In recent times, Solstice have undergone a renewed burst of creativity and, after a period of downtime, they’re now fully back into the flow and, in the past couple of years, have released two studio albums, plus a live album. With a settled line-up alongside the injection of new vocal talent, they’re playing better than ever for a band with more than a few years of mileage on the clock.
2021’s Sia was the album which introduced new vocalist Jess Holland to the world. It would be true to say her breathtaking vocal contributions have helped take Solstice up several notches, and her inclusion in the top 3 of 2022’s list of top female prog vocalists was well merited. She’s grown in confidence between Sia and Light Up. She gives a peerless performance on this new album, where all six tracks on the album gel beautifully together and each musician are given the chance to demonstrate their prowess.
The title track ‘Light Up’ opens the album and it’s a lively joyous piece of music. From the opening notes, this song captures everything which makes Solstice what they are. The free spirit inside their music is given free rein to express itself, and that spirit runs right through the album.
The curiously titled ‘Woggle No:9’ is almost funk in parts with a small nod to a reggae influence. One of the key features of this track, and throughout the album, is the guitar work of main man Andy Glass, whose playing never overshadows the song and who never plays more notes than the song requires, with this track being a good example. He shows he’s happy to be part of the whole, rather than dominate proceedings.
Jenny Newman’s soaring violin introduces a song about Mount Ephraim, home of the New Day Festival, which Solstice have played a handful of times. The slow mournful atmospheric violin and guitar open up ‘Run’ before Jess’s vocals take the song to another level. The backing vocals are divine with Andy Glass’s guitar break five minutes in being an example of how to say a lot while not playing too many notes. It’s the feel and the emotion generated that counts, not how fast you can play. ‘Home’ continues the same feeling as the previous track before the exquisite ten-minute ‘Bulbul Tarang’, the standout track of the album for this reviewer, closes what is a delightful spiritually uplifting album.
Light Up proves Solstice are playing better than ever, and everything which is good about them, the songs, the playing, the vocals plus the emotive atmosphere they generate, it can all be found here.
