ASTRA - Debut Album Details Available
May 12, 2009, 15 years ago
San Diego based progressive rock band ASTRA has completed work on their debut album, entitled The Weirding. The record will see a June 23 North American release date via Rise Above Records.
Originally formed in 2001 as SILVER SUNSHINE, Astra dubs its forward-thinking sound “freaked out prog rock”. As ambitious a unit as you will find, the quintet (Richard Vaughan [guitar, mellotron, echoplex, vocals], Conor Riley [mellotron, arp odyssey synth, organ, guitar, vocals], Stuart Sclater [bass], David Hurley [drums, percussion, flute, various noisemakers] and Brian Ellis [guitar, moog, vocals]) will unveil The Weirding as the musical introduction to its self-proclaimed sound. An eight song progressive rock concept album, the record is intricate and thoughtful in both concept and execution yet neither forced nor pretentious. Astra’s arsenal of sunward-reaching sonic harmonies, spiraling synth-laden melodies and art-rock uplift calls for comparisons to AMON DÜÜL II, CAN, GURU GURU, SYD BARRETT ERA PINK FLOYD and YES.
The track listing for The Weirding is as follows:
'The Rising of the Black Sun' (5:44)
'The Weirding' (15:27)
'Silent Sleep' (10:41)
'The River Under' (8:41)
'Ouroborous' (17:23)
'Broken Glass' (3:45)
'The Dawning of Ophiuchus' (5:29)
'Beyond to Slight the Maze' (11:36)
Excerpts from the album have been posted online at this location. The band will throw a CD release party on Friday, June 5th at The Casbah in San Diego, CA which will feature live sets from the band as well as friends EARTHLESS and more.
