STARCASTLE: Song of Times

Cover	Release	Style
	2007-05-21	Progressive Rock
	Label
	Progrock Records
	Website
	www.starcastlemusic.com
	Contact
	-
	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	52:09	-
	Review by	Rating
	Claude	8/10
nederlands	Review
The seventies are the roots of progressive rock, many rock legends of that era (Yes, Genesis and other Pink Floyd) have had a lot of followers. Starcastle belongs undoubtedly to the latter category and more exactly to the so called Yes clones, especialky thankjs to the chracterzing sound of the bass guitar (Chris Squire) and the ‘high pitch’ voice (Jon Anderson). Although they have released 4 studio albums between 1975 and 1979, these Americans have no big recognition in our countries. After more than 25 years these guys have produced a new album, this illustrates the revival of progressieve rock in the new millennium. This album has been dedicated to bass player Gary Strater, who has played all bass lines, but sadly passed away a few weeks later in hus struggle against a persistent cancer. This will leave a very big gap, because he was not ony responible for that recognizable bass sound of the band, but he was also very involved in song writing. ‘Red Season’ illustrates perfectly, why the band is always associated with Yes, the Rickenbacker bas sound, the falsetto voice, the Wakeman like synthesizer parts, all ingredients are present and it really sounds good. ‘Babylon’ is surely the track of the album, a mix between light prog and AOR with a very catchy refrain and heavy riffs. Apparently the guys of do agree, because at the end of the album there is a reprise of the song. The title track is a ballad, dedicated to Gary Strater, a true Jon Anderson song with a lot of strings and acoustic instruments and again a catchy melody. Overall the vocals are really good, especially in harmony, certain tracks like Faces of Change remind of Crosby, Stills, Nash&Young. The guitar parts are nice, but not outstanding, at least they are not dominant, the same remark for the drums. Maybe Starcastle has not produced hsi best album with this ‘Song of Times’, but after all those years they are back with a bunch of excellent songs. If they continue in the style of songs like Babylon, some nice things will certainly follow in the future.
Musicians
Gary Strater : electric & acoustic bass and bass pedals (all except 3), background vocals (1, 2, 5, 6, 7 & 8), keyboards (3) Matt Stewart : Sustainiac/electric sitar/acoustic and electric guitars (all songs), background vocals (1, 6, 7 & 8) Bruce Botts : guitar (1, 2, 4, 5, 7 & 9), background vocals (5) Steve Tassler : drums (6 & 8) percussion (1, 4 & 5), synthesizers (4), vocals (1, 2, 6 & 8) Al Lewis : lead vocals (all except 8), background vocals (all except 8), drums (9) and percussion (all songs except 8), MemoryMoog (9) Herb Schildt : keyboards (1, 2, 6, 7 & 8) John O'Hara : keyboards (3, 4 & 9) Neal Robinson : keyboards (5, 6 & 8) Steve Hagler : guitar (6), background vocals (1, 4 & 7) Terry Luttrell : lead vocals (8), background vocals (7) Mark McGee : guitar (1, 4 & 7) Jeff Koehnke : drums (2 & 5) Scott McKenzie : drums (1, 4 & 7)
Tracklist
1. Red Season (5:28) 2. Babylon (9:24) 3. Song of Times (6:04) 4. Islands (4:59) 5. Faces of Change (4:56) 6. Love Is The Only Place (4:27) 7. Master Machine (4:24) 8. All For The Thunder (6:06) 9. Children Believe (6:21) Sound samples: http://www.progrockrecords.com/shop/view.php?id=117
Discography
Starcastle (1976) Fountains of Light (1977) Citadel (1977) Real to Reel (1978) Song Of Times (2007)


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