CARPTREE: Subimago (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

The previous review ended with the following sentence: "We can only hope that we do not have to wait another seven years to revel in the next offering". Well, either Carptree reads us and takes our wishes into account, or the band found a new and closer creative impulse because it's a little more than a year after "Emerger" that the Swedish duo produces their new album "Subimago".

Entering Carptree's universe certainly proves to be difficult: Niclas' voice is singular and an important density in each track gives to the music an exacerbated symphonic aspect not always easy to follow or to be impregnated by it. But once all this musical concentration is tamed, a fascinating world opens up to the listener.

The first track, 'Welcome', is extremely dark with its chorus and organ, which could serve as the opening music for a fantastic carnival imagined by Tim Burton. But don't worry, if you've been a little bit hermetic to the previous albums, with a less dense effort you'll get into this new opus more easily.

If 'Emerger' contained its share of complex and convoluted tracks, 'Subimago' seems more concise and at the same time more melodic. Carptree reaches here a climax in the style he patiently built up over the releases and that he almost became the only one to master by flirting with a near flawless. Like goldsmiths, the Swedes manage to renew their inspiration and carve subtle compositions with as a base always those layers of intense keyboards that Tony Banks wouldn't have disowned. How could we fail to see the nod to 'Abacab' in 'By Your Own Device' in the pre-refrain which launches an aggressive chorus with its guitar riff sublimated by these magnificent female choruses that enhance the dramaturgy. Niclas has probably never sung as well as on this album. His voice contributes to imprint the band's identity, recognizable among a thousand.

This new album contains more direct, delicate and deep melodic nuggets of a rare intelligence. 'Instead Of Life' is a perfect example of this quintessence. Carl leaves his synthesizers to take the piano and delivers touching melancholic chords with the intervention of a choir reminiscent of the Blind Boys Of Alabama. More synthetic, 'Someone Else's Play' proves that in four minutes you can make a clear and efficient progressive track.

But Carptree doesn't give up the longer tracks while remaining in a relatively short timing where guitars and keyboards intertwine in a limpid way. The duo is aggressive in 'Eye Of Storm' where Niclas almost seems to growl in a kind of storm before the calm illustrated by its lighter acoustic parts until the end as a final bouquet reminiscent of the beautiful hours of Magic Pie's "Circus Of Life" period. 'Sum Of Sense' closes this album in a very dramatic way and with a tension where rhythm plays an important role, alternating fast and quieter passages.

No need to go on with the list of the other tracks to conclude that this album is once again a progressive gem that distinguishes itself from the current productions not only by the style built by the band over the years but above all by its intrinsic quality. With 'Subimago', Carptree has once and for all entered the pantheon of the greatest progressive rock bands. - Official website

CARPTREE

SUBIMAGO

AUTRE LABEL

PROGRESSIVE ROCK