'Hoggwash - The Last Horizon' Reviews
A review By John
Mattern. (johnobvious), (courtesy of Progarchives)
Hoggwash. What can you say about the name? I have to
admit that it immediately turned me off and they were relegated to the
heap of new bands that I was not going to invest any time or effort
into investigating further. Just because of the name.
But I have to
tell you, do not be put off by the name because this is some very fine,
mainly keyboard driven prog that should appeal to a lot of
neo/symphonic listeners here.
Thanks to Erik
Neuteboom for helping me get past the name and listening to some
samples on the Hoggwash website. I deemed it worthy of purchase and
have a very fine album with loads of melodies. The band is the
brainchild of Welshman Will Mackie, founder of the Caerllysi Music
label. From what I can tell, he wrote the music and brought in
Ukrainian sensation Antony Kalugin to be the man to get the music
played. His keyboards are the main force but there are quite a bit of
very nice guitars throughout and that are given the spotlight with some
lovely solos. The rest of the band complements the proceedings
professionally. The flute, oboe and strings are also featured. The best
comparison I can make to another band is Satellite and this album
should be a no brainer for fans of that Polish outfit. Even Kalugin's
vocals have a bit of that Satellite sound. Low and husky, they are not
as powerful as some others out there, but they certainly fit well with
the music here.
As far as the Satellite
comparisons, I think this album is a bit more adventurous. After the
first listen, you may be underwhelmed but further spins show that there
is a lot going on and there is more meat on the bone than you might
think. The tempo varies and the sound is full, with the main
instruments standing out and providing great melodies. Guitarist Roman
Philonenko really shines both in backing up the bountiful keyboards and
when given one of his many solos. They range from slow and tasteful to
occasionally blazing. They do not overstay their welcome as there are
many more keyboard runs to get to.
I urge
anyone with an open mind to check out the samples to get a taste of
what is on display here. This is modern prog that can appeal to the old
school folks who like their keyboards plentiful and varied. Kalugin is
a guy who delivers and bears watching in the coming years. I was very
pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy this and look forward to more
from Hoggwash. A solid four stars.
Now, about that name.
A review by By progleo, (courtesy
of Progressive Ears)
Once
in a while, you come across an album, that..when the the first tones
hit you, you realise ”this is gold”! Hoggwash´ s debut album The Lost
Horizon is one such album. Out of respect for both musicians and
readers, I normally listen to an album, at least 5-6 times, before
making judgment, writing a review. Don’t get me wrong, I still do that.
But this fine debut, on the first listen, first track, had me cheering
out loud: “YES!” (which almost gave my cat, always residing/sleeping
next to me, a heart-attack.)
But seriously, this is a rare
fine debut. It has all the makings of a great prog album and certainly
a contender for best prog newcomer this year. You get plenty beautiful
and smooth soundscapes, you get superb keyboard play, towering unison
guitar/keyboard soli, you get excellent production, mix and
arrangements. Though not by any means a copy/clone band. Hoggwash has
hints, allegations and leanings to such bands as: Saga, Camel, Pink
Floyd to name a few. And why not? Mentioned bands have had (and still
have) a great impact on many generations up till now and beyond!
The
Lost Horizon is the excellent example of co work between two major
musically talented people, across the borders of separate countries,
but also across the borders of culture and sentiment. Now, let me sink
my verbal teeth in to the flesh of this fine album. According to the
creators (Will & Anthony) this concept album, is to be followed
by
at least one more (maybe 2?) albums? Lets hope so!
First
track: “Out of the Darkness” opens with some fine narration, soon to
glide into a steady theme, with guitars and keyboards to the fore and
some very relaxed vocals “walking” us through the song/lyrics! A
beautiful acoustic almost classical, in traditional orchestral way,
interval midway breaks the theme of this epic (15:30 min.) track before
returning to yet another great theme. So a very long, beautiful and
varied composition, reminding this old proghead of a mix between Alan
Parsons project & Camel at their absolute best!! What a great
way
to start an album!
“Reflections of Life” continues in that
same excellent style powerful without being heavy, beautiful without
being banal, extravagant without being pretentious. Just superbly
delivered, composed and finely arranged music. I’m really amazed, this
is top of the class, art rock/prog music!
“Under a Rainbow
Sky”…well, you get the picture. This track also shines, with brilliant
keyboard soli and chord themes, strongly supported by fine guitars and
hey, some neat vocal harmonies. Great stuff!
“Road of Many
Challenges” again...I’m flabbergasted, this track also boasts a fine
beautiful theme, keyboard, guitar and flute(?) one could almost hear
hints of Jethro Tull´s magic in there! This album is absolutely brimful
of great themes, any great new art rock/prog band would give their
right arm, just to have, create or compose, just a few of these!!
That´s
all you get, from me. The rest of this magnificent debut album is for
you to buy, explore and cherish! And believe you me, you will! It
really is amazing what Will, Anthony and the "boys", have created here!
Anyone
seriously into great art rock/ prog music and for that matter anyone
into beautiful, well-crafted music with keyboard deluxe to the fore,
must own this fine album! I can’t wait to hear the next outing from
these excellent musicians!
I’m not that impressed by the cover art, but hey that’s me...some like
Dali and some like Matisse!.
