From the ashes of retro-psych pop troop SILVER SUNSHINE rises the next logical step: the unabashedly prog rocking ASTRA. Still grounded in the 60s, The Weirding has the warm glow of the first wave of progressive rock. The early work of KING CRIMSON, YES and VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR inspires the langorous melodies and psychedelic atmosphere, recalling a time when boundary-smashing was more important than displays of musical virtuosity. The tunes undulate atop waves of Mellotron and Moog synthesizer, with guitars adding textural washes and slinky riffs. Most of the songs hit epic lengths, and the words can be dicey (check out these titles: “Beyond to Slight the Maze,” “The Dawning of Ophiuchus”), but that’s entirely appropriate to the group’s mission. The album’s blatant attempt to sound like it was recorded in 1969 might be off-putting (just as the 1967ness of the Silver Sunshine material had to compete with the actual quality of the tunes), but the musicians clearly adore the era and the music from it. That it comes wrapped in a typically strange but gorgeous ARIK ROPER cover is a bonus. If you’re an old-school prog fan – and I mean really old school – you’ll find Astra to be a stone delight.
http://www.astratheband.com
http://www.metalblade.com
http://www.riseaboverecords.com
