BLOOD

There aren't too many full instrumental trios out there that don't use keyboards, and even fewer where the musicians are all brothers. It is a while since I last heard any music from Kopecky and this album has reinvigorated my interest in them. Now signed to Canadian label Unicorn Records I hope that having been on UK's Cyclops, Italy's Mellow Records and France's Musea they have now found their spiritual home which will allow them to be more prolific, and I believe that they have. Unicorn release a lot of material that is jazz-oriented, and while Kopecky don't fit into that mould they do have the same inventiveness and musical complexity of many of that genre. This is music that is uncompromising, always looking forwards, as the brothers keep bouncing off each other and letting each take the lead as is appropriate.

That this is challenging music is never in doubt, that many people will find it too complex and labyrinth for their understanding is also apparent. Here is a rock band that really are like no other, and five albums in they are still driving forward whatever perceived boundaries there may be. No keyboards, no vocals, and just three guys hitting those strings and drums to make a glorious togetherness that is like no other. It is hard to categorise exactly what style of music they are performing as by its very nature there is so much going on as they ignore genre categorisations altogether. By definition they are 'progressive', but musically this is much more in the hard rock almost shredder arena, but that is also not correct. Think of it as rock music being played by three musicians linked by 'blood' and performing some of the most complex music around.

It will take you a while to get into it, but once you do?.