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Description

Better known in the upper echelons of Progressive rock as CARPTREE, the Swedish duo Niclas FLINCK and Carl WESTHOLM is back with a fourth album that is every bit as exciting and finely crafted. Less inspired by GENESIS than the first two albums, and less symphonic than "Man MadeMachine" (2005), "Insekt" (2007) proves to be both more detailed and more intimate. And to be honest, the Scandinavian band seems to have crossed the line that separates very good bands from the very best: CARPTREE has not merely moved forward, it has made a true giant leap! One can even say, without much risk of being wrong, that "Insekt" is among the best albums of the year. And who knows, perhaps also a future classic... Admittedly, it takes a little more listening than usual to fully absorb the splendor and contours of its magnificent compositions. Between the duo’s calm voice-and-keyboard passages, and the powerful explosions of the NO FUTURE ORCHESTRA that accompanies them, it is a rich melodic whirlwind that sweeps the listener away. For once, the expression is not overused: essential!!!Symphonic, Progressive but not retro. The lineage of early GENESIS or Peter GABRIEL among others may be there but still CARPTREE is not retro. The musicians get high marks for inventiveness and all-around cleverness. Others mentioned when people describe CARPTREE are MARILLION, JADIS, PENDRAGON, DIVE, PORCUPINE TREE..."We thought this level of songwriting, melodic sensibility, and emotional impact had all but disappeared from Progressive rock.".