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In the world of progressive rock
music we have a number of sub-genres we use to help better
identify the sound of music that certain bands are creating.
One of those categories is "Chamber Music." But for some trying
to identify what exactly you can expect to hear from a chamber
music band is a bit of a challenge. So if you'd like to get
a feel for what chamber music is all about listen to Karda
Estra. The latest CD is entitled The Age of Science and Enlightenment
and it's a winner. ***
Karda Estra is first and foremost
Richard Wileman who not only composes and arranges all the
material but plays the bulk of the instruments (guitar, bass,
keyboards, & percussion). Wileman however has the musical
assistance from some very important players, namely; Heesha
Bailey (vocals), Helen Dearnley (violin), Caron Hansford (oboe,
cor anglais), and Zoe Josey (flute saxophone). It must be
said that these other players do a great deal to color and
texturize the music. ***
The music of Karda Estra not only
falls into the chamber music category but it is first and
foremost symphonic in nature. It is primarily instrumental
with what vocals there are being more dreamy or ethereal vocalizations
rather than employing any formal lyrics. Over and over again
you have the feeling you've heard bits of this as soundtrack
music to different feature films. The music is in a style
that helps create images in the mind. At times it is reminiscent
of The Enid although not nearly as grand in nature. Karda
Estra instead is more subtle, more spacious, melancholic and
majestic. There is something very haunting about Wileman's
compositional style. He says that the eight-tracks on The
Age of Science and Enlightenment are about redemption and
to that point the music does balance it's major and minor
tonal inflections. These are not dreary compositions full
of discordance, rather Karda Estra's music allows for a sense
of hope, a light at the end of the tunnel or in this case
redemption. These compositions range in length from as short
as two-minutes to six, seven and eight minutes. I mentioned
the word 'spacious' and certainly that's the chamber music
aspect applied here. There are many occasions where only one
or two instruments will be heard. It might be piano and oboe
or acoustic guitar and vocals or violin and piano. These portions
tend to lead into fuller embellished portions of the composition
forming wonderful transitional links. Overall the music of
Karda Estra is soft, gentle, and thoughtful but when Wileman
wants to drive the musical-point home he can employ some of
the most majestic chord structures you've ever heard. It's
absolutely breathtaking at times. ***
This is one of those bands I love.
The music is so powerfully moving and emotionally stirring.
If you don't own any music of this type, I'd urge you to pick
up some of Karda Estra. It's the perfect place to start. The
Age of Science and Enlightenment sets the bar for melodic
symphonic chamber music.
I highly recommend it. ***
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