Progressive Discoveries

Progression Through Discovery


  • Music
    • CD Reviews
    • Gig Reviews
    • Progressive Discoveries
  • Wine
    • White Wine
    • Red Wine
    • Sparkling Wine
  • Books
  • Education
  • Travel
  • Novelty, Innovation, Creativity, Finesse, Wisdom
  • About
  • Contact Page

Kant Freud Kafka – Onírico

31/05/2017 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

Javi Herrera’s website contains the rather delightful disclaimer that Kant Freud Kafka is not actually related to these three philosophers but is “just a joke amongst friends”. After all, he says, “throwing a bit of good humor to prog rock is not a bad thing”. He is, using the words of a fairly famous song title, “bloody well right” and this admirably mischievous and playful spirit infuses the often surreal and expansive musical landscapes of Onírico, the second studio album from the Barcelona based drummer, singer and composer.

Onírico is a beautifully grand and majestically sweeping musical vision which wrestles with and begins to explore the changing, often turbulent vistas we encounter in the worlds of our dreams. It has a thoroughly captivating and at times quite unsettling cinematic sweep and feel to the experience it delivers. The enchanting instrumental richness of the tranquil reveries of our dream-like states are exquisitely matched by an alarmingly intrusive, disquieting and powerfully frightening discord when our dreams turn to anxious nightmares.

Just as our dreams possess the unsettling tinge of unreality, so Herrera brilliantly saturates the music with an eerie, uncanny presence which doesn’t allow you to settle or become unduly comfortable with what you are hearing. The fascinating transitions he creates between as well as within songs provide the momentum and energy which carries the music forward whilst almost hypnotically luring you onwards and deeper into unsuspecting musical sceneries.

It is precisely these intelligently judged and shrewdly seductive transitions which make this such a striking album and allows Herrera to generate a compelling sense of atmosphere and mood. This isn’t a typical narrative experience with a clearly defined path designed for us to follow. What he has done instead is crafted a thematic series of horizons within which we can wander, but where the lack of an explicit focus or direction fosters and feeds precisely the feeling of disquiet and uneasiness often associated with our dreams.

Yet the transitions themselves are wholly dependent for their success on the wonderfully impulsive and sometimes volatile instrumental and vocal combinations being used. There are fluid contrasts and ever changing dynamic interplays between electric guitar and oboe, piano and cello, viola and bass and a dizzying range of combinations involving violins, bass guitar, drums, double bass, cor anglais, bouzouki and even tap dancing. The sheer diversity of the instrumentation gives the album a sumptuous richness and a gorgeous symphonic character.

Indeed, there are strong orchestral and classical influences which form the foundations of many of the songs. The impressive and creatively inspired use of both male and female vocals across a range of styles provides both variation as well as clarity to the spirit and the complexion of the music. There are operatic refrains, rich choral harmonies, chillingly simple and almost monkish recitations in plain song tone and attitude. Each style is admirably suited to the ambience of each track and deliberately signals fluctuations in styles and intent.

Vida y Muerte (Track 4, Life and Death) is an intense and spectacular showcase of all the various elements, combinations and contrasts coming together to form a stunning passage of  profound, vivid, passionate progressive music which bewitches with its complexity and delights with its lavish layers and harmonies. As with the album generally, the quality of the musicianship is at times astonishing and particular mention needs to be made of some fabulous bass work which enhances and lifts the whole energy and resonance of the music.

With so much going on, I heartily recommend spending some time listening to this album with a really good pair of headphones, just to appreciate the delicate touches, the careful attention to small details, the improvised stylistic flourishes, the knowing add-ons, all of  which add a tremendous sense of magic and elegance to the experience of Onírico. It is an enthralling achievement of a remarkable vision which needs to be attentively savoured and thoughtfully enjoyed.

TRACK LISTING
Insomnio de una Noche de Verano (9:27)
Dulces Sueños (5:18)
És Quan Dormo que hi Veig Clar (10:54)
Vida y Muerte (8:28)
A Nightmare on Major St. (7:33)
Awakenings (9:03)

MUSICIANS
Javi Herrera – drums, vocals, VST instruments

With:
Cecilia Burguera – violin
Daniel Fernandez Campos – bass guitar
Mónica Cruzata – viola
German Fafian – electric guitars
Queralt Garcia – cello
Alia Herrera – vocals
Andrea Herrera – tap dancing
Mandharu – crotals, wind chimes
Rafael Pacha – dulcimer, acoustic guitars, mandolin, bouzouki
Pol Sanchez – electric & Spanish guitars, mandole
Dick Them – double bass
Guillem Vilar – oboe, cor anglais

