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"With "Light Up", Solstice offers a work that is both accessible and exciting, and it would be a shame not to consider it in the list of worthy albums."
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4/5
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Led for more than 40 years by Andy Glass and among the favourite bands of a certain Steven Wilson, Solstice has found a clear revival of activity since the release of "Prophecy", personified on the one hand by a more sustained presence in various festivals, but also and above all by a much more regular discographic production. This is how "Light Up" finds itself on our turntables just two years after the excellent "Sia", with for the first time an identical formation in all points.
The first part of the album, consisting of the first three tracks, invites us to discover once again the folk-progressive style dear to Andy Glass. 'Light Up' opens in a somewhat retro style with its omnipresent Hammond organ carried by a slow and syncopated rhythmic pattern on which a short melodic motif is repeated for 3 minutes. Then come the female choirs, characteristic of the band, before a second instrumental part typical of jazz-rock puts the bass forward as if to better accompany Jenny Newman's enchanting violin. In the same spirit, 'Wongle No 9' sets up moments of jamming between the different instruments with a beautiful rhythm section. This is again highlighted on 'Mount Ephraim', which delivers an odd rhythm that supports the dance played on the violin in a very traditional spirit. A subtle mix that's totally delicious.
The second half of the album sees the band change direction slightly, following in the footsteps of Iona. Jess Holland's vocals, much more expressive than those of his predecessor, create a totally serene atmosphere, especially on 'Run' with its silky melodic contours, while 'Home' offers a very marillionesque guitar setting in which Andy Glass follows in Steve Rothery's footsteps, both in the acoustic accompaniment of the female voice and in a beautiful concluding solo.
And the set ends with 'Bulbul Tarang' (a Central Asian instrument with plucked strings and keyboard), a track of almost 11 minutes in which Solstice once again establishes this enchanting and bewitching atmosphere, sublimated by the female vocals and crystal-clear melodies. Discreetly, the drums use subtle variations in the background. After five beautiful first minutes, the track takes on jazzy colours, evolving slowly in an evanescent and lascivious way before a finale that sees the band slowly rising in power, carried by a few well-felt guitar soli and some devilishly Pink Floyd-like choirs.
A band whose career is far too little known, Solstice deserves a special attention: its most recent productions offer a first-rate folk-progressive. With "Light Up", Andy Glass' band offers us a work that is both accessible and fascinating, and it would be a shame not to consider it in the list of worthy albums. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Light Up (5:39)
02. Wongle No. 9 (7:14)
03. Mount Ephraim (5:59)
04. Run (8:14)
05. Home (6:42)
 06. Bulbul Tarang (10:24)
LINEUP:
Andy Glass: Chant / Guitares
Jenny Newman: Violon
Jess Holland: Chant
Pete Hemsley: Batterie
Robin Phillips: Basse
Steve McDaniel: Claviers
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(2) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
3.6/5 (5 view(s))
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STAFF:
4/5 (1 view(s))
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OTHER REVIEWS
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