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Review:
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Five piece band Astra was founded in 2001 under the
name Silver Sunshine. In 2004 they released their eponymous
debut album on Empyrean Records, followed by the EP entitled
A Small Pocket of Pure Spirit in 2005 on the same label.
With the departure of original Silver Sunshine drummer Iain
Andrew Sclater and the joining of new drummer/multi-instrumentalist
David Hurley in 2006, their sound and direction has evolved
and grown. At that moment the band not only decided to change
their name (into Astra) but also their sound and line-up
(new guitarist), Astra now features: Richard Vaughan (guitar,
Mellotron and vocals), Conor Riley (guitar, Mellotron, ARP
Odyssey synthesizer, organ and vocals), Stuart Sclater (bass
guitar), David Hurley (drums, flute and various 'noisemakers')
and Brian Ellis (guitar and Moog synthesizer). In May 2009
Astra released their debut album entitled The Weirding on
Rise Above Records and a tour in the USA and Europe is forthcoming.
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In fact Astra their music is simply structured, to
me most of the eight compositions even sound like extended
jam-sessions. But the way the musicians let speak the 3
guitars and the vintage keyboards makes listening to The
Weirding to a very compelling musical experience, often
I am carried away to Space Rock Heaven! The special element
in Astra their sound is the fact that all of the three guitarists
play vintage keyboards, we can even enjoy a double-Mellotron
soundlike in the two epics The Weirding (first brass – and
violin section and in the end brass – and flute section)
and Ouroboros (lots of violin – and choir-sections sounds),
the interplay between the distinctive sound of the Mellotrons
and the moving work on the guitars evoked many times goose
bumps! The final composition Beyond To Slight The Maze delivers
exciting work on Mellotron, Moog and especially the Hammond
organ, culminating in a breathtaking grand finale with majestic
choir-Mellotron, soaring Hammond organ and fat Moog synthesizer
flights, what a mighty musical experience! The short song
Broken Glass is a bit of a maverick because of the acoustic
guitars, beautifully blended with warm vocals and the sound
of the flute – and violin section of the Mellotron. But
in general the atmospheres shift from sound collages, dreamy
and spacey to bombastic and from slow and hypnotizing rhythms
to heavy eruptions, often early Pink Floyd (Pompeii-Meddle
era), Seventies German Progrock (melodic and emotional)
and some Black Sabbath (vocals and heavy rhythm-section,
mainly in the titletrack) come to my mind.
- Highly recommended to Tron-Maniacs and space rock
freaks!
www.progwalhalla.com
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