I have enjoyed all the five Fractal Mirror albums, which I am proud to own in my collection, and 2014’s “Garden of Ghosts” remains a personal favorite that visits me on a regular basis. Leo Koperdraat is not only a skilled guitarist, keyboardist and composer but he owns an immediately attractive voice, not too distant from Richard Butler (Psychedelic Furs), that happens to fit well in a more accessible prog-rock pop that can only survive scrutiny if the melodies and arrangements are spot on. Leo has taken the solo route but nevertheless decided in all humility, to bring on some guests that were so enthused that the project became the Imperfectionist Collective, a clever statement if I ever heard one, yearning to explain a band name! Getting amazing guitar support from Echolyn’s Brett Kull and Rhys Marsh (who has a long list of credits to his name) was a move that could only work wonders. Now, if you can only listen to ultra-complex and loud signatures, better leave now while the door is still open! But for those who remain intrigued and possess an open mind, come on down to Solitaire and have a seat. Eleven tracks, for a 46-minute running time means that there will be no sweeping epics that generally get you parking tickets.
A twinkle twinkle little star symphonic intro sets the stage for a suite of finely chiseled jewels that will not only shine brightly in the night but warm up your winter bones. “Forgotten” slings forward with valiant bravura, Leo’s soothing voice adding medication to the whimsical lyrics, solidly punched along by some stellar bass carvings and proficient drum programming that passes muster. The short mellotron spot is most welcome, as ‘everything seems to fall into place’. Indeed!
Mysterious melancholia slices through the vaporous electronic shroud, as “Waterfall” arrives as an anthemic reverie, with e-piano and Leo preferring a sorrowful timbre in his crystal-clear vocals. The chorus majestically flowing like a gentle cascade, ‘from the mountains to the sea’, a deliciously synthesized swirl keeping the pool vibrant and atmospheric. The playful elegance displayed on “Blue” is certainly a sonic diversion but only for a moment, his attractive voice appearing as a constant rallying point. A cool electric guitar salts the melodic wound, setting up the powerful chorus which drips with sadness and yet there is a child-like playground snippet of hope for some positive outcome.
Another slight shift on the purposefully morose “Solitary Man”, where Leo’s voice bathes in luxuriant despondence, the harrowing mellotron torrents only adding to the grim feeling, with sublime power and effect. This is a magnificent mood piece where the Butler mumble shows off a deadpan character that cannot fail to impress. Could have been a very tasty James Bond song!
“Conspiracy” asserts the ongoing mystery, another doom and gloom dirge that oozes pathos, ‘the beauty is there to view’ comes across as some expectation extinguished and there is no fallback plan except blame. Once again, the mighty ‘tron does its magic, a trait that always appealed to me in Fractal Mirror, infusing relatively simple prog-pop with massive amounts of choir and strings. His voice fits the music perfectly.
“I Lost the Moon” revs up the machine, boosting the pressure even though I really prefer the sorrowful material, this has a nice urban night crawler feel, an overt 80s sensation, perhaps near the Ultravox, Tears for Fears, Modern English feel (bands that are not considered prog but…). The second half of the piece collapses back into echoing walls of synthesized construct, colored by an icy guitar lick, a robotic bass line and another vocal verse. Rather enjoyable fun, wot!
“The Safety of Silence” is the second longest piece here at 5:15 and it’s my absolute favourite (Who would have thought of such a timing cliché?). Gloomy, disorienting , maybe even an attempt at cowardice exemplified, the gigantic mellotron conveys a Bond moment (look for it) that is the highlight of cheek, underlining ‘the choices we make‘, amid a stewing pot of voice effects, straight out of the cinematic library. Living in our current everything negative is the new fad is analyzed on “Restless Times” , repeating ‘the choices we make‘, and adding ‘the hearts that we break all the time’, a robust bass rampage reigniting the imposing electronic sheen, the choir effects blasting a massive hole in the fragile spirit that relies only on manipulative data from dubious sources (ain’t that the truth!).
The nearly 6 minute “Reincarnation” resumes the cloaked atmosphere established on “the Safety of Silence”, a second chance at some kind of salvation or epiphany in a world where belief is just another dubious algorithm. The lyrics are more personal as opposed to societal, a contradiction that cannot find any common ground anymore. The oooohs are masterfully inserted, courtesy of guest vocalist Katie Barbato and Brett Kull as the pleading for ‘let’s trying again’ comes across as poignantly fragile. Cut and paste is the national pastime: It’s also my absolute favourite (Who would have thought of such a timing cliché?), proving once and for all that nothing is absolute in life.
We end the affair with a downright winning proposition many should consider: “And Breathe”, a delightful instrumental that needs no words. Pink Floyd suggested this once long ago, behind the cover of the dark side of the moon and Leo reignites the definition of life , no hint of Clare Torry anywhere. Its not over….yet.
4.5 card games