PROJEKT GEMINEYE (Canada)
"A Brand New Day" (Digital album, CD, vinyl)
(Reficul Records)
Release date: December 1st 2017
Genre: Progressive rock, heavy rock, space rock
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Not even nine months after the release of his debut album "An Ordinary Day", Mark Anthony K (real name Mark Kopernicky) followed up his first solo effort with the release of "A Brand New Day". These two albums could initially have been released as a double album, but Kopernicky decided to release them separately.
As with the debut, the album that is the subject for this review is also part of a biographical story about serious injury and the events that followed. Pain, treatment and rehabilitation has both physical and psychological aspects, and even though neither the songs on this album present the story in its chronological order, they too leave no doubt that this was an ordeal that had a huge impact on the man behind PROJEKT GEMINEYE.
Overall, "A Brand New Day" is slightly heavier than the debut, which becomes clear already in the first bars of the opening track "A New Day", which was also the first of two singles to be released about a month before the album was available. The verse is more downbeat, but with a clean 12-string guitar to bring more sparkle to the mix. As we approach the pre-chorus the gnarly guitars are coming back in, before Mark revisits the intro riff in a catchy chorus with his trademark harmonic vocals.
"Clear Your Mind" is the second single from the album, and does nothing to weaken the standard that was set with the opening track. This is more uptempo, and with even more harmonic guitars, almost to the point of being symphonic. Again we are given the treat of another catchy and highly efficient chorus, and the song that is seven minutes long doesn't seem longer than the average three and a half minute single.
"The Long Ride" is the third track, and the album's instrumental ballad. As opposed to "Ride On" from the debut album, this is piano based and more laidback, and a nice cut that allows you to actually do just that; sit back, and just enjoy the ride. The lead guitars are what bring the emotion, and serves as another meaningful chapter in the story, without even saying a word.
"Space And Time" is a three part composition, and is the longest track on "A Brand New Day", clocking in at around eight and a half minutes. Structurally, this reminds me a lot of how Kopernicky's fellow Canadians in Rush built up their "2112" epic, with individual sections gluing the song together without sounding like a bunch of ideas thrown together.
"The Incident" opens with harmony leads that could just as easily have been signed by Tipton and Downing, or Murray and Smith, for that matter. Come to think of it, a lot of Mark Kopernicky's melodies could have been written by these gentlemen, as there are a lot of eighties vibes in them. The wonderful irony of this track is that it being about the very moment of an excrutiating leg fracture, it has some delicious double bass drum work.
"Sell Your Soul" is a fast and very energetic conclusion to PROJEKT GEMINEYE's sophomore album, and I notice the vocals are more powerful and strong on here. Yet again, Kopernicky's voice is of the cleaner kind, but he has more confidence in his voice on the six tracks he is presenting to us on his second disc.
On a personal note, I feel this is a slightly stronger album than its predecessor, in terms of performance, composition and production.
As with all albums the front cover gives an absolute first impression. Once again the visual arts were provided by James McCarthy. As Yes had (and still have) their Roger Dean, so has PROJEKT GEMINEYE James McCarthy. And it's just the way it has to be, if you ask me.
★★★★★★★★★☆
Tracklist:
1. A New Day
2. Clear Your Mind
3. The Long Ride
4. Space And Time (Parts I - III)
5. The Incident
6. Sell Your Soul
PROJEKT GEMINEYE:
Mark Anthony K - composition, all performances, production
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