STARCASTLE

Of all these mid-70's US prog bands, the only one that got a real exposure was Starcastle, but I take it that it was mainly because they landed a recording contract with the Epic (CBS) label contract, which got them wide distribution. But compared to the Pentwater, Citadel, Mirthrandir or Yezda, these guys were not really more deserving, since they also leaned heavily on their British prog influences. Actually, of all these mentioned, this Illinois sextet was probably the most derivative of all of them, that they could qualify as Yes clones. Personally, I always had a hard time taking these guys seriously, partly because of their ridiculous (though proggy) name and their even-more ridiculous album artworks, but of course, even as a teenager, though I loved Yes, I couldn't understand why these guys aped them so much. Not only they they not better their idols, but they used one more person (a second guitarist) to achieve that dubious goal.

Opening on the 10-mins+ Lady Of The Lake, right away, you'll check to see if you haven't misplaced a Yes disc inside a Starcastle sleeve. Once you're reassured that you weren't too drunk last night or that your brother wasn't playing a prank on you, you wonder (and check in reference books) if Yes had not recorded an album under a pseudo for the rivals Epic/CBS of their Atlantic (WEA) label. Once you're sure that Starcastle is no joke, you'll also find that they are no Yes pastiche, like the Rutles were to the Beatles. Don't get me wrong, the final result is a competent prog rock, if you disregard the Yes soundscapes, but where it hurts is that there isn't one ounce of originality in the album, or the subsequent ones. Neither Elliptical Reasons, nor Forces on the A-Side will dispel the unease either. The shorter flipside is no different, but to be honest, it would be too fastidious to start enumerating or citing the Yes borrowings on each songs on the album. I thought I'd let you do that, should you find that amusing. Even the two shorter pieces (both under three minutes) do not sound anything but Yes. OK, enough said. If you don't mind your music to sound "ala" and you like Yes enough to accept copies, no doubt Starcastle's discography will be right up your alley. Hardly (not at all) essential, but competent ebough to warrant a rounding uo to the third star on our rating scale.