Our hyper fertile and super gifted Antony Kalugin just keeps pounding out an incredible amount of music, the quantity matched by sheer quality as well, obviously an inspired musician who keeps honing is craft and wholly deserving of our collective admiration and support. Enlisting the added help in the form of Par Malmberg (Salva) on guitars, bass and vocals, John Hackett on flute , guitarist extraordinaire Michel St-Père (Mystery), bassist and vocalist Richard Sinclair. Mystery vocalist Jean Pageau, Bartosz Kossowicz (Collage, Maciej Meller, Quidam) and Sylvan’s Marco Gluhmann. Two extended suites are featured with loads of subdivisions, involving mood variations, symphonics, balladry, and enough sizzle to keep the eye firmly on the prize.
Stamping the seal of classic prog from the get-go, “Omni Part 1” unwinds like a fascinating adventure, Sinclair’s voice immediately recognizable, the Hackett flute weaving magic and St-Père involving his trusted electricity on guitar. Antony and Olha duet gracefully on Whispers from the Past, the former unlocking a sublimely slippery synth wave, a moment of intense beauty. The fuse is finally lit on the explosive The Spark, Malmberg taking over the bass, guitar and lead vocal chores while the band follows along in stride. It’s a more accessible track that exudes a more 80s Neo feel, ‘through the neon phase’ , flirting with a radio-friendly disposition. Axeman Max Velychko peels off a fast one, drummer Alex Murenko pounding the skins with gusto, segueing nicely on Masterplan, in maintaining the energetic vibe with some interesting interventions on glittering piano, synth, violin and flute to finalize the suite with lush symphonic accoutrements that will set up the scorching second part.
The real mind blowing effect will be found on “Omni Part 2 “ , inaugurating the second chapter with the spirited Jean Pageau, one the finest vocalists anywhere (and a sheer joy in concert), on the superlative Unchained then having the equally inimitable Marco Gluhmann right behind on The Cards We Play, one gets to witness Olympian vocal performances that should enthuse even the most fervently morose moron into endless grinning. Continuation solidified as Polish veteran Bartosz Kossowicz gets to emote in his unique tone and we finish off with Richard Sinclair, the dye is cast and the giddy giggling can begin, waving the flag of outright capitulation. The clear highlight here are the sequentially placed high quality vocals (often an Achilles heel in prog) that should not go unnoticed. During the entire length of this nearly 23-minute suite, the instrumental performances are noticeably imperial, as if some semblance of synergic magic was taking place.
Another winning release, surely his best yet, “Omni” does the artist proud and deserving of being heard by an appreciative audience.
4.5 multiple cycling races