The Sunset Kings’ debut CD The Ballad Of Bella Fury takes prog rock to a higher level. Its inclusion of saxophone and violin allow for colors, tones, and textures not usually found in those playing complex rock song structures, odd time signatures, and wildly impressive instrumental solos. Some of the instrumental passages remind of mid-1970s prog bands Genesis and King Crimson. There is also a hint of Weather Report, Al DiMeola, and Herbie Hancock.
This new work, The Ballad Of Bella Fury, soars with a warm, fuzzy Neumi saxophone phrase reaching ever upward through a palpably slappy bass guitar and punchy drum groove. Neumi sends his sax line spiraling upward, impressive in its intervals, creating a smoky atmosphere in this swiftly sung tune. (Yes, the saxophone player goes by the singe name Neumi)
“Pacific Coast Highway” features the hauntingly beautiful violin work of Hannah Schzde amidst a rushing combo of speedy keys and racing drum work. Emotive, sensitive guitar work by Matt Hughes augments that classical instrument well, both creating lifts in the musical waves and spiritual momentum in their piece.
“You Are The Ocean” employs the smooth, understated vocals of Allister “Star“ Quilon. His flowing croon is a good match for the rushing instrumentation in this piece. His presence, buttressed especially well by a saxophone line, keeps this work in the cruising lane, wide, expansive, but accessible, lulling the listening to take in all that it has to offer. One particularly good artistic flourish is the wiry explosion of saxophone, moving up in dynamics to grab our attention with its prominence and talent.
Hard funking bass guitar from the late Nick “Shag” Shannon (who passed away after this disc was recorded) and assertive sax introduce “The Good.” This one has a soulful vibe within its knobby, muscular sound. Over the thumping low end is emotive sax and driving guitar work, phrasing that gives off sparks each time it contrast well with the two fisted groove.
“Bad Days,” a dreamscape of vocal, nimbly picked guitar, and a forlorn synth wash, reaches the listener in a special way. Its message of sympathy to anyone experiencing daily life, brief as its running time is, is a nice inclusion to this disc.
“Pompeii” continues the mellow space age out reach in its intro then abruptly erupts into hefty doses of fine, fierce instrumentation. Mike Larsen’s drums get spanked repeatedly. Bass guitar runs are thickly appealing. A lead guitar grinds out an edgy phrase. When the lead vocal kicks in, Quilon’s timbre glides over the simmering sounds with a cool detachment and the contrast is brilliant.
“Searching For Solace” offers more brisk, hard rocking prog. This chunk of sound is made up of each band member playing tight ensemble style. Wedged into a thick batch of guitar, bass drums, violin, and sax, this piece moves with power as all its moving parts each carry plenty of weight.
The drums power many of these tunes with multiple smacks, energy erupting from many contacts between stick and skin. That is especially true of “Rose Tinted Raybans.” This one has a swaggering horn, a swaying violin, and whole host of other instrumentation. This is another that shows not only that The Sunset Kings have talent to spare but that they’re also a very interesting band. Their cross between fusion and prog results in many fine passages. A lead guitar on “Rose Tinted Raybans” plays with a fluidity and a power found in few other bands that do not cross the boundary between rock and other genres.
Closing track “Drink Myself” is an eerie farewell from this band. A slowly picked electric guitar creates, in combo, with an airy synth backdrop, a forlorn world for Quilon to pass his voice through. The result is something full of emotive fiber even though the ghostly gentle tune never ramps up into fevered instrumentation. It’s simply epic in its sonic landscape.
The Sunset Kings are off to a promising start with this wildly entertaining and most impressive work. Recorded by Zachary Robert Hughes The Bridge Sound and Stage studio, The Ballad Of Bella Fury should open many doors for this interesting, Boston-based band.
https://www.thesunsetkings.com/