ADDITIONAL INFO
Label: Independent
18th April 2017
Format: CD, Digital

LINKS
Website: http://www.kantfreudkafka.com/
Bandcamp: https://kantfreudkafka.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kantfreudkafka/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kantfreudkafka
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/kanftreudkafka

This review originally appeared for The Progressive Aspect
http://theprogressiveaspect.net/blog/2017/05/29/kant-freud-kafka-onirico/

Please feel free to share this post....Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email
Print this page
Print

Filed Under: CD Reviews Tagged With: crossover prog, Javi Herrera, Kant Freud Kafka, Onírico

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CAPTCHA
Refresh

*

Today’s Progressive Listening Choice

Today’s Progressive Listening Choice

5bridgeS: The Thomas Tracks: 2009

Please Note:

The web site is presently under initial construction.
  • E-mail
  • Twitter

Books

Phil Collins: Not Dead Yet

17/04/2017 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

Time and public perception have been neither kind nor entirely fair to Phil Collins. A hugely impressive song-writer, musician, performer and (to a … Continue Reading

Justin Cronin: The Passage

01/03/2017 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

I am normally dismissive of 'long' books. My general rule of thumb is anyone who needs more than 400 pages to tell a story probably isn't a good … Continue Reading

Alastair Reynolds: Revelation Space

26/11/2016 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

For someone who claims to be a lover of science fiction writing it seems mighty strange that it has taken me this long to discover the literary … Continue Reading

Education

An Interdisciplinary Life

11/01/2017 By Dr Rob Fisher 2 Comments

21st century life is fundamentally interdisciplinary. From the moment we wake up to the time we go to bed, we live interdisciplinary lives. In all our … Continue Reading

Travel

Hawaii’s Secret Getaway Spots

10/10/2013 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

Archives

  • February 2019
  • December 2018
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2013

Tags

AirbagBjørn RiisBrody GreenCam BloklandconcertCraig Blundellcrossover progDamanekDaniel TompkinsDanny LoprestoDave FosterFrançois FournierGentle Art of MusicInsideOut MusicIslington Assembly HallJean-Sébastien GoyetteJean PageauJem GodfreyJez MartinJohn MitchellKaribowKarisma RecordsKscopeMarek ArnoldMichel St-PèreMysteryNathan Kingneo progressive rockNick BeggsOakOliver RüsingProgressive MetalProgressive Promotion Recordsred wineSean TimmsSouthern EmpireSteve HackettSub89Sylvain MoineauThomas ThielenThresholdVolaWaitroseWhite Star RecordsYatim Halimi

Progression Through Discovery

Progressive Discoveries explores the worlds of progressive (rock) music, wine, education and travel, providing information, articles, reviews and opinion pieces written by Dr Rob Fisher and invited guest writers.

"Welcome to an interdisciplinary life. I care about things which have inherent meaning, value and purpose in a discordant and fractured world and passionately believe that interdisciplinarity is a way of living in the world which is capable of transforming people's lives. Being interdisciplinary gives you the tools you need to live your life more effectively and to cope a little better with making sense of the experiences we all wrestle with on a daily basis." Rob Fisher

Recent

  • Oak – False Memory Archive
  • Top Picks of 2018
  • Mystery – Lies and Butterflies
  • Southern Empire – Civilisation
  • The Paradox Twin – The Importance of Mr Bedlam
  • Queen – The O2 Arena, London, July 2018
  • Yuka and Chronoship – Ship
  • Subsignal – La Muerta

Search

Tags

Airbag Bjørn Riis Brody Green Cam Blokland concert Craig Blundell crossover prog Damanek Daniel Tompkins Danny Lopresto Dave Foster François Fournier Gentle Art of Music InsideOut Music Islington Assembly Hall Jean-Sébastien Goyette Jean Pageau Jem Godfrey Jez Martin John Mitchell Karibow Karisma Records Kscope Marek Arnold Michel St-Père Mystery Nathan King neo progressive rock Nick Beggs Oak Oliver Rüsing Progressive Metal Progressive Promotion Records red wine Sean Timms Southern Empire Steve Hackett Sub89 Sylvain Moineau Thomas Thielen Threshold Vola Waitrose White Star Records Yatim Halimi

Copyright © 2021 · Dr Rob Fisher · Progressive Discoveries · Progression through Discovery