The relatively unknown
Sun Domingo have toured with
Marillion and Pineapple Thief . Clearly, they're associating with all the right people.
Steve Hogarth contributes guest vocals and Bruce (PT) Soord produced. The estimable Adrian Belew, something of a legend in Progrock circles also offers a guest appearance on one track, as does John Wesley of the Porcupine Tree.
So, a band moving in elevated company.
It's not easy marrying prog with melodic rock. You can end up pleasing nobody.
But when it works - like it does here - you widen your appeal to a much bigger audience. Here, the two genres are mixed with the odd pop wildcard, knitted together by dazzling musicianship and beautifully blended arrangements. A natural union, giving birth to some plangent melodic progrock.
Powerful images and memorable music are deployed with absolute precision. Not the cold, clinical precision for which so much prog is known, but the kind that flows efortlessy, gracefully, lucid and sharp.
'For Only You' will remind you of the Flower Kings, or maybe moreso Stolt's current band, Agents Of Mercy.
'Bound By These Rings' and '
Anymore' have much more of a Westcoast Rock vibe, that's in a geographical, "soft rock" sense rather than in genre terminology.
Both remind me of Ambrosia.
The grandiloquence of
'It's Happening Now' adds a Floydian tone. With Neil Young writing the lyrics and the vocal melody.
The ringing guitar tones and solos are very Gilmour.
Elsewhere, we're treated to the Kings X-esque (try saying that after a few drinks) progfunk with instrumental
'Mad Maze' and the pop mini masterpiece,
'Find A Way Out'. This classy track is in the mould of Jellyfish, right down to the quirky lyrical phrasing and the pizzicato strings, with the occasional mash up.it sounds like the Wondermints playing in the background.
Both tracks show a rare versatility and musicality, and a firm grasp of sound songwriting.
Seems to me I've spent the review comparing
Sun Domingo to lots of other bands. The lazy reviewer approach, I know, and an admission of my limitations, but sometimes these kind of references help.
In this case, I hope they have.
'Songs For End Times' is an immense album. I would venture that this band may well go on to be a reference point for others (assuming the planet survives).
Highly Recommended.
Written by
Brian Monday, June 13, 2011
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