Short Reviews [Compassionizer - 2022 - "Narrow Is the Road"]

Released towards the end of 2022, here we have the third album from the Roz Vitalis side project, Compassionizer. This time around Bayun the Cat has been reduced to being one of a number of guests, but the rest of the core band has stayed the same with Serghei Liubcenco (electric & acoustic guitars, rubab, doira, other percussion & drums, whistles), Leonid Perevalov (bass clarinets), AndRey Stefinoff (clarinets) plus of course Ivan Rozmainsky (Roland Juno-D, Pribor Neofit, Arturia MiniBrute & other synths, kalimba, vibraphone, marimba). Ivan is involved in a few bands these days, which allows him to progress his music in different directions in different ensembles, and in many ways this release is one of his most interesting yet. The use of guests providing both trumpet and violin has allowed him to increase the sonic depth he has available to play with, and he has taken the opportunity to move Compassionizer even further into Rio/Avant while also bringing in huge elements of modern classical music. There are times when I am reminded of After Crying, but only if they had been working with Art Zoyd, as they investigate what different instruments can do in a somewhat baroque or even chamber music setting. It is quite possible that many will feel he has crossed right out of progressive rock altogether with this release which would certainly find as many fans within the avant modern classical as it will to those of us who enjoy RIO. One never knows quite where the music is going to lead, or indeed which instruments will be leading it, with Ivan the master conductor and arranger ensuring it somehow all fits together seamlessly. The Russian progressive rock scene is still producing some wonderful music and Ivan Rozmainsky is at the forefront of much of this, and this album clearly demonstrates why as it is a wonderful introduction into his world.