STARCASTLE

STARCASTLE
CHRONOS 1 (2001)
256 KBPS

Twenty-three years after their last studio release (the very poor "Real To Reel"), Starcastle put this compilation album (demos and some unrealeased songs) on the market. I am rather perplex for such release and to its sales potential.
Throughout all those years the flame of the band was hold by Gary Strater, their bassist. There will be lots of personnel changes, long periods wihtout contracts, reformations which will lead to the recording of this projet : "Chronos I".
I usually am not reluctant to listen to bands that sound to other great disappeared ones (like Genesis - Gabriel era of course - for instance). I find it valueable to be able to discover how current (or not) bands re-create their sounds. Because they do no longer exist. With "Starcastle", the story is different : cloning Yes while the model is still performing is not so exciting to me.
Now, this album holds some of their best numbers : "Lady of The Lake" and "Fountain" of course. The latter one is particularly well reworked and it is nice to have them both side by side on a single studio recording. Fortunately, the band will also avoid to "re-edit" songs from "Real...". Even their third album will be skipped from this work.
I guess that this album will satisfy most of your appetite for "Starcastle". It is a good representation of their work and skips the most pop/AOR, poorest part of their repertoire.

1. Lady of The Lake
2. Forces
3. To The Fire Wind
4. Fountains
5. True to The Light
6. Morning Fall
7. A Fall of Diamonds
8. Where Caverns Wind
9. Portraits
10. Dance of The Physotrons
11. Breath and Thunder