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Horizont, The Portrait of a Boy and Summer in Town
Boheme Music
128, Mosfilmovskaya Str.,
Moscow, 117330
RUSSIA
CYBERHOME: http://www.bohememusic.com
Why haven't I heard of this group before?!?!? Horizont's CD bills them as
a "chamber instrumental" group, but that doesn't really even begin to
describe them.
True, the Russian group is heavily instrumentally-oriented
(there are a few unobtrusive vocals, mostly wordless, on both albums) and
undoubtably influenced by classical music, but there's so much more.
Oddly enough, these two discs are quite different in style yet are just
about equally good. Summer in Town is my favorite, though, especially
for its opening piece "Snowballs," which features an optimistic classical
sounding intro which segues marvelously into a vaguely Genesis-like theme
which is then amply developed, varied, and recapitulated.
Although the point of focus most often is the keyboards, all instrumentalists
make significant contributions and get some spotlight at one time or another.
The real highlight, though is the maginificent composition which ebbs and flows
perfectly throughout. The structure of the composition seems extremely
classical, making the Enid about as good of a reference point as I can find.
The second piece, "Chaconne" begins on mysterious, almost ambient note,
complete with samples of rushing wind, before keyboards and guitar, and then
the whole ensemble, take the piece from its ethereal atmosphere into a
slightly more concrete but still heavenly section. Several more unexpected
developments follow this, but I won't spoil them.
The last piece on the album shows more of an angular King Crimson
influence, with noticeably more dissonance and a rawer guitar sound in parts,
but also even more extreme dynamic contrast. The 18-minute epic develops more
slowly than the other pieces on the album, but is at the same time more
varied and very rewarding to listen to.
This last song on Summer in a way seems to look forward to The
Portrait of the Boy. On the this album, the more menacing, Crimsoid side
of the band comes out. Horizont are never as aggressive as KC were, but don't
really try to be - their style of composition works just fine. The
centrepiece on this disc is the 19-minute 3-movement suite which the album
gets its name from, but there are 4 shorter pieces included. The 19-minute
epic is just as good as one would expect, and really should be heard by every
fan of symphonic progressive rock. The albums other pieces consist of a
barely-accompanied keyboard solo, two surprisingly intense King Crimson-like
pieces, and an emotional vocal exultation.
Simply put, all you symphonic proggers should absolutely love this stuff.
Seek these discs out immediately! ~Jon Dharma Murphree~
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