Released : 2023
Light Up
Released 2023
DISCOGRAPHY LISTEN TO LIGHT UPLYRICS
"Where the Heart Is' Oz Hardwick
A blue door opens to three more doors,
each propped ajar to let in the summer.
The first leads to a warm room, in which
a mongrel pup sleeps with one eye open
and one ear cocked for homecomings.
An antique clock ticks like a kiss
and tocks like slant sunlight stroking
freshly laid crockery on a linen cloth.
The second leads to a ribbon of river,
to a dream of the sea, to a rainbow
of bobbing boats curving their pathways
away into distant silver. Along the bank,
marquees dispense our hearts’ desires
and paper cups of steaming, scented tea.
A train shimmies past, with eager noses
pressed to windows, wondering at a world
too perfect to be believed or doubted.
And there’s that little dog again,
straight out of myth or fairy tale,
eager to lead us into the dreaming forest
that lies behind that final door. The clock
ticks and tocks, the river slips away,
and leaves sing of a blue, blue summer
filled with the voices of all those we’ve loved.
Step inside.
Back in late 2020, Solstice joyously re-emerged onto the music scene with their most uplifting album Sia, just at the time the World needed a tonic from the ravages and lockdowns of Covid-19. When I reviewed that album, there were huge difficulties for bands to take their music beyond the shores of UK due to Brexit; I’m not sure that much, if anything, has changed there, but some bands have thankfully found a way, including Solstice. So 2020 was a great year generally for music production from home studios and the momentum seems to have continued apace.
I’ll be straight with you. I have been an avid follower of Solstice since their early days, even before their debut album Silent Dance was issued in 1984, and I’ve seen all their incarnations. We’re all a bit older now; for me and for many, three times older at the last count. Silent Dance was an extraordinarily good debut album, gaining the attention of Steven Wilson, but their subsequent work did not get as much attention as it deserved. That lack of enthusiasm is now a distant memory. And if you thought that Sia was Solstice finding its sweet spot…., well, that sweet spot has just got a whole lot sweeter with the up-coming release of their follow-up, Light Up.
Two years in the making as the band cements themselves together into a cohesive whole, in particular allowing the vocalist Jess Holland to thrive, this new album is pure joy which, in the words of Jerry Ewing (Editor of Prog Magazine) “evokes the spirit of the band I first saw in the 80s, but with very much a here and now production sound and brings with it the wisdom of those ensuing years”. Jerry is bang on the money….. As if that wasn’t enough, the illustrious Greg Spawton (Big Big Train) also gives this album a ringing endorsement, judging it to potentially be the band’s “best album yet”. Who is going to argue with that?
Six tracks, all a juicy length with one trademark epic; with funk, folk, prog, guest performers, solos galore, and a physical release package that their fans will truly love. The artwork complements Sia, also created by Shaun Blake, and includes a heart-rending poem entitled ‘Where The Heart Is’ from long-standing Solstice collaborator Oz Hardwick. That poem alone warrants your purchase of the physical release.
So, on to the music. An album very much of two halves: Andy Glass has said that he had vinyl in mind during its composition with the intent of having ‘sunlit’ and ‘moonlit’ sides. Very Solstice, and a perfect curation of the album that we have now come to expect from Andy. It opens with Light Up, a hugely uplifting start with Steve McDaniel’s signature keys and a guitar intro from Andy. It’s very funky and how could you possibly resist throwing some shapes! The mid-section has a fine acoustic guitar section, probably courtesy of Jess Holland, followed by a first-rate fiddle solo from Jenny Newman and a sweet-as-cherry-pie chant vocal from Jess. This truly is one of the most joyous songs of 2022…. And Robin Phillips’ bass and Pete Hemsley’s drums are really prominent. It’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.
The funky vibe continues with Wongle No.9; one could imagine this getting the attention of Snarky Puppy or Michael League fans with Robin’s rhythmic bass line. It’s so good to hear his skills right up front complemented by Jenny’s settling fiddle/viola section. Wow, there’s even some wah-wah and a keys and drums battle from Steve and Pete; I can’t wait to see the band’s concentration on each other during a live performance of this track. Andy provides a signature guitar solo, sounding almost improv, before returning to the melodic tightness of the whole band. West Coast funk, eat your heart out….. “Did we say we’re here to stay” – crikey I hope so.
