The Weirding (2009)
As you can see below, I went on quite a bit about my Astra experience over a decade ago. But I never did document their debut.
I think one reason I really enjoy the type of progressive rock Astra peddle is that they lean in strongly towards the psychedelic. That magical 1971 / 1972 sound that seems to capture my imagination the most. Whatever was happening around the world at that time must have been something special. I was just a young boy in Texas, so would really have no idea what the worldwide artistic community was like real time. How it got destroyed so quickly would be a good subject for a thesis I think. And probably has provided the subject matter for at least one in the past. I suspect money will be the lead cause and effect.
As noted on my review of The Black Chord, what makes Astra so impressive to me is that they capture the ethos of the era perfectly. It doesn't sound like an imitation but rather a participant from the time and place. That place was Europe most assuredly, especially England, Italy, Sweden, and Germany. Not here in the States. Maybe a few years before we were the artistic leaders, especially California, but not in the early 70s.
Strangely on this visit I hear snippets of early 70s Black Sabbath. There's some Ozzy is those vocals. I see other reviewers call that out as well. OK good, I haven't completely lost my mind. Yet.
The album is a large commitment of time, going the full CD length. I think for the sound Astra has going, a haircut would have been more appropriate before going to the dance. Which is exactly what they did on their next opus. Of course, the question always is, what do you trim? Ehhh, that's a problem. I think that's why I have The Black Chord rated higher. The Weirding is an overdose. For example, 'Ouroboros' is 17+ minutes of instrumental hardcore space rock. It will test the limits of your appreciation of the style, though I think it's a great specimen myself. The whole album is just a lot to take in one setting.
I closed The Black Chord review with: "I can only tip my hat, and can't wait for any future releases." And that never happened. That's unfortunate. Birth seems to be the next incarnation but I have yet to check them out.
Ownership: 2009 Rise Above (CD). Slipcase. Booklet contains recording details only. Nice artwork.
11//09 (acquired); 6/3/12; 2/1/14; 11/24/25 (review)
In the world I choose to exist in - the byzantine progressive rock underground - bands like Astra might as well be Taylor Swift in terms of general recognition. These are albums that have close to 500 ratings and dozens of reviews on RYM for example - when the usual norm for my modern era collection is eight ratings and one review, and that one review might be my own.
For those that still haven't heard Astra - and I can't imagine anyone reading this that hasn't - then they can best be described as 1972 personified. They have absorbed the influences of the time, instrumentation, and recording techniques of a bygone era, and created their own personal vision of what that would sound like. So if you're an "all-in" kind of progressive rock fan, then these albums are can't miss propositions. For as great as The Weirding is, Astra took it a notch further with The Black Chord. The songwriting has improved, as well as the crispness of the playing itself. If all this sounds eerily familiar to another feature I've written before, then you are perceptive indeed. Rise Above's first band to really accomplish this feat is Diagonal, and they too improved with their sophomore effort. Diagonal is more about the arcane UK progressive scene as promoted in 1971 by the Neon, Dawn, and Transatlantic labels. Whereas Astra is coming at this from the early King Crimson, VDGG, and Yes perspective. So from that viewpoint, Astra will feel more familiar to most modern listeners.
Of course when you obtain the kind of popularity that Astra has, especially on the coattails of the classic early 70s progressive rock bands that many adore and feel cannot be replicated, then you can expect a lot of negativity will find its way to them. I would just wave all that aside if you're a fan, and it least give these albums your full attention, and not try to be swayed too much. Personally I can't possibly hear enough albums that attempt to do what Astra has. This is miles beyond the superficial tries of many modern acts who are looking to achieve a similar conclusion. It takes far more than a retrospective view of another era (i.e. watching That 70's Show isn't going to cut it), and throw a Hammond and a Memotron (faux Mellotron) in there and hope for the best. One really has to be a student of the genre to achieve these kind of results. I can only tip my hat, and can't wait for any future releases.
Ownership: 2012 Rise Above (CD). Slipcase.
The Black Chord (2012)
For those that still haven't heard Astra - and I can't imagine anyone reading this that hasn't - then they can best be described as 1972 personified. They have absorbed the influences of the time, instrumentation, and recording techniques of a bygone era, and created their own personal vision of what that would sound like. So if you're an "all-in" kind of progressive rock fan, then these albums are can't miss propositions. For as great as The Weirding is, Astra took it a notch further with The Black Chord. The songwriting has improved, as well as the crispness of the playing itself. If all this sounds eerily familiar to another feature I've written before, then you are perceptive indeed. Rise Above's first band to really accomplish this feat is Diagonal, and they too improved with their sophomore effort. Diagonal is more about the arcane UK progressive scene as promoted in 1971 by the Neon, Dawn, and Transatlantic labels. Whereas Astra is coming at this from the early King Crimson, VDGG, and Yes perspective. So from that viewpoint, Astra will feel more familiar to most modern listeners.
Of course when you obtain the kind of popularity that Astra has, especially on the coattails of the classic early 70s progressive rock bands that many adore and feel cannot be replicated, then you can expect a lot of negativity will find its way to them. I would just wave all that aside if you're a fan, and it least give these albums your full attention, and not try to be swayed too much. Personally I can't possibly hear enough albums that attempt to do what Astra has. This is miles beyond the superficial tries of many modern acts who are looking to achieve a similar conclusion. It takes far more than a retrospective view of another era (i.e. watching That 70's Show isn't going to cut it), and throw a Hammond and a Memotron (faux Mellotron) in there and hope for the best. One really has to be a student of the genre to achieve these kind of results. I can only tip my hat, and can't wait for any future releases.
Ownership: 2012 Rise Above (CD). Slipcase.
6/4/12 (acquired); 2/2/14 (review)
2/2/14 (new entry)
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