KEYHOLDER

Make no mistake about it, this is a splendid album! This was the first Kaipa release that I bought, and that on the strength of the beautiful track available here to download - 'A Complex Work Of Art'. That song alone is enough to make the album worth buying. Aleena, the girl who sings it, has an amazing range and hits some breathtaking notes as the song reaches its climax. The melody is really lovely, and the musicianship, as one would expect from Lundin/Stolt/Reingold et all, is supreme. I found myself almost grinning away to myself without realising it when I first heard this track. However, the whole album is just as consistently good. 'Lifetime Of A Journey' sets the scene, with complex, colourful and melodic music backing Patrick Lundstrom's Freddie Mercury-like vocals. He doesn't exactly sound like Freddie, but he sings very much in that theatrical style. Listen and you will see what I mean. 'The Weed Of All Mankind' is a typical case in point. Very Queen-like at times, the song has interesting touches and different tempos as it progresses, yet retains the same melody, using it in slightly different forms and at slightly different speeds, the whole merging together to sound light and airy, even though the guitar does use the odd power chord in the chorus. Very catchy. 'Sonic Pearls' is a slower, more moody piece, showing off lovely soundscapes behind Patrick's voice. 'The End Of The Rope' is the longest track on here, and, ironically, may be my least favourite; but that's not to say it isn't a good song. There is some nice slide guitar at the beginning, end, and various points throughout it, and again strong instrumentation. It becomes, at times, almost a straight rock song, but not quite. Lots of improvisation in the middle section before the beginning is reiterated towards the end. Very good. 'Across The Big Uncertain' is another highlight. Here, Patrick and Aleena share vocal duties, and very nicely they blend together too. Another lovely melody is backed by a more straightforward, yet still quite complex song. Nice guitar here from Roine too. 'Distant Voices' is a far more complex song, especially in the middle, and there are many changes in tempo and time signatures througout. A good workout for the musicians. Finally, we have another highly melodic track, 'Otherworldly Brights', with its slower yet catchy tempo and strong vocals building up to a fine climax, before settling down to a nice finish. A strong ending to an excellent album. I have the boxed set that was released late last year of Kaipa's first three albums from the '70's, and that is excellent. This modern incarnation of the band actually bears more resemblance to The Flower Kings than to Kaipa, but that is only to be expected, given Stolt's recent history. I love both bands, so can't lose here! Wonderful stuff! A necessary purchase for lovers of both bands.