Antony Kalugin, is a composer, producer, musician, and designer from Ukraine/ Kharkiv. He is quite prolific in the musical works he has produced throughout his career. His motto is simply, “Let there be more Light!” I am absolutely for that!
Anthony sent me his new album for review; which was released on March 24, 2023. The title is: Karfagen – Passage to the Forest of the Mysterious. It is an amazing album of progressive music instrumentals, mixed well with vocals and lyrics, whose theme generously features the natural world surrounding all of us. His music helps inform us to enjoy all of this natural beauty that we have been gifted with, and remember, not take it for granted.
Antony Kalugin, composed, arranged, mixed and mastered all the music with input from a long list of special guest artists, who help him paint wonderful sound pictures on this delightful album. Antony uses the poetry of famous poets like, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and William Blake, and he adds some poetry of his own, as well. Furthermore, Antony plays keyboards, percussion, penny flute, guitar, and handles arrangements, programming, and sings lead vocals on most songs.
He has also included a generous amount of native and other musical talent, to help him make this magical music; including:
Mathieu Spaeter: playing electric guitars
Max Velychko: playing electric and acoustic guitars
Konstantin Ionenko: playing bass
Viktor Syrotin: playing drums
Tim Sobolev: on vocals
Olha Rostovska: on vocals
Aleksandr Pavlov: playing nylon and jazz electric guitar
Yan Vedaman: playing saxophone
Alexandr Pastuchov: playing bassoon
Maria Baranovska: playing violin
Elena Kushiy: playing flute
Igor Sokolskiy: created all the album paintings.
Every track on this album is worth your investment of time, care, and listening. This album is a very uplifting album, bringing elements of Genesis and Yes, as well as helping set music to the works of great poets like Blake and Longfellow.
“Kingfisher and Dragonflies part 4”, is a peaceful and light air, instrumental, filled with acoustic guitar, keyboard impressions and light vocal tones. A “Wonderous Stories”-like voyage of flight with the kingfishers and dragonflies of the sky. Flute is gently added to give it wind. Over three minutes of sky-bound wonder.
“Mysterious Forest part 1 – World in a Grain of Sand”, opens with a wonderful rainforest cloudburst, of rain sounds, while keyboards and Jon Anderson-like vocals fill the air. The lyrics reflect the influence of Jon, but these are the words of William Blake’s masterpiece, Auguries of Innocence, poem. “To see a world in a grain of sand. And a Heaven in a wild flower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hand. And eternity in an hour”. Then, he sings the part of the poem that Jim Morrison of The Doors, made famous on their debut album. From the song, “End of the Night”, Antony sings, “Some are born to sweet delight”. If you haven’t been listening, you definitely are now. Waiting for what might come next…This is the second-longest track on the first CD, and it is full of innovative keyboards, programming, and synth sounds. Like a Yes or Tony Banks masterpiece. Easily one of the best songs on the album.
“Mysterious Forest Part 2 – The Ominous Ride”, opens with soft keyboards, pianos, backing orchestration and sound programming. A wonderful instrumental journey, later filled with drumming and soaring electric guitar. It does become darker and indeed, more ominous, as the ‘ride’ continues. The looping and skywriting electric guitar made so famous by Steve Hackett, lifts the sound over the horizon.
“To Those Who Dwell in Realms of Day”, returns to the theme of Blake’s Auguries of Innocence, poem. And Antony sings, “Some are born to sweet delight. Some are born to endless night”, which reminded me again of the Doors observation and renowned rendition of the poem musically. The acoustic guitar, flute, and orchestration are wonderful. Innocence is the theme of this song and overall CD.
“Birds of Passage and the Enchanted Forest”, opens with soft acoustic guitar and Yes-like, Tony Kaye/Rick Wakeman, keyboards. The Steve Howe-like electric guitar is also wonderful. This is the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow side of the CD.
Antony creates a song to support Longfellow’s wonderful poem, Birds of Passage. This is the longest and best song on the album, at over 19 minutes. The electric guitar solo at the end of the first section is extraordinary! Then, Antony switches back to soft vocals and keyboards, along with other woodwinds and flute to provide a dynamic change. Like the middle section of a great Yes epic track.
The rest of the song is just as wonderful as the first. The band Yes, did not add as many instruments as Antony does here on this epic. It is full of orchestral level sound. A dynamic and wonderful song on the level of Yes and others from the genre.
“Through the Whispers of the Wind”, is a wonderful acoustic guitar piece with surrounding orchestration, violin, and flute. Like a reprise of some of Genesis early works, only different and original.
“Mysterious Forest part 3 – World in a Grain of Sand Reprise”, is a reprise of the original track, only this time keyboards, synths and programming dominate, until the acoustic guitar solo takes over, and the sax is added, as well. The electric guitar solo towards the end, is also a nice addition.
“Birds of Passage and the Enchanted Forest – (Single Version)”, is a shorter version of the original.
I highly recommend this album! It is a new version of some of the classic sounds I remember, and loved, from my past. It is a wonderful, dream-like journey that also makes you ponder the elegant poetry of some masters of the English language. Not only that, but it made me look up the meaning and history of these poems; and that was well worth the effort and time spent. I remember reading these poems years ago in maybe high school. But my only recent reference was The Doors’ album, which I have listened to more recently. However, Jim Morrison did not do justice to Blake’s poem, the way that Antony does here. This is a must for any Yes or classical progressive rock fan. Just put on your headphones and sit back and enjoy this journey.
Track List:
1. Kingfisher and Dragonflies part 4
2. Mysterious Forest part 1 – World in a Grain of Sand
3. Mysterious Forest part 2 – The Ominous Ride
4.To Those Who Dwell in Realms of Day
5. Birds of Passage and the Enchanted Forest
6. Through the Whispers of the Wind
7. Mysterious Forest part 3 – World in a Grain of Sand Reprise
8. Birds of Passage and the Enchanted Forest – (Single Version)
Website and Social Media:
https://antonykalugin.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kfg.music/
You Tube and Music Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCysqBYblE4TLWI5xTdXAFTg
jhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIqE26BDE_4&list=OLAK5uy_m4Ppr9BXPzjLkjSN53XDUmAcwMiPSWrSw