Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Moonlight Sky
Label: Celinka
Release: 2016
Running time: 57:44
Rating: 4.5/5
Slovenia’s prog/jazz rock fusion standouts Moonlight Sky, who have been working exclusively as an instrumental outfit for a few years now, made a major sonic shift after their third studio album, »Changing Parameters« (2012), which they recorded as a trio. They brought a fourth member into the fold, the superb keyboardist Jan Sever. With his help, the other three Moonlight Sky virtuosos, guitarist Miha Petric, bassist Janez Moder and drummer Žiga Kožar, have beautifully enriched their musical collage. It shows most in the individual arrangements, which are now far more colorful and rich, while some of the compositions also get extra flavor from guest clarinet and saxophone, played by Goran Bojčevski and Črt Remic.
»The Four« is a major step forward from its predecessor »Changing Parameteres«. Some of us had kind of missed the symphonic stamp that marked most of the band’s earlier work, while on a few tracks they’ve now started actively experimenting with world music and blues alongside the jazz rock fusion, which is also highly commendable and a nice proof that the band isn’t weighed down by its sonic past. The opening track, the fiery fusion masterpiece »Tour de Vir«, which was a joint creation of all four members and is one of the album’s highlights, wears the strong influence of legendary fusion groups like The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever and Leb i Sol on its sleeve.
Influences like these crop up on »The Four«, which contains exclusively original material, again and again. Moder’s thick bass lines are present throughout »Tour de Vir«, while Miha Petric, with fast-fingered runs that John McLaughlin, Vlatko Stefanovski and Al Di Meola would all be proud of, shows right away why he’s one of the best guitar virtuosos we’ve got on home soil. Both masters of their instruments enjoy the energetic backing of Sever’s piano and Kožar’s dynamic drum fills, while witty wind arrangements add even more color to this rhythmically restless track.
»Šestka« is a bit more laid-back, but still a rhythmically very dynamic creation, where Petric’s guitar lines ‘swerve’ in a more bluesy direction while the colorful bass lines and smart drum fills nicely support the subtle keyboard arrangements. There’s also some room for fun jazz-fusion improvisation, which is pretty much a must in spontaneous instrumental pieces like this. »Makedonska«, as its name already tells you, is a gradual triumph of Balkan-spiced rhythms and a ‘southern’ atmosphere. After Sever’s ‘still-life’ piano intro, which is just a touch too long, Balkan/Macedonian melodies gradually take over, peaking in an outstanding Petric guitar solo. It’s yet another very interesting stylistic refresh, and the band deserves full credit for it.
You can also catch some Balkan rhythmic temperament on the playful jazz-fusion treat »Microcosm«, where the virtuosity of all four musicians once again comes into full bloom, although this time Petric, who also wrote the track, shines brightest with dramatic guitar improvisation. The influence of southern European ethnic elements is there on »Nearest to Inexpressible« too, which has a sudden shift into an improvisation-driven section, giving this complex composition, with its outstanding piano solo, a slightly avant-garde stamp as well. On »Alegria« the band steers into more ‘traditional’ jazz fusion waters, and amid the slick guitar runs and cleverly timed drum fills, a subtle piano solo gets its moment too. »Taino« is a triumph of blues-spiced guitar lines backed by mighty bass, while Sever’s branching keyboard adventures once again make no secret of the influence of Return to Forever chief Chick Corea. Petric’s ‘supersonic’ guitar solo is here again too, and it’ll make the heart of every guitar-hero fan skip a beat, while the closing section of the piece turns almost Caribbean/Latin in flavor. The closing »But I Like the Blues« is a wonderfully atmospheric, ‘still-life’ kind of piece, where Petric weaves moving, bluesy lines on guitar while subtle piano and jazzy drum backing accompany him nicely.
»The Four« is the album we Moonlight Sky fans have basically been craving ever since its predecessor came out, which means that, taken as a whole, it more than lived up to every expectation while also serving up some very pleasant surprises. The sonic upgrade that came with Jan Sever’s arrival has definitely brought some truly inspiring results, so turning the band from a trio back into a quartet was a very wise move, while the quality production comes courtesy of the renowned producer Matej Gobec. The end result is their most mature work so far. Comparing it with their previous three studio efforts is a bit of a thankless task, since on »The Four« Moonlight Sky once again sound completely different from, say, four years ago, in a good way, of course. All of this bodes very well for the future of a group that brims with enthusiasm and incredible drive on most of these tracks. We’re lucky to have at least a handful of kindred bands like Moonlight Sky in Slovenia, defending the honor of the local progressive rock and jazz rock fusion scene, so every new album from experimental enthusiasts like these is a very big event.
Lineup
Miha Petric – guitar
Janez Moder – bass guitar
Jan Sever – keyboards
Žiga Kožar – drums
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Goran Bojčevski – clarinet
Črt Remic – saxophone
Production
Matej Gobec
Track list
1. Tour de Vir
2. Šestka
3. Makedonska
4. Microcosm
5. Nearest to Inexpressible
6. Alegria
7. Taino
8. But I Like the Blues
