▄█████▄ ░█████▄ ▄████▄░█▄ ░█▄ ▄█████▄ ███▄██ ▄██ ▄█▄ ▄██████ ▄█▄ ▄███ ░████░██▀████▓ ▀██ ▄██░▀█████ ████ ███▓ ██████▓██ ▓███████ ███▓░▀█▀████ ███▓ ███▓ ▓███░ ██ ██▄ ▄██▓██ ▓███▓██░ ▓███░███░███████████▄ ███░███░ ███░ ▄███ ███ ▄█▀░ ████████░██ █████████▄ ▓██░███ ███▓█████████ ███████ ███ ███░ ███████ ███▓ ░██ ██ ██████▓ ░██ ▀██ ███░███▓██████ ███▓███ ███ ███ ████████░███░ ███ ██▄ ██▓███░ ██▄ ██░██▓ ███ ▀▀████ ███░███ ███ ███ ███▓░███████░ ███ ███▓██ ███ ███▓██▓██░ ███ ▓████ ███ ███ ▓██▓ ███ ███░ ▓██████ ███ ▓████ ▓██▄ ▓████████ ███ ▓███ ███ ███ ███░███ ███ ░██████ ███ ░████ ░███ ███▓███▓ ███ ░███ ███ ███ ██▓███ ███ ███▓██ ███ ███ ▓██▄ ███░███░ ███ ███ ███ ███ ░█████ ███ ██▓░██▄ ███ ▓█▀ ▓██▄ ███ ██░ ███ ██▓ ███ ███ ░███▀ ░█▀ ██░ ██ ░█▀ ░███▄ ▀ ▀ ▓█▀ ███░ ░█▀ ██▀ ██░ ▄██▀ ░█▄ ▄███▀ ░██ ░ ██ ▓░ ▓░ ██░ ▓█░ ░█▀ ▀█░ ░█▓ ░ ██ ██ Artist: Karmakanic ██ ██ ▓ █░░ ■█ Album: Dot █■ ░░█ ■ █▓▀ █ Year: 2016 █ ▀▓█ ░ █ ▓ Rel. Date: 2017-01-03 ▓ █ ▒ ▒ Genre: Progressive Rock ▒ ▒ █▄ ░ Label: Inside Out Music ░ ▄█ ░ █▄ ░ Source: CD ░ ▄█ ░ █▓ Type: Album ▓█ ░ ▓ █ Quality: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo █ ░ ▓ ▓ █ █ ░ ▓ ▄ ■ ■ ▓ ■ ░█ █░ ▀ █ This time, Jonas Reingold added plenty of █ █ musicians to help him make this album, a concept █ █ about the evolution of the universe. We are in the █ █ usual style of symphonic prog rock that doesn't █ █ shy away from the Jazz and the heavy prog which █ █ gives to the music both vintage and modern sound. █ █ It starts really in a big fashion with the epic █ █ "God The Universe and...." 24 minutes of pure █ █ symphonic prog going into different moods with █ █ crunchy guitars, delicate piano and that Jonas █ █ tasty fretless bass. The vocals are beautiful with █ █ a lot of vocalists contributing. "Higher ground" █ █ starts innocently but take a rather heavy twist in █ █ the middle to end peacefully with those vocals █ █ harmonies. "Steer By the Stars" is the most █ █ standard rock song of the album, nothing █ █ groundbreaking, a little breather nothing more. █ █ "Travelling Minds" starts with some piano and █ █ bass, a smooth intro that gets a little more █ █ intense for a short time in the Yes accessible █ █ style. The second part of God The Universe and..." █ █ brings back the more heavy stuff of the beginning █ █ of the album with that Flower Kings influence █ █ nothing surprising here. Not a perfect album, but █ █ enough good music to satisfy the Karmakanik fans. █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ Full disclosure: I have been a massive Karmakanic █ █ fan since a friend introduced me to ôEntering the █ █ Spectraö in 2002. The rest was personal musical █ █ history because I have been in love with this █ █ Swedish band ever since, and the love has grown █ █ with every release. 