Detailed Reviews [Kopecky - 2003 - "Sunset Gun"]

Prolusion. "Sunset Gun" is the third studio album by this well-known US group, consisting of three brothers, and is their first release for Musea Records.

Synopsis. While the traces of influences of Rush are apparent here and there on the album, and especially on Ascension (2), I can say for sure that these guys are not only fantastically masterful musicians, but are also exceptionally inventive composers and arrangers. The music on most of the tracks is notable for constantly developing, yet, always logically structured arrangements, and is highly polymorphous in character, and yet, is immediately attractive. Both of the guitar and symphonic kinds of Art-Rock, Prog-Metal, Jazz-Fusion, and also, but to a lesser degree, oriental and classical music are among the perceptible constituents of the style presented on the album's title track and Selqet's Kiss (1 & 4). On Creation's Brief Gift and Temptation's Screaming-Ground (5 & 6) Jazz-Fusion and classical music are out, and a dark, unusual Space Rock in. Overall however, these four are about Fifth Element, as all of them possess some features, the essence of which can hardly be determined differently than just a high innovation. The same words can be said about The Divine Art of Flying (3), although most of its structures are related to Indian and Chinese classical music. This is a truly absorbing composition, carrying me away to 'Prog' heaven. William Kopecky works wonders while playing Sitar here, and especially fretless bass, which, though, spreads to the entire album. As mentioned above, Ascension has a rather obvious 'Rush' feel to it, but there are some episodes, the music in which is so profound and intriguing that the legendary Canadians could, maybe, only dream of. The arrangements on the last track, Departure (7), are also woven of familiar, clearly recognizable textures. Which, however, doesn't imply that there is any likeness between them and those in Rush. The music is a guitar Art-Rock with elements of symphonic Art-Rock and Jazz-Fusion, but it's completely original and is hardly less interesting than the other pieces. The passages of acoustic guitar, braided with basic arrangements, and a long drum solo are just a couple from a wide variety of details forming this very eventful composition.

Conclusion. "By Pros for Pros" (ProGfessors, ProGfessionals, etc) could be a proper epigraph to the "Sunset Gun" album by Kopecky. Thus, most, if not all, of you dear readers of these lines might be happy to have this CD in your collection. Put it there - once and forever.

VM: March 16, 2004