Izvajalec: Cartoon
Založba: Samozaložba
Izid: year
Trajanje: 65:05
Ocena: 4.2/5
“Estribo” je nadaljevanje preodličnega potovanja Brazilcev Cartoon, ki skozi svoje eklektične progresivne melodije hodijo po poteh svojega hecnega domišljijeskega sveta, polnega vitezov, duhovov, škratov, vilincev in podobnih bitij iz fantazijskih svetov. Z albumom tudi zaključujejo svoj zastavljen cilj, ki so ga najavili leta 1999 s prvencem “Martelo” (recenzija), saj “Estribo” prestavlja zadnji del “ušesne” trilogije (estribo namreč pomeni stremence). Zaenkrat je največji uspeh doživel njihov drugi izdelek “Bigorna” (recenzija).
Cartoon se držijo smernic, po katerih so delovali pri ustvarjanju prvih dveh albumov. Neresno poigravanje s trivialnimi temami skozi duhovite kabaretske melodije, norčavo petje, komični durovski prehodi in ostali humoristični prijemi v rokah mojstrov glasbene obrti ponovno zveni odlično. Vendar žal “Estribo” ne ponuja inovacije – namesto nadgrajevanja svojih že uporabljenih idej se Cartoon zatečejo v recikliranje starih, kar vsekakor ni napačno, vsekakor pa je zato končni izdelek nekoliko slabši kot “njegov original”. Vseeno nas na koncu čaka veliko presenečenje.
Zadnji del trilogije je zgodbovno zastavljen nekoliko drugače. Še vedno se med drugim ukvarja s Thorovim kladivom, vendar so besedila veliko bolj filozofska kot poprej. Gnoseološka in ontološka vprašanja, kaj je človek in kje je njegovo mesto, kako se odraža v vesolju in kakšna bo njegova vloga v prihodnosti, hkrati pa vprašanja o celotnem univerzumu. Kljub globini vprašanj glasbeniki na njih odgovarjajo šaljivo in norčavo, z vedenjem, da na tovrstna vprašanja (še) ni možno odgovoriti. Seveda tega niti ne bi vedeli, da gre za tolikšno komičnost, če ne bi tematike odlične podkrepili z ustrezno inštrumentalno platjo. Vseeno prihaja do prevelike podobnosti z “Bigorno”, melodije so nekoliko slabši odsev tistih z drugega albuma, kljub temu, da svojo vlogo odigrajo več kot zadovojljivo. Ko že mislimo, da gre po Cartoonovih standardih za povprečen album, nas presenetijo z zadnjima dvema skladbama. “Velut Luna” in “God Speed!” sta povsem na svoji ravni. Bas linija pride v ospredje, glasbeniki se rešijo ovir zastavljene ideje in rezultat sta verjetno celo najboljši stvaritvi benda.
Progresivci Cartoon tako zaključijo svoje develetno popotovanje skozi svet magije, pokrajine polne čarobnih bitij, popotovanje skozi celotno vesolje in planetarium z zelo dobrim albumom, z albumom, ki si zasluži naziv zadnjega, zaključnega trilogije. Priporočan je seveda ponovno vsem tistim, ki ste s Cartoonom že od vsega začetka kot tistim, ki bo “Estribo” njihovo razdevičenje. Je nekoliko bolj dostopen kot “Bigorna”, čeprav konec koncev ni tako inovativen in na splošno odličen kot “Bigorna”. Brazilci se z dokončano trilogijo še močneje zasidrajo v vodilno skupino progresivnorockovskih bendov Južne Amerike.
“Estribo” continues the wonderful journey of the Brazilians Cartoon, who walk on the path of their own funny imaginative world full of knights, ghosts, dwarfs, elves and such beings from fantasy through their eclectic progressive melodies. This album completes the band’s goal, which was started in 1999 with their debut “Martelo” (review). For now, the second part of the trilogy, “Bigorna (review), has received the most praise.
Cartoon are holding on to their usual approach, which was applied to their first two albums. Frivolous toying with trivial topics through the witty cabaret-like melodies, foolish singing, comical light-hearted transitions and other humorous techniques once again sound great in the hands of the masters of musical industry. Though, sadly, “Estribo” does not offer such innovation as “Bigorna” – instead of upgrading their previous concepts, the band mostly recycle their old ideas, which are not really a problem, but definitely contributes to the final creation. Although towards the end of the album, we are in for a treat.
The last part of the trilogy is story-wise a little different from its two predecessors. It is still dealing with Thor’s Hammer, but the lyrics are more philosophical than ever before. Epistemological and ontological questions and answers like what we are, how we are placed in the universe, our role in the future etc. But despite the depth of those questions the musicians are answering comically and humorously, knowing that there are not answers to those questions (yet). The listeners would not be aware of that if the music itself had not been so funny and ludicrous, in the best way possible, of course. However, there are too many similarities with “Bigorna”, the melodies are mostly a little worse reflections of those from their second album, despite the fact that they do fulfil their role. And when we think that “Estribo” is an average Cartoon album, we get thrown off our sits with the last two tracks. “Velut Luna” and “God Speed!” are on entirely different level. Bass lines come into the front, the musicians get free of the restrains of their own ideas and the result is marvellous.
And so, the proggers Cartoon complete their nine years long journey through the world of wizardry, full of magical beings, their journey through the whole universe and planetarium with a very good album, with an album that is worth the title of the last one of the trilogy. It is once again recommended to the ones, who have been with Cartoon from the start, as well as for the ones, who have not yet listened to any of band’s music. “Estribo” is a bit more accessible than “Bigorna”, though not so innovative and all in all great as “Bigorna”. With the completed “Ear” trilogy, the Brazilians’ reputation grows even more as one of the top bands from South America’s progressive rock scene.
Zasedba
Khadhu – bas kitara, vokal, sitar, orglice, akustična kitara
Bhydhu – bobni, tolkala, vokal
Khykho – električna in akustična kitara, vokal
Boxexa – klaviature, vokal
Produkcija
Khadhu
Seznam skladb
1. Thor’s Hammer (5:09)
2. The Storm Before The Silence (6:53)
3. Father (4:27)
4. Crossings And Crosses (6:29)
5. The Car Crash (3:50)
6. Heaven’s My Home (6:37)
7. Treatment With Mercury (5:58)
8. Remember (7:17)
9. Velut Luna (7:24)
10. God Speed! (11:01)
