ANGLING FEELINGS

I have some mixed feelings about this CD its clear that there are some good songs on it unfortunately though there's some experimental moments that I didn`t think worked all that well, in fairness though the good songs must tally up to a good 40 minutes worth of listening enjoyment. The female vocals sound great ! I really enjoy her singing the songs and other parts the male sings don't do much for me. This CD is good prog don't get me wrong there is enough overall musicality and expression to keep one listening and lyrically its pretty good . The stand out songs in my opinion are Angling Feelings, Across The Big Uncertain, Distant Voices & Path Of Humbleness. Had Kaipa kept this CD shorter in Duration and perhaps let the female sing most of the time I would have given this a better rating, as it stands it is a 7/10 CD with some great moments and some not so great moments. I expect that everyone is going to have a different opinion about this recording, I doubt anybody will think it is bad, the reviewer for DPRP has already awarded Angling Feelings a 9/10 which is an excellent rating. It is going to be a case of beauty being in the eye of the beholder for Angling Feelings, it will definitely be some peoples idea of a great CD for sure.

four stars but really 3 and half stars

I remember Kaipa as a Seventies band featuring Roine Stolt on guitar, meanwhile he has become the musical brainchild of the acclaimed neo-prog band The Flower Kings. Listening to the new Kaipa album I have to admit that I am disappointed about the music. I don't like the vocals and I had expected better arranged and more captivating compositions, to me many tracks sound as studio jam sessions: it goes on and, often without any direction with an important role for soli on guitar and keyboards, the most interesting part of this CD. Don't get me wrong, this album is a decent effort but to me it fails to generate excitement, a matter of taste as you can read in the oterh review by Big Kansas Fan. My rating: 2,5 stars.

I'm not really familiar with other Kaipa albums, this is the first album I have listened to in full. It starts off strongly with the title track, in fact what more could you want of a prog rock track, this one has it all: syncopated rhythms, busy drumming, folk melody played on pipes, emotional vocals, fantastic harmonies, virtuostic solos, swinging middle section, etc...The album has a strong affinity to the Flower Kings, even though Roine Stolt is now gone. In some ways it is even stronger than FK, the compositions are much more compact, and have better harmonies. However there are some musical links that sound like they weren't carefully elaborated, and some less inspired parts. In fact the album sounds like it was a bit rushed. The guitarist in particular sounds like he could have been a session player who recorded his parts over the weekend (even if he is excellent technically). The production is really excellent, although I question the reverb used on the drums (although Morgan Ågren is one of the best drummers I've ever heard), it sounds weird when drums are playing solo. One of the main highlights for me are the vocals of Aleena Gibson - what a powerful voice! All in all the album stradles the line between good and excellent, because of some of the flaws I mentioned. 3.5 stars really.

Well, by comparing such a diverse effort by Per Nilsson (in the place of R. Stolte at the electric guitars) with Kaipa, to their three first works, you have to remark a substantial difference...first of all the performance by Mr Per is just a little bit weaker, above all talking about his music ideas; then the vocals as well the lyrics inside are not convincing at all, despite of the support by Fredrik Lindqvist (regarding of the record effects within). In fact I can't think of the uneven performance by Patrik Lundstrom at the vocals (already with the band Ritual) as the main part of the whole album, even though for a moment I forget it when for instance the guest Lindqvist plays the flute inside "The Glorious Silence Within". Therefore this latter song gives the album a different touch, but it seems to be the only remarkable episode from the beginning to the end..don't get me wrong, in order to break the derivative aspects of Kaipa 70's progressive music They has just introduced a few much more modern episodes, such as those ones in the vein of Liquid Tension Experiment for example, which can be appreciated by a wider crowd of metal prog fans (I think of the Dream Theatre fans), but I don't believe it' s enough. Except on a few breaks-through within "Path of Humbleness" and also talking about the performance by Aleena Gibson at the vocals, the other tracks are too much uneven to make the present issue an essential number...so if you're not strictly a big fan of Kaipa for sure you won't buy "A.F.", otherwise it could be an important occasion to re-discover the old albums by the swedish classic prog rock ensemble.

Make your own choice!!

What is that?

I remember the good old KAIPA with flawless Symphonic Prog albums like “Kaipa” and “Inget Nytt Under Solen”. Here we have completely another picture. As some reviewers mentioned before, it’s very much like DREAM THEATER, and I’d say, at its worse. Loads of duel solos (Petrucci-like quirky guitar and Sherinian-like fuzzy mini-moog) on the basis of almost fusion-like rhythm section. Nothing LIQUID TENSION-related here nevertheless, despite the description above, only pointless jams which are interrupted from time to time by male and female vocals (I’ll try to abstain from terms like “nausea-causing”), both artificially “emotional” and “over-the-edged”…As well as the whole music – too pretentious, too complex, with rare melodic oases and few enjoyable folky breaks. The middle of the album has totally turned me off, with all this gospel-like breathy female singing and pompous perpetual soloing. If you’re a fan of early KAIPA, I won’t recommend you this one, even for checking. It reminds more of TANGENT and THE FLOWER KINGS laughable attempts to win over Prog Classics…but it’s even more laughable.

