I highlighted it in ma progressive retrospective of 2023 releases for lesser-known artists and 'Antony Kalugin' returns at the start of 2024 with the third chapter 'Second Nature' of 'Messages from Afar', the first two chapters dating from 2017 with 'First Contact' and from 2018 with 'The Division and Illusion of Time', the latter having been released under his other project 'Sunchild'.
We are once again taken on a very beautiful progressive symphonic journey filled with gentleness and serenity. It is in a rural atmosphere that our journey begins with 'Ride Your Dream' which then charms us with very beautiful vocal harmonies, then we continue with the 7 minutes of the instrumental 'Fantasion' which continues in this peaceful atmosphere and relaxing mainly carried by the melodious keyboards of Antony Kalagin'. Also instrumental, 'November Blue' shows a hushed jazzy face on which we completely abandon ourselves, the saxophone of Yan Vedaman' adding to this light climate, then, 'Bond of Love' begins by highlighting the angelic singing of ' Maria Panasenko' and continues with a long, more rock instrumental section with 'Dmytro Ignatov' which offers us magnificent electric guitar peregrinations around the main musical theme, the finale giving back the hand to 'Maria Panasenko' which concludes this title in a very beautiful way . Follows 'Agora by Night' which is a very soft instrumental piece in which 'Max Velychko' shows all his talent for conveying beautiful emotions on the acoustic guitar, then, 'Daybreak' this time highlights the keyboardist talent of Antony Kalugin' who makes a very nice duet with the saxophonist 'Yan Vedaman', flirting with light and rhythmic jazz. The distinguished guest 'Colin Bass' comes to sing on 'Bright Little Star' which is another delicious melodious composition in an atmosphere filled with beautiful sweetness (see the video above), then, 'Searching for Mr. Kite 'takes us into a magnificent labyrinth led by the keyboards of Antony Kalugin' and is the perfect example of the Ukrainian's talent as a composer to develop long progressive pieces merging numerous influences (see the video here). The album ends in melancholy with 'Second Nature' which offers us a final gripping melody, the piano accompaniment of Antony Kalugin' bringing a very beautiful emotion.
In summary, 'Antony Kalugin' continues to release magnificent albums very regularly and this third part of 'Messages from Afar' is a beautiful sequel to the first two albums: if you want even more, you can get it on bandcamp 'The Working Tapes' which contains previously unreleased tracks and alternative versions of 'Second Nature'... | |
