SKY FULL OF HOPE (AS FRACTAL SEXTET)

I have become such a fanboy of all things related to SONAR and Stephan Thelen. That all instrumental music coming out of Switzerland that is complex and interlocking. The sound of the tri-tone instruments is amazing, as is guitarist David Torn when he involved. So the expectations are high when it comes to this 6 piece band called FRACTAL SEXTET. This is their second studio album released in 2024, and it clocks in around 55 minutes with six tracks, not counting the bonus song.

The story goes that Stephan Thelen and fellow guitarist Jon Durant were asked by an individual as to why they don't have a permanent band to play this complex and interlocking style of music. So the seed was planted and eventually Stephan and Jon sat down and talked about who would be part of this group. Adding four members isn't an easy thing when you do not want to step on any toes as it were with fellow collaborators from SONAR and Stephan Thelen solo. So they did the smart thing and went outside the usual cast of musicians who are involved.

The exception is Andi Pupato a percussionist who is one of the usual suspects and previously part of Nik Bartsch's Ronin'. So that leaves drums, bass and keyboards. Man, I would have liked to have had an ear to these conversations about who they considered. The surprising pick to me was Colin Edwin formerly of PORCUPINE TREE. Really surprising until I saw he and Durant are in the same band called BURNT RELIEF. So that was a Durant suggestion no doubt. Keyboards? Fabio Anile, who is a classical pianist and keyboardist. On the kit we get drum phenom Yogev Gabay from Israel.

On their debut it was Stephan Thelen composing just about everything, while here it is shared between him and Fabio Anile. I have to say that this is surprisingly minimalistic. The breakouts are few, to a fault in my opinion. And understand I adore this style of music, but this certainly doesn't matchup to many SONAR or solo Stephan Thelen albums. I would also argue that while I appreciate all the music that they can give us, I don't think this permanent band idea was necessary when you have that large cast of musicians that have played live and in studio together for years at your disposal.

One thing this record did though was bring to my attention drummer Yogev Gabay. Thelen says that this is a very polyrhythmic album but with Yogev in the driver's seat, there's nothing to worry about. Still, they have almost doubled down on the metric pensions of their debut to the point that even Gabay had to do a few takes at times before he nailed it. They call him the major lynchpin to the proceedings, as well as one of the group's prime catalysts.

When I think of this album I'm reminded of drums, piano and guitar expressions. And that it's minimalistic of course. So much of this just seems to trip along. Of course the attention is in the details here but it's hard to know from song to song which one I'm listening to. All are similar in sound and style but I'd probably pick the closer "Four Hands" if I was to pick just one song. I was disappointed with this one but the expectations were sky high(haha). I pretty much assumed this would be my album of the year for 2024. No, it is not, but a solid 4 stars regardless.

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