I really don´t understand some of the reviews I read about this album. It made me hesitate to buy it, even though I liked very much their preivous Notes From The Past and Keyholder. When I finally did get the CD when a friend told me how good it was, I was ashamed of how long it took me to have it. I can´t stop listening to it. High caliber prog music! Ok, it is different from their earlier releases but it is also bursting with inspiration and guts. Every track is a winner and the combination fo the male and female vocals reachs a new level here. Aleena Gibson voice is much more featured on Angling Feelings and she proves herself a distinctive singer: she sounds like no one else and is a very fine and versatile.

On the other hand we have a fantastic, tight band (although Roine Stolt has left the fold, being replaced by Per Nilsson)). Hans Lundin´s songwriting is in top form and the group delivers their stuff with energy, conviction and a freshness rarely seen on such a veteran bunch. Oh, how I wish the Flower Kings had those guts nowadays! Kaipa changed, yes, and for the better. Don´t worry, it is still symphonic prog. The music is complex and the musicians are skilled, masters of their instruments. But they also have the courage to do soething more than repeat themselves. And the result is a music that defies categorization: strong and intricated, yet beautiful and accessible.

Angling Feelings is an album that reeks with power and beauty. Not a single weak track in the whole CD, not a single note wasted. One of the best albums of 2007. Highlits? All the tracks. If you don´t believe, just relax and listen. A must have for any prog fan. Highly recommended.

well my frinde who said history didnt repeat?in the 70s when kaipa was born thy made 3 albums with roine stolt befor he left and the band chenge direction .{this 3 albums are the best thy did ever and in the top 10 of prog rock albums of all time if you ask me}now in the 2000s thy made a reunion with 3 albums with mr stolt befor he left and the direction was chenge once again.in this time the resolt is much better then in the 70s-80s and this album is good.but{and there always be but in cases like this}this album to me sound more like kayak album then kaipa.as i love kayak very much i find this album very enjoyable .{in 1992-3 kaipa made album with mr stolt calld Stockholm Symphonie but i never heard him so i dont count this album here}so if you love kaipa and kayak albums you didnt dissapoint with this one but if you new to kaipa and you want to know this bend in all glory please start with the 3first albums.4 stars to this one.

The best of the later Kaipa albums? I think so, largely because of the new guitarist Per Nilsson whose playing is superb, with a jazzy feel sometimes reminiscent of Allan Holdsworth in smoothness of flow. There are also tracks with a folky feel by the addition of flutes and whistles. I took a long time to learn to like the vocalists but I've acquired that taste at last. This is fine symphonic rock with a relaxed feel and lots of melody.

I agree with several others - Angling Feelings is the best of the new Kaipa records. Notes from the Past and Keyholder have some nice songs, but the overall quality of Angling Feelings is much higher. There are moments that reminds of the 70s Kaipa, such as Path of humbleness which is influenced by Nordic folk music.

The last year I bought this record 'cause I was very interested listening to this band and their contemporary output. Angling Feelings soon made good impression to me. I like very much the childish vocals of the female singer... she seems to be just a baby... all in all a fresh sound when mixed to the excellent symphonic performance of the musicians. Excellent the interplay between guitar and synth and the joyful flute (whistle they say) excursions. Energy for my ears.

Not an essential album but very fine and warmly recommended. The only problem is perhaps the long running time. Over 62 minutes of music. I usually get bored when things go on to much and are too much repetitive. Maybe it's the only negative remark for this record.

a solid 3.5 stars evaluation.

I was rather suspect with this album when I noticed that Roine was not any longer with the band.

The last time he wasn't featured on a "Kaipa" album ("Nattdjurstid"), it was a total nightmare. "Angling Feelings" is not as poor as that one, but it is only a repetition of prior releases.

Vocals are not great (even Aleena has known better days IMO). Most songs have a sound of "déjà entendu" and don't bring any variety in "Kaipa" repertoire. It is the same stuff over again.

The guitar style from Roine is taken over almost exactly, the jazzy and complex textures of TFK are here, the same sort of keyboard sounds can be experienced throughout the album (which is very short, in terms of "Kaipa" output: only sixty-four minutes! They must have been short of inspiration.).

I guess that there is nothing wrong with a band who is sticking to a very similar work, but with the addition of TFK ones, this output is just too much of the same. I quite liked their first three album, as well as their coming back one ("Notes from the Past"). These should be sufficient to any symphonic prog lover to avoid such repetitive efforts as this one.

If you are deeply in love with "Kaipa", this is not their worse record. Actually, I would even judge it slightly better than its predecessor ("Mindrevolutions"). The guitar work from Per Nilsson is very good (even if he remains overshadowed by Roine in his musical style).

After a weak middle part, the album is caching up nicely again with "Path Of Humbleness" (although, I am not sure that the title is justified). It is a fine symphonic composition with Aleena at her best. My preferred song from this album (together with the more jazzy "The Feeling Existence Of Time").

Some more folk atmosphere (like in their debut) can be appreciated during "Where's The Captain?" and the closing track is just on par with the first two opening ones (which means good).

