Buried Alone – Tales of Crushing Defeat (Believers Roast, 2009)
Of all the recent progressive rock acts I’ve heard lately, Knifeworld is surely one of the most original and quirky. The band is led by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Kavus Torabi. He has one of the most charismatic voices of the new generation of progressive rock singers.
Knifeworld’s is hard to categorize. Kavus Torabi is always full of surprises, changing tempos abruptly and creating various moods that range from dreamy and exotic to high energy rock. Toravi uses familiar rock music instruments such as electric guitar, keyboards and bass as well as rarely used instruments in the genre such as Indian santoor.
The vocals play and essential role. Toravi masterfully combines male and female solo vocals, choruses, ethereal voices and overdubbed sections.
Highlights of Buried Alone – Tales Of Crushing Defeat include ‘Singled Out For Battery’ where Toravi shows his skillful guitar and vocal work plus the use of a recorder solo by Katherine Blake.
On ‘Corpses Feuding Underground’ you’ll find tasty saxophone work by Sarah Measures. The style has connections with the exciting Canterbury sound.
The dreamlike ‘Severed of Horsehoof’ mixes sound effects, skillful tempo changes and Toravi on a wide range of instruments, including the santoor; and more of the outstanding horn creations by Sarah Measures.
‘An Arrival’ has a surreal feel, mixing santoor, guitar and electronic ambiance with a wide range of ethereal female and male vocals.
The otherworldly ‘Unwreckaged’ features more of the brilliant piano, synth and santoor atmospheres.
‘The Money Shot’ has a familiar feel. It includes the always welcomed mellotron, guitar and horns.
Lastly, the short composition titled ‘Torch’ showcases Torabi’s capacity on various types of guitars.
The rest of the pieces feature the heavy metal or hard rock riffs that never bring any value to progressive rock.
Musicians who performed on Buried Alone – Tales Of Crushing Defeat include Kavus Torabi on guitars, bass, vocals, keyboards, violin, santoor; Khyam Allami on drums; Melanie Woods on vocals; Katherine Blake on recorder; Sarah Measures on saxophone, clarinet, and flute; Ben Jacobs on trumpet; James Larcombe on piano, vocals; Crawford Blair on/ bass; Shona Davidson on vocals; and Johnny Karma on vocals.
Buried Alone – Tales of Crushing Defeat is a fascinating and audacious recording that presents the multitalented Kavus Torabi joined by a fine cast of musicians.
Listen to samples and buy MP3s:
Buy CD: