anyone with a well-loved original copy . – Jeff Elbel
8
BRIAN MAY + FRIENDS Star Fleet Project 40th Anniversary LP
( Brian May Gold Series )
In April 1983 , Queen guitarist Brian May gathered a group of musical pals from California to record a project for fun , with no record label involvement . The genesis of the idea to create the Star Fleet Project was May ' s time watching the Japanese-made children ’ s science fiction program Star Fleet with his young son . The sense of play , freedom , and good fun is evident in these freshly remixed tracks . The band of seasoned players includes REO Speedwagon drummer Alan Gratzer , Rod Stewart / Jeff Beck bassist Phil Chen , and keyboardist / Queen sideman Fred Mandel . The front line features a formidable pairing of guitars by May and Eddie Van Halen . The main track is the theme song from the show ’ s British soundtrack , written by Paul Bliss and rearranged as a hard rocker by May . The song launches with May ’ s trademarked guitar harmonies and quickly moves into a rocking confection of chugging guitars and soaring synthesizers . The main guitar solo features Van Halen ’ s acrobatic guitar , hitting all marks . May sings the lyrical ode to the planet ’ s high-tech saviors . Queen drummer Roger Taylor guests on the song ’ s chorus , creating a familiar blend with May on the background vocals . The loping “ Let Me Out ” was an older song of May ’ s that was brought to the session . The result is a blast of spirited blues-rock with ample room for May and Van Halen to trade solos and coax musical twists from each other . May sings about a welcome escape . “ We can fly away tonight , and no one will know ,” he sings . Mandel ’ s saloon-styled piano is featured before May and Van Halen start trading lines . Chen and Gratzer provide a bedrock foundation that still sounds like casual fun . In the final guitar solo , Van Halen can be heard pushing his top string past its breaking point , but he transitions seamlessly to his remaining strings . May can be heard shouting “ Yeah !,” encouraging his friend before ending the song with a final chorus . “ Blues Breaker ” is a spontaneous and sprawling jam by the supergroup quintet , with a rhythm and spirit inspired by John Mayall ’ s Blues Breakers . The song allows
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Van Halen to tap his early inspiration from melodic players like Eric Clapton , although he can ’ t resist adding some twohanded tapping licks occasionally . The players can be heard responding to each other and following musical breadcrumbs left by each other .
An expanded CD box set of this vinyl release is also available that includes every recorded moment from the players ’ two days together and Hollywood ’ s Record Plant studio . Listeners can be a fly on the wall as the band tries multiple takes , laughs at conversations and glitches , and bends arrangements into new directions . The set also includes a radio interview , live cuts by the Brian May Band , and more . May ’ s liner notes frequently return to the sense of joy experienced in the presence of the other players involved and delight at the musical surprises they offered . “ I wish I ’ d done this more often in my life ,” says May as the “ Blues Breakers ” track fades out .
- Jeff Elbel
7
GLYPH Honor . Power . Glory .
{ Independent )
Since its 2022 formation , Glyph has released a demo , an EP , and several singles leading up to its debut full-length album Honor . Power . Glory . ( independently released March 29 , 2024 ). Featuring members of Gatekeeper , Greyhawk , Ravenous and Hjelvik , Glyph brings its glorified Euro-styled symphonic / power metal to fruition in the vein of Hammerfall , Rhapsody of Fire , Blind Guardian and others of their ilk . The opening title track is a good inclination of the band ’ s DNA ; majestic , epic , grandiose and bombastic . The songwriting follows the path of a typical Euro power metal structure , decorated with massively-layered vocal harmonies ,
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L I S T I N G S
April 20 , 2024