2003Æs ôWheel of Lifeö stands █ █ out for me as one of the greatest Progressive Rock █ █ albums of all time. ItÆs no surprise, then, that █ █ I, and many others, have been looking forward to █ █ the new album ôDotö with huge anticipation. But I █ █ have tried to write this review not as the █ █ Karmakanic fan that I admittedly am, but rather █ █ with whatever objectivity and distance I can █ █ muster. █ █ The core band is imperious bassist/producer Jonas █ █ Reingold, vocalist G÷ran Edmann, keyboardist Lalle █ █ Larsson and drummer Morgan ┼gren. It goes without █ █ saying that they, and all their accompanying █ █ guests, are dazzling, world-class musicians. █ █ Enough about that û letÆs determine how ôDotö █ █ stands up in the context of all this expectation. █ █ First song ôDotö is a series of cosmic sound █ █ effects, introducing the albumÆs thematic context █ █ (that the Earth is just a tiny dot in the universe █ █ and humanityÆs conflicts are insignificant in the █ █ greater scheme of things). It is a sonic prelude █ █ that builds to the opening of the magnum opus that █ █ is ôGod, the Universe and Everything No-one Cares █ █ About Part 1ö. █ █ When Karmakanic create a long-form composition, █ █ they donÆt mess around. ôGodàPart 1ö, at almost 24 █ █ minutes, has everything an authentic Prog epic █ █ should have, and then some. Imagine a soundtrack █ █ to the journey of a 25th century spaceship █ █ exploring the cosmos with a message for and from █ █ Planet Earth, encountering interstellar danger, █ █ beauty, mystery, conflict, wonder, mayhem and █ █ revelation. It starts with a gentle piano riff █ █ (that begins this song and also ends the album.) █ █ ReingoldÆs signature fretless sound provides the █ █ foundation for the intro, and EdmanÆs immediately █ █ recognizable voice sets the lyrical scene. Matters █ █ become surprisingly heavy quite early after the █ █ first verse, followed by a fat vocal bridge in █ █ 14/8 timing. Then the core compositional theme is █ █ presented in Baroque guitar, flute, keyboard, █ █ fretless bass and who knows what else, until the █ █ vocal progression gives way to a gentle middle █ █ section that is breathtaking in its beauty. █ █ Literally ôlost in spaceö, it changes key and █ █ builds with intent. References to the Milky Way, █ █ cosmic dust and the carrying of the human message █ █ ôfar and wideö, lead back to the refrain, only █ █ this time presented in colossal symphonic █ █ grandeur. A frantic jazzy keyboard solo in █ █ impossible timing gives way to what sounds almost █ █ like a childrenÆs choir ôat the edge of the worldö █ █ (no doubt in reality backing vocalists Christine █ █ Lenk and Alex and Norah Reingold) that then █ █ combines into a syncopated instrumental Prog █ █ extravaganza, such that only Karmakanic could █ █ deliver. █ █ ItÆs complex, itÆs interesting, itÆs provocative █ █ and itÆs challenging. And itÆs fantastic. Filled █ █ with melodic and rhythmic complexity, peaks and █ █ troughs, highs and lows, weight and light, stabs, █ █ rests, solos and surprises, ôGodàPart 1ö has █ █ everything, and every passage is new and musically █ █ fulfilling. Myriad moods abound in this █ █ masterpiece, so that just when you think you have █ █ grasped it, a new surprise awaits you. The lyric █ █ ôa stone is still a stone, a rose is still a roseö █ █ re-introduces Edman and the thematic context, and █ █ this glorious monster of a composition finally █ █ ends with the core lyric of the albumÆs theme ôWe █ █ are all