A review by By erik neuteboom, (courtesy of Progarchives)
This
is a very special musical project that started on the Internet
where Will Mackie (from a pastoral village in Wales) and
multi-
instrumentalist Antony Kalugin (from a busy city in the Ukraine) got in
touch with each other. They shared a love for progressive rock and this
has resulted in the release of this debut album by Hoggwash. The name
is derived from a spirit that helps people to come from the dark into
the light if they are desperate or feel broken, this symbolizes that
there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
The sound of
Hoggwash is more symphonic prog but less adventurous than Antony his
other project Karfagen. Nonetheless, Hoggwash has succeeded to make
varied and interesting music with flowing shifting moods and good
breaks, often topped with strong solos on keyboards and guitar. The
first composition is the long and captivating Out Of The Darkness: lots
of variety (from compelling and dreamy to mid-tempo and bombastic) and
a lush instrumentation featuring fluent synthesizer runs, heavy guitar
riffs, wah-wah guitar, powerful vocals, mellow hobo, warm classical
guitar and some accordeon. The colouring with the keyboards is
wonderful with the sound of brass, Hammond and Mellotron. The other
seven tracks also manage to keep my attention for the full running time
like in Road Of Many Challenges (from dreamy with soaring keyboards,
flute and Mellotron to compelling with howling guitar and mid-tempo
with sensitive guitar and flashy synthesizer flights), Like A Miracle
(strong interplay between varied keyboards and guitar along good
solos), Another Friday Night (beautiful mellow atmosphere with acoustic
guitar, a slow rhythm with howling guitar and bombastic with Hammond,
synthesizer runs and wah-wah guitar) and the dreamy final song The Last
Horizon delivering a slow keyboard solo, flute and acoustic guitar.
This CD is a strong calling card by Hoggwash!
The special
bonus CD contains five tracks: Seashell is a bit spacey, Rainbow Part 1
delivers both swinging Fender Rhodes piano as xylophone, Rainbow Part 2
has a tight mid-tempo with exciting keyboard work and the final two
songs (from Antony his New Age solo albums) sound ... quite mellow. It
also contains video footage from a Karfagen rehearsal including the
previously not released song Waiting For A but this ‘Caveman reviewer’
cannot play it on his computer...
A review by By beebs, (courtesy of Progarchives)
I
was introduced to this band by a friend, and I've taken a keen interest
in Ukrainian keyboardist Antony Kalugin and his various projects (among
them, Sunchild, Karfagen and The Spacious Mind), and I find Hoggwash to
be a nice eclectic blend: symphonic prog laced with rocking guitar
riffs and nice keyboard runs, an occasional folksy feel, and even at
times a bigband-like swing. There's alot to like here, and I glean
occasional musical references to the like of Mike Oldfield and Bo
Hansson. Above all else, melodies are very strong and central on the
CD's (as well as the bonus disc's) tracks.
My personal
favorite is the track Another Friday Night. It takes a couple of
minutes before the musical direction of the track is unveiled, and it
becomes highly contagious, with a brillian chorus sung of the words
Dirty money's money no matter where it's been.
I find this
work and its mastermind highly commendable and recommend it strongly to
anyone who enjoys longer pieces fleshed out with nice guitar and
keyboard runs. The vocals are strong and lyrically compelling. I
anxiously await the next work Kalugin sets his energy to.
A review by By johnobvious, (courtesy of Progarchives)
Hoggwash.
What can you say about the name? I have to admit that it immediately
turned me off and they were relegated to the heap of new bands that I
was not going to invest any time or effort into investigating further.
Just because of the name. But I have to tell you, do not be put off by
the name because this is some very fine, mainly keyboard driven prog
that should appeal to a lot of neo/symphonic listeners here.
Thanks
to Erik Neuteboom for helping me get past the name and listening to
some samples on the Hoggwash website. I deemed it worthy of purchase
and have a very fine album with loads of melodies. The band is the
brainchild of Welshman Will Mackie, founder of the Caerllysi Music
label. From what I can tell, he wrote the music and brought in
Ukrainian sensation Antony Kalugin to be the man to get the music
played. His keyboards are the main force but there are quite a bit of
very nice guitars throughout and that are given the spotlight with some
lovely solos. The rest of the band complements the proceedings
professionally. The flute, oboe and strings are also featured. The best
comparison I can make to another band is Satellite and this album
should be a no brainer for fans of that Polish outfit. Even Kalugin's
vocals have a bit of that Satellite sound. Low and husky, they are not
as powerful as some others out there, but they certainly fit well with
the music here.
As far as the Satellite comparisons, I think
this album is a bit more adventurous. After the first listen, you may
be underwhelmed but further spins show that there is a lot going on and
there is more meat on the bone than you might think. The tempo varies
and the sound is full, with the main instruments standing out and
providing great melodies. Guitarist Roman Philonenko really shines both
in backing up the bountiful keyboards and when given one of his many
solos. They range from slow and tasteful to occasionally blazing. They
do not overstay their welcome as there are many more keyboard runs to
get to.
I urge anyone with an open mind to check out the
samples to get a taste of what is on display here. This is modern prog
that can appeal to the old school folks who like their keyboards
plentiful and varied. Kalugin is a guy who delivers and bears watching
in the coming years. I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I
enjoy this and look forward to more from Hoggwash. A solid four stars.
Now, about that name…