TRACK LIST:
1. Intro - Night, Universe and Our Inner Space 3:01
2. Overture 5:52
3. Night Comes. Dreams 11:09
4. Barocco Scherzo 2:03
5. Childhood & School Days 11:31
6. Insomnia 3:44
7. Dark Kingdom & The Evil King. Part 1 7:38
8. Dark Kingdom & The Evil King. Part 2 11:19
9. Dark Kingdom & The Evil King. Part 3 9:30
10. Wake Up 5:42
11. Final/Outro 6:27
LINE UP :
Vladimir Gorashchenko – vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, guitars, recorder, percussion
Max Velychko – guitars, drums, timpani.
Enver Izmailov – guitars, electric bow
Evgeniy Selezniov – drums
Igor Zakus – bass
Dmitriy Trifonov – bass
Bogdan Gumenyuk – saxophones, flute
Brody Green – drums
Alexander Kotov – vocals
Anastasiia Gorashchenko – voice
Tamara Gorashchenko - voice, backing vocals
Anna Danilova – voice
Alexey Gordiyenko - backing vocals
Vladimir Gorashchenko - backing vocals
Andrew Nazarenko - backing vocals
Eugene Sokolenko - backing vocals
Oksana Chernetz - backing vocals
Anna Danilova - backing vocals
Illia Yakovlev - backing vocals
Igor Andriyevsky – violin
Vitaliy Leonov – violin
Konstantin Kuleba – viola
Sergey Petrov – cello
Taras Pivlek – bass
Prolusion.
Ukraine project Modern-Rock Ensemble is the creative vehicle of composer and musician Vladimir Gorashchenko. Just when work began on this venture is unknown, but the first album to be released under this moniker appeared back in 2016. "Night Dreams & Wishes" is the second production to be issued by this project, and was self released in 2019.
Analysis.
The version of Modern-Rock Ensemble we are presented with on this 2019 album is one that has a clear eclectic and inclusive orientation, and that is perhaps the most important aspect of this album to focus on initially. This isn't a production that hones in on one specific subset of progressive rock, but rather a creation with a generally more expansive orientation.
This makes for a production that comes with quite a few challenging features too. Not that the material is hard to listen to as such, but mentally navigating through the different phases of a song will take a bit more out of the listener than having a go at an album with a more strict and defined orientation.
The main recurring element here, just about, is symphonic progressive rock. Often delivered with a bit of dramatic flair and swagger, it seems apparent that main man Gorashchenko is fond of the somewhat more expressive and vintage-oriented aspects of this style. Just about as important are folk music elements however, ranging from delicate acoustic wanderings and pastoral elegant sequences and over to more aggressive and fiery displays that indicates that we are dealing with a composer well aware of his Jethro Tull in this case.
Two further important dimensions that expands the scope of the landscapes here are details and traditions that come with a bit more of a classical music foundation, ranging from instrument details to the use of orchestral textures, and at last those with a taste for good, old jazzrock will encounter quite a few familiar sounding details throughout and then for matters revolving around the bass guitars more often than in other manners.
The compositions include elements from these four dimensions to a lesser or greater extent, exploring dramatic and majestic landscapes just as much as tender and delicate ones. Dark and haunting moods and light toned, elegant and jubilant landscapes coexist quite nicely. More challenging and occasionally quirky movements and gentle atmospheric laden parts will also go hand in hand.
A good number of helping hands ensures that the end result holds a high and solid level throughout, albeit with the vocals perhaps being a little bit of a weak point at times and the mix and production not always being quite at the top of the game either. Still, these are very minor negatives, and mainly so for people that are sensitive in those departments.
Conclusion.
Modern-Rock Ensemble as of 2019 is a band that creates and provides music for those with a taste for material with a bit of a challenging touch to it. With symphonic progressive rock and various incarnations of folk music as cornerstones and some of the main parts of the additional flavoring taken in from jazzrock and classical music respectively, a fairly wide and inclusive musical taste is needed to enjoy all aspects of the material here. But for those who have a taste of music falling within the quadrant described, "Night Dreams & Wishes" should have a solid chance of being regarded as a rewarding experience.
Progmessor: January 2023
The Rating Room