just nothingàö Fabulous. █ █ Third song ôHigher Groundö is a brilliant piece of █ █ melodic Prog in which Nils EriksonÆs lustrous █ █ voice is given centre stage. Every musician in █ █ this band is an absolute virtuoso, and that just █ █ cannot be ignored, but EriksonÆs lead vocals are █ █ never to be underestimated in this context. █ █ Without his immaculate voice, the instrumental █ █ exploits of his band-mates would not bear the █ █ illusion of accessibility that KarmakanicÆs █ █ complexity deceptively also offers. His voice is █ █ at once rich, smooth and melodic. It is also █ █ unique û I canÆt imagine Karmakanic without him. █ █ The chorus is so utterly gorgeous as to extract █ █ tears from the listener, and the song then builds █ █ to an understated but hugely emotional crescendo. █ █ A pastoral acoustic guitar structure appears in █ █ the middle, and it is appropriate, since it is a █ █ backdrop to a lyric of exploration for a better █ █ life of freedom. Another intense keyboard solo █ █ over a thundering Reingold bass-line overwhelms █ █ the listener. Then a sweet keyboard melody gives █ █ way to an intentionally distorted guitar that █ █ morphs into smooth and spacey electric lead solo █ █ and ultimately, EriksonÆs lonely climax of ôhere █ █ we stand in no manÆs landö. It ends the song with █ █ huge, heart-wrenching resolve. This song is so █ █ pleasing and well-constructed that it could be a █ █ sonic multi-layered gourmet dessert with extra █ █ cream offered to a hungry child. Prepare to want █ █ more. █ █ Fourth song ôSteer by the Starsö is a surprising █ █ highlight of the album for me. It has a █ █ straight-ahead feel based on uplifting pop █ █ melodies with soaring harmonies and a strong hook. █ █ My head was bobbing up and down within seconds. I █ █ donÆt ever dance, but if ever there were a song to █ █ get me to do so, this would be it. Melodic █ █ Prog-pop rich in harmonies and brilliant █ █ instrumentation based on a simple yet somehow not █ █ uncomplicated premise. Call it the Karmakanic █ █ paradox if you will û this is a fine example of █ █ the very best of the music that anyone can love. █ █ It is just jaw-droppingly beautiful and ends on an █ █ a capella vocal harmony counterpoint with a nod of █ █ respect for Gentle Giant. If there are those that █ █ believe Karmakanic are always grandiose and █ █ overblown but never simple or understated, this █ █ song will put them right. Brilliant, uplifting and █ █ gorgeous. Oh, and itÆs in 4/4 timing. █ █ That unmistakable fretless bass once again █ █ introduces fifth song ôTravelling Mindsö. The core █ █ theme reprises, only this time at the hands of the █ █ bass maestro. Before long the song explodes into a █ █ full, slow, bluesy expedition that one feels would █ █ not be out of place on a Yes album in their █ █ heyday. öWeÆre dreamers, weÆre seekers, weÆre █ █ travelling onàWeÆre travelling fast on the road to █ █ desolation. But we have a choiceàshare some █ █ lightàreject the night.