Art Rock Show – Karmakanic – Transmutation (Week 35)

Karmakanic is een progressieve rockband uit Zweden, opgericht in 2002 door bassist Jonas Reingold (bekend van The Flower Kings). Naast Reingold hebben verschillende topmuzikanten uit de Scandinavische progscene bijgedragen, waardoor Karmakanic vaak wordt gezien als een soort “supergroep”.

Graham Thomas van TPA (The Progressive Aspect): “So what makes this album so special? Well, in the first place, Jonas Reingold’s songwriting has blossomed in terms of melody and tunefulness. The songs are laden with memorable hooks, soaring verses and lush choruses. Whether he is writing shorter snappier songs or extended epics, his attention to detail is meticulous, and the melodic sweep of the album never falters. He has been working towards this end for a few albums now, but Transmutation sees him eclipse his previous work, resulting in the best Karmakanic album yet.

Secondly, Jonas has made an inspired choice of lead vocalist. John Mitchell has the perfect voice to carry this album, and he has been given the responsibility of singing on every song, bar the opening instrumental. Yes, he is assisted at key moments by Randy McStine, Göran Edman and Dina Höblinger, but the lion’s share is Mr Lonely Robot, and he does an excellent job, really pushing himself at times. It gives the whole enterprise a unifying identity which is essential with such an extensive guest list, and results in a true ‘band feel’. I’ll also make special mention of Krister Jonsson, who provides much of the lead guitar on the album, and his free wheeling fluidity is a joy to hear, with jazzy runs aplenty. (…)

This is music to make you smile, and for me, it does just that. The mid song jazzy interlude is fantastic, NDV pushing the pace, guitars and keys providing dexterous flashes of skill, all punctuated with stabs of sax from Townsend and organ from Andy Tillison. The outro, building on Hackett’s acoustic guitar motif, builds to a suitably passionate finale. It is as properly epic as any prog fan could want, and the sort of extended ending Roine Stolt would be proud of! Short and to the point it is not! Thoroughly satisfyingly overblown is what it is, and it’s a great way to end a supremely well crafted album. If Transmutation isn’t at, or near, the top of many fans’ end of year favourites, I’ll be very surprised. If you haven’t heard it yet, you know what to do.”

Naast Karmakanic (Transmutation), Beardfish (Songs For Beating Hearts), Nad Sylvan (Spiritus Mundi), Big Big Train (Folklore), Moon Safari (Himlabacken Vol. 2) & Mystery (Delusion Rain).”

• Thursday/Donderdag 12.00 – 24.00
• Friday/Vrijdag 12.00 – 24.00
• Saturday/Zaterdag 12.00 – 24.00