Bruno Karnel – Villa Solitude
Album | 14/03/2025 | Bitume Productions
40:19 | 8 tracks | Digital
Progressive Rock / Atmospheric Rock
Meaux, France
Dreams Dwell Amid Desolation
On his third longplayer, Bruno Karnel lets the audience wander through abandoned lands, ghost towns, and post-war spheres. The setting may appear dystopian, post-apocalyptic and desolate at first sight. But here, amidst the ruins where solitude reigns, tiny seeds of hope and new dreams yearn for the scarce sunlight. Villa Solitude is a fantastic journey set at the turning point of a circular apocalypse, and depending on the listeners‘ interpretation, it can be regarded as a comment on the status quo on Planet Earth, or as a piece of encouragement and empowerment for people who are living through dark times.
The Sound of the Urban Sphere
On his third album, Bruno Karnel has not only written all songs and lyrics but he has also played the guitars, the domra, saz, mandolin, borisov bass, keyboards, and has furthermore sung, added field recordings and samples. The drums and percussions on Villa Solitude were played by Basile Combes, and futhermore, the following guest musicians have contributed to the longplayer: Oleksandra Vyentseva (violin), Artem Litvchenko (cello), Polina Faustova (cello), Ella Yevtuchenko (vocals), Iryna Kulshenka (vocals), Polina Chorna (piano), Roman Starkman (piano), Sonia (vocals), and Matthieu Gajewski (bass). Together, they have created an atmospheric, futuristic and urban sound that combines the cityscape with solitude.
Music-wise, this progressive, artistic and atmospheric construct can be linked to the wave-like movement of post-genres, Post Rock especially. Yet, this movement is rather located on the mood level as Villa Solitude oscillates between dark and melancholic themes on the one hand, and sonic sunrays of new hope or the joyful embrace of solitude on the other. And consequently, somewhere between Chanson and Post Punk, Post Rock and Prog Rock, Bruno Karnel and his guests present a lovely musical travel log, a fantastic journey through gloom and desire. Besides his project Abstrakt Lake, this may be Bruno Karnel’s most experimental release so far, and it is thrilling from beginning to ending.
9/10 Mangoes
We will dance again
Mia Schem
Love Music – Support Sea Rescue
Donate to Sea Punks and Help to Save Lives
Promo materials by courtesy of Bruno Karnel
