Artist description A mixture of progressive rock and classical music, blending gothic imagery with filmic soundscapes.

Music Style Beautiful and challenging at the same time, Karda Estra blends electronic with orchestral instruments and also features female voice/choral vocal effects.

Musical Influences The more challenging end of rock/pop to soundtrack and classical music

Similar Artists Not sure if they're too similar, but certainly huge influences - Steve Hackett, Danny Elfman, Talk Talk, Vaughan Williams, Brian Wilson, Peter Gabriel ...

Artist History 1988 - 1997 Founding member and main writer of the group LIVES AND TIMES, releaseing seven albums. 1998 - present - formed KARDA.

Group Members RICHARD WILEMAN electric, classical and bass guitars, keyboards and samples, acoustic percussion, various sound effects and experiments.ILEESHA BAILEY vocals.CARON HANSFORD oboe, cor anglais, bassoonZOE KING flute, saxophone, clarinet. RACHEL LARKINS viola, violin. HELEN DEARNLEY violin

Instruments see above

Albums A WINTER IN SUMMERTIME (1998), THIRTEEN FROM THE TWENTY FIRST (2000), EVE (2001)

Press Reviews '...THE MUSIC HERE IS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT...THE INSPIRED USE OF LOOPS AND VOICES FROM SYNTHS AS WELL AS THE SILKEN LARYNX OF ONE ILEESHA BAILEY ALL PROVE HOW MERE MUSIC CAN MAKE YOU DRIFT OFF SOMEWHERE ‘ELSE’.' Guitarist'BRILLIANTLY ORCHESTRATED WITH NUMEROUS THEMES RUNNING THROUGH THE PROCEEDINGS...OTHER WORDLY VOCALS ARE SUPPLIED BY ILEESHA BAILEY, ADDING A SERIOUSLY SINISTER EDGE TO THE TRACKS. IT’S AS SUBTLE AS ANYTHING AND IT WORKS AN ABSOLUTE TREAT...THE PLAYING TECHNIQUES AND ARRANGEMENTS ARE AWESOMELY ORIGINAL.' The Mix'VERY ACCOMPLISHED, DEEP, ATMOSPHERIC TRACKS, PERFECT FILM SCORE MATERIAL.' Future Music'Gaining a unanimous thumbs up from other reviews, it’s not hard to see why people like the Karda Estra CD. Musically, it offers a combination of the classical and the electronic that is not only accessible melodically, but also freely experiments with interesting harmonic concepts and sounds. The first track is a perfect example, a soundscape halfway between romance and horror vividly captured using multitracked vocals, strings, piano and ‘off camera’ ambient noises. Yes, something is sneaking up behind you. Sound On Sound.This is really lovely. It was described to me as an ‘imaginary gothic soundtrack’, and that’s precisely what it is. This music is so atmospheric that it is almost like watching a film. Wonderful orchestral tunes that place you instantly in a graveyard or an old mansion. Great use of instruments combining traditionally classical sounds (viola, flute) with electric guitars and modern drum beats, while ethereal vocals float around in the background. Original and beautiful. Rose Tinted Windows

Location Swindon, Wiltshire - United Kingdom

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