Search - Karmakanic :: Wheel of Life

Karmakanic... Better than The Flower Kings?

Dan A. Bobrowski | California | 01/12/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Wow, What a treat. After being disappointed with the latest Flower King's release, "Adam and Eve" and being anything less then satisfied by The Tangent's "The World That We Drive Through," I was pleasantly surprised by this disc. Thanks diddy...



Jonas Reingold and Zoltan Csorsz comprise one the best rhythm duos in the prog world today. They are the only saving graces on the above two discs and they propel Karmakanic with power and style. Jonas' fretless playing is sweet and syrupy. I'd love to hear him in a straight fusion setting, ala the other Jonas. Csorsz playing swings and thrills. These guys got down. Very tight!



This is the first time I'd heard Krister Jonzon, the guitarist. He is versatile, from jazz to blues and straight out rock. First rate and then some. Roine Stolt does guest on two tracks and on "Wheel of Life" he tosses off a few Holdsworth-like lines that left me wanting more. The other TFK team members appear on a few other tracks, but thankfully don't turn this into another TFK album.



The main reason this doesn't sound like TFK is the great vocal work of Goran Edman. I really dig his voice. The main problem I've had with modern prog is the overwhelming number of singers who feel they have to play the overdramatic opera role in each performance. Thanks to Goran for not overstating his parts. He sounds down to earth and has some touches of Paul Rogers in his bluesy delivery.



Many of the tunes have heavy spiritual lyrics, though not too preachy. Two songs are instrumentals; Do You Tango?, a bit of fun, and Hindby, one of the best instrumentals I've heard in a while, bluesy and crisp.



All in all, a worthy selection for any prog catalogue and more satisfying then The Tangent and the Flower Kings latest. Of course, I will now have to hunt down the first Karmakanic release. Sheesh, all the money....

"

Top notch musicianship, but enough with the concepts...

Nash | 05/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I can't give Jonas Reingold, Zoltan Czorsz, and the others enough praise on their well-tempered musicianship and their dedication to creating pristine-sounding records, but I sometimes wish that they would throw the prog-meets-flowerpower idealist conceptualizations by the wayside. I particularly feel that Jonas is hung up on trying to combine his prog-metal dexterity and jazz sensibilities with the operatic theatrics of Pink Floyd's 'The Wall.' This was definitely more apparent on 'Entering the Spectra,' but certainly echoes heavily through 'Masterplan' and 'Wheel of Life.' The lyrics and classical grandiosity in several parts of this album often make it tough to enjoy. I got into Reingold's playing primarily because of his fusion chops and his ability to put together great bass lines. I just wish he would emphasize working on Zappa-esque pieces like "Do U Tango" instead of trying to write the next prog opus. He should take a hint from Tomas Bodin and emphasize the music above everything. The concept on 'Spectra' was inch-deep and a bit irritating to deal with and this album is no different. The lyrics drift over the same faux-psychedelic 'cosmic' this-and-that and 'merry go round' metaphors that Roine Stolt beats to death on every Flower Kings album. The lyrics on this are a bit cliche overall, with the exception of 'Alex in Paradise,' which at least has a tangible story behind it. I understand fully that English is likely Reingold's second language and that he's catering to prog's predominantly English market, but there is still way too much emphasis on the vocals for a musician of this caliber. The same could be said about Zappa, who often chose to sing like a goofball over music that was otherwise great in its own right.

That being said, the music on this record is great in the same way the music on the Flower Kings' records is great. The playing is tight and colorful. The recording is pristine and bears a mark of pride that Reingold and Co. have in all of their studio work. I always look forward to hearing the music on the 4+ albums of work Jonas does each year (in Kaipa, Flower Kings, Tangent, etc...). I just want to hear more music and less singing/lyrics/concepts. The prog of the 70s/80s has been cliched and tedious for some time now but in my opinion, good musicianship will never go bad. Jonas needs to leave the Genesis phase and embrace the Brand X phase."

Wow...

D. Schoenrock | Eau Claire, WI | 03/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This side project from members of The Flower Kings is amazing. Prog for the sake of prog is sometimes boring, but this CD is refreshing, with great melodic music, great vocals and just overall excellent songs.



This was a pleasant surprise, and a CD that gets better with each listen, a true gem."