Label: Cyclops

Tracks:

1. The Southern Cross (5:09)
2. Hydra (6:12)
3. Cassiopeia (3:36)
4. Phoenix (4:50)
5. Scorpio (7:50)
6. Vela (9:28)
7. Twice Around The Sun (6:10)

Musicians:

• Richard Wileman / classical, electric and bass guitars, keyboards and rcussion

Guest musicians:

• Ileesha Bailey /vocals
• Helen Dearnley / violin
• Caron Hansford / oboe, cor anglais
• Sarah Higgins / cello
• Zoe King / flute, alto & soprano saxophones
• Rachel Larkins / viola

Attention to this band because it's a unique case in the current progressive scene.

"Constellations" is already Karda Estra's fifth album, a conceptual, totally instrumental, work formed up by six compositions, each of them dedicated to a constellation, and a last track that is a version of the Steve Hackett's track "Twice Around the Sun", included in his album "Darktown".

Karda Estra is the project of the British multi-instrumentist Richard Wileman, and the musical style he practises is certainly near to the classical music, specially to works as Gustav Holst's "The Planets" and to contemporary composers, in addition to a prominent presence of Steve Hackett's musical style, something of film music, and even a slight Gothic taste sometimes. There isn't rhythmic section here, only soft percussions, which just complements the ambient melodies of the whole scale of classic instruments that integrate this work. A dark enough music, just as dark as it could be because the concept of the disc. A music that evokes a night feeling, and the seeing of a dark and starry sky.

Maybe some would relate Karda Estra to the electronic music, ambient or the new age, but I think sincerely that this "Constellations" in esence, has no relation with these concepts but it is, first of all, symphonic music.

Each track that shapes this work is of a superlative beauty. Steve Hackett's track fits perfectly with Karda Estra's own compositions, so Richard Wileman does not get tired of saying that Hackett has been always a decisive source of inspiration for his music, and his favorite musician. This can be perfectly discovered when listening to this work, specially when the acoustic guitar appears. Wileman also mentions in his interviews Peter Gabriel as his favorite singer and "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" as his favorite album ever. Other Wileman's recognized preferences are King Crimson, 10cc, Kate Bush, Black Sabbath, Rush, Talk Talk, Beatles, Beach Boys, Kinks, Air, and Radiohead among others, what does not mean that in his music all these references could be heard. And for classical music he mentions Ralph Vaughan Williams, Eric Satie, Malcolm Arnold, Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Arvo Part, and Jean Sibelius. And about soundtrack composers, Danny Elfman, John Barry, James Horner, Jerry Goldsmith, and James Bernard.

We just have to close our eyes and leave ourselves go for the enigmatic worlds to which we are transported by Richard Wileman's particular musical universe. It is the first Karda Estra's work that I listen to, and think that "Constellations" is a great album that will surprise many people.

Rating: 8.5/10

Ferran Lizana