Thankfully, I chose to listen to (for the first time) Light Up in the morning. I wrote the review from that wonderful listening perspective. I did it because this wonderful album sounds like a bright, morning wake-up call. A soft, simple awakening to a summer or spring day (even though it’s winter, as I write this review). Light Up will be released January 13th, 2023 and it follows in the footsteps of Solstice’s very successful release, Sia, from 2020. Solstice is not a new band. They have been around since founder Andy Glass, who plays lead guitar, assembled the band in 1980 with violinist Marc Elton. But the band has a new sound and a relatively new voice, that of Jess Holland on lead vocals (she joined in 2020). Jess recently was voted amongst the top Female Vocalist of 2022 from Prog Magazine’s Reader’s Poll. Jenny Newman plays a mean fiddle and violin, Peter Hemsley plays explosive drums, Steven McDaniel plays amazing keyboards and Robin Phillips plays bass.
Light Up is a wonderful album to review as a first album of 2023. It will be a great year if more of the releases that I expect this year will fulfill expectations as well as Solstice have with Light Up. This band begins with one of the best voices from across the Atlantic. Jess sings in the title track,“Light Up”: “Let the morning in and the day begin. Wash the night away. There’s a place in here. She will keep you near. Don’t look the other way. Let the new light in. And begin again. Find another way. Here’s a place to start. Listen to your heart. See a brighter day. Give your heart away”. What a wonderful way to start a new year, eh? I think so. Love this song - already one of my favourites for the early new year.
Solstice was also voted one of the top progressive bands of 2022 by that same Prog Magazine Reader’s Poll. And it is no wonder. They are a dynamic band of musicians which provide a jazzier, Canterbury style of prog which is simply amazing. Andy Glass looks and at times sounds like one of my favourite guitarists, Steve Howe of Yes, and Jenny Newman on fiddle and violin make this band one to be reckoned with for the future of progressive rock music. And, even though this is an EP, the tracks are long enough and full of enough beautiful music to make this compilation fit well within the composition of most of the classic and modern progressive albums that you may already know, own and love.
“Wongle No. 9”, is no “Bungle in the Jungle”. Instead, it’s what might happen if Yes was to play alongside Steely Dan live. Truly inspirational in every way. Absolutely powerful jazz prog. You can dance to it. When was the last time you could say that about prog? I can definitely hear in this music how this band was so successful on the festival circuit this past summer with songs like this one. Andy’s cutting electric guitar soloing, Jenny Newman’s ripping violin solo, Jess Holland’s clear vocals, Peter Hemsley’s perfect drum beat, and Steven McDaniel’s radiant keyboards keep this musical train running at top speed. Speaking of Yes, Robin Phillips brings back memories of Chris Squire on bass. Such a great follow up to the title track and EP opener.
Then they hit you with Jenny Newman coming at you full speed with fiddle, the likes of which you probably haven’t heard since Charlie Daniels’ “Devil Went Down to Georgia” which lit up the amps and speakers back in the 1970s. “Mount Ephraim” also has some fantastic bass fun from Robin Phillips who keeps good pace with Newman and Hemsley’s solid drum beat. McDaniel’s adds some soft keys along with Glass’ guitar soloing. Jess sings around midway through this instrumental extravaganza. She takes the song higher and adds words to this wonderful fiddle symphony. A beautiful symphony of sound that just takes you over.
“Run” is absolutely not what you were expecting from that title. After all this cool, relaxing music, I don’t think anyone wants to run. But that is not what Jess and the band are talking about here. In fact, it is a confident, calm statement that, if you call, Jess will come running home. A beautiful keyboard and solo guitar statement, with Newman’s violin and soft drumming. Beautiful, and so wonderfully calming. Keep this one near, with a glass of wine and soft light, at the end of the evening. After all the work, or the things that you do during the day, sit back, relax and enjoy this song. “Home” is another wonderful instrumental journey for the band with Jess’ soft vocals adding to the sound. Home is where everyone’s heart is, and the band knows it to be true. This song encompasses everything we all appreciate about where we love to live, wherever that is. We all wish we were going home. Another wonderful Glass and Newman soloing experience. Just sit back and let them dazzle you again!
“Bulbul Tarang” is a string instrument from Punjab, which evolved from the Japanese taishÅgoto, which likely arrived in South Asia in the 1930s. Andy Glass uses it to full extent on this exquisite piece of music to close the album. The harp-like sounds at the opening immediately remind you of some of the wonderful music off one of your favourite Yes albums. But this innovation is Glass’ and Solstice at their best. However, the comparisons are fair. This song sounds like something that Jon Anderson, Steve Howe and Chris Squire may have thought of and that is meant only as a compliment. However, Newman’s violin adds an Eddie Jobson-like feel to the atmospheric sound. Jess, at times, sounds like Jon Anderson on, say, “Onward”, or something off Tormato, Jon’s solo albums, or the ones with Vangelis. What a beautiful way to close this album. Steven McDaniel, finally gets front stage, with a beautiful, soft, piano solo. I wish it was longer, but as Pete Townshend sings, sometimes “a little is enough”.
Light Up is already one of my early year, favorite prog albums. There is a lot more to come this year, but Solstice has grabbed my ears early. This should definitely make my top 10 Prog albums of the year. Everything you could want and imagine out of a progressive rock album. Blistering, Hackett/Howe-like guitar solos, keyboards that melt your heart, great bass and drums, and a wonderful voice, as well as something more. Something that you didn’t expect. Violin to make you want to come back for more. Not Kansas-like violin. A unique and music enhancing violin sound. From: https://www.solsticeprog.uk/reviews/light-up
