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Astra - The Weirding

SKU RISECD120
Stunning album-of-the-year candidate. Astra is a prog rock band based out of California. This debut release was issued by doom metal label Rise Above Records which struck gold last year with Diagonal - they seem to be scoring some amazing prog bands.

Moogs, Mellotrons, Arp Odyssey, flute, guitar....you picking up what I'm putting down? Loooong tracks filled with devastating guitar and phat analog synth solos. Vocals tend to be sparse and unabtrusive. These guys really went deep into the prog rock playbook. As the albums winds its way through its near 80 minutes I'm reminded of Barclay James Harvest, PFM, Far East Family Band, Genesis, and Pink Floyd. Cosmic in part but also symphonic when it needs to be. Like the recording of their labelmates Diagonal - if I had told you this was recorded in 1973 you would believe me. Only Wobbler can compete in terms of retro sounds. Fantastic Roger Dean styled cover from noted artist Arik Roper brings home the bacon and pushes this one clear over the finish line...in first place! BUY OR DIE!
  • Style:Progressive Rock
  • Record Label:Rise Above Records
Your Price $14.00
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating

They kill...and kill....and don't stop killing until the end.... BUY or DIE.... The best album of the years!
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Is it 1973? What a great sound these guys have. If you poured Pink Floyd, Yes and Wishbone Ash into a bowl and blended them together, the result would be Astra. A very enjoyable record. I haven't heard a wah wah pedal used like that since Mick Box of Uriah Heep. Well done and highly recommend.
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Gran descubrimiento sinfonico progresivo. Se trata de un CD con sabor a BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST, con un sonido similar a su ambum LIVE de 1974, lo cual es mucho decir, pues este LIVE de BJH, es un disco Historico. Grandes temas, con mucho sinfonismo, toques de psicodelia y muchos solos de teclados y guitarras al estilo 70 (nada de modernidad). Si han escuchado el LIVE de BJH, entonces saben de que se trata. Es lo mjor que he escuchado este 2009 dentro del progresivo retro. Dura casi 80 intensos minutos. Lo unico criticable es su calidad de sonido, que es similar a grabaciones de la decada del 70 y estamos en 2009, creo que deben mejorar el sonido para su proximo CD, pero sin duda que los mantes del rock sinfonico (BJH y Pink Floyd) gozarán de este excelente disco. Hugo Castro Salinas. Santiago de Chile
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For those of us who loved through the late 60's and early 70's early Floyd, Crimson, pre Yes, and California psychedelic this one is a good one. Turn on the wet show and remember days at the Electric Factory in Philly. flu
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A Lot of hipe on this cd, I dont see it myself. Songs are to drawn out, and at times quite boring...........
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