New Videos From "Flash"

Colin's voice is better than ever!

I love this review of the "Flash" reissue, especially the description of "Small Beginnings" and "Children of the Universe".....I found it on Peter's myspace blog page, but if anyone knows where it originated, please let me know.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Five Stars for First FLASH CD
= Flash=
Lightning strikes again for Yes founder



Where one branch of 70s prog was rooted in a mulch of dark portent and spiritual unease (King Crimson, Van Der Graaf Generator), there was another which instinctively grew towards the light. The early Yes albums are often derided for their simplistic hippy sentiments, but they radiate a fierce, heart-bursting euphoria.

One of the chief architects of that sound was guitarist Peter Banks, who formed Flash in 1971 following his contentious departure from Yes. Comparisons are tiresome but inevitable: Flash is a riot of fervid extrapolations-on-a-theme, cockily juggled time signatures, rattling Rickenbacker bass and Gordian Knotted guitar runs. With two very significant fifths of the original Yes on board – keyboardist Tony Kaye guests throughout – there’s no reason why anyone should have any problem with that.

Furthermore, the band’s contagious joie de vivre and we-set- sail vigour – particularly prevalent on the glorious cartwheel of Small Beginnings and Children Of The Universe – renders criticism meaningless. This album hoses fresh hope lesserand unforced goodwill directly into your synapses. Buy it right now – but don’t play it until the first bright sunny morning thereafter, so as to fix it in your mind with the appropriate setting. Alternatively, play it anytime to banish the clouds within.
 *****  
Esoteric | ECLEC 2166
Reviewed by Marco Rossi

Another Flash rehearsal clip - one of my favorite Flash tunes, "Manhattan Morning"  from their third album, "Out of Our Hands"...

The 3 miniute coda from a new 8-minute piece called "10,000"...

Live footage of Flash on their trip to North Carolina and headlining at the ProgDay Festival 2010...

Ruby900 wrote: Great to see them again! Such an underated band. IMHO.

I agree, but I have a theory about that. 

Flash shot quickly into the limelight in 1972 with their debut album "Flash" and their hit single "Small Beginnings", causing quite a stir.  Within 6 months of their first rehearsal, they were playing huge venues alongside all the big stars of the day, were getting great reviews and were touring very successfully when they impetuously broke up. 

The fact that they're remembered at all after all these years, and their albums have been reissued again and again is a testament to the mark they made and the quality of their music and musicianship.  Had they carried on, I believe Flash would be a household name right alongside the very best of the best!

i also believe they'll stick around long enough this time to get the accolades they deserve.

Part 2 of the interview...