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Karmakanic is Jonas Reingold's musical home, the place where he's responsible for everything and so Karmakanic is a more personal thing. In A Perfect World is the 4th album of Karmakanic and this time Mr. Reingold put as much effort into the lyrics as in the music - and so made it even stronger.
The opener is called 1969, the year he was burn and so in a way the beginning of everything Jonas is. He stated that everything surrounding you influences you and so you'll find reminiscences from different genres and times in the new Karmakanic sound. The main theme of 1969 is repeated through out the song, but in different forms. With Göran Edman Jonas Reingold has a great vocalist in the band who easily adjusts to every mood, change of atmosphere. In a way even Göran Edman gets the chance to show more of his talent than on many other projects he's involved with. At 1969 Karmakanic combines 70's prog rock with art rock elements and some parts which are almost lounge jazz-like. Other passages are a bit bulky and need more then one spin to get into.
After 1969, the longest track of In A Perfect World, they move on to Turn It Up, a song which is more straight forward. A pop rock tune spiced up with some retro prog sound and a soaring vocal line. But Marcus Liliequist's drumming isn't pop rock like and so adds a different flavor to the track. Again some Yes-like moments can be found here, but Jonas Reingold always said that in his music you'll find his influences easy to spot. While others copycat certain elements Reingold naturally seems to embed them in his compositions. At Turn It Up I hear a dash of Styx, a band I love, so no complains.
The sound of surf in the distance and Göran Edman's expressive vocals lead you slowly into The World Is Caving In. Piano and keyboard join in. After almost 2 minutes the tune becomes a true prog rocker with heavy guitar riffs and catchy vocals. As it's one of the longer tunes you can expect some instrumental passages as well as twists and turns. Can't Take It With You is based on a Latin sound in the beginning and later returns to the Latin theme, but also offers some really heavy riffs, modern elements and varying vocals. Pushing limits with atonal vocal passages and some free jazz-inspired passages.
For There's Nothing Wrong With The World they ease up and the opening passage is atmospheric vocals and keyboards. Then they go head into a prog rocker which shows reminiscences to Yes and a keyboard passage which is influenced by a classic compositions. With Bite The Grite Mr. Reingold offers a Beatles-que tune with heavy riffs and even symphonic sounds.
For the closer they slow down, When Fear Came to Town it begins with acoustic guitar and vocals. Göran Edman is doing fantastic! A bluesy tune which later shows a jazzy edge, but stays minimalistic. A moving tune which shows a different facet of Karmakanic, of Jonas Reingold. Half way through the song they change to a more symphonic sound. It's almost like a new song...
Karmakanic once more delivered a great prog rock album full of songs which are enchanting in different ways. Kudos!
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