STARCASTLE

Starcastle is often said to be a Yes clone, but, at least in my opinion, this is exaggerated. Of course, when you listen to their debut, it is not possible to dissociate the bands' sound to Yes, but it also sounds like other symphonic prog bands of the seventies. The main problem with their music is that they have some superflous copying of elements from Yes songs, most notably some vocal mannerisms, either from Jon Anderson or their chorus singing and da-da-das, so people, not without reason, accuse them of copying Yes.

But, deep down, you can hear a bunch of talented musicians trying to do music similar to some popular English prog bands. Besides the vocals, the instrument that mostly resemble Yes is the bass, but to be honest, lots of bands in the seventies did the same: Squire style and his Rickenbacker sound is a trademark of 70s prog.

As for the rest, the guitar has a few chops inspired on Yes, but mostly when they are trying to do something exactly like Yes, like the attempts of sounding like And You And I both in the middle instrumental section of Lady of the Lake and in the intro of Elliptical Seasons. Most of the time, the playing style is somewhat different from Howe (and for that effect, from Banks as well). You can listen to some Wakeman influences, but keyboards have some touches of ELP, Camel and other major prog bands.

Maybe the main problem with the band is that they didn't have an original style from the beginning and became too influenced by the bands they wanted to follow. The best song is, as with most prog bands, the longest one. Lady of the Lake is the most remarkable song, and with notable Yes influences, but has its creative passages and other prog influences (like ELP-influenced short organ and synth runs).

Other songs usually have some cool original parts mixed with derivative ones. Highlights are the funky end to Elliptical Seasons; the middle of Forces; the short instrumental Stargate, which has some touches of Vangelis even; To The Fire Wind, which has varied parts and some great bits of guitar and synth; and the short instrumental at the end.

If you try not to think too much about the brief parts where they try to imitate Yes, you will end enjoying a pretty good progressive rock effort made by great musicians in 1976 (when prog was not exactly at its finest anymore). It is not groundbreaking, but most really aren't and I'd rather listen to somewhat derivative good music than so-so original.