Sunday, 15 April 2018

Stonefield - Far From Earth, album review

Celestial Lineage


This is an excellent psychedelic rock album, elements of prog in the mix as on Broken Stone, and the female vocal harmonies sustain throughout with their beauty as well as grit.

I came across them online first in a live acoustic set and this immediately established their musical credentials. The album is obviously a fuller sound, and the heavier influences, like Black Sabbath, come through on the riff-dirge pound of Through the Storm.

Opener Delusion is an expansive and pulsating start, with guitar and bass working in clever tandem, those ‘acoustic’ skills further evident in this playing, and loving the organ/keyboard with its 70s signature.

The four sisters of the band are Amy Findlay - Lead Vocals & Drums, Hannah Findlay - Guitar & Backing Vocals, Sarah Findlay - Keys & Backing Vocals, Holly Findlay - Bass & Backing Vocals. Signed to the King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s independent label Flightless, it is clear to see where the influences and focus coalesce.

My favourite track so far is the relatively quieter/folky third track In the Eve where the melodic chord opener and muted but pulsing bass line set up the sweetly harmonising singing.

In My Head delivers more riff-drives with space electronics, and those harmony vocals. Sleepyhead is the other ‘softer’ sound, and the point is there is variation and breadth across its ten tracks. Closer instrumental Celestial Spaces produces both in its title and synthesized sounds something again of its spacerock lineage.

Get a digital download here, or vinyl from Flightless here.


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