Gunslinger bills itself as a
"genre-jumping group of musicians/producers and DJs...pairing past with present,
blending classical song structure and vocal with years of professional
electronic dance experience." That description could fit most up-and-coming
alternative bands these days, but where Gunslinger excels is in the seamless
blending of these two realms, of avoiding the trap of sounding like a '70s rock
band drowned in goofy electronic effects. Gunslinger, which is actually an
international duo (Anthem is from SoCal while Vidal is from Lisbon, Portugal),
keeps the songs on
Breaking Through strong, lean and tight without the
constant gear-shifting and strange ambient tangents that define most indie bands
these days.
Stripped down to their skivvies, these songs are basic rock
and roll, slanted perhaps to prog and maybe even glam (the opening title track
will probably remind you of T. Rex), but catchy and anthemic and more suited to
arenas than the local underground club. The electronic peripherals are just
that, framing devices, and you won't walk into a room during a random moment of
Breaking Through and wonder "What kind of music is this?" It won't take
you long to realize it's contemporary with its manufactured beats and deftly
layered ambience, but you'll feel at home. Gunslinger sounds like a less manic
and drama-ridden version of Muse, and if you're the kind of person who hears
Muse and thinks about Sweet, these two guys will drop you off at the same bus
stop.
Out in the real world, Gunslinger is
making a name for themselves. Their live gigs can either be a DJ set or a stage
show with drums, guitars and keyboards. Anthem and Vidal are even planning a
remix of The Doors'
Waiting for the Sun, which shows they have strong
ties and a healthy amount of respect for the stuff baby Boomers hold dear--which
is obvious when you listen to
Breaking Through. Look at it this way...I
know lots of people my age who are looking for an entry into the DJ scene and
perhaps jump too readily into the deep end and find themselves quickly
dog-pedaling back to the edge of the pool. (There's a friend of mine who nearly
drowned a couple of weeks ago while listening to the latest from Shackleton--too
soon, too soon!) Gunslinger might be a good lesson #1 for those cautious soles
who want to explore what the kids are listening while still basking on dry land,
listening to
Electric Warrior and
Desolation Boulevard.
