KAIPA – Angling Feelings

Roine Stolt’s departure from Kaipa has opened up a whole new creative territory, keyboardist and mastermind Hans Lundin reveals, and the outcome is quite interesting …

The Music

Kaipa’s unique sound and blend of Folk and Rock has given them a pretty indisputable position in the Scandinavian scene of Progressive Rock. This year’s Angling Feelings supports this position, but it also offers an unusually fresh breeze. Reasons for this are probably many, but among the apparent ones are the introduction of a “new” guitarist, Per Nilsson (Scar Symmetry), and the extensive use of recorders (flutes), and whistles, handled by Fredrik Lindqvist (Ritual). The latter also increases the Folk feeling, by the way.

The album is a joyful and spiritual experience, packed with everything from poetic beauty to mindboggling instrumental extravaganza. It offers some of the grooviest and most successful 7/8 time signatures ever made in “The Fleeting Existence Of Time” and breathtaking beauty in “Path Of Humbleness,” which must be among the most beautiful pieces of music ever written.

The Band

Lundin’s keyboards are often prominent, and this time they sound juicier than ever. But, he has also made a couple of bold moves, letting Per Nilsson’s guitar join in more actively and doubling the keyboards (like in “Solitary Path”). Nilsson also delivers some remarkable solos, like the soaring one in “The Glorious Silence Within.” Singers Aleena Gibson and Patrik Lundström truly blossom on this album, generously contributing to the uplifting feeling throughout. And, naturally, Jonas Reingold (bass) is as brilliant as always and seamlessly joined to partner Morgan Ågren (drums).

The Verdict

Angling Feelings is Kaipa at their best and probably their best effort this decade. Sound, production, melody, harmony, groove, and everything you could possibly measure music by is simply spot on. It is a gift and a magic hug to all fans of music with a Progressive approach.