For the vinyl lovers out there, Mount Ephraim closes Side 1. It’s a homage to the A New Day Festival at Mount Ephraim Gardens in Faversham and in particular its organiser and promoter Dave Rees. Gig goers will have seen this track demoed as ‘Siren Song’ during the 2022 performances. “On the hill by the lake, See the shooting star, As she lights up another New Day, and though we’ve been here before, We come back every time, there’s a sign for us all to gather.” It has huge meaning for those who have seen the band at the Faversham Festival. It’s time for Jenny to take centre stage, providing a reassuring and underlining tune before the vocal section moves into focus. Jess’s vocals are a delight, of course they are….., and Steven gets a lovely synth solo, weaving his usual magic throughout this high energy exhilarating song. Catch your breath and flip to Side 2….
The two songs of Run and Home go very well together. Run takes the energy level down to create a delicate tune that is so reminiscent of their early work on Silent Dance. It’s a beautiful song for Jess, supported by classic Roland drum programming, before the full band sound builds to a crescendo and rounds off a slightly downbeat anthem; the Roland gives way to Pete’s drum and percussive skills, more smooth vocals and harmonies, with strings and a constant reassuring beat from the rhythm section. Many will cock a snoot at drum machine sounds, but it’s a true delight. With Home, listeners will love the tight drum rhythm from Pete. There is an Irish lilt to the song with Jenny’s fiddle section before being supplemented with Andy’s signature guitar. Do you know what, they are a perfect couple in every way….., and Jess’ chants at the end cement a glorious song.
And on to the finale, Bulbul Tarang, a 10-minute epic centring on a Bulbul Tarang instrument (a Punjab banjo), gifted by Pete to Andy. I’ll leave you to google it….. This song will no doubt unite the Solstice fans in the same way as the band is totally united for its performance. It really is anthemic and a piece of genius composition as an album closer. In three parts, the first part draws one in to a smooth middle section, a trademark of the early days of Solstice, before Andy delights with a guitar solo that could compete with ‘Guardian’, almost Floydian approach, only better. But the genius part comes towards the end…. A chord change that is a shivering moment; it might even be the best chord change in history, which will get the attention of every musician and music lover alike; the vocals fill the room and the band truly is a cohesive whole. Pure gold, such that I think it would bring a tear to even Andy’s eye…..
2021 and 2022 have been great years for the band on tour with gigs and festivals, both in UK and abroad. They are getting huge traction now with a recent and very well received gig in Italy and the promise of some gigs in France and Holland next year. There are a couple of appearances left in 2022, notably an album launch festival in Milton Keynes on 6 November 2022. Light Up does not get a general release until 13 January 2023; what a start to the new year that will be, but if you get yourself to that Milton Keynes gig, you will be able to get an advance CD copy.
Solstice have pulled another bunny out of the bag. It’s chock full of the distinctive characteristics that we have come accustomed to with high energy, emotion, comfort, supreme craftmanship, joy and abandonment. Every musician gets the chance to shine, more so than on any of the previous albums. My recent discussions with Andy indicate that this album is potentially the second in a trilogy. So, imagine my delight to know that the journey continues……
Richard Swan
Track Listing:
- Light Up (5:39)
- Wongle No.9 (7:14)
- Mount Ephraim (5:59)
- Run (8:14)
- Home (6:42)
- Bulbul Tarang (10:24)
Musicians:
Andy Glass – Guitars / Bulbul Tarang / Vocals
Jess Holland – Vocals / Acoustic Guitar
Jenny Newman – Fiddle / Viola
Robin Phillips – Bass
Peter Hemsley – Drums
Steven McDaniel – Keyboards
Chris Sampson – Vocal accompaniment on Bulbul Tarang
Record Label: Giant Electric Pea
Country Of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 13 January 2023
Links:
Website: www.solsticeprog.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofsolstice/
Bandcamp: https://solstice3.bandcamp.com