BLACK HOLE STARS

Neutrons is one of those bands I've known for years, ever since I got into Man. Neutrons included future and past members of Man, like Phil Ryan and Will Youatt, Martin Wallace and Ray Williams, plus Gentle Giant drummer John Weathers (who'd join Man in the 1990s). Non Man-members included Stuart Gordon of the Incredible String Band (he was very briefly with them around 1972) and teenaged Caromay Dixon on additional vocals (she did make a guest appearance on Man's The Welsh Connection). I have been of two minds with Man, as their music seems to be that in general. I really could do without that bar band boogie stuff, but they really shine when they explore more adventurous psych and prog rock. Neutrons, at least on this, their debut albums tend more to the adventurous side of Man's sound, "Living in the World Today" could pass for something Man would do, a nice jam feel to it while "Feel" is more acoustic folk with Caromay Dixon providing additional vocals. "Mermaid and Chips" seems to be Phil Ryan's show and it's just him on keyboards and vocals, although Caromay provides additional vocals. This is nothing short of incredible, I can't get enough of this! There is a choral approach, probably influenced by the tradition of Welsh choral singing, but make no mistake, this is full-on prog. I particularly dig the organ passages. "Dangerous Decisions" is another piece that wouldn't be out of place on a Man album, particularly Back into the Future. I'm most fond of the synth solos on it. "Going to India", like "Feel" is more folk-oriented and not my favorite. Only the last piece "Snow Covered Eyes" is more in line of the Man music I don't like, the boogie-oriented material. Black Hole Star (not Sun, don't know why I have Soundgarden on my mind even I'm not a fan of theirs) is not a perfect listen but there are some great stuff to be heard and well worth hearing.