David Arkenstone
Troika V: Kingdom of the Sun

LA RECENSIONE

In 2003, this fifth volume of the Troika series by David Arkenstone, titled "Kingdom of the Sun," was released. I wasn't able to find much information about it, except for the fact that it's part of a series. However, the album seems interesting, and for this reason, I believe it deserves a few words.

The album starts with the track "The chariot," a piece I would describe as "dawning," as A.'s electric guitar paints serene and calm melodies, interspersed with other acoustic and percussive melodies, against a backdrop of synthesized keyboards. "Sister of the sun" is a track for synthesizers, imitating female choirs, to which are then added some sweet vibraphone melodies, aimed at relaxing the listener. "The messenger" is a very rhythmic piece, dominated by an epic keyboard melody, and electronic instrumentation in the background. At the end, an "even acoustic drum" enters... "Goddess of love" is quite similar to the second piece, except for the fact that here the melody is sung by a sad and melancholic violin, accompanied by Arkenstone's synths. "The warrior," as the title suggests, is a very dark track characterized by the presence of tribal drums and the battle-like synthesized keyboard melody. "The giant," on the other hand, is a calmer and more "spatial" piece, dominated by electronics and drums that still play an epic rhythm. "The emperor" moves slowly, through the notes of the synths and slow percussions, almost making us imagine the rooms of a mythical emperor.

In a similar vein more or less is "The blue titan," noteworthy only for the vibraphone used, which is accompanied by the electronic programming of computer-generated sounds... "God of the sea" is a questioning piece, full of doubts, played with synths and electronic instruments, which adds little to what has been said before. We close with "God of the shadows," a piece absolutely dominated by the absence of melody and by the "triumph" of electronic sounds, used in a "spatial" sense, reminiscent of the sounds of the famous Tangerine Dream.

In conclusion, "Kingdom of the Sun" is an album that, yes, could honestly be missing from your discographies, but that perhaps may appeal to fans of the genre (and more honest than that...)