In all, this Kaipa effort is on the edge between average to good. Three stars.

A different angle...

The DREAM THEATER like title track opens the ball and I get the (angling ?) feeling that I am on a train I have never travelled on before. This mix of male and female vocals are special to say at least. The song even breaks into Swedish folk rock halfway through. This song is great. Another great song is the epic thirteen minutes long The Fleeting Existence Of Time. This song is very symphonic with a great hook and time shifts. The references to GENESIS are pretty obvious here. The rest of the album is good to, but these are the only truly great songs on this album.

Music wise, this album is a blend of fusion, symphonic prog and Swedish folk music. References are DREAM THEATER, GENESIS and THE FLOWER KINGS. The female vocals makes this an unusual album, to say at least. But most of the music is most definate symphonic prog with a strange twist. The disappearance of Roine Stolt from the band has maybe left a vacuum, but I think Kaipa has done a good job without him. I have no idea if this is Kaipa's swansong. I hope not. I happens to like this album and I have withdrawn it from my sales page at Amazon. This is one I want to keep for myself.

3.75 stars.

Angling Feelings has been one of the most pleasant surprises in my personal experience of contemporary progressive rock development. It is one of those albums you may keep returning to it without fear it will leave you with indifference and disappointment. My first contact with Kaipa was through 'Notes from the Past' - not a bad album, but far from making me interested and attracted to Kaipa's music. Fortunately, a friend offered me Angling Feelings and it totally changed my perception not only of Kaipa, but of the whole potential of recent progressive rock production. I have suddenly become interested in FK, Spock's Beard, Karmakanic, The Tangent and lots of other new stuff. This may sound strange, but I strongly believe that one of the major reasons of Angling Feelings' unique quality is the absence of Roine Stolt - a very good guitar player but a man whose pretensions overcome his musical capabilities. On the other hand, the extraordinary voice of Aleena Gibson is one of those distinctive elements which make the album so outstanding. Keyboard and guitar work (Lundin and Nilsson) are also very good and inspiring. The album has a strong rhythmic component, very energetic and progressive, even psychedelic in moments, with dramatic and unexpected shifts, beautiful melodies and atmospheric perspectives. Typical examples: Path of Humbleness and The Fleeting Existence of Time. Angling Feelings is flawlessly produced. The listening deserves relevant equipment. More than four stars.

Once again Roine Stolt has left the band, but this time Hans Lundin and company did not degenerate into simplistic pop music, but actually improved the sound over the previous album, Mindrevolutions. In fact, new guitarist does a fantastic job, with both rhythm & solo guitar parts.

Once again, Kaipa has created a beautiful album of symphonic prog. This one has a strong Yes influence. The song structures are slightly reminiscent of the famed group, but it's the lyrics and vocals, that bring Yes to mind mostly (and I assume dropping Yes titles and keywords into the lyrics was not an accident). I don't count that against them. There should be more bands in this world that strive to sound like Yes.

Vocalists Patrik Lundström and Aleena Gibson have learned to mesh their voices together much better, creating soaring harmonies (a talent they will perfect on the next album). And Jonas Reingold and Morgan Ågren once again provide a powerful rhythm section.

Disappointed.

I´ve always had high hopes for Kaipa - they come from very fruitful prog music country- Sweden, there is undoubtedly high level of musicianship in the band and the Progarchives community has given this album a fairly high rating of 3.45. This purchase can´t go wrong you might think? Well, not exactly.

First of all, the album just sounds like most of the songs are written without a direction in mind. Many sections in different tracks repeat each other which makes them sound too much alike. Vocal melodies aren´t excactly helping either, because there is very little real creativity and a lot of rambling movements, which, in time, just gets annoying. In fact, sad to say, but female vocals on this record sometimes get downright disturbing, because of their high-pitched sound that tends to pierce the instrumentals. Oh, and not to mention the esthetics - I can´t decide which one is sillier - the name of the album or its cover? Solitary Pathway is probably the weakest song of the album, because the sense of 80´s pop music riffs (not in a good, Frank Zappa style) makes it sound nothing but cheesy.

There were a few enjoyable moments though. I really liked most of the instrumental solos, for example in Liquid Holes in the Sky and Path of Humbleness. The creativity of drumming and synth harmonies on this record are absolutely remarkable. Nevertheless, in my mind Angling Feelings is a weaker album than Mindrevolutions and In The Wake of Evolutions.

Just found myself thinking - if I could get only the instrumental edit of this record, I´d probably give it 3,5 stars.

Angling feelings from 2007 is just another Kaipa album. No better then two predecesors but not bad either. Same symphonic prog that in my opinion fail to progress. Without Stolt this album in places is almost dull, ok the musicians play nicely but the ideas fail to impress me big time. Not a pieces is particulary great, just maybe The Fleeting Existence of Time, by far the best tune of the album. The symphonic prog elements are all over, but are so usual that I had hard times listning to this in one shot. All in all , while is ok most of the time, is nothing really great or inovative like old Kaipa albums. 3 stars with indulgence.