Tag: lone star

This album came out at the end of ’76, just as punk was beginning to explode. You can say there never is a right time to put out an album, but to be in a classic/progressive rock band at that time in the UK wasn’t easy. This band came out of nowhere, the first I’d heard of them was when they appeared on Old Grey Whistle Test, and I bought the album that weekend.

An amazing rendition of The Beatles’ She Said She Said opens up the album and what killer cover it is, it’s my favourite track. You would never know this was a Beatles tune, and the instrumental section is off the charts. Kenny Driscoll’s vocals remind me of Paul Rodgers. Epic stuff! You’d think you were listening to Led Zeppelin with next track Lonely Soldier, at least that’s the vibe I get. A very laid back piece until the Hammond kicks in with a musical representation of a battle, then the groove picks up leading into an uplifting ending. Side 1 ends with Flying In The Reel, a huge sounding intro that falls into a rock n’ roll boogie.

Spaceships kicks off Side 2, it’s quite a simple song until we get to the middle instrumental section and then the song takes off. These guys would have made a great jam band. A New Day is a good old southern rock romp complete with a slide guitar. A Million Stars has a killer intro with guitar and drums blazing. You would swear that’s Robert Plant singing, and Paul Chapman’s solo sounds so good on the track. The album ends with Illusions, a beautiful delicate piece with just a vocal and guitar until the waves crash in at the end.

This band should have been huge but everything went against them.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

This is the 2nd album by the Welsh rock/Prog combo released in ’77. Mainly of note for being the home for both future UFO guitarist, Tonka Chapman, and Uriah Heep vocalist, John Sloman. It’s very hard to pigeonhole this band, as they don’t sound like anyone else.

Opening number, The Bells Of Berlin, is a pomp rock tour de force with a huge arrangement and a very epic feel. On the other hand, The Ballad Of Crafty Jack is more straightforward at the beginning, then the huge vocal harmonies take over – as sort of a cross between Led Zeppelin and Styx. Time Lays Down is next, and the man riff of which is very funky, with John Sloman ding his best Robert Plant impression – I love the middle eight section. Side 1 closes out with Hypnotic Mover. which has an odd groove with a heavy vibe and some nice melodies.

Side 2 kicks off with Lovely Lubina – and another weird time signature that leans on the funk somewhat. Seasons In Your Eyes is a ballad – this was before they became a necessary evil on everyone’s albums. Rivers Overflowing is a glorious over the top groove fest with the band (again) turning to the funk with a great main riff – this is my favourite track on the album. The album closes out with All Of Us To All Of You, which is a really good track, but the main opening is a straight lift from Deep Purple.

I loved this band at the time after seeing them on Whistle Test.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.