Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Moonlight Sky
Label: Celinka
Release: 2012
Running time: 48:22
Rating: 3.5/5
Moonlight Sky are a real oddity on the Slovenian music scene. Since day one they’ve cultivated a complex style built on fusing all sorts of musical elements, with an emphasis on jazz, though the easiest label to stick on it would still be progressive rock. After the unexpected departure of singer and keyboardist Andraž Kržič, Moonlight Sky reinvented themselves as an instrumental trio (hence the name change to Moonlight Sky Trio) with occasional guests, made up of guitar wizard Miha Petric, bassist Janez Moder and drummer Žiga Kožar. Andraž does show up on the album as a keyboardist, but his contribution, alongside Jaka Jarc, is pretty much minimal.
This new lineup produced their latest album, »Changing Parameters«, the follow-up to the masterpiece »I Am« (2009), which set new standards for modern Slovenian progressive rock and will be tough to ever top. The remaining trio has now steered fully into instrumental fusion, mixing together jazz, folk, a dash of blues here and there, and even the Balkan rhythms of Macedonian folk music that have always been a band favorite, since they’ve long been big fans of the legendary Leb i Sol. Before Andraž left, the trio didn’t lose much sleep over the “how and where” question, since they know exactly what they want. Still, plenty of people who couldn’t get enough of »I Am« will probably be a bit let down by the switch to full-on instrumentalism, because you could almost be talking about a completely new band, one that has gained in technicality but noticeably lost in distinctiveness and atmospheric breadth. Slovenia has a nice number of lesser-known and more established jazz fusion bands. It would be a great shame if Moonlight Sky Trio ended up as just one of many talented groups cultivating a closely related style.
The main attraction, the centerpiece of the band, remains guitar phenomenon Miha Petric on »Changing Parameters« too. His unmistakable technique is the biggest reason Moonlighty Sky Trio don’t end up as just one of many Slovenian fusion outfits. Miha shines equally on electric and acoustic guitar and is a true master of improvisational inventiveness and unusually fast picking, without ever losing his sense of melodic subtlety. Of course, the other two members are exceptional talents as well and shouldn’t be underestimated in the slightest. Janez Moder, with a solid supply of bass lines, keeps the rhythmic cohesion tight and effective throughout, while the jazz-minded Žiga Kožar remains an unusually versatile drummer by local standards, one who often surprises with interesting transitions around the cymbals.
All things considered, Moonlight Sky Trio are still masters of exceptional tightness, interplay, weaving unpredictable time changes and unexpected improvisations. That comes through best on tracks like the Latin-flavored »Seven Gringos«, the jazz fusion treat »Labyrinth«« and »In the Centre«, crowned by Črt Remic’s saxophone and Jan Tomšič’s flute, where the sonic shift mentioned above is plain to hear. Besides the fully instrumental jazz fusion with touches of blues here and there, their new direction also brings in a few more pastoral folk elements. Honestly, there isn’t a single botched or utterly uninspired piece on the album, but none of them really stands out either, with the possible exception of »Labyrinth«. An interesting change of pace comes with the bonus version of »Of a Different Beat«, featuring guest vocals by Marta Kosturska and Andraž Polič and violin by Vasja Centrih, which hints at one possible direction for their future.
Mostly thanks to Petric’s guitar mastery, Moonlight Sky Trio prove on »Changing Parameters« too that they remain a musical one-off on the home turf, where, apart from a commercially overlooked but qualitatively solid jazz fusion scene, progressive rock has sadly never managed to spread its wings, let alone break out beyond Slovenian borders. On the whole, »Changing Parameters« is a very solid record, though of course it’s no »I Am«. But then Moonlighty Sky Trio, having dropped the vocals and certain sonic elements and finesses that once enriched their sound, are no longer the same, equally interesting band they used to be, so expecting them to stay the leading standard-bearers of modern Slovenian prog rock innovation after such a change would be a bit unrealistic.
Lineup
Miha Petric – guitar
Janez Moder – bass guitar
Žiga Kožar – drums
GUEST MUSICIANS
Jaka Jarc – keyboards
Andraž Kržič – keyboards
Jan Sever – piano
Ratko Žižić – bandoneon
Črt Remic – saxophone
Marta Kosturska – vocals on track no. 11
Andraž Polič – vocals, spoken word on track no. 11
Žiga Šercer – percussion
Jan Tomšič – flute
Vasja Centrih – violin
Production
Martin Zvelc
Tracklist
1. Seven Grings
2. Labyrinth
3. Intermission: Outside
4. People
5. Intermission: Inside
6. Microcosm
7. Fish Life
8. Of a Different Beat
9. Big Whale
10. In the Centre
11. Bonus track: Of a Different Beat
