Kestrel's sole album contains some of the most beautiful songwriting ever committed to vinyl. The piano and mellotron are exemplary here. It's typically lumped in with the progressive rock scene, and it is somewhat - but only tangentially so. I can hear parallels with Fruupp's Modern Masquerades, Sebastian Hardie's Four Moments, and Dragon's Scented Gardens for the Blind - a certain sophisticated AOR sound that is very hard to describe, but you know it when you hear it! Yacht Prog? And this is the best of that lot. This is one of those albums that doesn't sound good on paper, but if you have any tolerance at all for a commercially oriented sound, then Kestrel is a must listen.
Ownership: CD: 2001 Victor (Japan); CD: 2015 Esoteric. For whatever reason, Kestrel's reissues have been the sole provenance of Japan (probably license related). My first copy was the 1989 CD that didn't even have the backplate! The 2001 version is a mini-LP, though as far as these things go, the packaging is pretty dull (though I do admit to liking the goofy cover). The Esoteric CD is a recent acquisition, and is the definitive reissue. I've been curious about the bonus tracks since Belle Antique's 2013 reissue, but advance word suggested it wasn't worth the extra splurge. Having heard them, I would have to agree, though it is great to have two new tracks to digest (both excellent). So when the Esoteric CD became available at a discount, it was too tempting to pass up. Especially when considering the thorough liner notes in addition to the bonus. And while Esoteric has a reputation - at least in recent years - of screwing up the mastering, I have to say the Kestrel sounded really great to my ears. Best I've heard to date. I've never heard the original, and probably never will, so I don't have much to compare it to. I'm keeping the mini as well, as they don't take up much space, and it's a favorite album.
2/28/11 (RYM); 5/10/20 (new entry)
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