Swedish prog in general, and is just in general a very good-feeling record to listen to. While I say listen to Notes From The Past first if you want a taste of modern Kaipa, give this one a try too if you dig the group's retro prog stylings. You can never go wrong with a good Kaipa release, that's for sure.

Best tracks: In the Wake of Evolution, Folkia's First Decision, Arcs of Sound

Worst tracks: Electric Power Water Notes, The Seven Oceans of Our Mind