Martin Burns 9/10
With the release of Clann, Solstice have rounded off The Sia Trilogy in fine style. The trilogy began in 2021 with Sia disliked by my colleague Stefan, but very well regarded elsewhere. It was joined in 2023 by Light Up which received a recommended rating from Geoff. Now Clann is with us, and it sees Andy Glass' collective pulling out all the prog stops and more.
The well-bedded in line up remains the same as for the other albums in the trilogy, except for the addition of two more vocalists (Ebony Buckle and Dyanne Crutcher) and a guest vocalist Nick Burns on Twin Peaks. Clann sees Solstice continuing to bring a joy to music making.
Solstice move effortlessly between symphonic prog on Firefly, cross-over prog on Life a track that wears its folk elements lightly. While Plunk and Frippa see Robin Phillips (bass) and Pete Hemsley (drums) bring the funk with delicate and twisting rhythms that add pace and space for the horns (samples or real I can't tell) and Steven McDaniel's organ playing. The less intense Frippa gives space for Jenny Newman's wonderful violin solo, then a synth solo before Andy Glass's scorching guitar solo. I'm not sure that he's been better than he is here.
The closing new song Twin Peaks is a long form piece in two halves. The first section starts with gentle Hackett-like guitar and a delicious violin melody building leisurely into a powerful ballad with singer Jess Holland, who is no slouch on the rest of the album incidentally, absolutely shining. She is supported brilliantly by the other vocalists with beguiling harmonies. These come to the fore after the hallway point where sequenced synth and atmospheric instrumentation brings to mind the opening bars of Yes' Close To The Edge. The vocals evolve into harmonised chanting, summoning something wonderful from the ether. A return to the opening melody rounds this off beautifully.
There is a CD-only bonus track Earthsong. It is a re-recording of the song that featured on Solstice's debut album Silent Dance from way back in 1984, reviewed in these pages on its 2007 re-issue. The song feels new and refreshed with this line up and the superb production values that cover the whole album with a sparkling sound.
Solstice's Clann sees a band that keep giving their fans headaches trying to work out which of their albums, from Circles onwards, is now their best. Newcomers can start here too as the album stands by itself as well as being part of a trilogy. Clann's songs are a joyous commendation of the power of love and connection.
Patrick McAfee 8/10
As a long time fan of progressive rock, I am embarrassed to say that this new release by Solstice was my introduction to the band. There is no logical explanation as to why it took me forty years to give them a listen, but as the saying goes, 'better late than never.' With its deft blend of classic prog, folk, pop and Celtic influences, the album proved to be a great starting point.
This current line up was cemented in 2020, and they've certainly been prolific. Clann is the third in a trilogy of studio albums released in just over four years. There is a Neo-Prog element to their sound, but also a modern approach that is refreshing. Founding member Andy Glass, has clearly recruited talent with the intent of bringing fresh perspectives to the band's output. A key example is lead singer, Jess Holland, whose edgy & contemporary leanings bring a welcomed spark to the more traditional musical surroundings.
The vocal harmonies and instrumentation throughout are outstanding. Guitarist Glass has a soloing flair that is reminiscent of peers such as Steve Hackett and Steven Rothery. The relatively compact album runtime (45 minutes), flies by in large part due to the diversity and strength of the material. Highlights include the upbeat, FireFly, the timely and socially conscious Frippa and the vibrant mini epic, Twin Peaks.
So abundant in riches is the world of prog, that it sometimes takes a while to discover even established bands. The enchanting Clann was a real find and will definitely have me digging deeper into the discography of Solstice.