by Geoff Bailie
Around this time two years ago, the Solstice album Light Up came on to my radar. The album had already been in circulation for a while, and I was certainly familiar with the band name, who at that point, in my head, were a neo-prog / early Marillion style band who didn’t quite make it. I was wrong in pretty much every respect there and the Light Up album really grabbed me, ending up being one of my Albums of the Year. Light Up was the second in the trilogy of albums that the newly reconfigured band had released, and now we have Clann. Whether it’s albums, books or movies, the “third one in the trilogy” can be a dangerous place to occupy, so let’s see about Clann…
The great news is that the band line up who brought us the previous two albums is back, and the opening track “Firefly” kicks off with some studio chatter before kicking in with a shimmering keyboard riff, with all the band in full flow. It’s one of those tracks where, even if you’ve not heard the previous two albums, will give you a taste of the Solstice sound – and by that I mean that Solstice’s particular combination of styles has strong elements of rock (in Andy Glass’s fantastic solo towards the end of the song and his choppy, funky rhythm lines earlier), folk (in Jenny Newman’s violin playing), prog with a jazzy aspect (in the rhythms provided by Peter Helmsley, the intricate and supportive bass playing of Robin Phillips and the keyboard inversions and leads of Steven McDaniel) and, dare I say it, pop (in the strong female vocals and harmonies of Jess Holland, Ebony Buckle and Duane Crutcher, the latter a new addition to the band). The chorus refrain even has the ladies singing “Light up, light up” referencing the album that came before!
The next track, “Life,” starts with a poppy/ lounge type feel but, as is the case with many Solstice tracks, the mood shifts to a more mellow acoustic section, crowned by some great electric guitar work. The style shifts are very organic and completely flow with the music, so you’re never quite sure where it’s gonna go next… and the answer is… funk! Hammond and horns, with a funky guitar usher in “Plunk” which is up next. Andy Glass conjures almost Steve Vai sounds and styles in the solo here, and the whole track has the feel of a female-led Chicago! The playing here certainly justifies the 2024 End of Year poll plaudits that Andy received.
I can’t be sure but I am guessing that “Frippa” which follows is so-named on account of the guitar line which sounds very much like a Discipline-time Fripp/ Belew style… except very much done in the Solstice way – this is a very cool track especially when the violin joins on the main riff.
“Save the best ’til last” they say… well in terms of bringing the trilogy of albums to a close, “Twin Peaks” does just that. At almost 14 minutes long, the plaintive violin and electric guitar intro, with Jess’s voice is light and beautiful. The build is slow but the gradually rising instrumentation and the “Come away/ run away” vocals lead us to an explosion of a guitar solo that leaves you wondering, where do we go from here? Unexpectedly, a burbling synth/ arpeggiator melody starts to pass from speaker to speaker as Jess improvises. The vocals start to build as the rhythm section join, before a brief pause, when the band returns to the melodies from the start of the song, bookending this great piece. This is surely in the running for Epic of the Year in 2025!
A bonus track closes the album off, taking us back to the very beginnings of the band, with a new version of Earthsong which appeared on their first album, 1984’s Silent Dance. Newest band member Ebony Buckle takes the lead vocal on this version. It’s a mellow ending to this album, and a nice bonus addition.
With Clann, Solstice doesn’t just complete a trilogy—they elevate it. This is a band that has honed its craft, embraced its evolution, and delivered an album that feels both like a culmination and a new beginning. From the dazzling intricacies of Firefly to the epic grandeur of Twin Peaks, Clann proves that Solstice is a band at the peak of its powers. If this is where the journey so far has led them, the real question is: where will they take us next?
Released on April 4th, 2025
Pre-order ‘Clann’ here:
CD: https://essentials.progrock.com/product/solstice-clann/
Colored Vinyl: https://fairsound.com/product/solstice-clann-rusty-red/
Black Vinyl: https://fairsound.com/product/solstice-clann-black/
Clann Track List
1.Firefly
2.Life
3.Plunk
4.Frippa
5.Twin Peaks
All songs written by Andy Glass
Solstice line-up
Andy Glass – Guitars, backing vocals
Jenny Newman – Violin
Pete Hemsley – Drums
Jess Holland – Lead vocals
Robin Phillips – Bass
Steven McDaniel – Keyboards
Ebony Buckle – Backing vocals
Dyane Crutcher – Backing vocals
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