ö It is big, grand, █ █ symphonic and intensely moving. █ █ Final piece ôGod, the Universe and Everything Else █ █ No-one Really Cares About û Part IIö completes █ █ this astonishing journey of introspection with a █ █ massive symphonic and vocal re-examination of the █ █ core theme, bringing us back in glorious fashion █ █ to the original delicate piano riff that began █ █ ôPart Iö. It is so intensely beautiful and emotive █ █ that I was genuinely moved to tears. The song is █ █ grandiose, challenging, melodic, and rich, and is █ █ a perfect end to a consummate album. The last █ █ note, a solitary, plaintive piano chord of hope, █ █ left me pleading internally for more. █ █ Is ôDotö as ground-breaking as 2003Æs ôWheel of █ █ Lifeö? Probably not. Are its arrangements quite as █ █ jaw-dropping as 2008Æs ôWhoÆs The Boss In the █ █ Factoryö? No. But that doesnÆt mean it disappoints █ █ û not in the slightest. On the contrary, this █ █ release is a clear contender for Album of the █ █ Year. █ █ Karmakanic, as musicians, were moved by new █ █ questions and emotions when they created this █ █ album, and you can hear it. █ █ Thus, in addition to the now familiar stellar █ █ musicianship of each band-member, ôDotö also █ █ offers something new that is just as valuable as █ █ KarmakanicÆs famous virtuosity û a beautiful, █ █ philosophical melancholy that Karmakanic have █ █ never fully exposed before; an existentialist █ █ examination of life, the world, and a musical █ █ reflection on how small our problems and conflicts █ █ really are in the greater scheme of things. (Who █ █ knew that Jonas Reingold was such a philosopher? █ █ IsnÆt it enough to be the best bassist in the █ █ world?) ôDotö reveals a something more █ █ contemplative, but just as pleasing, as █ █ KarmakanicÆs previous offerings, while never █ █ detracting from the melodies, remarkable █ █ time-signatures and jazzy Prog arrangements that █ █ the band is known for. █ █ Quite predictably, I adore every second of this █ █ album. Again, I am myself, and that self is a huge █ █ Karmakanic fan. But honestly, it will not make any █ █ difference that you are not me. If you love Prog, █ █ if you love beauty, if you appreciate stellar █ █ musicianship, if you are remotely interested in █ █ music that will move you deeply, you cannot fail █ █ to love Karmakanic and ôDotö. Simply sublime. █ ▓ ▓ ▒ ▒ ░ 1. Dot 1:02 ░ ░ 2. God the Universe and Everything Else No 23:45 ░ ░ One Really Cares About - Part I ░ ░ 3. Higher Ground 10:10 ░ ░ 4. Steer by the Stars 4:22 ░ ░ 5. Traveling Minds 4:59 ░ ░ 6. God the Universe and Everything Else No 5:57 ░ ░ One Really Cares About - Part II ░ ░ 50:15 ░ ░ ▒ ▒ ▓ █ ░ ▓ ░ ■ █▄ ░ ██ ▀█▄░ ▄▄▄▄▄ ▓ ░ ▄▄▄▄▄ ░▄██░ ░ ▀████▓█▄▄█████████▓░ ███ ███▓░ █████████▄▄██████▀ ▓ ▓▀▓ ▒███████▀▀ ▀████████▒ ░████████▀ ▀▀███████░▓▀▓ ■ ░ ▄█░█▀▀▄████▄▓ ▀█▀ █▓░ ▒▓█ ▀█▀ ▄████▄ ▀███▄░ ▄█▀░ ░███▀▀▀███▄ ▀█▒ ██▓ ██ ▓█▀ ▄███▀▀▀███░ ▀█░ █▀ ▓██▓ ▄███ ▀█▓ ████ ▒█▀ ▓███▄ ▓██▓ ▀█▓ █▀ ▓██░ ▒██████▓ ▀█ █▓ █▀ ▓██████▒ ░██▓ ▀█ ▒ ▄██ ░███ ▓███▓ ▀░██░▀ ▓███░ ███ ██▄ ▒ ░█▀ ███ ▄▀ ███▄ ▓████▒ ▄███▀▄ ███ ▀█░ ▓█▀ ▄██▄█▀ ░ ██████████████ ▀█▄ ██▄ ▀█▓ █▀ ████▀█▄▓░▄█ ▀██████▀ █▄▓░▄█▀█▄██ ▀█▓ ░ ▄ ██▀ ▀████▀ ▀█▓▀██ ▀████▀ ▀███ ▄ ▒ █░█▓ ██░ █░ █ ░██ ▀██▒█ ███░ ▒█░ ▄ ▓ ▒ ░█▒ ▓███ ░ ▓██ ░ ██▓ ██░ ░██ █▒ ░ ░█ ▀█ █▀ ▓ ░ ░