Sirkis describes a shepherd’s story as a melody that ‘reminds you of something you’ve heard before’. And there’s much in the rich melodies and wide open vistas of this trio’s third album that will remind you of other artists: Sirkis plays with the tumbling precision of Gary Husband, while Spiliotopoulos summons the spirit of Allan Holdsworth with his long legato lines and yearning tone. Stavi likewise takes several lead melodies, very much in Steve Swallow’s style, most evocatively on ‘Dream Sister’. But after seven years together the band also has it’s own sound: Sirkis, indeed, is more delicate, more shimmering than you’ll have heard him before. He’s also added Indian influences, emulating another fusion precursor, Steve Smith. As a leader, Sirkis now has the confidence to give Spiliotopoulos more space, whether to rock out as on ‘1801’, or to come over like a latter day Philip Catherine on ‘Traveller’. And just when you think their sound world is a shade too similar throughout, in swerves a guest with a fresh colouring, be it Bialas’ dreamy vox on ‘Traveller’ or, tellingly, Lockrane’s flute on ‘Together’. As you may gather, Shepherd’s Stories isn’t the most original of fusion releases, but Sirkis reveals himself as a composer of increasing vision and energy. This is a band on a slow burn, but great things could yet come of them.