(Symphonic Prog, Chamber Music, Modern Classical) Karda Estra - Eve - 2001, FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Karda Estra biography

The older I get, the more easily I'm surprised with new bands, KARDA ESTRA is an very competent group of British musicians who from from the late 90's to the date, create music that combines the dark spirit of the Eastern Europe ethnic sound (present in the use of Bazouki and Rastrophone) with the skills of the most pristine Symphonic Prog you can imagine expressed in complex and well developed orchestral arrangements that create an atmosphere of mystery and obscurity enhanced by the haunting chorals.

KARDA ESTRA is the brainchild of the multi instrumentalist and composer Richard Willeman who is obviously obsessed with the 1800's Gothic Revival and created this Neo Classical - Progressive project to exploit that dark mood that most Progressive Rock followers love so much.

Their main inspiration is so wide that goes from Romanian music from the Carpathian Mountains to Steve Hackett with who he shares that obsession for obscurity.

Since their debut, KARDA ESTRA constant members are Richard Willeman (classical, electric and bass guitars, keyboards, percussion, bouzouki, rastrophone and other exotic instruments), the weird and sometimes scary voice of Illesha Bailey, Rachel Larkins (viola, violin) and Zoe King (flute, alto saxophone and oboe) but always has counted with other excellent musicians to complete the band like Caron Hansford who plays oboe, cor anglais and bassoon, a luxury team.

The main theme in his albums is terror and reaches it's peak with "Eve" based in The Future Eve, written in 1886 by Villiers de L'Isle Adam about a scientist who creates a fiancée for his fiend Lord Ewald (2001) and Voivode Dracula of course based in the novel by Bram Stocker.

Didn't had the chance to listen their latest album "The Age Of Science And Enlightenment" released a few months ago but it0's one of the first thing I'm going to do in the next few days.

Symphonic nuts will love this band.

Iván Melgar Morey - Perú (progarchives.com)

Строго говоря, к року как таковому эта работа мало относится. Хотя бы по причине отсутствия ритм-секции. А вот определить направление будет сложновато. Атмосфера на альбоме камерная, с оттенком неоклассики. Концепция, по словам мультиинструменталиста и единственного композитора группы Ричарда Уилимана, зиждется на короткой истории «The Future Eve», написанной в 1886 автором по имени Viiliers de L'Isle Adam. Музыка удивительной, сдержанной красоты. Печальная и неспешная, изумительно аранжированная. Космический вокализ госпожы Бэйли, проникновенные партии флейты и струнных, нежные акустические переборы классической гитары - чарующее волшебство Karda Estra. Музыка вне времени, пространства и конкретики. Безмятежность луны, заглянувшей в темное жерло колодца. Электроакустическая эйфория.

Sergei Uvaroff (soundvoyager.blogspot.ru)

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Amazingly beautiful!
Never is enough. A great advantage of being member of a site like ProgArchives is that you meet nice people who share their tastes and feelings towards music, their favorite bands, their recent discoveries and their personal gems. Some years ago I was (luckily) introduced to Karda Estra, a band which whose name I had never seen before but due to some people's description I felt tempted and interested, and my wise decision was to accept that suggestion.
Karda Estra is basically the project of a very talented English musician named Richard Wileman, who composes and arranges all the songs, is worth mentioning that he can play several instruments. But his compositions have always the support of other (female) musicians who add their talent playing some classical instruments such as violin, oboe or clarinet.
My introduction to Karda Estra was this 2001 released called "Eve", an album whose music is far from being that classic symphonic prog style, but whose wonderful compositions caught my attention since the very first listen, and an album that nowadays I still enjoy as it was the first time.
The booklet says that "Eve was inspired by the short novel The Future Eve, written in 1886 by Villiers de L'Isle Adam. --- The music here isn't an adaptation of the story, instead I was inspire to explore the work's atmosphere, tragedy and sense of misguided ambition". We can see once again that literature and music can work together.
This album features 7 songs and a total time of over 42 minutes. It kicks off with "An Ordinary Mortal", which is a beautiful composition that since the first seconds creates a wonderful and charming atmosphere, the vocals (no lyrics) play an extraordinary role here because you will feel guided by them, it is like you are entering to a new realm.
"Andraiad" starts with some bell's sound, later an oboe and acoustic guitar appears and begin to share different colors and textures that change a minute later because the atmosphere turns a bit dark, those violins are telling a story that is looking for a listener. The composition is long so there are several changes within, you can close your eyes and let this music embrace you, wonderful.
"The Pale Ray" is a short and ethereal composition; again the vocals play an important role accompanied by a piano and some wind instruments, an exquisite soft moment.
Next track is "Super Electrical", the sound actually follows the same path as in all the compositions, but what is different is the atmosphere created and all the game of textures they use. This song has some explosive moments because the addition of drums adds an extra power to the musical scene. This is a very interesting track.
If you were previously incited to get involved with this music, "Eve" only confirms that you are actually inside a story, because all the well-crafted sounds apprehend you and don't let you escape. The different instruments create a beautiful, somehow happy and somehow provoking atmosphere that is constantly changing but keeping the same goal. In this composition you can appreciate the talent of Wileman, and how he and the girls managed to produce a very complete song, rich of sounds and colors.
"Sparks that Flash and Fall?" is the longest composition of this album, a delicious and challenging piece that starts with a dark atmosphere, but seconds later a church organ appears just in order to give pass to acoustic guitar and some wind instruments, there is a creepy atmosphere because in moments sounds calm and tranquil but in others dark and tense, there are several short but equally important changes, even a curious silence at the half of the song. Magical moments can be experienced here.
And the album finishes with "Thoughts and Silences", a short composition after the longest track, beautiful musical harmony which is filled by a kind of a "goodbye" mood, the end of this extraordinary album.
Eve is actually one of those albums that always move me, that always provoke something on me no matter where or how am I, my ears and mind always welcome this kind of music. To be honest this is not that kind of progressive rock one might expect, but if you have the chance, please listen to this gem. Five stars.
Enjoy it!

Review by memowakeman (progarchives.com)

- Richard Wileman / classsic electric & bass guitars, keyboards, percussion
- Ileesha Bailey / drums
- Helen Dearnley / violin
- Caron Hansford: oboe, English horn
- Rachel Larkins violin, viola
- Zoe King / flute, alto sax, clarinet