So it doesn’t look like I’ve posted anything new on this site since 2020! Wow! And while I’ve listened to lots of Jazz and New Age since then, I have listened to very little Progressive Rock.In order to rectify that situation I went to Progstreaming extended to review albums that were released in 2023. The album that caught my attention was Requiem for for a Dream from Karnataka. Since ekreader’s real name is Edward Karn, you can see why the name stood out! Anyway, let’s see what I found out about Karnataka!
From Wikipedia….
Karnataka are a Welsh progressive rock band formed in 1997 by Ian Jones (bass/acoustic guitar), Jonathan Edwards (keyboards) and Rachel Jones (vocals). The band started as a project to record songs in Ian’s home studio, that had been written and performed by Jonathan, Rachel and Ian in earlier bands. The project was augmented by additional musicians, Paul Davies (electric guitars) and Gavin Griffiths (drums), who had played with other members of Karnataka in earlier bands. At the end of the recording the decision was made to continue the project as a band. The name Karnataka was chosen by the band, from a suggestion by Ian, following his trips to that state of India.
Frm Their biography at ProgArchives….
Their eponymous debut demonstrated the bands capability in creating romantic, melodic, Camelesque and Floydian soundscapes, laced throughout with strong folk and Celtic influences (enhanced through the use of flute). These often atmospheric ambiences provide a backdrop for the beautiful, haunting voice of Rachel Jones; again reminiscent of Mostly Autumn’s Heather Findlay, both in terms of her range, and in the harmonies she is able to create. The consequence is that Karnataka may be compared favorably with bands such as Enya, Clannad & Iona, and would be recommended for fans of those bands.
About Requiem for a Dream
Between the release of their debut album and Requiem for a Dream the band disbanded and reformed several times. During those years they released six albums In 2023 when Requiem for a Dream was released the only original member of the band is the founder Ian Jones
Here is the musician line-up for Requiem for a Dream….
Ian Jone/ bass, keyboards, piano, orchestration, bass pedals, acoustic guitar, programming
– Sertari / vocals, backing vocals, choir
With:
– Luke Machin / guitars
– Chris Allan / drums & percussion
– Troy Donockley / uilleann pipes, low whistles
– Gonzalo Carrera / additional keyboards
Thoughts About Karnataka and Requiem for a Dream
Currently, Requiem for a Dream is number 28 on Prog Archives’s list of Top Prog Albums of 2023. It is the number 1 album in the Prog Folk sub-genre. The album also appears on several of lists of Top Prog albums of 2023 and deservedly so. I’m not going to go into detail about all the tracks you can read about that in other reviews at Prog Archives or other places on the web. All I’ll say is I love the vocals and the guitars and the title track is amazing. So check it out. I know I’ll be listening to the album a lot over the next few weeks
Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of Karnataka
Artist’s Website
Wikipedia
ProgArchives
YouTube
Instagram
Facebook
Here’s The Night’s Dance from Karnataka’s Requiem for a Dream
