Kaipa

This is most definitely the best release in the progressive genre this year and the calendar shows only the beginning of March. Kaipa originates in Sweden in 1975 and released five albums throughout 1982.

Basis for the perfect prog music was and still is Swedish folk. Around 2000 main composer and leader Hans Lundin is teaming up yet again, after a period of twenty years of absence, with Roine Stolt from The Flower Kings and the rebirth of Kaipa is a fact. In 2005 they go their seperate ways again and Lundin decides to go on with Per Nillson of Scar Symmetry.

The eight songs featured on In The Wake Of Evolution are of a unseen quality and are just simply sublime. Highlight on the album is of course the almost eighteen minute lasting song Electric Power Water Notes which takes you on a trip through the folky progressive Kaipa landscape. Finishing of with The Seven Oceans Of Our Mind is also worth mentioning.

This song consists both acoustic and electric bombastic structures. Furthermore Folkia’s First Decision is the strange one. Not only because the song is very short according to Kaipa standards, only two and a half minutes but also because the folk influence really rules here.

If you are a prog lover, just go out and buy this album without hesitation. Eight extremely strong compositions, beautiful melodies and yet unmistakably Kaipa. It will be very difficult for any band in the genre to release a stronger sounding album than this one.

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